Rajee En Kanmani
| Rajee En Kanmani | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Tamil | ராஜி என் கண்மணி |
| Directed by | K. J. Mahadevan |
| Produced by | S. S. Vasan |
| Screenplay by | Sangu Subramaniam |
| Based on |
City Lights by Charlie Chaplin |
| Starring |
T. R. Ramachandran Sriranjani, Jr. Sriram V. S. Sushila S. V. Ranga Rao J. P. Chandrababu T. P. Muthulakshmi K. R. Sellam |
| Music by | S. Hanumantha Rao |
| Cinematography | C. A. S. Mani |
| Edited by | M. Umanatha Rao |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Rajee En Kanmani (English: Raji, my darling) is a 1954 Indian Tamil-language romance film directed by K. J. Mahadevan and produced by S. S. Vasan. The film features T. R. Ramachandran and Sriranjani, Jr. in the lead roles.[1] An adaptation of Charlie Chaplin's City Lights, the film was remade in Telugu with the title Rajee Naa Pranam in the same year.[2]
Production
The film was produced by S. S. Vasan, owner of Gemini Studios, and directed by K. J. Mahadevan. He made Rajee En Kanmani an adaptation of the Charlie Chaplin film City Lights. Mahadevan stuck to the original storyline of City Lights for the most part and included the "dream ballet" executed by Chaplin in his film. However, Vasan felt it was too "highbrow" and did not include it in the final cut of the film.[2]
Plot
Ramu is a homeless orphan. He saves a flower-seller girl, Rajee from a car accident. Rajee is blind. Ramu takes pity on her and helps her in selling flowers. Love develops between them. Ramu happens to know an eye specialist. He takes Rajee to him for consultation. The doctor says her eye sight could be restored but it will cost 1000 rupees. Ramu wants to earn the money by some way. He accepts a challenge by a boxing stalwart and wins the prize money. But two crooks rob the money from Ramu. Then Ramu helps a drunken rich businessman. The rich man gives the money to Ramu as a present. Ramu pays the doctor. Ramu is arrested by the police on a false charge of theft and sent to prison.
In the meantime, the doctor performs the surgery and Rajee regains eye sight. She is longing to see Ramu but there is no news about him. Ramu tries to escape from the prison and gets caught. His sentence is extended. Rajee's aunt, who was her only support, dies. The house owner tries to advance on the helpless Rajee. She decides to end her life by drowning in the sea. At the nick of time, she is saved by a woman who is none other than the doctor's mother. She takes Rajee to home. Rajee starts working as a nurse with the doctor.
The doctor starts falling in love with Rajee but finds her mind is set with Ramu. There is another woman, Roopa, who has a one-sided love with the doctor. She finds the doctor is interested in Rajee and precipitates matters. The doctor opens his heart to Rajee. Now Rajee is torn between love and gratitude. She decides to leave the doctor's place. But the mother intercepts and pleads with Rajee to marry her son in order to save his life and happiness. Rajee marries the doctor and bears a son. She names the child as Ramu.
One day Ramu is released and he comes to the doctor's place to find out whether Rajee got her eye sight back. He now looks like a beggar. When he comes to the doctor's house, Rajee is at the threshold looking at Ramu. But she does not know he is Ramu. Ramu comes to know her present position. The events of the day make him realise that her love for him has not diminished over the years. Rajee presents him a flower. He accepts it and fades out of her life with joy without identifying him to her.[3]
Cast
- T. R. Ramachandran as Ramu
- Sriranjani, Jr. as Rajee
- Sri Ram as Doctor Ragunath
- S. V. Ranga Rao as the Rich Man
- T. P. Muthulakshmi as Sundari
- J. P. Chandrababu as Boxing Enthusiast
- P. Vasundara as Roopa
- S. Venkat as Referee
- T. S. Velayutham as Kanniah
- T. N. Meenakshi as Doctor's mother
- G. V. Sharma as Domestic help
- K. R. Sellam as Rajee's Aunty
- K. S. Hariharan as Municipal Chairman
- V. K. Achari as Chandamarudha Singam
- Jegatheesan as Boxing fan
- P. Susheela as Sheela
- Ganapathi Patt as Policeman
- S. R. Lakshmi as Kumari Mohana
- D. S. P. Rao as Security Guard
- D. E. Krishnamachari as Magistrate
- V. P. S. Mani as Inspector
- V. T. Kalyanam as Kailasam
- P. K. Krishnan as Boxer
- T. N. Govindarajan as Policeman
- Master Krishnamurthi as child Ramu
- Vimala as Housemaid
Dances by:
- Roy Chowdhary
- Balaraman
- Jayaraman
- Kantha
- Rajeswary
- Chellam
- Chandra
- Jamuna
- Sokkamma
- Saroja
- Sakunthala[3]
Crew
Producer: S. S. Vasan
Director: K. J. Mahadevan
Dialogues: Sangu Subramaniam
Cinematography: C. A. S. Mani
Editing: M. Umanatha Rao
Art: M. S. Janakiram
Choreography: Roy Chowdhary
Photographer: L. K. Rao
Studio: Gemini[1]
Soundtrack
Music was composed by S. Hanumantha Rao and the lyrics were penned by Sangu Subramaniam. The song "Malligai Poo Jaadhi Roja" sung by R. Balasaraswathi Devi became a hit.[2]
| No. | Song | Singer | Lyrics | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malligai Poo Jaadhi Roja | R. Balasaraswathi Devi | Sangu Subramaniam | 04:57 |
| 2 | Thalelo Kanne | Jikki | 03:00 | |
| 3 | Ulagam Ithuthaano | V. N. Sundharam | 03:09 | |
| 4 | Thoongaayo Dhuraiye | R. Balasaraswathi Devi | 02:29 | |
| 5 | Sundhara Malare | R. Balasaraswathi Devi | 02:11 | |
| 6 | Ammaa Vareero | R. Balasaraswathi Devi |
Reception
The film was praised for its story and the performances of Ranga Rao, Ramachandran and Sriranjani, but became a box office failure.[2]
References
- 1 2 "1954 - ல் வெளியான படப்பட்டியல் - தயாரிப்பாளர்கள் விபரம்" (in Tamil). lakshmansruthi.com. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
- 1 2 3 4 Guy, Randor (24 July 2009). "Rajee En Kanmani 1954". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- 1 2 ராஜீ என் கண்மணி [Raajee, My Darling] (songbook) (in Tamil). Gemini Studios.