Sampoorna Ramayanam (1958 film)

Sampoorna Ramayanam
Poster
Directed by K. Somu
Produced by M. A. Venu
Screenplay by A. P. Nagarajan
Based on Ramayana
by Valmiki
Starring N. T. Rama Rao
Sivaji Ganesan
Padmini
T. K. Bhagavathi
P. V. Narasimha Bharathi
Chittor V. Nagaiah
S. V. Ranga Rao
G. Varalakshmi
Music by K. V. Mahadevan
Cinematography V. K. Gopanna
Edited by T. Vijayarangam
Production
company
M. A. V. Pictures
Distributed by M. A. V. Pictures
Release date
  • 14 April 1958 (1958-04-14)
Running time
 204 mins
Country India
Language Tamil

Sampoorna Ramayanam (lit. The Complete Ramayana) is a 1958 Tamil-language Indian historical drama film directed by K. Somu. It is based on Valmiki's Ramayana. The film features N. T. Rama Rao and Sivaji Ganesan in lead roles. The film, produced by M. A. Venu, had musical score by K. V. Mahadevan and was released on 14 April 1958. It became a major commercial success, and ran for over 264 days in theatres, thereby becoming a silver jubilee film.

Story

The story is the complete Ramayana from the birth of Rama to his Pattabhisheka after completing his exile.

Cast

Crew

  • Producer: M. A. Venu
  • Banner: M. A. V. Pictures
  • Director: K. Somu
  • Music: K. V. Mahadevan
  • Lyrics: A. Maruthakasi
  • Based on: Valmiki's Ramayana
  • Screenplay: A. P. Nagarajan
  • Dialogue: A. P. Nagarajan
  • Cinematography: V. K. Gopanna
  • Editing: T. Vijayarangam
  • Art: Ch. E. Prasad Rao, M. K. Kutty Appu
  • Choreography: M. Sampath Kumar, Chinnilal
  • Songs Recording: T. S. Rangasamy
  • Audiography: C. V. Ramaswamy Iyer

Production

Sampoorna Ramayanam is based on the Ramayana, an Indian epic written by Valmiki.[3] It was directed by K. Somu and produced by M. A. Venu under M. A. V. Pictures, while Kannadasan wrote the screenplay. Cinematography was handled by V. K. Gopanna, and the editing by T. Vijayarangam.[4][5]

S. S. Rajendran declined the offer to play Bharata before Sivaji Ganesan was cast in that role,[6] stating that he would not act in films based on mythology.[7] This marked Ganesan's first mythological film.[8] K. V. Srinivasan dubbed the voice of N. T. Rama Rao,[2] who played Rama.[9]

Soundtrack

The music composed by K. V. Mahadevan.[10][11] Playback singers are C. S. Jayaraman, T. M. Soundararajan, Ghantasala, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Thiruchi Loganathan, S. C. Krishnan, M. S. Rajeswari, A. P. Komala, A. G. Rathnamala, K. Rani, Sarojini. Udutha & Pathma. All lyrics were penned by A. Maruthakasi. Unlike most Tamil films of that era, the songs were composed to form a part of the narrative, as opposed to being standalone segments.[12]

No.SongSingersLength (m:ss)
1Annaiyum Pithavumaagi .. Yen PirintheerT. M. Soundararajan, Thangappan02:31
2Indru Poi Naalai VaaraaiC. S. Jayaraman02:52
3Neethi ThavarathuSeerkazhi Govindarajan01:03
4Pathugaiye ThunaiyaagumT. M. Soundararajan & Seerkazhi Govindarajan02:49
5Sabarikku RaamanumSeerkazhi Govindarajan06:08
6Sangeetha SowbagyameC. S. Jayaraman04:24
7Sree Raamachandhran MagudaabishegaSeerkazhi Govindarajan & S. C. Krishnan00:45
8Ellorum Kondaadum RaamaraajyameA. P. Komala, A. G. Rathnamala, K. Rani,
Sarojini & Udutha		00:49
9Thennaadudaiya Sivane.... Kannpaarum EnaiyaalumC. S. Jayaraman02:31
10Paakraan Sumaa PaakraanM. S. Rajeswari01:02
11Thavamuni Viswamithiran.... Panjanai MeedhuC. S. Jayaraman06:00
12Veenai KodiyudaiyaThiruchi Loganathan01:45
13Mannellaam Ponnaagum Raaman VaravaaleyA. P. Komala, A. G. Rathnamala, S. C. Krishnan
K. Rani, Sarojini & Pathma		01:45
14Vaazhiya Ulagam.... Makkal Pirandhadhai Enni EnniyeT. M. Soundararajan04:28
15Araneri Marandha ThamayanaiSeerkazhi Govindarajan01:40
16Pogadhe Atthaan PogadheM. S. Rajeswari01:02
17Azhagiya Ilangaa NagaraiSeerkazhi Govindarajan01:02
18Utthaman Pogindraane.... Utthaman Raaman PogindraanGhantasala02:30
19Atthiri Munivar Raaman LatchmananaiSeerkazhi Govindarajan02:37

