Kaaviya Thalaivi
Kaaviya Thalaivi (transl. Epic Heroine / Queen of Arts) is a 1970 Tamil language film, directed by K. Balachander and produced by Sowcar Janaki. It is a remake of the 1963 Bengali film Uttar Falguni.[2] Janaki also stars alongside Gemini Ganesan and M. R. R. Vasu. The film won Ganesan the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor.
Kaaviya Thalaivi | |
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Directed by | K. Balachander |
Produced by | Sowcar Janaki |
Screenplay by | K. Balachandar |
Story by | Nihar Ranjan Guptha |
Starring | Gemini Ganesan Sowcar Janaki M. R. R. Vasu Ravichandran |
Music by | M. S. Viswanathan |
Cinematography | N. Balakrishnan |
Edited by | N. R. Kittu |
Production company | Selvi Films |
Release date | 29 October 1970 |
Running time | 166 minutes[1] |
Country | India |
Language | Tamil |
Plot
Devi is in love with Suresh, a lawyer, but is forced to marry Paranthaman, an alcoholic gambler. Devi escapes from him, and obtains work as a dancer in Hyderabad where she gives birth to a daughter named Krishna. When Vasu tries to kidnap the child, she has Suresh adopt her. Later, when Vasu's blackmail threatens Krishna's marriage, Devi kills him.
Cast
- Gemini Ganesan as Suresh[1]
- Sowcar Janaki as Devi and Krishna[1]
- Ravichandran
- M. R. R. Vasu as Paranthaman[1]
- S. Varalakshmi
- Lakshmi Prabha
- V. Nirmala
- Baby Dolly
Production
Kaaviya Thalaivi is a remake of the 1963 Bengali film Uttar Falguni, and was produced by Sowcar Janaki under the banner Selvi Films; she also starred in dual roles.[1][3] The screenplay for the remake was written by K. Balachander, who also directed.[1] Cinematography was handled by N. Balakrishnan,[1] and the editing by N. R. Kittu.[4]
Soundtrack
The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, and the lyrics were written by Kannadasan.[5][6] The song "Oru Naal Iravu" is set in the carnatic raga known as Sumanesaranjani.[7]
No. | Song | Singer | Lyrics | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Kaiyodu Kai Serkkum" | P. Suseela | Kannadasan | 03:50 |
2 | "Oru Naal Iravu" | P. Suseela | 04:24 | |
3 | "Nerana Nedunsalai" | M. S. Viswanathan | 03:15 | |
4 | "Kavithaiyil Ezhuthiya" | S. Varalakshmi & P. Suseela | 02:39 | |
5 | "Aarambam Indre Agattum" | S. P. Balasubramanyam, L. R. Eswari | 03:21 | |
6 | "Nalam Ketka" (Penn Partha Mappillai) | P. Suseela | 04:22 | |
7 | "En Vaanathil Aayiram" | P. Suseela | 05:30 |
Release and reception
Kaaviya Thalaivi was released on Diwali 1970.[8] It emerged a commercial success,[9] and won Ganesan the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor.[10][11] Film historian Mohan Raman described Kaaviya Thalaivi as one of Janaki's "exceptional performances".[12] Janaki also named the film as among her personal favourites.[13]
References
- Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 404.
- "Remakes of Bengali films: What's new in this trend? - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- Vamanan (23 April 2018). "Tamil cinema's Bong connection". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- Kaaviya Thalaivi (motion picture) (in Tamil). Selvi Films. 1970. Opening credits, from 0:00 to 3:44.
- "Kaaviya Thalaivi". Saregama. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- "Kaviya Thalaivi 1970". Music India Online. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- "திரையிசையின் மென்முகம்". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 16 August 2015. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- தீனதயாளன், ப. (6 April 2016). "வைஜெயந்தி மாலா: 5. டெலிபோன் ஆபரேட்டர்!". Dinamani. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
- Vijayakumar, B. (25 August 2013). "Ammaye Kanaan 1963". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- Anandan, Film News (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [Tamil Film History and Its Achievements] (in Tamil). Sivagami Publications. p. 738.
- Dineshkumar, P (22 March 2018). "ஜெமினியின் வாடகை வீடு... ஜெயலலிதாவின் உத்தரவு..! - ஜெமினி கணேசனின் நினைவு தினப் பகிர்வு". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 8 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- "A Trip Down Memory Lane". The New Indian Express. 20 August 2015. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- Ashok Kumar, S. R. (25 December 2006). "Still Ready to Act Sowcar Janaki". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
Bibliography
- Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-563579-5.