Vanjikottai Valiban

Vanjikkottai Valiban
Directed by S. S. Vasan
Produced by S. S. Vasan
Written by Story: K. J. Mahadevan
C. Srinivasan
Kothamangalam Subbu
Story & Dialogue:Kothamangalam Subbu
Based on The Count of Monte Cristo
by Alexandre Dumas
Starring Gemini Ganesan
Vyjayanthimala
Padmini
P.S. Veerappa
Music by C. Ramchandra
Cinematography P. Ellappa
Edited by N. R. Krishna Sami
Production
company
Distributed by Gemini Pictures
Release date
 12 April 1958
Running time
 183 mins
Country India
Language Tamil
Box office ₹ 3.6 million

Vanjikkottai Valiban (English: The Youth from Vanji Fort)[1] is a 1958 Indian Tamil-language Ruritanian romance film written by Gemini Studios story department consisting of K. J. Mahadevan, C. Srinivasan and Kothamangalam Subbu while the film was directed and produced by S. S. Vasan.[2] It stars Gemini Ganesan and Vyjayanthimala in lead with Padmini, P.S. Veerappa, T. K. Shanmugam, Pasupuleti Kannamba, Vijayakumari, K. A. Thangavelu and M. S. Sundari Bai as the ensemble cast of the film. The camera was handled by P. Ellappa with the audiography was handled by C. E. Biggs while the editing was done by N. R. Krishna Sami.[3] This film was remade in Hindi as Raj Tilak with the same lead actors.

Plot

Chokkalingam Navilur (T. K. Shanmugam) is a diwan at Vanjikottai Kingdom. He with his wife, Sivakami (Pasupuleti Kannamba), is loyal to their King. Chokkalingam without any hesitation accuses that Senathipathi (P.S. Veerappa), the brother of the King's second wife, Maharani Ranthamani Devi (Meenakshi) plotted the prince's killing (Daisy Irani). Found guilty, Senathipathi is banished by the kind but is helped by one of his soldier to stay in the kingdom without anyone's knowledge. He later sets up a fire in the city and stabs the king with his sword. The king before dying tells Chokkalingam to save his daughter Padma (Padmini) and the infant prince and dies later. In order to fulfil the king's desire, Chokkalingam sails to safety with the king's children, leaving his family behind. Soon his wife does the same with her children but is caught by the Senathipathi's army. Leaving her children on the moving boat, she is imprisoned for life at an island prison.

After, 10 years, the grown up Sunder (Gemini Ganesan) plans to arrange his sister's wedding, but it is interrupted by Senathipathi who kidnaps Gowri (Vijayakumari) in Sunder's absence. While returning home for the preparation for the engagement, Sunder spots Gowri with Senathipathi in his vehicle. In order to escape from Senathipathi, Gowri jumps out of the vehicle and dies soon. Sunder who seeks justice from Senathipathi, plans to kill him, only to be captured by his army. After he is found guilty for his action, Sunder is later banished to a jail island where he serves a life imprisonment. There, he gets the chance to meet his mother who is also spending her whole life for her deed. She explains to him about Senathipathi's persecution of his family and the Vanjikottai kingdom. They both soon plan to escape from the prison. However, his mother dies while Sunder falls into the sea and escapes. He soon saved by a ship carrying some slaves to Ratna Island.

There Sunder meets Princess Mandakini (Vyjayanthimala) who is first averse to the attitude of Sunder, who ignores her beauty and does not respond to her assertive and arrogant behaviour. Later she falls for him and gives him special treatment. Though Sunder also likes her, he requests Mandakini to release him in order to find his father and solve the conspiracy in his kingdom. She agrees with all the requests on the condition that he would return within one month. Mandakini provides Sunder with expensive jewelry, clothes and a boat, and sends Sunder to his kingdom. Meanwhile, Chokkalingam who is living in one of the hinterland villages with Padma, is planning a revolution along with Murugan who serves as his spy at Vanjikottai. After the awareness of the revolution is disseminated to the masses themselves in Vanjikottai, Chokkalingam returns to Vanjikkottai to bring down Senathipathi's government. He is later joined by Sunder, Padma, Murugan, Rangamma, Velan and his wife. Sunder acts as a jeweler and deceives Maharani Ranthamani Devi and Senathipathi by gaining their trust. He later invites them to his palace to watch a dance by Padma. He also plans to release Chokkalingam, Murugan and his wife Rangamma who were arrested by Senathipathi during the revolution.

After one month, Mandakini comes to Vanjikottai to search for Sunder. She set up her camp at the border of Vanjikottai and sends her spy to locate Sunder's place. While spotting Sunder and Padma together, her spy mistakes that Sunder is in love with Padma. Mandakini who hears the news approaches Sunder. Unable to explain his situation, Sunder asks Mandakini to watch the show along with Maharani Ranthamani Devi and Senathipathi. Padma overhears their conversation and realizes Sunder's love towards Mandakini and changes her mind by forgetting her love. In the court, while watching the dance performed by Padma, Mandakini is angered by the meaning of Padma's song which indirectly tells her feelings towards Sunder. Soon, Mandakini changes her costume and gives stiff competition in dance to Padma. When Padma almost faints during the rotation, Sunder cuts the chandelier's rope making the chandelier to crash, thus ending the dance competition. Then he orders Velan to drag Mandakini out and tie her into a room. After Senathipathi has become intoxicated, Sunder uses this situation to masquerade as Senathipathi and rescues Murugan and Rangamma from the prison. He also gets to know that Chokkalingam has been brought to the island prison to undergo the death penalty.

