Vanambadi (/vɑːnəmbɑːdi/ transl. Skylark) is a 1963 Indian Tamil-language thriller film, directed by G. R. Nathan, produced by K. Murukesan and Kannadasan, and written by Valampuri Somanathan. A remake of the 1957 Bengali film Sesh Porichoy, it stars S. S. Rajendran and Devika, with R. Muthuraman, S. V. Sahasranamam, T. R. Rajakumari, T. R. Ramachandran, R. S. Manohar, Pushpalatha, Sheela and Kamal Haasan. The film was released on 9 March 1963 and emerged a success.
| Vanambadi | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | G. R. Nathan |
| Screenplay by | Valampuri Somanathan |
| Based on | Sesh Porichoy by Aanand Singh Thahore |
| Produced by | K. Murukesan Kannadasan |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | G. R. Nathan |
| Edited by | S. Surya |
| Music by | K. V. Mahadevan |
Production company | Kannadasan Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 146 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
editThis article needs an improved plot summary. (November 2021) |
Meena, a young woman, escapes from the clutches of a womanising Zamindar. She attempts suicide and is saved by an elderly couple, who adopt her. They wish her to wed their nephew Sekhar, and the wedding is arranged. But during the ceremony, another man shows up claiming Meena to be his wife. She is arrested for the attempted murder of the Zamindar. But she says she does not know him. Her adoptive brother Mohan and a friend Nithyanandham try to solve the mystery. Meena runs away from the family to relieve them of the anguish she has caused them and they later find her as a stage/playback singer calling herself as Kausalya Devi. But Kausalya Devi claims she has never seen them before. How they resolve the mystery forms rest of the story.
Cast
edit- S. S. Rajendran as Sekhar
- Devika as Uma/Meena/Sumathi/Kausalya Devi[1]
- R. Muthuraman as Mohan
- S. V. Sahasranamam as Thanikachalam
- T. R. Ramachandran as Nithyanandham
- R. S. Manohar as Gopal
- Javar Seetharaman as Dr. Shivasankaran
- Kamal Haasan as Ravi
- T. R. Rajakumari as Parvathi[2]
- Pushpalatha as Kalyani
- Sheela as Chithra
- V. S. Raghavan as Somasundaram
- O. A. K. Thevar as Zamindar Marthandam
- M. E. Madhavan as Sundaramoorthy
- Janaki
- Radhabhai
- Jyothi Lakshmi as a dancer[3]
Production
editVanambadi is a remake of the Bengali film Sesh Porichoy.[4][5] It was produced by K. Murukesan and Kannadasan,[6] directed and photographed by G. R. Nathan, written by Valampuri Somanathan, and edited by S. Surya.[7] It was the last film for T. R. Rajakumari as an actress.[2]
Soundtrack
editThe soundtrack was composed by K. V. Mahadevan and lyrics for all songs were written by Kannadasan.[8][9] The song "Gangaikarai" is set in Abheri raga,[10] and "Thookanna Kuruvi" is set in "Suddha Dhanyasi with Charukesi".[11] For the song "Kadavul Manithanai", Kannadasan initially wrote the lyrics "Avan Kadhalithe Vedhanaiyil Saaga Vendum" to which singer T. M. Soundararajan objected as he was religious and would not sing lines which degrade god and suggested to change the lyrics. Kannadasan finally changed the lyrics to "Vaada Vendum".[12]
| Songs | Singer | Length |
|---|---|---|
| "Gangai Karai Thottam" | P. Susheela | 5:46 |
| "Oomai Penn Oru" | 4:03 | |
| "Thookanna Kuruvi Kodu" | 4:21 | |
| "Aan Kaviyai Vella" | T. M. Soundararajan P. Susheela | 5:30 |
| "Kadavul Manithanai" | T. M. Soundararajan | 3:20 |
| "Yettil Ezhuthi Vaithan" | T. M. Soundararajan L. R. Eswari (Humming) | 3:24 |
| "Yaaradi Vanthaar" | L. R. Eswari | 3:49 |
| "Nil Kavani Purappadu" | A. L. Raghavan L. R. Eswari | 4:10 |
Release and reception
editVanambadi was released on 9 March 1963.[7] Kanthan of Kalki positively reviewed the film, saying the titular skylark was singing well.[13] The film was commercially successful, and Devika was particularly appreciated for playing the double role.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b "தேவிகா: 3. நடிப்பு தண்ணீர் பட்ட பாடு..!". Dinamani (in Tamil). 3 September 2016. Archived from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ a b Guy, Randor (17 November 1990). "T. R. Rajakumari: 'The dream girl' with many-sided talent". The Indian Express. p. 18. Retrieved 28 May 2021 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "11. உடல்மொழியால் உருட்டும் விழியால் ரசிகர்களை ஈர்த்த டி.ஆர்.ராமச்சந்திரன்". Dinamani (in Tamil). 1 November 2019. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ Vamanan (23 April 2018). "Tamil cinema's bong connection". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
- ^ Vamanan (23 April 2018). "தமிழ் சினிமாவை இணைத்த ஹவுரா பிரிட்ஜ்!". Dinamalar (in Tamil). Nellai. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Kannadasan 2008, pp. 94–95.
- ^ a b "Vanambadi". The Indian Express. 9 March 1963. p. 3. Retrieved 6 December 2019 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "Vanambadi". Gaana. Archived from the original on 25 July 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
- ^ "Saaradha , Vaanampadi Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by KV Mahadevan". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ Mani, Charulatha (5 August 2011). "A Raga's Journey — Aspects of Abheri". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- ^ Parthasarathy, Dhanya (18 December 2004). "The walking Google of Tamil film songs". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ^ "அந்த நாள் ஊஞ்சல் 2- யாழ் சுதாகர்". Andhimazhai (in Tamil). 30 April 2006. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ^ காந்தன் (24 March 1963). "வானம்பாடி". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 17. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024 – via Internet Archive.
Bibliography
edit- Kannadasan (2008). எனது சுயசரிதம் [My Autobiography] (in Tamil). Kannadhasan Pathippagam. ISBN 9788184020205.