Chandralekha (1948 film)
Encyclopedia
Chandralekha is a 1948
Tamil
epic film
directed and produced by S. S. Vasan
. It features an ensemble cast consisting of M.K.Radha, Ranjan
, T. R. Rajakumari
, N. S. Krishnan
and T. A. Madhuram
. Made on a lavish budget of $
600,000 ($28 million in 2010 prices) it held the record of the most expensive Tamil film of its time.
Beginning in 1943, the filming was completed over five years, mainly in the famous erstwhile Gemini Studios
while at the same time, Uday Shankar
's famous movie - Kalpana
was also shot here.
The comedy track for the film is by N. S. Krishnan
and his wife Madhuram. The film even features circus scenes in which M. K. Radha and T. R. Rajakumari perform as a part of a circus troupe and dances by hill tribes.
Gemini became the first Indian studio to attempt a nationwide distribution. The film was released in 609 screens worldwide with subtitles. The dialogues of this movie were written by Aghajani Kashmiri. In Japan, the film was titled as Shakunetsu-no ketto.
1948 in film
The year 1948 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* Laurence Olivier's Hamlet becomes the first British film to win the American Academy Award for Best Picture.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :...
Tamil
Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
epic film
Epic film
An epic is a genre of film that emphasizes human drama on a grand scale. Epics are more ambitious in scope than other film genres, and their ambitious nature helps to differentiate them from similar genres such as the period piece or adventure film...
directed and produced by S. S. Vasan
S. S. Vasan
Subramaniam Srinivasan , popularly known by his screen name S. S. Vasan, was anIndian journalist, writer, advertiser, film producer, director and business tycoon...
. It features an ensemble cast consisting of M.K.Radha, Ranjan
Ranjan (actor)
Ranjan was an Indian film actor, singer, journalist and writer. He debuted in the 1941 movie Ashok Kumar but gained fame in S. S. Vasan's 1948 magnum opus Chandralekha....
, T. R. Rajakumari
T. R. Rajakumari
Thanjavur Ranganayaki Rajayee , popularly known by her screen name T. R. Rajakumari was a Tamil film actress, Carnatic singer and dancer. She has been called the first "dream girl" of Tamil cinema.-Early life:...
, N. S. Krishnan
N. S. Krishnan
Nagerkoyil Sudalaimuthu Krishnan , popularly known as Kalaivanar and also as 'NSK' was a leading Tamil film comedian, drama artist, playback singer and writer in the early stages of the Tamil film industry - in the 1940s and 1950s....
and T. A. Madhuram
T. A. Madhuram
T. A. Madhuram was a Tamil stage and film actress and Tamil film producer. She was the wife of Tamil actor and comedian N. S. Krishnan.- Biography :...
. Made on a lavish budget of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
600,000 ($28 million in 2010 prices) it held the record of the most expensive Tamil film of its time.
Beginning in 1943, the filming was completed over five years, mainly in the famous erstwhile Gemini Studios
Gemini Studios
Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film...
while at the same time, Uday Shankar
Uday Shankar
Uday Shankar , the pioneer of modern dance in India, and a world renowned Indian dancer and choreographer, was most known for adapting Western theatrical techniques to traditional Indian classical dance, imbued with elements of Indian classical, folk, and tribal dance, thus laying the roots of...
's famous movie - Kalpana
Kalpana (1948 film)
Kalpana is a 1948 dance-drama Hindi film written and directed by noted dancer, Uday Shankar, his only film, and story revolves around young dancer’s dream of setting up an academy, a reflection his own, which he eventually did at Almora....
was also shot here.
Plot
Chandralekha was based on the story of a young prince Veer Singh (M. K. Radha) who falls in love with a dancer called Chandralekha (T. R. Rajakumari). At the same time, Veer Singh's brother Shashank (Ranjan) too desires to marry her. Shashank kidnaps Chandralekha and forces her to wed him. But Chandralekha insists on a drum dance prior to their marriage. The drum dance is held; but at the end of the drum dance, Veer Singh's soldiers rush forth from the drums and attack the palace. In the melee, Shashank's men are defeated and in the sword fighting sequence, regarded as the longest in any Indian film, Shashank is defeated by Veer Singh and killed.The comedy track for the film is by N. S. Krishnan
N. S. Krishnan
Nagerkoyil Sudalaimuthu Krishnan , popularly known as Kalaivanar and also as 'NSK' was a leading Tamil film comedian, drama artist, playback singer and writer in the early stages of the Tamil film industry - in the 1940s and 1950s....
and his wife Madhuram. The film even features circus scenes in which M. K. Radha and T. R. Rajakumari perform as a part of a circus troupe and dances by hill tribes.
Cast
- T. R. RajakumariT. R. RajakumariThanjavur Ranganayaki Rajayee , popularly known by her screen name T. R. Rajakumari was a Tamil film actress, Carnatic singer and dancer. She has been called the first "dream girl" of Tamil cinema.-Early life:...
as Chandralekha - M. K. Radha as Veer Singh
- Ranjan as Shashank
- Sundarabai as Sundaribai
Production and distribution
Produced and directed by S. S. Vasan, Chandralekha released in 1948 after being in production for over five years. The film was Vasan's first directorial venture and was made at a massive financial budget of $600,000 ($28 million in 2010 prices) making it easily the costliest film ever made in Tamil. He even termed the film "a pageant for our peasants." It featured a drum-dance sequence and also had the longest sword fight sequence in film history. Chandralekha is also recognized as the first Indian film to get nationwide distribution. Vasan is believed to have been inspired by Uday Shankar's Kalpana (1948) which is the first Indian film to have a drum-dance sequence.Gemini became the first Indian studio to attempt a nationwide distribution. The film was released in 609 screens worldwide with subtitles. The dialogues of this movie were written by Aghajani Kashmiri. In Japan, the film was titled as Shakunetsu-no ketto.