Vaazhkai (1949 film)

Vaazhkai (English: Life) is a 1949 Indian Tamil-language social guidance film produced and directed by A.V. Meiyappan through AVM Productions. It stars Vyjayanthimala in her screen debut with M. S. Draupadi, T. R. Ramachandran and S. V. Sahasranamam forms an ensemble cast along with many actors appearing in other significant role. Telugu Jeevitham (1950 film)

For the 1984 film, see Vaazhkai (1984 film).

Vaazhkai
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	A. V. Meiyappan
Produced by	A. V. Meiyappan
Written by	P. Neelakantan
Story by	M. V. Raman
Starring	Vyjayanthimala M. S. Draupadi T. R. Ramachandran S. V. Sahasranamam
Narrated by	M. V. Raman
Music by	R. Sudarsanam
Cinematography	T. Muthu Samy
Edited by	M. V. Raman
Production company	A.V.M Studios
Distributed by	AVM Productions
Release date	22 December 1949 (1949-12-22)[1]
Running time	170 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Upon release the film was well received and it won the Best Tamil Film Award at the 1st Film Fans' Association Awards. Vyjayanthimala and M. S. Draupadi received the Second Best Tamil Actress and Third Best Tamil Actress Awards respectively. It also broke some box office records in South India.

The film was simultaneously released in Telugu as Jeevitham. The film was later remade in Hindi as Bahar (1951) directed by M. V. Raman. Vyjayanthimala played the lead role in all these versions with Meiyappan as the producer.

Plot

Murthi (S. V. Sahasranamam) comes to a village and spend time with Meenakshi (M.S. Draupadi) and leaves for his home town. After returning there he wants to marry Mohana (Vyjayanthimala) while Mohana loves Nathan (T. R, Ramachandran). Lakshmi discovers she is pregnant and goes to Murthi, who claims ignorance. She jumps into the sea in a suicide attempt. A passerby saves her and she has the baby. She leaves the baby with Nathan, in his car. He takes care of the baby and faces many problems. Learning about the baby, Mohana gets suspicious. Finally the actions of Murthi are exposed and he accepts Meenakshi as his wife while Mohana and Nathan reunites.

Cast

Cast according to opening credits of the film

Male Cast T. R. Ramachandran as Nathan S. V. Sahasranamam as Moorthi K. Sarangapani as Sivasankaralingam P. A. Subbaiah Pillai as Velayutham Pillai K. Ramasami as Veerasami K. N. Kulathu Mani as Bank Secretary M. S. Karuppaiah as Vinayakam Pillai V. M. Ezhumalai as Asambavidham P. D. Sambandam as Seeni Venkataraman as Journalist T. V. Sethuraman as Bandyman Seetharaman as Doctor

Male Supporting Cast Lakshminarayanan Kalyanasundaram Kashinathan Rajarathnam Seenu Baby Narayanan Female Supporting Cast Kalyani Soundaram Subbulakshmi Baby Meena

Female Cast Vyjayanthimala as Mohana M. S. Draupadi as Meenakshi S. R. Janaki as Ambujam K. N. Kamalam as Shivabhagyam G. K. Saroja as Lakshmi Dance Lalitha-Padmini

Production

Vaazhkai was the first film to be shot at the new AVM's new studio at Chennai. For the lead female role A.V. Meiyappan wanted to launch a new face. M. V. Raman, the story writer of Vazhkai, spotted Vyjayanthimala performing Bharata Natyam in Chennai Gokhale Hall,[2] impressed by her talent he later recommended her to Meiyappan. Vyjayanthimala, the daughter of the actress Vasundhara Devi was just 13 years old when Meiyappan approach her for the film. Despite Meiyappan's initial reservations to have her as the lead actress, she was chosen after he was convinced by watching her dance performance.[3] Kannada actress Pandari Bai was considered for the other female role.[4] However she was rejected by Meiyappan because he was not satisfied with her Tamil; she was replaced by M. S. Draupadi.[5] However the actress later played that role in the Hindi version two years later in Bahar (1951) under the screen name Padmini.[4]

Inspiration

The film's story line was inspired by a few Bollywood and Hollywood films. Hollywood film such as Bachelor Mother (1939), where the protagonist Polly Parrish Ginger Rogers finds a baby and searches for its father. A Bollywood film that inspired the film is Kunwara Baap (1942), which was later remade with the same name (1974) and had a similar plot.

