Chakra Dhari (transl. He who holds the wheel) is a 1948 Indian Tamil-language film produced by Gemini Studios. V. Nagayya and Pushpavalli star, while Gemini Ganesan who was a budding actor then, appeared in a minor role.[2][1]

Chakra Dhari
Poster
Tamilசக்ரதாரி
Directed byK. S. Gopalakrishnan[a]
Story byGemini Story Dept.
Based ona story from the book titled Sri Maha Bhaktha Vijayam
Produced byS. S. Vasan
StarringNagayya
Pushpavalli
CinematographyThambu
Edited byN. K. Gopal
Music byM. D. Parthasarathy
Production
company
Release date
  • 3 December 1948 (1948-12-03) (India)
[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

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Gora is a potter who lives in a village near Pandharpur in Maharashtra. He is a strong devotee of Lord Panduranga. He is not interested in earning money which worries his wife Thulasi. Venkat is Gora's elder brother and an affluent man. His wife Sona does not like Gora and his family. One day while Gora was mixing clay, his child Hari comes there, playing. Gora was in a devotional ecstasy and did not notice his child. The child is killed trampled under the mud. Thulasi threatens to destroy the idol of Panduranga but Gora tries to kill her with an axe. She tells Gora that he should not touch her in future and he also vows that he will not touch her. However, Thulasi gets her sister Shantha to marry her husband Gora so that they can beget a child, however, Gora refuses to touch Shantha too. The sisters seduce Gora one night. Gora is shocked and cuts off his hands for breaking the vows. Lord Panduranga and his consort Rukmini come in disguise and help Gora. Due to their divine powers, happiness is restored in the family. Gora gets back his hands and Hari is brought back to life. The whole family becomes devotees of Lord Panduranga.[2]

Cast

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Adapted from the film credits. (See External links)

Production

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This tale has been filmed many times in many languages such as Marathi, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu and twice in Tamil.[2]

Soundtrack

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Music was composed by M. D. Parthasarathy with P. S. Anantharaman as assistant. Parthasarathy also sang one or two songs. Lyrics were penned by Papanasam Sivan, Kothamangalam Subbu and Sangu Subramaniam. Singers are V. Nagayya and Nagarcoil Mahadevan. Playback singers are S. S. Mani (S. Subramanian), T. V. Rathnam, Balasaraswathi and M. Kalpagam.[3][4] The song Kadhali Radhaiyai kalangavittan is set in the raga Kharaharapriya.

No. Song Singer/s Lyricist Duration (m:ss)
1 "Vaa Vaa Ambuliye" T. V. Rathnam Kothamangalam Subbu 02:22
2 "Salangai Kulunga Vaa" M. Kalpagam 02:42 /
3 "Ayane Mayane" S. S. Mani 03:30
4 "Aiyamaare Vanga Ammaamare Vanga" 07:16
5 "Kannale Vettadhe Ennaiye" 08:43
6 "Unakkum Enakkum" Nagayya 03:07
7 "Enna Ruchiyo, Aha, Enna Ruchiyo"
8 "Vittalanai Panivom"
9 "Ammaa Ammaa Ena" Balasaraswathi
10 "Kanne Thaalelo" T. V. Rathnam
11 "Kakkai Sirakinile" Nagayya Papanasam Sivan 03:21
12 "Prabhu Pandu Ranga" 02:47
13 "Pandu Rangan Karunayale" 02:07
14 "Bhakthiyudan Puganzhndhu Paaduvome" Nagarcoil Mahadevan 02:03
15 "Poojai Seithome" T. V. Rathnam and group 02:29
16 Musical Dance 02:31
17 "Oradiyal Ulagalanda" Nagayya Sangu Subramaniam 01:40
18 "Kadhali Radhaiyai Kalangavittan" M. Kalpagam 02:43

Reception

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The film was a success at the box-office. Film historian Randor Guy wrote in 2008 that the film is "Remembered for its soul-filling music, fine photography and Nagayya’s performance."[2]

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ a b Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Guy, Randor (5 December 2008). "Chakra-Dhari 1948 - CHEN". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 January 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Gemini's Chakra-Dhari". Pesum Padam (in Tamil): 52–55. December 1948.
  4. ^ Lakshmi Ramachandran. Kothamangalam Subbu Thiraiyisai Paadalgal [Kothamangalam Subbu Film Songs] (in Tamil). Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108 (Ph:044 25361039). First edition September 2016. pp. 76, 77, 88, 160, 162, 163 & 165.
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