Gejje Pooje
Gejje Pooje (transl. Mock marriage)[lower-alpha 1] is a 1969 Indian Kannada language film directed by Puttanna Kanagal and produced by Rashi Brothers. The film stars Kalpana, Gangadhar and Leelavathi in the lead roles. The film is based on the novel Gejje Pooje, by M. K. Indira. The film was remade in Tamil as Thaaliya Salangaiya,[1] in Telugu as Kalyana Mandapam [2] and in Hindi as Ahista Ahista.[3]
| Gejje Pooje | |
|---|---|
 VCD cover | |
| Directed by | Puttanna Kanagal |
| Screenplay by | Puttanna Kanagal |
| Based on | Gejje Pooje by M. K. Indira |
| Produced by | Rashi Brothers |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Srikanth |
| Edited by | V. P. Krishna |
| Music by | Vijaya Bhaskar |
| Distributed by | Chithra Jyothi |
Release date | 1969 |
| Country | India |
| Language | Kannada |
Plot
This socially relevant film explores the problem of prostitutes. It was based on the novel written by M. K. Indira. The heroine Chandramukhi (played by Kalpana) is the daughter of a devadasi who falls in love with a young man who is her neighbour, as they grew up together. The young girl understands the value of education and with the support of her mother intends to reject the life of prostitution. Circumstances and the young man's suspicion make him abandon the heroine. The girl he then goes on to marry is actually her half-sister, the daughter of the heroine's father from his marriage with another woman. He had abandoned both Chandra and her mother. Chandra agrees to perform 'gejje pooje' (literally marrying ankle bracelets) as part of initiation into a life of prostitution, but in the end, she kills herself by crushing and swallowing the diamond (from the ring that was gifted to her by her biological father in his memory).
Cast
- Kalpana as Chandramukhi
- Gangadhar as Somu
- Leelavathi as Aparna, Chandramukhi's mother
- Aarathi as Lalita
- Lokanath as Puttanna Shettru
- Pandari Bai as Tangamma, Somu's mother
- K. S. Ashwath as Somu's father
- Annapoornamma as Chandra's grandmother
- Swarnamma
- M. N. Lakshmi Devi as Savitri
- Balakrishna as Savitri's husband
- B. V. Radha
- Vajramuni
Awards
- 1969–70 Karnataka State Film Awards
- First Best Film
- Best Supporting Actress – Leelavathi
- Best Screenplay — Puttanna Kanagal
- Best Dialogue — Navarathna Ram Rao
- Best Cinematographer — S. V. Srikanth
Soundtrack
The music was composed by Vijaya Bhaskar.[4]
| Title | Singers | Lyrics |
|---|---|---|
| "Gaganavo Ello" | S. Janaki | R. N. Jayagopal |
| "Hejje Hejjegu Honne Suriyali" | S. Janaki | Chi. Udaya Shankar |
| "Maguve Ninna Hoonagu" | S. Janaki | Vijaya Narasimha |
| "Ondhu Dhina Raathriyali" | B. K. Sumitra | R. N. Jayagopal |
| "Panchama Vedha, Premadha Naadha" | P. B. Sreenivas | Vijaya Narasimha |
| "Panchama Vedha, Premadha Naadha" | S. Janaki | Vijaya Narasimha |
Notes
- Gejje means anklet and pooje means worship, but in the context of this film, it means a mock marriage.
References
- "'திரை இசைத் திலகம் கேவி மகாதேவன் -40- பிஜிஎஸ் மணியன் எழுதும் தொடர்". Andhimazhai (in Tamil). 26 January 2015. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- Narasimham, M. L. (30 November 2019). "A tribute to VMR's 1971 Telugu superhit 'Kalyana Mantapam'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- "Eight Sandalwood films that have been remade in other languages". The News Minute. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- "Gejje Pooje Kannada Film EP Vinyl Record by Vijayabhaskar". Mossymart. Retrieved 7 March 2023.