சுதர்சன் 1951

சுதர்சன்
இயக்குனர்	சுந்தர ராவ் நட்கர்ணி ஏ. எஸ். ஏ. சாமி
தயாரிப்பாளர்	ரோயல் டாக்கீஸ்
கதை	திரைக்கதை சுந்தர ராவ் நட்கர்ணி கதை ஏ. எஸ். ஏ. சாமி இளங்கோவன்
நடிப்பு	பி. யு. சின்னப்பா பி. கண்ணாம்பா மங்கலம்
இசையமைப்பு	ஜி. ராமநாதன்
வெளியீடு நாட்கள்	நவம்பர் 28, 1951
கால நீளம்	.
நாடு	இந்தியா
மொழி	தமிழ்
நீளம்	17931 அடி

சுதர்சன் 1951 ஆம் ஆண்டு வெளிவந்த தமிழ்த் திரைப்படமாகும். ஏ. எஸ். ஏ. சாமி மற்றும் சுந்தர ராவ் நட்கர்ணி ஆகியோரின் இயக்கத்தில் வெளிவந்த இத்திரைப்படத்தில் பி. யு. சின்னப்பா, பி. கண்ணாம்பா மற்றும் பலரும் நடித்துள்ளனர்.

Sudharshan1951

P. U. Chinnappa, Pasupuleti Kannamba, (Yogam) Mangalam, Lalitha, T. S. Balaiah, D. Balasubramaniam, P. B. Rangachari and C. K. Saraswathi

 
impressive performances Sudharshan

The popular folk myth of the potter saint of Pandaripuram has been filmed in many languages, and more than once in Tamil. This version titledSudharshan was made by the well-known Madurai-based production unit of yesteryear, Rayal Talkie Distributors, in association with Jupiter Pictures.

In those days, there was an unhealthy practice in the South Indian movie world of a story being filmed by more than one producer simultaneously in competitive spirit. The story of the Panduranga devotee was similarly used by S. S. Vasan and Jupiter Pictures with both launching the production almost simultaneously. Vasan with his drive and dynamism brought outChakradhari (1948) much earlier, which reaped a rich harvest at the box office, while Sudharshan was in production for a long time and was released only in 1951.

Not many are aware that the iconic Carnatic musician M. L. Vasanthakumari was cast in this film as the second wife of the potter saint Gora Kumbar with the first wife played by Kannamba. For many reasons, MLV opted out after some reels were shot and Mangalam of Yogam-Mangalam duo was brought on board to play that role.

(MLV’s only on-screen appearance was in Krishna Bhakthi (1948) in a royal court song sequence, where she sang the popular ‘Entha Vedukonthu O’ Raghava…’ in raga Saraswathi Manohari.)

The film was written by noted writer-director A. S. A. Sami and Elangovan, the first star writer of Tamil cinema, with Sami wielding the megaphone. However, differences arose and Sundar Rao Nadkarni who had made the box-office bonanza “Haridas” (1944) for Rayal Talkie took over replacing Sami. Nadkarni also took credit for the screenplay which was actually written by Sami. The final product carried both their names as director.

Chinnappa, the singing star of the 1940s, played the lead role and sang many songs with some of them becoming popular. (The music was by G. Ramanathan and the lyrics by Papanasam Sivan and K. D. Santhanam).

Kannamba as the first wife was brilliant, proving to be a perfect foil for Chinnappa with whom she had acted in quite a few movies. Despite the cast, melodious music and the storyline drenched in bhakthi, the film didn’t fare well because of its delayed release and paled into insignificance compared toChakradhari.

Regretfully, Chinnappa passed away at a young age before the film was released. Viewed today after more than half a century, the film still sustains interest.

‘Master’ A. L. Raghavan (later M. N. Rajam’s handsome husband and noted playback singer) played Lord Panduranga and looked cherubic in that role.

Mangalam, who began her career as a dancer with her sister Yogam in the cult film Uday Shankar’s Kalpana, looked pretty with her winsome smile. Her role, of course, was rather minor compared to that of Kannamba.

Remembered for the impressive performances of Chinnappa and Kannamba and melodious music. The song “Anna sedan papa…” was a hit.