Gumastha (transl. Clerk) is a 1953 Indian film starring V. Nagayya, R. S. Manohar and Pandari Bai. The film was produced in Tamil and Telugu languages under the same title. It is based on the play NGO (Non-Gazetted Officer) by Acharya Aatreya.[2][1] The film was released on .[3]

Gumastha
Film poster
Directed byR. M. Krishnasami
Written byA. T. Krishnasami (dialogues)
Screenplay byAcharya Aatreya
Story byAcharya Aatreya
Produced byV. C. Subburaman
StarringV. Nagayya
Pandari Bai
B. Jayamma
P. V. Narasimha Bharathi
CinematographyR. M. Krishnasami
Edited byP. V. Manikkam
Bal G. Yadhav
Music byC. N. Pandurangam
G. Ramanathan
Nagayya
Production
company
Aruna Films
Distributed byFilm Center Limited
Release date
  • 3 April 1953 (1953-04-03)
Running time
184 minutes (Tamil)
187 minutes (Telugu)[1]
CountryIndia
LanguagesTamil
Telugu

Plot

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Ranganathan is a government clerk struggling in life with a low salary and a big family. He has to support his aged father, his wife, two children, his brother Gopu and an unmarried sister, Susheela.

Though Gopu is a smart young man, he couldn't continue his college education due to the financial situation in the family. In the meantime, a rich man's son, Ravi meets Susheela and is attracted to her. Eventually, they both become lovers. Ravi has a medical problem in the heart. The doctor advises him against marriage. But he dismisses it and marries Susheela. She learns of Ravi's medical condition and refuses to be intimate with him. However, one day Ravi forces and make love to her due to which she becomes pregnant.

People, who know about Ravi's medical condition, suspects Susheela as carrying someone else's child. She becomes distressed. Her old father, learning about her plight, dies of shock.

How the government clerk Ranganathan, her brother, solves the problems forms the rest of the story.[2]

Cast

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Cast adapted from the songbook[4]

Production

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The film was produced by V. C. Subburaman under the banner Aruna Films and was shot at Film Centre, Madras.[2]

Soundtrack

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Music was scored by C. N. Pandurangam, G. Ramanathan, Nagayya and while the lyrics were penned by A. Maruthakasi and S. D. S. Yogiar.[2][4]

Song Singer(s) Lyricist Composer
"Aadhari Jegadheeswari Amba" B. Jayamma Maruthakasi C. N. Pandurangam
"Aiyavin Penndattikku" M. L. Vasanthakumari, K. R. Chellamuthu S. D. S. Yogi
"Aasaiye Veen Aanadhe!" P. Leela Maruthakasi Pandurangam
"Sopalangi Mappillaikku" Rani, G. Kasthoori & Party Maruthakasi G. Ramanathan
"Inbamo! Thunbamo! Edhuvume Nilladhe!" Raja Maruthakasi Pandurangam
"Theeradha Varumaiyudan" B. Jayamma Maruthakasi
"Hey Manidha! Enge Odugirai?" Nagayya Nagayya
"Dance Baby Dance!" M. L. Vasanthakumari Maruthakasi

Reception

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According to historian Randor Guy, the film performed average at the box office due its "predictable storyline".[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema. British Film Institute and Oxford University Press. p. 332. ISBN 0-19-563579-5.
  2. ^ a b c d e Guy, Randor (24 October 2015). "Gumastha 1953". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 January 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  3. ^ "1953 – குமாஸ்தா –அருணா பிலிம்ஸ் (த-தெ)". Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b குமாஸ்தா (PDF) (song book) (in Tamil). 1953. Retrieved 2 September 2024 – via Internet Archive.
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