Desa Munnetram

Desa Munnetram
Promotional poster
Directed by Mahindra
Produced by Sarvotham Badhami
Written by N. R. Desai
Starring
  • M. Natesa Iyer
  • K. R. Chellam
  • ‘Baby' Rukmini
  • S. R. Padma
  • Sripatha Shankar
  • Govindarajulu Naidu
  • Seetha Devi
  • M. Lakshmanan
  • K. S. Gopalakrishnan[lower-alpha 1]
  • Kokilam
Music by
Production
company
Sagar Movietone
Release date
 1938
Country India
Language Tamil

Desa Munnetram (Development of the Nation)[1] is a 1938 Indian Tamil-language film, dealing with the issue of untouchability. Produced by Sarvotham Badhami and directed by Mahindra, the film features an ensemble cast, including Mathrimangalam Natesa Iyer, K. R. Chellam, ‘Baby' Rukmini, S. R. Padma, Sripatha Shankar, Govindarajulu Naidu, Seetha Devi, M. Lakshmanan, K. S. Gopalakrishnan[lower-alpha 1] and Kokilam. The film opened to critical acclaim and was commercially successful, however it is lost.[2]

Plot

In a small kingdom, Murugan (Natesa Iyer), who comes from a downtrodden community, fights for the eradication of untouchability. His eight-year-old daughter Madhavi (Baby Rukmini) also joins him in his fight. During a village festival, the little girl goes near the deity and is penalised for her behaviour — she and her friend, a hunchback, are beaten up.

A prince of the kingdom is involved in an accident, Murugan saves him and is rewarded with money. The unexpected boon helps him send his daughter to college and she acquires an M.A. Degree. In college, she falls in love with a young man who has no idea about her origins. More complications arise like entry into the local temple by the downtrodden becoming an issue. Finally they march into the temple in a peaceful procession and the lovers marry.[2]

Cast

  • Mathrimangalam Natesa Iyer as Murugan
  • Baby Rukmini as Madhavi
  • K. R. Chellam
  • S. R. Padma
  • Sripatha Shankar
  • Govindarajulu Naidu
  • Seetha Devi
  • M. Lakshmanan
  • K. S. Gopalakrishnan[lower-alpha 1]
  • Kokilam

Production

After Tamil cinema started producing sound films, beginning with Kalidas in 1931, some socially conscious filmmakers began to make films, highlighting the Indian independence movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and other Indian freedom fighters. One of them was K. Subramanyam, who made films such as Bhaktha Chetha and Thyagabhoomi. One such film highlighting the issue of untouchability was Desa Munnetram. Produced for Sagar Movietone, a Bombay-based company, by Sarvotham Badhami and directed by Mahindra, the film had Carnatic musician Mathirimangalam Natesa Iyer in the lead. The story and screenplay were by N. R. Desai, while A. N. Kalyanasundaram wrote the dialogues.[2]

Soundtrack

Desa Munnetram's original soundtrack and lyrics were done by Papanasam Sivan and Kalyanasundaram who were also assistants to director Mahindra.[2]

Reception

Desa Munnetram was very well received by the press and critics, whilst becoming a commercially successful venture at the box office. In 2011, film historian Randor Guy, writing for The Hindu, called the film a "masterstroke of communal equality", while concluding that the film would be "remembered for its thematic content, patriotic songs and the performances by Baby Rukmini and Natesa Iyer". No print of Desa Munnetram is known to survive, making it a lost film.[2]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Not K. S. Gopalakrishnan

References

  1. ↑ Baskaran, S. Theodore (2006). "War relic". Frontline. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Guy, Randor (17 December 2011). "Blast from the past: Desa Munnetram (1938)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
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