Soundtrack

The music is composed by R. Sudharsanam, lyrics are by Mahakavi Bharathiyar and K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam, and sung by T. R. Ramachandran. Playback singers are D. K. Pattammal, M. L. Vasanthakumari, T. S. Bagavathi, M. S. Rajeswari and A. G. Rathnamala.

No.	Song	Singers	Lyrics	Length
1	Manamevum Aasai.... Un Kangal Unnai Emaatrinaal	M. S. Rajeswari	K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam	02:13
2	Manamevum Aasai.... Un Kann Unnai Emaatrinaal	T. R. Ramachandran	K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam	01:50
3	Uzhuthundu Vaazhvaar.... Paadupattaale Palan Koodum	T. S. Bagavathi and M. S. Rajeswari	K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam	10:18
4	Gopaalanodu Naan Aaduvene	M. L. Vasanthakumari	K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam	04:49
5	Senthamizhum Suvaiyum Polave	T. R. Ramachandran and M. S. Rajeswari	K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam	02:32
6	Annaiye Nee Ennai.... Ennam Ellaam Kanavu Pole	T. S. Bagavathi	K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam	02:37
7	Enni Enni Parkka Manam	M. S. Rajeswari	K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam	3:01
8	Bharatha Samudhaayam Vaazhgave	D. K. Pattammal	Mahakavi Bharathiyar	03:13
9	Senthamizhum Suvaiyum Polave	T. R. Ramachandran, M. S. Rajeswari and T. S. Bagavathi	K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam	01:20
10	Ezhaikku Edhu Inbam		K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam	03:11
11	Manadhinil Pudhuvidha	M. S. Rajeswari	K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam
12	Avan Porukku	T. S. Bagavathi	K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam
13	Aasai Kollum Meesaiyulla	M. S. Rajeswari and A. G. Rathnamala	K. P. Kamatchi Sundharam	03:45

Box office

The film became a sleeper hit at the box office, later labelled as blockbuster when it completed 25 weeks of its theatrical run.[6] Subsequently, the film was awarded a trophy in which Meiyappan's son M. Saravanan described as the tallest trophy of the company by the distributors in Karaikkudi for its 25 weeks of theatrical run.[7]

Awards

The film was awarded with Best Tamil Film Award at the 1st Film Fans Association Award, where it secured 2,512 votes.[8] At the same event, the lead actresses Vyjayanthimala and M. S. Darupadi also awarded with the Best Tamil Actress Award, Second Prize and Third Prize respectively.[9] The former secured 1,676 votes, while the latter got 1,386 votes.[9]

1st Film Fans Association Awards (1950)

• Best Tamil Film Award (First Prize) - A. V. Meiyappan
• Best Tamil Actress Award (Second Prize) - Vyjayanthimala
• Best Tamil Actress Award (Third Prize) - M. S. Draupadi

References

1. 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 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
2. Rajan, Anjana (20 January 2007). "A golden innings". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
3. Ramachandran, T. M. (30 October 1965). "Raman Looks Back". Sport and Pastime. Vol. 19. p. 51.
4. Guy, Randor (14 February 2003). "Actress who glowed with inner beauty". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
5. Guy, Randor (9 June 2012). "Vazhkai 1949". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
6. "AVM Production". Avm.in. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
7. Rangarajan, Malathi (19 February 2010). "History created ... and preserved!". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
8. "Bhanumathi Best Star in Tamil and Telugu – Film Ballot Result". The Indian Express. 11 May 1950. p. 6.
9. "Bhanumathi Ranked Best Actress". The Indian Express. 10 May 1950. p. 9.

External links

• Vaazhkai on IMDb
• Vazhkai profile at Upperstall.com