Ulagam

Ulagam
Poster
Tamil உலகம்
Directed by L. S. Ramachandran
M. H. M. Moonas (Supervision)
Produced by M. H. M. Moonas
Screenplay by M. H. M. Moonas
Story by Mrs. C. P. Moonas
Starring Chittor V. Nagaiah
M. V. Rajamma
P. S. Veerappa
M. S. Draupathi
Music by M. S. Gnanamani
Cinematography R. R. Chandran
Edited by L. S. Ramachandran
Production
company
Society Pictures
Release date
  • 10 July 1953 (1953-07-10) (India)
[1]
Running time
 3 hrs. 9 mins. (17013 ft.)
Country India
Language Tamil

Ulagam (English: World) is a 1953 Indian, Tamil-language film directed by L. S. Ramachandran.[2] The film featured Chittor V. Nagaiah and M. V. Rajamma in the lead roles.[3]

Plot

The story spans 3 generations. Sabapathy is an average person and he married beautiful Meena. Sabapathy had becomes gains wealth and status by luck. The couple have two sons - Shankar and Mohan. Shankar marries Padma as per parents' wishes. Mohan is studying in a college. A girl student, Lalitha loves him but he does not accept her. Lalitha goes abroad for Barrister studies. Leela is Mohan's cousin. She has returned from South Africa and studying Medicine. Mohan loves her. Leela is apprehensive at the beginning but later on accepts his love. She becomes pregnant before marriage. Lalitha returns as a Barrister. She comes to know the love between Mohan and Leela. She tries several ways to separate them and get Mohan for herself. However, she fails in all her attempts and finally dies in a car accident. Leela's pregnancy is aborted due to shock. Mohan and Leela gets married. Mohan goes to America for higher studies
In the meantime Shankar and Padma begets two children - Chandar and Swarna. Padma dies when Chandar is 20 and Swarna is 16. Shankar wants to marry a poor girl Prema as his second wife. But Chandar opposes his father marrying a second time. Prema tries to commit suicide by jumping into the ocean. Chandar, without knowing that she is the girl his father intends to marry, rescues her and brings her for treatment to Leela who has become a doctor now. Chandar's blood is transfused to Prema. Chandar falls in love with Prema. A police inspector Govindasamy comes for inquiry and get attracted by Prema's beauty. But Prema refuses him. He files a case against Prema for attempted suicide.
Chandar does not want to live with his father. He stays with Leela. When Mohan returns from America, Govindasamy tries to poison his mind creating false stories about Chandar and Leela. Chandar, is now forced to leave Leela's home also. He goes to Prema's house and comes to know that she is the one his father was to marry. So, he gets upset. The police inspector Govindasamy charges Chandar as the person who urged Prema to commit suicide. Govindasamy arrests Chandar and imprison him.
What happens to Chandar? What happened to the case against Prema? Was the police inspector able to succeed? are the questions the rest of the story deals with.[4]

Cast & Crew

The following lists are compiled from The Hindu article,[3] and from the song book.[4]

Cast

  • Chittoor V. Nagaiah
  • M. V. Rajamma
  • T. E. Varadan
  • P. K. Saraswathi
  • P. S. Veerappa
  • T. K. Bhagavathi
  • M. S. Draupathi
  • T. R. Rajani
  • S. M. Kumaresan
  • Pulimoottai Ramasami
  • M. R. Swaminathan
  • E. R. Sahadevan
  • K. Sayeeram
  • T. K. Sampangi
  • T. P. Ponnusami Pillai
  • G. V. Sarma
  • Nandaram
  • M. S. Karuppiah
  • Jayaram
  • Kunchithapaadham Pillai
  • V. T. Kalyanam
  • T. V. Sethuraman
  • Appa K . Duraiswami
  • Raju
  • S. V. Shanmugam
  • Pottai Krishnamoorthi
  • S. Peer Mohamed
  • M. Lakshmiprabha
  • C. K. Saraswathi
  • K. S. Angamuthu
  • K. Aranganayaki
  • P. Saradambal
  • N. Thilagam
  • S. Jayalakshmi Ammal
  • N. R. Sakunthala
  • G. Saroja
  • Baby Lakshmi
Folk Dance
Bharatha Natyam
Wrestling
  • Dara Singh
  • Ali Riza Bey
  • Wong Buck Lee (referee).
Group dance

