Or Iravu
Or Iravu (lit. 'One Night') is a 1951 Tamil language film produced by AVM Productions. It was based on the play of the same name written by C. N. Annadurai (later chief minister of Tamil Nadu).[1][2][3][4][5]
| Or Iravu ஓர் இரவு | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | P. Neelakantan |
| Produced by | A. V. Meiyappan |
| Written by | C. N. Annadurai |
| Screenplay by | C. N. Annadurai P. Neelakantan |
| Story by | C. N. Annadurai |
| Starring | K. R. Ramasamy T. S. Balaiah A. Nageswara Rao T. K. Shanmugam T. P. Muthulakshmi Lalitha |
| Music by | R. Sudharsanam |
| Cinematography | S. Maruti Rao Art Director: A.Balu |
| Edited by | K. Shankar |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | AVM Productions |
Release date | 14 April 1951 |
Running time | 160 min. (14,980 Feet) |
| Language | Tamil |
Production
Or Iravu was a stage play written by Annadurai. It was originally written for K. R. Ramasamy's Krishnan memorial drama company by Annadurai. Avichi Meiyappa Chettiar of AVM productions decided to make a film based on the play. Annadurai was paid 10,000 Rupees for writing the screenplay. Annadurai went to AVM studios and wrote the entire script and dialogues totalling 300 pages in a single night. The screenplay was later modified by the director and the producer of the film. This was the third film to be made based on Annadurai's plays, after Velaikaari (1949) and Nallathambi (1949). P. Neelakantan, who had begun working for AVM in the 1947 film Nam Iruvar as assistant director, made his debut as director with this film. Per Annadurai's recommendation Velaikari's lead actor K. R. Ramasamy was hired to play the hero. Akkineni Nageswara Rao and T. S. Balaiya played supporting roles in the film. The completed film was 14,980 feet in length.[1][2][6]
Plot
The play Or iravu depicted events that happen in a single night. Older incidents were depicted using flashbacks. However, in the film version, flash backs were replaced with a linear narration.[6] Or iravu tells the story of a thief who breaks into a rich man's house without knowing that the rich man is his own father who had abandoned him and his mother long ago.[1]
Cast
Adapted from the film's song book[7]
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- Choreographers[2]
- Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai
- B. Hiralal
Reception
The film was a box office failure.[1] However, it was received well by critics and contemporary writers of Annadurai. After seeing the film Kalki Krishnamurthy praised Annadurai as "Tamil Nadu's Bernard Shaw".[6] Writing about the film in his biography, the film's producer Meyyappan explains the reasons for its failure:
Or iravu was not a success like our previous films Naam iruvar or Vaazhkai. Its performance was beneath our expectations. It was not well received as the play it was based on was. Its failure was either due to the modifications we did to the original script or the changes the director did to adapt it for the big screen.[6]
Soundtrack
The music was composed by R. Sudharsanam. Lyrics were by Mahakavi Bharathiyar, Bharathidasan, T. K. Shanmugam, K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam & Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam. Singer is K. R. Ramaswamy. Playback singers are V. J. Varma, K. Devanarayanan, M. L. Vasanthakumari, T. S. Bagavathi & M. S. Rajeswari. The song "Ayya Saami Aaoji Saami" is based on "Chico Chico from Puerto Rico" from the 1945 American film Doll Face.[8]
Songs list[9]
| No. | Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length (m:ss) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vasandha Mullaiyum Malligaiyum | M. S. Rajeswari | K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam | 03:20 |
| 2 | Puvimel Maanamudan.... Pennaaga Pirandhaale | T. S. Bagavathi | Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniyam | 03:23 |
| 3 | Kottu Murase Kottu Murase | K. R. Ramaswamy, M. S. Rajeswari & V. J. Varma | Mahakavi Bharathiyar | 02:38 |
| 4 | Ayyaa Saami Avoji Saami | M. L. Vasanthakumari | K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam | 03:08 |
| 5 | Thunbam Nergaiyil Yaazhedutthu | M. S. Rajeswari & V. J. Varma | Bharathidasan | 03:28 |
| 6 | Enna Ulagamadaa Idhu Ezhaikke Naragamadaa | K. R. Ramaswamy | K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam | 04:35 |
| 7 | Arumbu Pol Meesai.... Paartthu Paartthu Kanngal Rendum | V. J. Varma, T. S. Bagavathi & M. S. Rajeswari | K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam | 06:06 |
| 8 | Boologam Thanai Kaana Varuveer | M. L. Vasanthakumari & T. S. Bagavathi | T. K. Shanmugam | 05:12 |
| 9 | Padutthurangum Podhu.... Akkam Pakkam Yaarum Illai | M. S. Rajeswari | K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam | 03:51 |
| 10 | Azhagu Naadu.... Engal Naadu Idhu Engal Naadu | T. S. Bagavathi | T. K. Shanmugam | 03:40 |
References
- Guy, Randor (15 June 2009). "WRITERS AND MOVIES ....... C. N. ANNADURAI". Galatta.com. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
- Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal padaitha Tamil Thiraipada Varalaaru (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publications. pp. 28:54.
- Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1994). Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema. British Film Institute. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-85170-455-5.
- Datta, Amaresh (2006). The Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature (Volume One (A To Devo), Volume 1. Sahitya Akademi. p. 181. ISBN 978-81-260-1803-1.
- Gokulsingh, K; Wimal Dissanayake (2004). Indian popular cinema: a narrative of cultural change. Trentham Books. p. 133. ISBN 978-1-85856-329-9.
- "Annadurai wrote 300 pages of script in a single night for Or iravu". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 2 October 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
- Or Iravu Song Book
- Srinivasan, Karthik (23 October 2018). "How 'Chico Chico' From The Hollywood Film Dollface Was Ripped Off in Hindi, Tamil And Bengali". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
- Neelamegam, Govindasamy (2014). Thiraikalanjiyam - Part 1 (1st ed.). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 16.
External links
- Or iravu on IMDb
- Randor Guy (23 October 2010). "Ore Iravu (1951)". The Hindu.