Vaazhkai (1949 film)

Vaazhkai
Theatrical release poster
Directed by A.V. Meiyappan
Produced by A.V. Meiyappan
Written by M. V. Raman
K. Mugunthan
P. Neelakandan
Starring Vyjayanthimala
M. S. Draupadi
T. R. Ramachandran
S. V. Sahasranamam
Narrated by M. V. Raman
Music by R. Sudarsanam
Cinematography T. Muthu Samy
Edited by M. V. Raman
Production
company
Distributed by AVM Productions
Release date
  • 22 December 1949 (1949-12-22)[1]
Running time
 170 minutes
Country India
Language Tamil

Vaazhkai (English: Life) is a 1949 Indian Tamil-language social guidance film produced and directed by A.V. Meiyappan through AVM Productions. It stars Vyjayanthimala in her screen debut with M. S. Draupadi, T. R. Ramachandran and S. V. Sahasranamam forms an ensemble cast along with many actors appearing in other significant role. Telugu Jeevitham (1950 film)

Upon release the film was well received and it won the Best Tamil Film Award at the 1st Film Fans' Association Awards. Vyjayanthimala and M. S. Draupadi received the Second Best Tamil Actress and Third Best Tamil Actress Awards respectively. It also broke some box office records in South India.

The film was simultaneously released in Telugu as Jeevitham. The film was later remade in Hindi as Bahar (1951) directed by M. V. Raman. Vyjayanthimala played the lead role in all these versions with Meiyappan as the producer.

Plot

Murthi (S. V. Sahasranamam) comes to a village and he deceives Meenakshi (M. S. Draupadi); they have sex. After returning to his home town where he wants to marry Mohana (Vyjayanthimala); she loves Nathan (T. R, Ramachandran). Lakshmi discovers she is pregnant and goes to Murthi, who claims ignorance. She jumps into the sea in a suicide attempt. A passerby saves her and she has the baby. She leaves the baby with Nathan. He takes care of the baby and faces many problems. Learning about the baby, Mohana gets suspicious. Finally the actions of Murthi are exposed and he accepts Meenakshi as his wife.

Cast

  • Vyjayanthimala as Mohana Shivashankaralingam
  • M. S. Draupadi as Meenakshi
  • T. R. Ramachandran as Nathan
  • S. V. Sahasranamam as Murthi
  • K. Sarangkapani as Shivashankaralingam
  • P. A. Subbaiah Pillai as Velayutham Pillai
  • K. Ramaswamy as Veerasamy
  • M. S. Karuppaiya as Vinayagam Pillai
  • V. M. Ezhumazhai as Asampavitham
  • P. D. Sambantham as Seeni
  • S. R. Janaki as Ambujam
  • K. N. Kamalam as Sivapakkiyam
  • G. K. Saroja as Lakshmi
  • Lalitha as Dancer in special appearance
  • Padmini as Dancer in special appearance

Production

Vaazhkai was the first film to be shot at the new AVM's new studio at Chennai. For the lead female role A.V. Meiyappan wanted to launch a new face. M. V. Raman, the story writer of Vazhkai, spotted Vyjayanthimala performing Bharata Natyam in Chennai Gokhale Hall,[2] impressed by her talent he later recommended her to Meiyappan. Vyjayanthimala, the daughter of the actress Vasundhara Devi was just 13 years old when Meiyappan approach her for the film. Kannada actress Pandari Bai was considered for the other female role.[3] However she was rejected by Meiyappan who felt her Kannada-tinged Tamil accent would not suit the audience; she was replaced by M. S. Draupadi.[4] However the actress later played that role in the Hindi version two years later in Bahar (1951) under the screen name Padmini.[3]

Inspiration

The film's story line was inspired by a few Bollywood and Hollywood films. Hollywood film such as Bachelor Mother (1939), where the protagonist Polly Parrish Ginger Rogers finds a baby and searches for the it's father. A Bollywood film that inspired the film is Kunwara Baap (1942), which was later remade with the same name (1974) and had a similar plot.