P. Shanthakumari, D. Saroja, N. D. Rani, G. Sundari, Pratibha, V. Saroja, T. S. Kamala, T. S. Jayanthi, M. M. Leela, N. Krishnaveni, K. Rajeswari, V. Saraswathi, Meera, K. Saroja, Sakkubai, Bhavani

Crew

  • Producer = M. H. M. Moonas
  • Director = L. S. Ramachandran
  • Story = Mrs. C. P. Moonas
  • Dislogues = M. H. M. Moonas
  • Cinematography = R. R. Chandran
  • Operative Cameraman = K. M. Govindan
  • Editing = L. S. Ramachandran
  • Art = V. M. Vardhookar
  • Choreography = K. K. Sinha, K. Madhavan, Jayashankar
  • Lab = Vije Cine Laboratories
  • Studio = Star Combines Studios

Production

The film was produced by M. H. M. Moonas, a Sri Lankan who was resident in India. The film was also made in Telugu with the title Prapanjam. The film had a wrestling match included in it. The producer conducted a competition for which a total of ₹100,000 was offered as prize money. Six questions were asked for which, it was announced, the answers were kept in a sealed cover and deposited in the 'Eastern Bank of India'. The first all correct entry would get a prize of ₹10,000 - quite a big amount those days. Altogether 309 prizes were offered. Though the competition was free for all to participate, it was asked to attach the counterfoil of the ticket with each entry.[3] However, there is no record about the results of the competition.[5] 100 copies of the film were made simultaneously.[1]

Soundtrack

Music was composed by M. S. Gnanamani while the lyrics were penned by M. H. M. Moonas, Kavi Kunjaram, K. P. Kamatchisundaram, P. Hanumandha Rao, Kuyilan (debut) and Tamizh Oli. Singer is Chittor V. Nagaiah and the Playback singers are N. L. Ganasaraswathi, Thiruchi Loganathan, M. L. Vasanthakumari, A. M. Rajah, P. Leela, P. A. Periyanayaki, N. Satyam and M. S. Rajeswari.[5]

No.SongSinger/sLyricistDuration (m:ss)
1Manam Pole Ullasamayi
2Azhagaana Bhoomi ThanileChitor V. Nagaiah
3Kaadhalinaal Ulagame InbamadheN. L. Ganasaraswathi & Thiruchi LoganathanKuyilan
4En JeevanileM. L. Vasanthakumari
5Puvi Vaazhvu Idho
6Anne Anne enum
7Isai Paadi NaanumeA. M. Rajah & P. Leela03:25
8Indha Thallaadum Kizhathaadi
9Thetkathi KallanadaaP. A. Periyanayaki
10Namma Velaikku Pazhudhille
11Kalaiye Uyir ThunaiyeN. L. Ganasaraswathi
12Nalla Pennpillai Kitte
13Thuyarutraeh Ennai Nee EnraayeN. Sathiyam
14Un Kaadhalaal En AnbellaamA. M. Rajah & M. L. Vasanthakumari03:10
15En Premai Rani KaadhalinaleA. M. Rajah & M. S. Rajeswari

Reception

Despite the star cast, wrestling and dance attractions and great publicity, the film did not fare well at the box office. However, film historian Randor Guy said the film is remembered for "the stunning star cast, prize schemes and the avalanche of publicity released by Moonas which old-timers will never forget!"

Lost film

Unconfirmed reports say that the producer was cheated by some people and he lost all his money. He withdrew all the copies from circuits and returned to his country. No copies of this film are available today making it a lost film.

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 21 April 2017.
  2. ↑ Ashish Rajadhyaksha & Paul Willemen. Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 1998. p. 651.
  3. 1 2 3 Guy, Randor (14 July 2012). "Ulagam 1953". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
  4. 1 2 Ulagam Song Book. Associated Printers (Madras) Ltd.
  5. 1 2 G. Neelamegam. Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil). Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108 (Ph:044 25361039). First edition December 2014. p. 49.
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