CHANDRALEKHA (1948)
STAR CAST
M. K. Radha Ranjan T. R. Rajakumari N. S. Krishnan T. A. Mathuram M. S. Sundari Bai V. N. Janaki Velayudham V. S. Susheela ‘Javert’ N. Seetharaman T. E. Krishnamachari L. Narayana Rao Veppatthur Kittu (uncredited)
The first information given by Vasan about “Chandralekha” was an advertisement on the back -cover of the song- book “Dasi Aparanji". (1944). Indeed, there were two announcements on the occasion. , One was “Chandralekha”, and the other was “Avvaiyar" (This movie though announced in 1944 came to be released almost a decade later in 1953!)
The announcement the back - cover of the song- book had K. L. V. Vasantha as the hero of “Chandralekha”! No, not T. R. Rajakumari!
Surprising? Yet so true!
“Chandralekha” was in the making for five long years - 1943- 1948, and it turned out to be the biggest box-office bonanza of the decade and one of the all time highest grossers of Indian Cinema. This film was released simultaneously at forty-four cinema houses in south India and established a new record in the history of film exhibition in that part of the country.
Tales of King Vikramaditya, part of ancient Indian folklore is a perennial treasure trove of engrossing story material and the Gemini writers dug deep into this gold mine. Soon Vasan heard the tale of a tough talented woman so smart that she outwits a vicious bandit and slashes off his nose. Vasan found this tale distasteful and even vulgar and rejected it. However, one thing impressed him and was embedded deep in his fertile mind. The name of the woman, Chandralekha!
At once, he announced his film, “Chandralekha" with bang-bang- Vasan style publicity. Color ads in newspapers and magazines in English and Tamil all over south India. He had only a title and little else. No story, no script, nothing. However, he was not unduly worried. That was S. S. Vasan!
Veppatthur Kittu, the Gemini staff writer and also assistant director of T. G. Raghavachari in " Mangamma Sapatham" (1943), found a novel, "Robert Macaire, the French Male Bandit in England" (1848) written by noted writer of his day G. W. M. Reynolds, and began to read the first chapter fast.….A dark night in rural England and a mail coach convoy drawn by horses trots its way down a deserted leafy highway when suddenly, Robert Macaire, the fierce bandit and his henchmen emerge from the surrounding darkness and rob the convoy. Hiding under a seat is young woman fleeing from a harsh unhappy home. She is a dancer and when she refuses to dance the bandit whips her into submission.
(Those who have seen “Chandralekha" will at once recall this episode in toto as an interesting sequence with T. R. Rajakumari and Ranjan!)
Later when Kittu narrated a storyline to Vasan with the above sequence as a start the Gemini boss was fascinated and decided to go ahead with the film. Vasan named the young dancer ‘Chandralekha'! The movie was off the ground with bells on and Raghavachari was asked to direct it at first and later for many reasons Vasan took over....
Initially there were no circus sequences in “Chandralekha ". That part of the story was added halfway through the five-year-long production and the screenplay was suitably altered. That sadly neglected genius of South Indian Cinema, K. Ramnoth, filmed the circus scenes. Staff members, their families, and even passers-by in the studio area were asked to sit as spectators in the circus scenes!
In April 1947, N. S. Krishnan came out of prison and Vasan engaged NSK and T. A. Mathuram to act in “Chandralekha". Once more, the story was altered and new scenes added to fit in the famed comedy pair!
"Chandralekha" was a mammoth production, never ever before attempted in India. Fantastic sets, like palaces, the novel moat and draw-bridge strong enough to withstand the weight of horses, riders, crowds and all.(Art Director A. K. Sekhar).
And the drum dance! The highlight of the film, the first of its kind in Indian Cinema. So artistic, so fabulous and so brilliantly choreographed, (choreographer, Jayashankar).
Rajakumari as the hero in rose to great heights in this film and virtually carried the movie on her shapely shoulders. Indeed this was her career-best
Radha was his usual impressive self.
Ranjan played the villain brought on board in the last minute walked way to fame and name as all- India star when the Hindi version of the movie was made later....
Melodious music (MD Parthasarathy and guess Rajeswara Rao) also contributed to the success.
Remembered For: excellent onscreen narration, beneficial insects make me appreciate sets and immortal drum dance sequence
M. K. Radha Ranjan T. R. Rajakumari N. S. Krishnan T. A. Mathuram M. S. Sundari Bai V. N. Janaki Velayudham V. S. Susheela ‘Javert’ N. Seetharaman T. E. Krishnamachari L. Narayana Rao Veppatthur Kittu (uncredited)
The first information given by Vasan about “Chandralekha” was an advertisement on the back -cover of the song- book “Dasi Aparanji". (1944). Indeed, there were two announcements on the occasion. , One was “Chandralekha”, and the other was “Avvaiyar" (This movie though announced in 1944 came to be released almost a decade later in 1953!)