Soundtrack

The music is composed by R. Sudharsanam, lyrics are by Mahakavi Bharathiyar and K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam, and sung by T. R. Ramachandran. Playback singers are D. K. Pattammal, M. L. Vasanthakumari, T. S. Bagavathi, M. S. Rajeswari and A. G. Rathnamala.

No.SongSingersLyricsLength
1Manamevum Aasai.... Un Kangal Unnai EmaatrinaalM. S. RajeswariK. P. Kamatchi Sundharam02:13
2Manamevum Aasai.... Un Kann Unnai EmaatrinaalT. R. RamachandranK. P. Kamatchi Sundharam01:50
3Uzhuthundu Vaazhvaar.... Paadupattaale Palan KoodumT. S. Bagavathi and M. S. RajeswariK. P. Kamatchi Sundharam10:18
4Gopaalanodu Naan AaduveneM. L. VasanthakumariK. P. Kamatchi Sundharam04:49
5Senthamizhum Suvaiyum PolaveT. R. Ramachandran and M. S. RajeswariK. P. Kamatchi Sundharam02:32
6Annaiye Nee Ennai.... Ennam Ellaam Kanavu PoleT. S. BagavathiK. P. Kamatchi Sundharam02:37
7Enni Enni Parkka ManamM. S. RajeswariK. P. Kamatchi Sundharam3:01
8Bharatha Samudhaayam VaazhgaveD. K. PattammalMahakavi Bharathiyar03:13
9Senthamizhum Suvaiyum PolaveT. R. Ramachandran, M. S. Rajeswari and T. S. BagavathiK. P. Kamatchi Sundharam01:20
10Ezhaikku Edhu InbamK. P. Kamatchi Sundharam03:11
11Manadhinil PudhuvidhaM. S. RajeswariK. P. Kamatchi Sundharam
12Avan PorukkuT. S. BagavathiK. P. Kamatchi Sundharam
13Aasai Kollum MeesaiyullaM. S. Rajeswari and A. G. RathnamalaK. P. Kamatchi Sundharam03:45

Box office

The film became a sleeper hit at the box office, later labelled as blockbuster when it completed 25 weeks of its theatrical run.[5] Subsequently, the film was awarded a trophy in which Meiyappan's son M. Saravanan described as the tallest trophy of the company by the distributors in Karaikkudi for its 25 weeks of theatrical run.[6]

Awards

The film was awarded with Best Tamil Film Award at the 1st Film Fans Association Award, where it secured 2,512 votes.[7] At the same event, the lead actresses Vyjayanthimala and M. S. Darupadi also awarded with the Best Tamil Actress Award, Second Prize and Third Prize respectively.[8] The former secured 1,676 votes, while the latter got 1,386 votes.[8]

1st Film Fans Association Awards (1950)
  • Best Tamil Film Award (First Prize) - A. V. Meiyappan
  • Best Tamil Actress Award (Second Prize) - Vyjayanthimala
  • Best Tamil Actress Award (Third Prize) - M. S. Draupadi

References

  1. ↑ 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 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  2. ↑ Rajan, Anjana (20 January 2007). "A golden innings". The Hindu. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  3. 1 2 Guy, Randor (14 February 2003). "Actress who glowed with inner beauty". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  4. ↑ Guy, Randor (21 February 2003). "Remembering Pandari Bai". The Indian Express. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  5. ↑ "AVM Production". Avm.in. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  6. ↑ Rangarajan, Malathi (19 February 2010). "History created ... and preserved!". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  7. ↑ "Bhanumathi Best Star in Tamil and Telugu – Film Ballot Result". The Indian Express. 11 May 1950. p. 6.
  8. 1 2 "Bhanumathi Ranked Best Actress". The Indian Express. 10 May 1950. p. 9.
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