Sampoorna Ramayanam (1958 film)

Sampoorna Ramayanam (transl. The Complete Ramayana) is a 1958 Tamil-language Indian historical drama film directed by K. Somu. It is based on Valmiki's Ramayana. The film features N. T. Rama Rao in lead role of Rama and Sivaji Ganesan as Bharatha. The film, produced by M. A. Venu, had musical score by K. V. Mahadevan and was released on 14 April 1958. It became a major commercial success, and ran for over 264 days in theatres, thereby becoming a silver jubilee film. It was dubbed into Hindi as Ramayan in 1960.[1]

For films with similar names, see Sampoorna Ramayana (disambiguation).

Sampoorna Ramayanam
Theatrical release poster
Directed byK. Somu
Produced byM. A. Venu
Screenplay byA. P. Nagarajan
Based onRamayana
by Valmiki
StarringN. T. Rama Rao
Sivaji Ganesan
Padmini
T. K. Bhagavathi
P. V. Narasimha Bharathi
Music byK. V. Mahadevan
CinematographyV. K. Gopanna
Edited byT. Vijayarangam
Production
company
M. A. V. Pictures
Release date
  • 14 April 1958 (1958-04-14)
Running time
204 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

The story is the complete Ramayana from the birth of Rama to his Pattabhisheka after completing his exile.

Cast

Production

After Town Bus (1955), its producer M. A. Venu decided that his next venture would be Sampoorna Ramayanam,[6] based on the Ramayana, an Indian epic written by Valmiki.[7] It was directed by K. Somu and produced by Venu under M. A. V. Pictures, while A.P Nagarajan wrote the screenplay. Cinematography was handled by V. K. Gopanna, and the editing by T. Vijayarangam.[8][9]

K. V. Srinivasan dubbed the voice of N. T. Rama Rao,[4] who played Rama.[10] S. S. Rajendran declined the offer to play Bharata before Sivaji Ganesan was cast in that role,[11] stating that he would not act in films based on mythology.[12] This marked Ganesan's first mythological film.[13]

Soundtrack

The music composed by K. V. Mahadevan.[14][15] All lyrics were penned by A. Maruthakasi. Unlike most Tamil films of that era, the songs were composed to form a part of the narrative, as opposed to being standalone segments.[16] S. Somasundaram was originally hired to sing a few songs, including "Veenai Kodiyudaiya" which was picturised on Ravana. As Bhagavati's lip synching could not match Somasundaram's fast singing, the singer was replaced with C. S. Jayaraman. Offended, Somasundaram left the film and at his request the songs he sang were dropped.[17]

No.SongSingersLength
1"Annaiyum Pithavumaagi... Yen Pirintheer"T. M. Soundararajan, Thangappan02:31
2"Indru Poi Naalai Vaaraai"C. S. Jayaraman02:52
3"Neethi Thavarathu"Sirkazhi Govindarajan01:03
4"Pathugaiye Thunaiyaagum"T. M. Soundararajan & Sirkazhi Govindarajan02:49
5"Sabarikku Raamanum"Sirkazhi Govindarajan06:08
6"Sangeetha Sowbagyame"C. S. Jayaraman04:24
7"Sree Raamachandhran Magudaabishega"Sirkazhi Govindarajan & S. C. Krishnan00:45
8"Ellorum Kondaadum Raamaraajyame"A. P. Komala, A. G. Rathnamala, K. Rani,
Sarojini & Udutha		00:49
9"Thennaadudaiya Sivane... Kannpaarum Enaiyaalum"C. S. Jayaraman02:31
10"Paakraan Sumaa Paakraan"M. S. Rajeswari01:02
11"Thavamuni Viswamithiran.... Panjanai Meedhu"C. S. Jayaraman06:00
12"Veenai Kodiyudaiya"Thiruchi Loganathan, C. S. Jayaraman01:45
13"Mannellaam Ponnaagum Raaman Varavaaley"A. P. Komala, A. G. Rathnamala, S. C. Krishnan
K. Rani, Sarojini & Pathma		01:45
14"Vaazhiya Ulagam... Makkal Pirandhadhai Enni Enniye"T. M. Soundararajan04:28
15"Araneri Marandha Thamayanai"Sirkazhi Govindarajan01:40
16"Pogadhe Atthaan Pogadhe"M. S. Rajeswari01:02
17"Azhagiya Ilangaa Nagarai"Sirkazhi Govindarajan01:02
18"Utthaman Pogindraane... Utthaman Raaman Pogindraan"Ghantasala02:30
19"Atthiri Munivar Raaman Latchmananai"Sirkazhi Govindarajan02:37

Release and reception

Sampoorna Ramayanam was released on 14 April 1958, during Puthandu.[6][18] Politician C. Rajagopalachari, who wrote the Ramayana as a serialised story in Kalki which was later published as a book, watched this film and appreciated it, particularly N.T. Rama Rao's performance as Rama, and Ganesan's performance as Bharata. Usually he was a critic of cinema in general and did not think much about films.[4][19] In a review dated 27 April 1958, the magazine Ananda Vikatan lauded Ganesan's performance, felt T. K. Bhagavathi was perfect for the role of Ravana, and called the film a must-watch.[20] The film was a major commercial success and ran for over 264 days in theatres,[21] thereby becoming a silver jubilee film,[22] and also being responsible for a renewed interest in mythological films in Tamil cinema.[23]

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gollark: This sounds like just indirected bartering. Which is problematic.
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gollark: So companies are supposed to just give goods to their "friends"...?
gollark: To some extent, but it's fuzzier, and how is that meant to work for *factories* or whatever?

References
  1. Pauwels 2007, p. 51.
  2. "The very best of Padmini". Rediff.com. 26 September 2006. slide 7. Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  3. Vamanan (4 November 2018). "பரதனுக்கு தோதான பாடல் வரிசை!". Dinamalar (in Tamil). Nellai. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  4. Guy, Randor (30 June 2012). "Sampoorna Ramayanam 1956". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  5. "ஜெ.ஜெயலலிதா என்னும் நான்... - அம்மாவின் கதை! - 6". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 21 February 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  6. Vamanan (3 May 2016). "தடைகளைத் தாண்டி வந்த சம்பூர்ண ராமாயணம்!". Dinamalar (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 13 July 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  7. "The Best Mythological Films of Tamil Cinema". Rediff.com. 22 May 2014. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  8. Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [Tamil film history and its achievements] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publishers. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  9. "Sampoorna Ramayanam Release". nadigarthilagam. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  10. Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, p. 117.
  11. "'Latchiya Nadigar' SSR No More". The New Indian Express. 25 October 2014. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  12. Kannan, R. (2017). MGR: A Life. India: Penguin Random House. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-14-342934-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  13. Guy, Randor (1997). Starlight, Starbright: The Early Tamil Cinema. Chennai: Amra Publishers. p. 281.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  14. "Sampoorna Ramayanam (1958)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  15. "Sampoorna Ramayanam Tml". Gaana.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  16. Baskaran 1996, p. 56.
  17. Venkatraman, Shankar (11 July 2019). "The incomparable genius of Madurai Somu". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  18. "Sampurna Ramayanam". The Indian Express. 14 April 1958. p. 1.
  19. Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, pp. 117-118.
  20. "சம்பூர்ண ராமாயணம்". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 27 April 1958.
  21. Selvaraj, N. (20 March 2017). "வெள்ளி விழா கண்ட தமிழ் திரைப்படங்கள்" [Tamil films that completed silver jubilees]. Thinnai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  22. Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, p. 241.
  23. Baskaran 1996, p. 185.

Bibliography
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