The announcement the back - cover of the song- book had K. L. V. Vasantha as the hero of “Chandralekha”! No, not T. R. Rajakumari!
Surprising? Yet so true!
“Chandralekha” was in the making for five long years - 1943- 1948, and it turned out to be the biggest box-office bonanza of the decade and one of the all time highest grossers of Indian Cinema. This film was released simultaneously at forty-four cinema houses in south India and established a new record in the history of film exhibition in that part of the country.
Tales of King Vikramaditya, part of ancient Indian folklore is a perennial treasure trove of engrossing story material and the Gemini writers dug deep into this gold mine. Soon Vasan heard the tale of a tough talented woman so smart that she outwits a vicious bandit and slashes off his nose. Vasan found this tale distasteful and even vulgar and rejected it. However, one thing impressed him and was embedded deep in his fertile mind. The name of the woman, Chandralekha!
At once, he announced his film, “Chandralekha" with bang-bang- Vasan style publicity. Color ads in newspapers and magazines in English and Tamil all over south India. He had only a title and little else. No story, no script, nothing. However, he was not unduly worried. That was S. S. Vasan!
Veppatthur Kittu, the Gemini staff writer and also assistant director of T. G. Raghavachari in " Mangamma Sapatham" (1943), found a novel, "Robert Macaire, the French Male Bandit in England" (1848) written by noted writer of his day G. W. M. Reynolds, and began to read the first chapter fast.….A dark night in rural England and a mail coach convoy drawn by horses trots its way down a deserted leafy highway when suddenly, Robert Macaire, the fierce bandit and his henchmen emerge from the surrounding darkness and rob the convoy. Hiding under a seat is young woman fleeing from a harsh unhappy home. She is a dancer and when she refuses to dance the bandit whips her into submission.
(Those who have seen “Chandralekha" will at once recall this episode in toto as an interesting sequence with T. R. Rajakumari and Ranjan!)
Later when Kittu narrated a storyline to Vasan with the above sequence as a start the Gemini boss was fascinated and decided to go ahead with the film. Vasan named the young dancer ‘Chandralekha'! The movie was off the ground with bells on and Raghavachari was asked to direct it at first and later for many reasons Vasan took over....
Initially there were no circus sequences in “Chandralekha ". That part of the story was added halfway through the five-year-long production and the screenplay was suitably altered. That sadly neglected genius of South Indian Cinema, K. Ramnoth, filmed the circus scenes. Staff members, their families, and even passers-by in the studio area were asked to sit as spectators in the circus scenes!
In April 1947, N. S. Krishnan came out of prison and Vasan engaged NSK and T. A. Mathuram to act in “Chandralekha". Once more, the story was altered and new scenes added to fit in the famed comedy pair!
"Chandralekha" was a mammoth production, never ever before attempted in India. Fantastic sets, like palaces, the novel moat and draw-bridge strong enough to withstand the weight of horses, riders, crowds and all.(Art Director A. K. Sekhar).
And the drum dance! The highlight of the film, the first of its kind in Indian Cinema. So artistic, so fabulous and so brilliantly choreographed, (choreographer, Jayashankar).
Rajakumari as the hero in rose to great heights in this film and virtually carried the movie on her shapely shoulders. Indeed this was her career-best
Radha was his usual impressive self.
Ranjan played the villain brought on board in the last minute walked way to fame and name as all- India star when the Hindi version of the movie was made later....
Melodious music (MD Parthasarathy and guess Rajeswara Rao) also contributed to the success.
Remembered For: excellent onscreen narration, beneficial insects make me appreciate sets and immortal drum dance sequence
Source:
http://www.galatta.com/community/blog.php?user=randorguy&p=4
S S Vasan's mammoth 1948 epic was shot over five years, and, costing $600,000 to make at the time, remains the most expensive film in Tamil cinema history.
The film, based on a young prince and his intense love for a dancing girl, features many grandly mounted setpieces, including a memorable drum dance and the longest swordfight ever captured on film.
It is just the kind of film, in fact, that would be best appreciated now after digital restoration.
Image: A scene from Chandralekha
Source:im.rediff.com/movies/2010/may/11slid4.jpg
The film, based on a young prince and his intense love for a dancing girl, features many grandly mounted setpieces, including a memorable drum dance and the longest swordfight ever captured on film.
It is just the kind of film, in fact, that would be best appreciated now after digital restoration.
Image: A scene from Chandralekha
Source:im.rediff.com/movies/
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