Bale Pandiya (1962 film)

Bale Pandiya (transl. Bravo Pandiya) is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language comedy film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, M. R. Radha and Devika, with K. Balaji, Vasanthi and Sandhya in supporting roles. It revolves around the title character having to evade a lookalike wanting to kill him for insurance money.

Bale Pandiya
Theatrical release poster
Directed byB. R. Panthulu
Screenplay byDada Mirasi
Story byMaa. Raa.
Joshi
Produced byB. R. Panthulu
StarringSivaji Ganesan
M. R. Radha
Devika
CinematographyV. Ramamoorthy
Edited byR. Devarajan
Music byViswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Production
company
Padmini Pictures
Release date
  • 26 May 1962 (26 May 1962)
Running time
156 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

The story of Bale Pandiya was written by Maa. Raa. and Joshi, while the screenplay was written by Dada Mirasi. Cinematography was handled by V. Ramamoorthy, and the editing by R. Devarajan. The music was scored by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. The features stars Ganesan in three distinct roles, and Radha in two. Production began in early May 1962, ended in the middle of the month, and the film was released on the 26th of the same month.

Plot

Pandiya, a young jobless man; Marudhu, a small time gangster and assistant to Kabali; Shankar, Pandiya's elder twin brother are look-alikes. Kabali himself is Amirthalingam's look-alike. Ravi also has another personality that he adopts to marry Vasanthi. In the above situation, romance blossoms between Geetha, Amirthalingam's daughter as Kabali turns out to be the enemy of Pandiya. In a comedy of errors completely replete with mistaken identities and look-alikes swapping places with ulterior motives, do Pandiya and Geetha unite?

Cast
Male cast
Female cast

Production

Shortly before his trip to the United States in May 1962,[3] Sivaji Ganesan had signed up for a film titled Bale Pandiya, produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu under Padmini Pictures.[4][2] He visited the studio on the second day of the month, and left on the twelfth after the film was completed. Ganesan believed himself to hold the "world record of completing a film in eleven days time." He played three distinct roles, while his co-star M. R. Radha played two roles.[4] Ganesan spoke in Madras Bashai to play his characters.[5] The story was written by Maa. Raa. and Joshi, while the screenplay was written by Dada Mirasi. Cinematography was handled by V. Ramamoorthy, and the editing by R. Devarajan.[2] According to Panthulu's son Ravishankar, the entire film was completed in 15 days, with shooting going on simultaneously in three places.[6] The final length of the film was 4,449 metres (14,596 ft).[7]

Soundtrack

Music was composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, with lyrics by Kannadasan.[8][9] "Neeye Unaku" is set in the Carnatic raga known as Suddha Dhanyasi,[10][11] and attained popularity.[12] The song "Vaazha Ninaithal" was recreated as the theme song for the Sun TV series Ilakkiya.[13]

SongSingersDuration
"Aadhi Manidhan"P. B. Sreenivas, K. Jamuna Rani03:56
"Athi Kai Kai"T. M. Soundararajan, P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela, K. Jamuna Rani05:23
"Naan Enna Solliviten"T. M. Soundararajan03:58
"Neeye Unaku Endrum" (Mama Maple)T. M. Soundararajan, M. Raju06:32
"Vaazha Ninaithaal"T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela04:45
"Yaarai Enge Vaipadhendru"T. M. Soundararajan03:35

Release and reception

Bale Pandiya was released on 26 May 1962.[14] Sekar and Sundar of Ananda Vikatan praised the film for its comedy and Ganesan's triple role performance.[15] Kanthan of Kalki, however, gave a less positive review, praising Ganesan and Radha's multiple role performances, but criticising the direction and cinematography.[16]

References
  1. Sundaram, Nandhu (2 December 2017). "'Bale Pandiya': With 3 Sivaji Ganesans, this classic set the trend for Tamil comedy". The News Minute. Archived from the original on 2 December 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  2. Bale Pandiya (motion picture) (in Tamil). Padmini Pictures. Opening credits, from 0:00 to 1:41.
  3. Sri Kantha, Sachi (7 May 2015). "MGR Remembered – Part 27 | 1962 Elections and Aftermath". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 12 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  4. Ganesan, Sivaji; Narayana Swamy, T. S. (2007) [2002]. Autobiography of an Actor. Chennai: Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust. p. 132. OCLC 297212002.
  5. Ramanujam, Srinivasa (28 August 2016). "The vathyaar dialect". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  6. Rangarajan, Malathi (2 February 2012). "A 100 goes unsung". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  7. "1962 – பலேபாண்டியா – பத்மினி பிலிம்ஸ்" [1962 – Bale Pandiya – Padmini Films]. Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  8. பலே பாண்டியா (PDF) (song book) (in Tamil). Padmini Pictures. 1962. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  9. "Balepandiya (1962)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  10. Srinivasan, Anil (26 June 2015). "How Tamil films took Carnatic music to mass audiences – and threw in a few social messages too". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  11. Jeyaraj, D. B. S. (19 August 2014). ""Supersinger Winner Diwakar, "Balaey Pandia" Film and the TMS-Raju Song"Neeyay Unakku Endrum Nigaraanavan"". dbsjeyaraj.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  12. Jeyaraj, D. B. S. (9 August 2018). ""Neeyay Unakku Endrum Nigaraanavan" ~ Sparkling Song by TM Soundararajan ~ MS Raju ♫". dbsjeyaraj.com. Archived from the original on 9 August 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  13. Saregama TV Shows Tamil (5 October 2022). Ilakkiya — Title lyrical video. Archived from the original on 15 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022 – via YouTube.
  14. "பலே பாண்டியா". Swadesamitran (in Tamil). 26 May 1962. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  15. சேகர்; சுந்தர் (11 June 1962). "பலே பாண்டியா". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  16. காந்தன் (10 June 1962). "பலே பாண்டியா". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 53. Archived from the original on 11 February 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
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