Kanjan

Kanjan
Song book cover
Directed by Covai A. Aiyamuthu
T. R. Gopu
Produced by S. K. Mohideen
Screenplay by Covai A. Aiyamuthu
Starring S. V. Subbaiah
M. N. Nambiar

P. V. Narasimha Bharathi
K. Malathi
M. S. S. Bhagyam
Music by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Cinematography P. Ramasami
Edited by T. R. Gopu
Production
company
Jupiter Pictures
Release date
  • 11 November 1947 (1947-11-11) (India)
[1]
Country India
Language Tamil

Kanjan (English: Miser) is a 1947 Indian, Tamil language film directed by Covai A. Aiyamuthu and T. R. Gopu.[2] The film featured S. V. Subbaiah and T. G. Kamala Devi in the lead roles.[3] No print of the film is known to survive, making it a lost film.[4]

Plot

The story is of a wealthy old man going after his son's girlfriend to make her his second wife. The film highlights social evils such as black-marketing, selling of young girls et al.[5]

Cast

List adapted from the database of Film News Anandan,[1] the Hindu review article[5] and the film's songbook.[6]

Male cast
Female cast
  • K. Malathi as Maragatham
  • T. G. Kamala Devi as Amaravathi
  • M. S. S. Bhagyam as Chellam
  • C. K. Saraswathi as Anjuham
  • K. S. Angamuthu as Kuppayi

Production

The film was produced by S. K. Mohideen, a partner of Jupiter pictures when writer Covai A. Aiyamuthu wanted to make a film. Covai A. Aiyamuthu directed the film assisted by the company's editor T. R. Gopu who also did the editing. Covai A. Aiyamuthu wrote the story and dialogues too. Cinematography was handled by P. Ramasami and art direction was by P. B. Chowdri and Kuttiyappu. C. Thangaraj was in charge of choreography. The film was made at Kovai Central Studios.

Trivia

The film was a flop. An interesting event took place to show the enormity of its failure. At about this film was screened in Coimbatore, a college celebrated its annual day. There was a play staged by the students. A scene showed a sinner at judgement in Yama's court. Yama says the sinner should be fried in boiling oil as punishment for his sins. Yama's accountant Chitragupta says the punishment is not enough. So Yama says, the sinner's body should be cut into pieces and fed to vultures. Again Chitragupta says the punishment is not enough. Yama thinks and comes out with a novel punishment. He says the sinner should be made to see all 3 shows of Kanjan at a stretch in the local movie theatre. The joke does not end there. The sinner wails and appeals to Yama that he be better fried in boiling oil and his body be fed to vultures rather than he be made to watch the film.

The producer S. K. Mohideen, who was also an invitee laughed at the joke.[5]

Soundtrack

Music was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu while the lyrics were penned by Covai A. Aiyamuthu. Playback singer is M. M. Mariyappa. A song Mandaril ezhil udayon engal Tamizhan (Tamils are the most elegant among mankind). It is said that the producers waited for 6 months after completing the shooting to record this song by Mariyappa.

Reception

Film historian Randor Guy wrote in 2010 that the film is "Remembered for its fine music and some of its cast who became major stars later.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 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 9 June 2017.
  2. Ashish Rajadhyaksha & Paul Willemen. Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 1998. p. 605.
  3. Kanjan (1947) Tamil Movie
  4. Baskaran, S. Theodore (1996). The eye of the serpent: An introduction to Tamil cinema. East West Books. p. 103.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Guy, Randor (21 November 2010). "Kanjan 1947". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  6. "கஞ்சன்" [Miser] (songbook) (in Tamil). Jupiter Pictures. 1947. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
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