Gnana Soundari (Gemini film)
| Gnana Soundari | |
|---|---|
 | |
| ஞான சௌந்தரி | |
| Directed by | Murugadasa |
| Produced by | Nayina |
| Screenplay by |
Kothamangalam Subbu Ki. Raa. Nayina |
| Based on | A stage play by the same name |
| Starring |
M. K. Radha Susheela T. R. Ramachandran P. Kannamba |
| Music by | M. D. Parthasarathy |
| Cinematography | M. Natarajan |
| Edited by | N. R. Krishnaswamy |
Production company |
Gemini |
Release dates |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Gnana Soundari is a Tamil historical fiction film produced by Gemini Studios and released in 1948. A film by the same name and with a same story (Gnana Soundari) but with a different cast and crew was produced by another company and was running successfully when this film was released. This film was a flop[1] and the producer withdrew it from circuits.
Production
Gemini Studios has a pride of place in Tamil film world because all the films produced by them were successful at the box-office. When they started making this film it may be known to the producers that the same story is being filmed by another company. However, depending on their years of continued success, Gemini produced this film hoping their version will be received well by the people. But it turned out the other way.
Plot
The story was adapted from a Christian folk lore. Nawab Rajamanickam Pillai conducted it as a successful stage play for several years. Gnanam is the only daughter of King Dharmar. From her childhood she is an ardent devotee of Mother Mary. She is ill-treated by her step mother. She grows into a beautiful young girl and becomes Gnana Soundari. The step mother plans to kill her while the king was away. Arranged by the step mother, Gnana Soundari is taken to a forest by goons. However, instead of killing her, the goons amputate both her arms and abandon her. A prince from a neighbouring state comes to the forest for hunting and finds Gnana Soundari. He rescues and then falls in love with her. In spite of his father's objection the prince marries Gnana Soundari. But she has not divulged her true identity to him. Her father's kingdom is attacked by enemies and the Prince, as a neighbour, helps the father in fighting the enemies. The father (king) comes to know the whole story. Mother Mary restores the arms to Gnana Soundari.
Cast
M. K. Radha
Susheela
T. R. Ramachandran
P. Kannamba
T. E. Krishnamachari
T. N. Meenakshi
Velautham
Suppiah Pillai[2]
Crew
Producer: Nayina
Director: Murugadasa
Screenplay & Dialogues: Kothamangalam Subbu, Ki. Raa. and Nayina
Music: M. D. Parthasarathy
Lyrics: Papanasam Sivan, Kothamangalam Subbu, K. V. Venu
Cinematography: M. Natarajan
Art: A. K. Sekar
Editing: N. R. Krishnaswamy
Choreography: Jayashankar, Nataraj
Photography: S. V. Gopal Rao
Studio: Gemini[2]
Reception
Tamil cinema historian G. Dhananjayan says in his book Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931 To 2013, "Gemini's Gnana Soundari was released (18-06-1948) at Wellington theatre at Chennai. The audience did not like Gemini's version in which the characters spoke in 'brahminical' tone for a historical film and broke the chairs of the theatre. .... S. S. Vasan announced that his film would not be screened in any theatre in future and is said to have burnt the negative of his film."[3]
References
- ↑ Krishna Kuchela
- 1 2 Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers.
- ↑ Dhananjayan, G. (2013). Gnana Soundari - Trivia. Chennai: Blue Ocean Publishers. p. 77.