சத்ய சீலன் 1936

சத்ய சீலன்
இயக்குனர்	பி. சம்பத் குமார்
தயாரிப்பாளர்	திருச்சி தியாகராஜர் பிலிம்ஸ்
கதை	கதை ராஜமாணிக்கம்
நடிப்பு	எம். கே. தியாகராஜ பாகவதர் எம். பி. மோகன் எம். ராமசாமி ஜயர் டி. எஸ். சோமசுந்தரம் எம். எஸ். தேவசேனா ஜி. பத்மாவதி பாய் டி. வி. காந்திமதி பாய்
வெளியீடு நாட்கள்	1936
நாடு	இந்தியா
மொழி	தமிழ்

சத்ய சீலன் 1936 ஆம் ஆண்டு வெளிவந்த தமிழ்த் திரைப்படமாகும்.பி. சம்பத் குமார்இயக்கத்தில் வெளிவந்த இத்திரைப்படத்தில் எம். கே. தியாகராஜ பாகவதர், எம். பி. மோகன் மற்றும் பலரும் நடித்துள்ளனர்.

Satyaseelan 1936

M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, M.S. Devasena, M. P. Mohan, G. Padmavathi Bai, T. V. Kanthimathi Bai

Within two years of his debut in Tamil cinema with Pavalakodi (1934), Thyagaraja Bhagavathar turned producer and named his unit Trichy Thyagaraja Films (though Mayavaram was his native town, his father, a struggling goldsmith, moved to Trichy where MKT later built a palatial building and lived there in regal style). Satyaseelan was the first film produced under this banner. A folk tale, this film saw Bhagavathar’s fame as a singing star soar. Thus he was well set on his way to mega-stardom, and soon iconic status.

Devasena, who played the heroine, later married Dhandapani Desikar, the saint hero of Pattinathar and Nandanar (1942-Gemini). Interestingly, Bhagavathar plays two roles in this film but it cannot be strictly called ‘double role’, according to most film historians. He dons the role of the king in whose court a Carnatic musician, again played by Bhagavathar, renders a song. The song ‘Sollu Paapaaa’ became one of his immortal melodies (music: Papanasam Sivan; and lyrics: Janakam Kavikunjaram). However, it ran into trouble with the British Indian Film Censors. That was the period when the Indian Freedom Movement was gaining momentum and the censors ruthlessly deleted any scene, dialogue or song that vaguely suggested support for the Freedom Struggle. In this famous song, the censors objected to the word, ‘suthanthiram’ (freedom) in the line ‘Suthanthiram vazhipera sollu paapaa’ and ordered its deletion. The film had already been completed and was ready for release. Left with no option, the lyricist substituted the word with ‘sugam’ (happiness) and the song was re-shot with the new line.

Satyaseelan was shot in Bombay and directed by B. Sampathkumar. Hailing from the then maharaja-ruled Mysore State, he directed a few films and this was his most successful. Sadly, even film historians have forgotten him. The film fared well at the box-office. Interestingly, Satyaseelan was released on its second round some three years later with a comedy short “Bommi Kalyanam” featuring N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Mathuram, made by NSK. This unusual feature shows how popular NSK had become by 1940. By then, NSK had promoted Ashoka Films in Coimbatore where he made short comedy films which he sold to eager producers. When a film did not do well on its release, producers withdrew it and re-released it after including scenes featuring NSK. This practice, peculiar to Tamil cinema, brought cheer to many yesteryear producers. That’s why some described NSK as a “film repairer.”

Regrettably, no print of this vintage film exists; only some still-photos, MKT’s music, and memories of old-timers have stood the test of time.

Remembered for: Thyagaraja Bhagavathar’s music, and the immortal song, ‘Sollu Paapaa, Sollu Paapaa’.