Directed by T. R. Raghunath Initial release 1955 Cinematography B. S. Ranga Cast Anjali Devi | Produced by Pattanna Music by Hemant Kumar Director T.R. Raghunath | |
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Written by Sadasivabrahmam,
Umachandran,
K. V. Srinivasan Starring Gemini Ganesan,
Anjali Devi Edited by S. R. Chandra Sekaran
M. Mani
M. Siva Prakasam Production
company Vahin,
Revathi
Narasu Studios Similar Unnai Kann Theduthey, Mathar Kula Manickam, Manalane Mangayin Bhagyam, Pesum Daivam, Deivathin Deivam | ||
Kanavaney Kankanda Deivam (தமிழ்: கணவனே கண்கண்ட தெய்வம்) is a 1955 Tamil language fantasy film directed by T. R. Raghunath and produced by Pattanna.
Contents
The film script was written by K. V. Srinivasan, Umachandran, and V. Sadha Sivabramnam, and the soundtrack was composed by Hemanth Kumar and A. Rama Rao. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Anjali Devi, Lalitha, with M. N. Nambiar, T. P. Muthulakshmi, Friends Ramaswamy, Chittoor V. Nagaiah.
The film was remade in Hindi as Devta (1956) and in Malayalam as Nagamadathu Thampuratti (1982). This film was the first South Indian film to be shot in colour (partly in Geva Color) after a Kannada movie Stree Ratna (1954). The movie ran for 100 days at many cinemas across South India.
Plot
The King, Soora Simmahar (Chittoor V. Nagaiah), loses his sight and seeks a "Naga Jothi" (serpent light) found in Sarpalokam (Serpent World). A young servant from the King's palace named Vijayan (Gemini Ganesan) who is in love with Princess Nalini (Anjali Devi), undertakes the hazardous journey of retrieving the serpent light.
Vijayan travels to the netherworld and discovers that the Serpent Queen, Naga Rani (Lalitha), jealously guards the light. Vijayan realizes that the Serpent Queen has become attracted to him, and so he pretends to return her love so as to get the light. After Vijayan successfully takes the light, the Serpent Queen becomes aware of his trickery and curses him, turning him into an ugly man.
When Vijayan returns home, Princess Nalini marries him despite his ugliness, however, they are banished from the palace and are forced to live in a hut. Soon after, they have a baby boy, and happily live together in the hut. Vijayan's devoted wife and their son withstand many trials and tribulations. Eventually Vijayan regains his original physical being.
Production
Bhanumathi Ramakrishna, who gained fame from her work with Swargaseema (1945), was cast at one point. She sang the song "Unnai Kann Theduthey," which was used in the film even though she left in the middle of production. Lalitha was cast as a vamp after production commenced, as a substitute for Bhanumathi. Others in the cast included M. N. Nambiar, V. Nagaiah, M. N. Rajam, T. P. Muthulakshmi and 'Friend' Ramasami. Gemini Ganesan disguised himself as a beggar and approached producer Narayana Iyengar, who was so impressed that he gave him the role in the film. The climax of is film is widely considered a classic scene of fifties Bollywood.
Crew
Soundtrack
Music composed by A. Rama Rao and Hemant Kumar. Lyrics written by Papanasam Sivan, V. Seetha Raman, K. V. Srinivasan, Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam and Hemanth Rao. Playback singers are Ghantasala, P. Leela & P. Suseela.
Some songs from the film became hits, the most popular being "Unnai Kann Theduthey". This song was filmed later with Lalitha and was first rendered by P. Bhanumathi. The sequence was shot before the actress chose to walk out of the film. This song (lyrics penned by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam), is still fondly remembered by Tamil movie fans. Bhanumathi told Randor Guy years later that in the song recorded with P. Suseela, the hiccups were hers. This was one of Suseela's early hits as playback singer. "Unnai Kann Theduthey" was later remixed by G. V. Prakash Kumar in Va Quarter Cutting (2010).
Songs
1Jaga JothiyaeP Leela6:15
2Kaashaayam KattikittuGhantasala4:53
3Enthan Ullam ThulliP Susheela3:02