Reception

Sampoorna Ramayanam was released on 14 April 1958, during Puthandu.[13][14] Politician C. Rajagopalachari, who wrote the Ramayana as a serialised story in Kalki which was later published as a book, watched this film and appreciated it, particularly Ganesan's performance as Bharata. Usually he was a critic of cinema in general and did not think much about films.[2][15] In a review dated 27 April 1958, the magazine Ananda Vikatan lauded Ganesan's performance, felt T. K. Bhagavathi was perfect for the role of Ravana, and called the film a must-watch.[16]

Writing in 2012, film historian Randor Guy said in his review article that the film is "Remembered for the impressive performances of N. T. Rama Rao, Padmini and Varalakshmi, the melodious music of Mahadevan and the song ‘Indru Poi.’"[2] In 2018, Arunkumar Sekhar of The New Indian Express praised the film's faithfulness to the source material.[17] The film was a major commercial success and ran for over 264 days in theatres,[18] thereby becoming a silver jubilee film,[19] and also being responsible for a renewed interest in mythological films in Tamil cinema.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "The very best of Padmini". Rediff.com. 26 September 2006. slide 7. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Guy, Randor (30 June 2012). "Sampoorna Ramayanam 1956". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  3. ↑ "The Best Mythological Films of Tamil Cinema". Rediff. 22 May 2014. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  4. ↑ Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [Tamil film history and its achievements] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publishers. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "Sampoorna Ramayanam Release". nadigarthilagam. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "'Latchiya Nadigar' SSR No More". The New Indian Express. 25 October 2014. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  7. ↑ Kannan, R. (2017). MGR: A Life. India: Penguin Random House. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-14-342934-0.
  8. ↑ Guy, Randor (1997). Starlight, Starbright: The Early Tamil Cinema. Chennai: Amra Publishers. p. 281.
  9. ↑ Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, p. 117.
  10. ↑ "Sampoorna Ramayanam Songs". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "Sampoorna Ramayanam Songs". Gaana.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Baskaran 1996, p. 56.
  13. ↑ "தடைகளைத் தாண்டி வந்த சம்பூர்ண ராமாயணம்!". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 3 May 2016. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  14. ↑ "Sampurna Ramayanam". The Indian Express. 14 April 1958. p. 1.
  15. ↑ Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, pp. 117-118.
  16. ↑ "சம்பூர்ண ராமாயணம்". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 27 April 1958.
  17. ↑ Sekhar, Arunkumar (7 July 2018). "'Hanuman vs Mahiravana' movie review: Uneventful storytelling in a technically commendable film". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  18. ↑ Selvaraj, N. (20 March 2017). "வெள்ளி விழா கண்ட தமிழ் திரைப்படங்கள்" [Tamil films that completed silver jubilees]. Thinnai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  19. ↑ Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, p. 241.
  20. ↑ Baskaran 1996, p. 185.

Bibliography

  • Baskaran, S. Theodore (1996). The eye of the serpent: an introduction to Tamil cinema. East West Books.
  • Ganesan, Sivaji; Narayana Swamy, T. S. (2007) [2002]. Autobiography of an Actor: Sivaji Ganesan, October 1928 – July 2001. Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust.
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