Meanwhile, Mandakini who escapes from Velan, joins Senathipathi and divulges details of the secret place where Chokkalingam, Sunder, Padma and others are hiding. In return, she asks him to send Sunder to her in order to live with him. Senathipathi arrests all of them including Sunder. Mandakini realizes that Senathipathi has tricked her, and gathers her army to save Sunder and others. Murugan and the people of Vanjikottai head to Senathipathi's palace to bring down his government. Knowing this, Senathipathi leave the palace for the immediate execution of Sunder's and others death penalty. Murugan gets to know the place where the execution occurs and he brings his people to kill Senathipathi. Mandakini who also arrives there with her army joins the battle to bring down Senathipathi. During the battle, Senathipathi throws his sword at Sunder but hits Mandakini when she tries to protect him. The battle was ended with the murder of Senathipathi and Mandakini died while uniting Padma with Sunder.

Cast

Production

According to Ramanathan, father of Abirami Ramanathan said his father V. S. Sivalingam had bought the distribution rights for Vanjikottai Valiban at a cost of ₹ 200,000 in 1956.[5] The film suffered from too much of "process screen" or Back projection[3] where many shots from Gemini Studios's magnum opus Chandralekha were used.[3] Moreover, audience notices the make out shots of Ranjan and his gang riding on horses from the film.[3] Besides that, a passing by of motor car was also seen in a shot which was an anachronism in Gemini Studios production.[3]

Soundtrack

The film's soundtrack was composed by C. Ramchandra while the lyrics were penned by Kothamangalam Subbu.[6] The playback singers consist of P. Leela,[7] Jikki, C. S. Jayaraman, P. Susheela and Sirkazhi Govindarajan.[8]

No. Song Singers Length (m:ss) Lyrics Notes
1 Amma Amma C. S. Jayaraman 2:49 Kothamangalam Subbu Featuring Gemini Ganesan and Pasupuleti Kannamba.
2 Ethani Kelvi P. Susheela 3:33 Featuring actress Padmini as an Adivasi.
3 Kannum Kannum Kalanthu P. Leela, Jikki 6:56 Featuring Vyjayanthimala and Padmini in a dance competition.
4 Raja Magal P. Leela 6:08 Featuring Vyjayanthimala and Gemini Ganesan accompanied by the background dancers.
5 Vennilave P. Leela 6:09 Featuring Gemini Ganesan and Padmini.
6 Vetrivel Sirkazhi Govindarajan, Thiruchi Loganathan,
T. V. Rathnam & Group 		5:27 Featuring T. K. Shanmugam, Padmini and Honey Irani.
7 Inba Kanavondru P. Susheela & Group 02:25
8 Thaedi Thaedi Alaigirene Thiruchi Loganathan & P. Susheela 03:44 Featuring K. A. Thangavelu and T. P. Muthulakshmi
9 Vaikkal Vandi Baaram Thiruchi Loganathan, Sirkazhi Govindarajan and P. Susheela

Reception

The film initially gained big opening at the box office as it was the first film produced by SS Vasan after a 10-year gap since Chandralekha. But it was not as successful at the box office due to technical errors though audience was pleased by the dances featuring the lead actresses; Vyjayanthimala and Padmini and the production value of the film.[3] At the end of its theatrical run the film was labelled as blockbuster at the box office.[3][5] The film celebrated its 100th day theatrical run at Wellington theatre, LIC Building on 9 June 1959 with full-packed audience.[9] The film was one of the successful Tamil films of 1958 along with films such as Nadodi Mannan and Uthama Puthiran. This Film was the second biggest hit of the year 1958 after Nadodi mannan.

Inspirations and remakes

The film was inspired by the 1844 novel The Count of Monte Cristo.[10] The film was shot simultaneously in Hindi as Raj Tilak with Gemini Ganesan, Vyjayanthimala and Padmini who reprises their role from original.[3]

Legacy

The film was well known for its technical brilliant where the title sequence showing a ship caught in a storm was an excellent example of onscreen presentation which was rarely seen in South Indian film of that time.[3] However, it was the dance sequence of Vyjayanthimala and Padmini in the song "Kannum Kannum Kalanthu" which was choreographed by Hiralal, brother of B. Sohanlal, is still remembered even today by the critics and audience alike where the popularity of the song surpasses the popularity garnered by the film.[3] The song was regarded as the best dance sequence in Indian cinema.[11] The song was also used by many Indian classical dancer for stage performance.[12] Subsequently, the catch line used by actor P.S. Veerappa, "Shabhash, sariyana potti!" which means "Bravo, an excellent competition!" was also becomes famous catch line and still used by the people of Tamil Nadu.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Southern Indian movie star dies". BBC News. 22 March 2005. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  2. ↑ Randor Guy (23 May 2003). "With a finger on people's pulse". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Randor Guy (26 March 2011). "Vanjikottai Vaaliban 1958". The Hindu. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  4. ↑ Randor Guy (6 June 2008). "Sparkling presence". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Mega star, mega film, mega hype". The Hindu. 15 June 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "Vanjikottai Vaaliban (1958)". Raaga.com. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  7. ↑ "P. Leela's death mourned". The Hindu. 1 November 2005. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  8. ↑ Neelamegam Govindasamy. Thiraikalanjiyam - Part 1 (in Tamil). Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108. First edition 2014. p. 157.
  9. ↑ Subha J Rao (1 February 2011). "Memories of Madras — Shades of a bygone era". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
  10. ↑ Ramachandran, T.M (1985). 70 Years of Indian Cinema 1913 to 1983. I B D Ltd. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-86132-090-5. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  11. ↑ Randor Guy (9 September 2006). "Beauty, charm, charisma". The Hindu. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  12. ↑ "An Annual Treat - IDA". Thehorizons.com. 1998. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
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