Vedhala Ulagam

Vedhala Ulagam (transl. Demon Land) is a 1948 Indian Tamil-language fantasy film directed and produced by A. V. Meiyappan, and written by P. Neelakantan. Adapted from the play of the same name by Pammal Sambandha Mudaliar, the film stars T. R. Mahalingam, K. Sarangapani, Mangalam, K. R. Chellam and C. T. Rajakantham. It was released on 11 August 1948 and became a commercial success.

Vedhala Ulagam
Theatrical poster
Directed byA. V. Meiyappan
Produced byA. V. Meiyappan
Screenplay byP. Neelakantan
Based onVedhala Ulagam
by Pammal Sambandha Mudaliar
StarringT. R. Mahalingam
Mangalam
Music byR. Sudarsanam
CinematographyT. Muthusamy
Edited byM. V. Raman
Production
company
Release date
  • 15 August 1948 (1948-08-15)
Running time
160 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

Rajasimhan has spent time with his companion, Dhathan. One day he goes into the queen's puja room and looks at the book of Demon World. In it, the demon king gives three orders and that if one fulfilled these orders, he would give them his kingdom and his young daughter Rajeevi. Rajasimhan is fascinated by the image of Rajeevi in the book. Rajasimhan learns from his mother that his father went to the demon world 18 years ago and was cursed when he tried to rescue all of the men who did not fulfill the king's orders. With his mother's permission, Rajasimhan goes with Dhathan to the demon world to rescue his father. With Rajeevi's help, she and Rajasimhan meet. The demon queen, Komati Devi sends Rajeevi into the torture chamber to save Rajasimhan. Rajasimhan and Dhathan are given one order after another. How are the orders executed? What is the fate of Rajeevi and Rajasimhan? These are questions the rest of the story deals with.[1]

Cast

Production

Vedhala Ulagam was adapted by P. Neelakantan from the fantasy play of the same name written by Pammal Sambandha Mudaliar. The film was entirely shot at AVM Studios, with sets built by A. Balu. Some parts of the film were shot with T. A. Jayalakshmi, but she was ultimately replaced by Mangalam of the Yoga-Mangalam dancer duo. The dance sequence of Kumari Kamala, Lalitha, Padmini and Tara Choudary was choreographed by Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai. While the film was predominantly black and white, the last sequence was hand-tinted in colour.[2] Cinematography was handled by T. Muthusamy, and editing by M. V. Raman.[3]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by R. Sudarasanam and lyrics written by Mahakavi Subramaniya Bharathiyar, K. D. Santhanam, Papanasam Sivan and N. Raghavan.[1] The song "Ayyaya Paarkka Kannu Koosuthey" is based on the Brazilian singer Carmen Miranda's "I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (I Like You Very Much)".[2] Four poems by Bharathiyar were also featured in the film: "Kalviyil Sirantha Thamizh Nadu", "Thoondir Puzhuvinai Pol", "Odi Vilayadu Pappa" and "Theeratha Villayattu Pillai".[4]

NoSongSingerLyricsLength
1Kalviyil Sirantha Thamizh NaduT. R. MahalingamMahakavi Subramaniya Bharathiyar4:59
2Mahaasugidha Rooba SundhariT. R. Mahalingam3:02
3Magaanaaga Sundhara Mana MohananT. S. Bhagavathi3:00
4Satthiyam Seidhu TharuvenK. Sarangapani0:36
5Senthazhavum VennilaveT. R. Mahalingam & T. S. Bhagavathi6:45
6Anandham Aanen Naan AahaaM. S. Rajeswari2:36
7Solai Azhaginil Maalai VasandhameT. S. Bhagavathi3:02
8Aiyaiyaiya Paarkka Kannu KoosudheK. Sarangapani2:22
9Thoondir Puzhuvinai PolD. K. PattammalMahakavi Subramaniya Bharathiyar3:59
10Adhi ParashakthiT. R. Mahalingam2:26
11Vaarai Inbam ThandhaiT. S. Bhagavathi2:22
12Aadum Mayil Paadum KuyilM. S. Rajeswari1:46
13Velaar Vizhi Maadhai Manam SeiyaT. V. Rathnam1:20
14Ezhil Annam Vadivaagi EduthheginenP. A. Periyanayaki1:32
15Iravile Vandhaan Inba Sugam ThandhuM. S. Rajeswari1:56
16Saantham Kolvaai En SagodhariyeP. A. Periyanayaki1:31
17Odi Vilayadu PappaT. S. Bhagavathi & M. S. RajeswariMahakavi Subramaniya Bharathiyar3:08
18Un Manam KalangathoT. R. Mahalingam2:21
19Vasam Ulla PooparipeneT. S. Bhagavathi & M. S. Rajeswari8:20
20Theeratha Villayattu PillaiD. K. PattammalMahakavi Subramaniya Bharathiyar5:17
21Dhayai Purivai
Kambhoji Ragam		T. R. MahalingamPapanasam Sivan2:53

Release and reception

Vedhala Ulagam was released on 11 August 1948.[3][5] The last sequence in colour drew large crowds because such coloured sequences in Tamil films were rarities then, and the film became a commercial success.[2][6]

References
  1. வேதாள உலகம் (song book) (in Tamil). AVM Productions. 1948.
  2. Guy, Randor (19 December 2008). "Vedhala Ulagam 1948". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  3. Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [Tamil film history and its achievements] (in Tamil). Sivagami Publishers. Archived from the original on 2020.
  4. Gopalakrishnan, P.V. (7 August 2017). "Filmy Ripples – Mahakavi Bharathiyar's works in Tamil Film Music". The Cinema Resource Centre. Archived from the original on 23 December 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  5. "Demon Land". The Indian Express (Independence Anniversary Number). August 1948. p. 11.
  6. Pillai, Swarnavel Eswaran (2015). Madras Studios: Narrative, Genre and Ideology in Tamil Cinema. India: SAGE Publications. p. 115.
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