Kaithi (1951 film)

Kaithi (English: Prisoner) is a 1951 black-and-white Tamil thriller film, directed by S. Balachandar and produced by Jupiter M. Somasundaram under his Jupiter Pictures. The film script was written by S. Balachandar with assistant N. Seetharaman with dialogue written by Venkatasamy, Kalaimani and N. Seetharaman. Music by S. Balachandar is an asset to the movie. The film stars S. Balachandar, S. A. Natarajan, Revathi and Meenakshi in lead roles with G. M. Bhaseer, M. K. Mustafa and R. Malathy.[1][2] The film was inspired by Hollywood super star and cult figure Humphrey Bogart's movie Dark Passage (film) (1947) was a usual movie. The story line of a convict escaping to prove his innocence was adapted by the sadly under-rated genius of the South Indian Fine Arts world Sundaram Balachandar. This film was successful when crime thrillers were rare in Tamil Cinema.[1][3]

For the 2019 film, see Kaithi (2019 film).
Kaithi
Poster
Directed byS. Balachandar
Produced by"Jupiter" M. Somasundaram
Written byVenkatasamy
Kalaimai
N. Seetharaman
Story byS. Balachandar
N. Seetharaman (Assistant)
StarringS. Balachandar
S. A. Natarajan
S. Revathi
S. Meenakshi
M. K. Mustafa
G. M. Bhaseer
K. Malathy
Music byS. Balachandar
CinematographyB. Ramasamy
Edited byM. A. Thirumugam
Production
company
Distributed byJupiter Pictures
Release date
23 December 1951
Running time
172 Mins
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

In this story, a good samaritan offers to help the hero, an unemployed graduate, whom he meets at a race course. Betting on a tip-off given by him, the hero makes a lot of money and when he goes to give it back to the kind man, the latter is found murdered in his car. The hero Vijayan (S. Balachandar) is accused of the crime and sent to prison. How he escapes and successfully seeks the killer Vijayasaradi (S. A. Natarajan), whose daughter falls in love with the hero forms the result of the plot. There were two girls Kamala (Revathi) and Revathi (Meenakshi) falling for the same man. In an interesting twist to the story, his girlfriend offers Vijayan a hideout in her family garage. She takes him food and such regularly, though both are unaware that the killer is the girl's father Vijayasaradhi.[1]

Cast

Cast adapted from the film's song book[4]

Reception

Hollywood actor Humphrey Bogart's Dark Passage (1947) is a usual movie, in which Bogart, a convicted murderer, escapes from prison and works hard to prove his innocence. To avoid being caught, he undergoes plastic surgery and until it is completed, one hears only Bogart's famous voice and his face is shown for the first time after the surgery.[5]

At first, the movie was titled as Rattham (for English: Blood) and after it was completed, the Tamil publicity layout had the caption Jupitarin Rattham Veli Varukirathu (English: Jupiter's Blood coming out). The producer M. Somasundaram changed the title suggested by Sundaram Balachandar. It had taut on-screen narration filled with suspense and also melodious music with some of the songs becoming popular during those days.[1]

Soundtrack
Kaithi
Soundtrack album by
S. Balachandar
Released1951
Recorded1951
GenreMelody
LanguageTamil
ProducerS. Balachandar

Music composed by S. Balachandar and lyrics written by K. D. Santhanam. Sundaram Balachandar music also contributed to the movie. The prisoners sing in chorus "Aiya Hore Rama" adapted from the celebrated cameo song rendered by the iconic figure of this day, Paul Robeson in Sanders of the River (1935). Another song which had for the opening English lines; "Be Happy Be Jolly Be Cheerful" (Voice by Radha - Jayalakshmi) proved popular.[1]

NoSongsSingerLyrics
1"Kodumai Piranthu Valarumittam"ChorusK. D. Santhanam
2"Pozhuthu Vidiya"S. V. Rajagopal
3"Be Happy Be Jolly Be Cheerful"Jayalakshmi
4"Arivu Peruka Aaanum Pennum"Chorus
5"Minnalai Pole En Kadhal"Jikki
6"Pethai Penn Mathiyame"Jikki
7"Inba Kanavam Vaiyagame"
8"Aiya Horee Ram"
9"Manathinil Kadhal"
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References
  1. Randor Guy (8 August 2008). "kaithi 1951". "The Hindu". Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  2. "kaidhi". spicyonion. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  3. "kaithi movie". gomolo. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  4. Song Book
  5. "kaithi". moviebuff. Retrieved 20 January 2016.

Bibliography
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