Rani Lalithangi

Production

This story about kings, queens, princesses and scheming chieftains was filmed earlier in 1935 as Lalithangi by the Madurai-based Royal Talkie Distributors, with T. P. Rajalakshmi and V. A. Chellappa. Tiruchi R. Kalyanaraman started a production company named T. N. R Productions. TNR stood for the initials of lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Doss whom Thiruchi R. Kalyanaraman held in high esteem. Rani Lalithangi was the maiden movie of this new company. M. G. Ramachandran was initially cast as the hero of the film, and after a few sequences were shot, including a song and dance sequence featuring him and Rajasulochana, he withdrew from the film for reasons unknown and Sivaji Ganesan stepped in to play the lead role.

Plot

Lalithangi (Bhanumathi) is a queen who rules over her kingdom, showing the world that a woman could rule as effectively as a man. Another king, a kind-hearted man, has a son (Sivaji Ganesan), a talented sculptor and lover of fine arts. A scheming and ambitious chieftain (Veerappa), who has his eye on the prince's kingdom, plans to kill him in the course of a gypsy dance. He also deputes an attractive dancer (Rajasulochana) to ensnare him, but the prince escapes her wiles and begins to hate women. Lalithangi who wants to win over the hero disguises herself as a yogini and hands over a love letter to the prince. This enrages him and he throws her out. Determined to win his heart, she learns dancing. During an art festival at the palace, Lalithangi succeeds in dancing and changing the prince's mind! How she persuades the prince to fall in love with her and wins him as her life partner form the rest of the plot.

Cast

Crew

Soundtrack

The music composed by G. Ramanathan and lyrics written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. Singer is P. Bhanumathi. Playback singers are T. M. Soundararajan, C. S. Jayaraman, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, S. C. Krishnan, D. B. Ramachandra, V. T. Rajagopalan, M. L. Vasanthakumari, P. Leela, Jikki, T. V. Rathinam & A. G. Rathnamala.

Reviews

In spite of the interesting storyline, impressive performances by Bhanumathi, Sivaji Ganesan and Veerappa, song and dance sequences by Rajasulochana and pleasing photography, Rani Lalithangi did not do well at the box office.