Abhimanyu (1948 film)

Abhimanyu is a 1948 Tamil film produced by Jupiter Pictures and starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) in a supporting role. It was based on the Mahabharatha story of Abhimanyu. The screenplay was written by A. S. A. Sami, while M. Karunanidhi assisted in the script. This was the second film for Karunanidhi as scriptwriter. The film also starred M. N. Nambiar in a supporting role.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Abhimanyu
Poster
Directed by	M. Somasundaram A. Kasilingam
Produced by	Jupiter Pictures
Written by	A. S. A. Sami
Screenplay by	A. S. A. Sami
Starring	S. M. Kumaresan U. R. Jeevarathinam M. R. Santhanalakshmi M. G. Ramachandran P. V. Narasimha Bharathi M. N. Nambiar M. G. Chakrapani
Music by	S. M. Subbaiah Naidu C. R. Subburaman
Cinematography	W. R. Subbarao
Edited by	A. Kasilingam
Production company	Jupiter Pictures
Distributed by	Jupiter Pictures
Release date	6 May 1948
Running time	180 min. (16,325 Feet)
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Production

Jupiter Pictures, a production company promoted by M. Somasundaram and S. K. Mohideen shifted to Madras from Coimbatore in 1948 after acquiring Neptune Studios. In 1948 they produced Abhimanyu, a mythological tale from the epic Mahabharatha at Madras. During the 1930s and the 40s Tamil films were mostly based on when mythologicals, folktales, folk myths and socially themed films were rare. Somasundaram himself directed the film along with A. Kasilingam. The script was written by A. S. A Sami and M. Karunanidhi. This was the second film for Karunanidhi as script writer after Rajakumaari (1947). M. G. Ramachandran and M. N. Nambiar played supporting roles in the film. The film's music was composed by S. M. Subbaiah and C. R. Subbaraman.[1][6] S. S. Rajendran was cast in the title role, but was relieved after only two weeks of shooting from the film as T. K. Muthusamy of the TKS Brothers drama troupe revealed that Rajendran was still under contract with them, and threatened legal action if the film continued production. Thus the role went to newcomer S. M. Kumaresan.[7]

Plot

The film tells the story of the Pandava prince Abhimanyu.

Cast

Male cast S. M. Kumaresan as Abhimanyu P. V. Narasimha Bharathi as Krishnan S. V. Subbaiah as Shakuni M. G. Ramachandar as Arjunan M. N. Nambiar as Lakkanan D. Balasubramaniam as Duryodhanan Pulimoottai T. R. Ramasami as Ghatorkachan M. G. Chakrapani as Balarama N. S. Narayana Pillai as Dronar

Male cast (Continued) M. K. Mustafa as Karnan T. M. Ramasami Pillai as Jankilimama Nat Annaji Rao as Vidurar K. Ramasami as Surapuli S. A. Natarajan as Jayadrathan B. Rajagopala Iyer as Dharumar N. Shankaramoorthi as Aravan T. D. Srinivasan as Dushathanan

Female cast U. R. Jeevarathnam as Vathsala M. R. Santhanalakshmi as Subhadra R. Malathi as Rukmani C. K. Saraswathi as Revathi M. S. S. Bhagyam as Magic Girl K. S. Angamuthu as Rioter K. Lakshmikantha as Magic Girl Dancer

Crew

• M. Somasundaram — Director
• A. Kasilingam — Director, editor
• S. M. Subbaiah Naidu – C. R. Subburaman .... Music
• W. R. Subbarao — Cinematographer
• P. P. Choudhry-M. P. Kuttiyappu — Art Directors
• Papanasam Sivan – Lyrics
• Sundaravathiyar — Lyrics
• Bhoomi Palakadas — Lyrics
• Vedantam Raghavaiah, K. R. Kumar & C. Thangaraj – Choreographer[2]
• A. Govindaswamy — Audiography
• K. Mukunda Kumar & K. R. Raghavan — Make-up
• T. S. Ganapathy — Costume

Release and reception

The film was released on 6 May 1948.[2]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu and C. R. Subburaman while the lyrics were penned by Papanasam Sivan, T. K. Sundara Vadhyar and Bhoomi Baalagadas.[2]Singers are U. R. Jeevarathinam, M. R. Santhanalakshmi and Friend Ramasamy. Playback singers are Thiruchi Loganathan, M. M. Mariappa and K. V. Janaki.

S. No.	Song Title	Singers	Lyrics	Duration (mm:ss)
1	"Pudhu Vasandhamaame Vaazhvile"	Thiruchi Loganathan & U. R. Jeevarathinam		01:59
2	"Madhanaa.... Ah En Sindhai"	U. R. Jeevarathinam		03:38
3	"Pudhu Malarin Azhage"	U. R. Jeevarathinam	Papanasam Sivan	02:09
4	"Oh Aiyamare Ammamare Vaanga"	Thiruchi Loganathan, Friend Ramasamy & K. V. Janaki		06:36
5	"Paaril Pirandhenna Punniyam"	M. M. Mariappa		02:57
6	"Ungal Mugaaravindham"		Papanasam Sivan	01:57
7	"Arul Thazhaithongum"	M. R. Santhanalakshmi	Papanasam Sivan	02:38
8	"Pudhu Vasandhamaamey Vaazhvile"	Thiruchi Loganathan		02:55
9	"Pudhu Vasandhamaamey Vaazhvile"	Thiruchi Loganathan & U. R. Jeevarathinam		02:36
10	"Jeyame Jeyame Maname"	U. R. Jeevarathinam		02:25

References

1. Guy, Randor (2 October 2009). "Blast from the Past — Abhimanyu 1948". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 May 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
2. Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal padaitha Tamil Thiraipada Varalaaru (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publications. pp. 28:43.
3. Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1994). Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema. British Film Institute. p. 190. ISBN 0-85170-455-7, ISBN 978-0-85170-455-5.
4. Pandian, M. S. S (1992). The image trap: M.G. Ramachandran in film and politics. Sage. p. 148. ISBN 0-8039-9403-6, ISBN 978-0-8039-9403-4.
5. Manthiri Kumari – A Grand Success (in Tamil), Maalai Malar 27 October 2009 Archived 21 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine
6. Guy, Randor (28 February 2002). "Fascinating journey to fame". The Hindu. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
7. http://sangam.org/autobiography-actor-politician-s-s-rajendran/

External links

• Abhimanyu on IMDb
• Abhimanyu Titles on YouTube