Velaikaari
Encyclopedia
Velaikaari is a 1949 Tamil film
produced by Jupiter Pictures. It was based on the play of the same name written by C. N. Annadurai
(later chief minister of Tamil Nadu
). This was the second film to be based on Annadurai's plays.
, which was released only three weeks prior to Velaikaari. A. S. A. Sami, was chosen by Annadurai to direct the movie. Also per Annadurai's recommendation, his friend K. R. Ramasamy was hired to play the hero. The play's original screenplay based on class conflicts and was partly inspired by the Bhawal case
. To this some plot elements of The Count of Monte Cristo
were added for the film version. Janaki Ramachandran
and M. V. Rajamma played the female lead roles in the film. The supporting cast included M. N. Nambiar
, T. S. Balaiya
and S. A. Natarajan. The film was later remade in Hindi
(Naya Aadmi), Telugu
(Santhosham) and Kannada (Mallimadhuvae). The completed film was 16,774 feet in length.
was titled after that particular piece of dialogue. The popular reception Velaikaari received was the beginning of the long association between the Dravidian Movement and Tamil Cinema. (see also Tamil cinema and Dravidian politics
). The dialogues and scenes promoting atheism led to some controversy and demands for banning the film.
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...
produced by Jupiter Pictures. It was based on the play of the same name written by C. N. Annadurai
C. N. Annadurai
Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai , popularly called Anna , or Arignar Anna was a former Chief Minister of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu...
(later chief minister of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
). This was the second film to be based on Annadurai's plays.
Production
Velaikaari (lit. servant maid) was a stage play written by Annadurai. It was originally written for K. R. Ramasamy's drama company by Annadurai. M. Somasundaram of Jupiter productions decided to make a film based on the successful play. Annadurai wrote the script and dialogues for the film. This was second film to be made based on Annadurai's plays after NallathambiNallathambi
Nallathambi is a 1949 Tamil film starring and produced by N. S. Krishnan. The film's script was written by C. N. Annadurai . This film marked Annadurai's debut in Tamil films.-Production:...
, which was released only three weeks prior to Velaikaari. A. S. A. Sami, was chosen by Annadurai to direct the movie. Also per Annadurai's recommendation, his friend K. R. Ramasamy was hired to play the hero. The play's original screenplay based on class conflicts and was partly inspired by the Bhawal case
Bhawal case
The Bhawal case was an extended Indian court case about a possible impostor who claimed to be the prince of Bhawal, who was presumed dead a decade earlier.- Apparent first death and cremation :...
. To this some plot elements of The Count of Monte Cristo
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Count of Monte Cristo is an adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas. It is often considered to be, along with The Three Musketeers, Dumas's most popular work. He completed the work in 1844...
were added for the film version. Janaki Ramachandran
Janaki Ramachandran
Janaki Ramachandran , popularly known as V.N. Janaki , was an Indian Tamil actress and politician. She was born to Rajagopal Iyer and Narayani Amma in the town of Vaikom in Kerala State. She had a brother P. Narayanan who was an educationalist...
and M. V. Rajamma played the female lead roles in the film. The supporting cast included M. N. Nambiar
M. N. Nambiar
M. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar ( (born Manjeri Narayanan Nambiar 7 March 1919 — 19 November 2008) was a film actor in Tamil cinema and had been in the film industry for more than 50 years.-Biography:...
, T. S. Balaiya
T. S. Balaiya
Tirunelveli S. Balaiah is a Tamil film actor who is best known for the supporting roles in the Tamil film industry. He was one of the very few actors who excelled both in character roles and comic roles....
and S. A. Natarajan. The film was later remade in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
(Naya Aadmi), Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
(Santhosham) and Kannada (Mallimadhuvae). The completed film was 16,774 feet in length.
