Nallathambi (1949 film)
Nallathambi is a 1949 Indian Tamil-language film starring and produced by N. S. Krishnan. The film's script was written by C. N. Annadurai (later chief minister of Tamil Nadu). This film marked Annadurai's debut in Tamil films.[1][2][3][4] The movie is an adaptation of 1936 American movie Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.
| Nallathambi | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Krishnan–Panju |
| Screenplay by | C. N. Annadurai |
| Story by | C. N. Annadurai |
| Produced by | N. S. Krishnan |
| Starring | N. S. Krishnan T. A. Mathuram P. Bhanumathi |
| Cinematography | V. Kumaradevan |
| Edited by | S. Panjabi |
| Music by | C. R. Subbaraman |
Production company | N. S. K. Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 192 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
Nallathambi (NSK) a simple rural man inherits an estate from his deceased Zamindar relative. The Zamindar's daughter Pushpa (Bhanumathi) falls in love with Nallathambi. However he loves another girl (T. A. Madhuram). Bhoopathy (Sahasranamam) the estate manager has his eye on the wealth and tries to cheat Nallathambi out of it. He goads Pushpa into filing a suit that Nallathambi is mentally insane. In the end Nallathambi defeats Bhoopathy's machinations.[1]
Cast
Adapted from the film credits:
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Production
Tamil film actor and Annadurai's friend M.Nallathambi saw the 1936 film Mr. Deeds Goes to Town which was having a successful theatrical run in the late 1940s in Madras. He thought it would be a good story to remake for his friend N.S.Krishnan (NSK). He convinced Annadurai to watch the movie and adapt the film to a Tamil rural setting. The film was titled as Nallathambi (lit. The good younger brother). However, during filming, NSK heavily modified the script, reducing the role of the character played by Bhanumathi Ramakrishna and introducing another character to be played by his wife and comedian T. A. Mathuram. The script was further changed to include a number of musical skits to bring out the social satire of NSK. "Vinganatha Valarkka porendi" (lit. I am going to the develop science) and Kindanar kathakalatchepam (a parody of the story of Nandanar and a telling of B. R. Ambedkar's life story) were two of the musical skits thus included. With the modifications, the plot was sidelined and importance was given to the socio-political messages and themes. The director duo of R. Krishnan and S. Panju were hired to direct the film. C. R. Subburaman composed the music, while Udumalai Narayana Kavi wrote the lyrics for the songs. M. N. Rajam, Sahasranamam and V. K. Ramasamy were cast in supporting roles.[1][2][5][6]
Reception
The film was a commercial failure and a critical success. Its songs became hits and were popular. The musical skit "Kindanar Kalatchepam" became popular. To offset the financial loss of his backers, NSK announced a new film project titled Thambithurai to be written by Annadurai. However furious with the changes made to his Nallathambi script, Annadurai refused to work with NSK again.[1][7][8]
Soundtrack
The music was composed by C. R. Subbaraman. Lyrics by Udumalai Narayana Kavi and K. P. Kamatchi. Singers are N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Mathuram and P. Bhanumathi. Playback singers are Ghantasala, C. S. Jayaraman, M. M. Mariayappa and M. L. Vasanthakumari.
| No. | Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length (m:ss) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Naadu Sezhikka Venum" "Naattukku Sevai Seiyya" "Anniyargal Nammai Aaanda" "Raaja Raaja Maharaaja" "Thalaimudhalaaga Thozhilmuraiyaaga" "Kudi Keduththa Kudi" "Manushanaagi Ponen Ippo" "Kudichu Pazhaganum" "Viduthalai Viduthalai Viduthalai" | Chorus N. S. Krishnan N. S. Krishnan & T. A. Mathuram M. M. Mariyappa N. S. Krishnan N. S. Krishnan & T. A. Mathuram N. S. Krishnan N. S. Krishnan N. S. Krishnan | Udumalai Narayana Kavi | 00:59 01:42 02:57 02:37 03:27 02:26 01:01 01:01 01:36 |
| 2 | "Enadhu Uyir Egypttu" | P. Bhanumathi | 03:09 | |
| 3 | "Malardhanil Oru Azhagu Mayil" | Ghantasala & P. Bhanumathi | 02:57 | |
| 4 | "Gaanalolan Madhanagopaalan" | M. L. Vasanthakumari | 02:34 | |
| 5 | "Varuvaare Dear Varuvaare" | P. Bhanumathi | 02:48 | |
| 7 | "Kindhan Saritthirame Kindal Allave Alla" | N. S. Krishnan | 15:09 | |
| 8 | "Naan Vanangum Dheivam" | P. Bhanumathi | 03:01 | |
| 9 | "Vignaanatha Valarkka Porendi" | N. S. Krishnan & T. A. Mathuram | 03:11 | |
| 10 | "Ettu Ezhu Aaru" | T. A. Mathuram | 02:26 | |
| 11 | "Viduthalai Viduthalai Viduthalai" | T. A. Mathuram | 01:51 | |
| 12 | "Aazhi Neengi" | C. S. Jayaraman | 02:00 | |
| 13 | "Aazhi Neengi" | M. M. Mariayappa | 02:31 | |
| 14 | "Podhunalam Kandomamma" | C. S. Jayaraman & | 02:10 | |
| 15 | "Sagaadha Charitthira Pugazh" | N. S. Krishnan | 02:14 |
References
- Guy, Randor (14 December 2007). "blast from the past – Nallathambi 1949". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
- Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal padaitha Tamil Thiraipada Varalaaru (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publications. pp. 28:50.
- Velayutham, Selvaraj (2008). Tamil cinema: the cultural politics of India's other film industry (Hardback ed.). New York: Routledge. p. 62. ISBN 978-0-415-39680-6.
- Baskaran, S. Theodore (1996). The eye of the serpent: an introduction to Tamil cinema. Chennai: East West Books. p. 29.
- Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1994). Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema. British Film Institute. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-85170-455-5.
- Ravindran, Gopalan (6 September 2009). "Understanding the Making of Nalla Thambi (1949) and the Production Conventions of Tamil Cinema During 1940s I". Widescreenjournal.com. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
- Naryanan, Aranthai. "Tamil Cinema through the eyes of a politician". tamilcinema.com (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 9 December 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
- Guy, Randor (19 June 2009). "Scripting cinema's role in politics". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 June 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