Plot
Velaikaari was a socially themed story based on class conflicts and a critique of existing social customs. The hero's (K. R. Ramasamy) father commits suicide unable to repay his debts to the local landlord. The hero swears revenge. After earning wealth, he returns to avenge his father's death. He finds a dead body which looks like him in the woods and impersonates the dead man. He marries the landlord's daughter and ill treats her. He forces the landlord to realise his mistakes and repent.Cast and crew
- K. R. Ramasamy
- T. S. BalaiyaT. S. BalaiyaTirunelveli S. Balaiah is a Tamil film actor who is best known for the supporting roles in the Tamil film industry. He was one of the very few actors who excelled both in character roles and comic roles....
- Akkineni Nageswara RaoAkkineni Nageswara RaoAkkineni Nageswara Rao , also known as ANR, is a Telugu cinema actor from Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh. Nageswara Rao has worked in several genres of films in his 70-year acting career, including mythological, social, and drama films...
- Janaki RamachandranJanaki RamachandranJanaki Ramachandran , popularly known as V.N. Janaki , was an Indian Tamil actress and politician. She was born to Rajagopal Iyer and Narayani Amma in the town of Vaikom in Kerala State. She had a brother P. Narayanan who was an educationalist...
- M. N. NambiarM. N. NambiarM. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar ( (born Manjeri Narayanan Nambiar 7 March 1919 — 19 November 2008) was a film actor in Tamil cinema and had been in the film industry for more than 50 years.-Biography:...
- S. A. Natarajan
- M. V. Rajamma
- A. S. A. Sami- Director
- C. N. AnnaduraiC. N. AnnaduraiConjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai , popularly called Anna , or Arignar Anna was a former Chief Minister of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu...
- Story, screenplay, Dialogues - C. R. SubburamanC. R. SubburamanC. R. Subburaman also known as C. S. Ram was a famous South Indian film music composer and producer. He was born to Ramasamy Iyer at Chintamani village in Thirunelveli, in present-day Tamil Nadu. Music director Shankar of Shankar Ganesh duo is his younger brother...
& [S. M. Subbaiah Naidu]] - Music - Udumalai Narayana KaviUdumalai Narayana KaviUdumalai Narayana Kavi was an Indian poet.He was born to a poor family in Poolavadi, a small village in Udumalpet taluk, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India...
-lyrics - Masthan - Cinematographer
- P. P. Choudhry & M. Kuttibhai - Art directors
- D. Durairah - Editor
- Vedhandham Ragavayya & K. R. Kumar- Choreographers
Reception
The film was a commercial and critical success. Its dialogues became famous among the audience. Some of the rhetorical lines like " "Sattam Oru Iruttarai. athiley vakkilin vaathamoru vilakku. anaal athu ezhaikku ettaatha vilakku" (lit. The law is a dark room. In which the lawyer's arguments are like the lamp light, but the poor cannot get it) became famous. The 1981 Tamil film Sattam Oru IruttaraiSattam Oru Iruttarai
Sattam Oru Iruttarai is a Tamil language film directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar. This film turned out to be a box office success in 1981. The film cast Vijayakanth. After this film, Vijaykanth became one of the leading actors of Tamil cinema. The songs and score was composed by Shankar Ganesh...
was titled after that particular piece of dialogue. The popular reception Velaikaari received was the beginning of the long association between the Dravidian Movement and Tamil Cinema. (see also Tamil cinema and Dravidian politics
Tamil cinema and Dravidian politics
Tamil cinema has played a vital role in Dravidian politics in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Films have been influential in Indian politics since the days of the British Raj, when movies were used for anti-British propaganda. Nevertheless, the leaders of the Indian National Congress viewed...
). The dialogues and scenes promoting atheism led to some controversy and demands for banning the film.
Soundtrack
Partial list of songs from Velaikkari:- Oridam Thanilae by P. LeelaP. LeelaPorayathu Leela better known as P. Leela was a popular Indian playback singer. She was awarded Padma Bhushan posthumously in 2006.-Early life:...
& K. V. Janaki - Innum Para mugam by K. R. Ramasamy
- Neethan alladhu by
- Ulagam Palavitham by A. P. KomalaA. P. KomalaA. P. Komala was a South Indian playback singer. She has sung songs in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu languages.-Filmography:These are some of the films where she was playback singer.-References:...