Arasa Kattalai

Arasa Kattalai (transl. King's Order), is a 1967 Indian Tamil-language historical drama film, written and directed by M. G. Chakrapani, starring M. G. Ramachandran and B. Saroja Devi in lead roles, with Jayalalithaa, M. N. Nambiar and S. A. Ashokan in supporting roles.

Arasa Kattalai
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	M. G. Chakrapani
Produced by	M. C. Ramamoorthy
Screenplay by	R. M. Veerappan Ve. Lakshmanan S. K. T. Samy
Starring	M. G. Ramachandran B. Saroja Devi
Music by	K. V. Mahadevan
Cinematography	A. Shanmugam
Edited by	K. Narayanan
Production company	Sathyaraja Pictures
Release date	19 May 1967
Running time	132 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Plot

Of the time of big Indian kings...

A monarch (P. S. Veerappa) believes that he has committed a terrible fault and commits suicide to make amends, not without having indicated his successor: Vijayan (MGR), a man of the people, that one even, who had come punish him, a fearless knight, for an act of bravery.

Before dying, he (P. S. Veerappa) also orders him (MGR) to protect his subjects and to put back the power into the hands of the people.

By so acting, the deceased king had also just thwarted the Machiavellian intentions of its Minister (R. S. Manohar).

Indeed, this traitor intends to seize the throne.

But it will be for another time, because this sinister dignitary (R. S. Manohar) is going to make every effort to sabotage the reforms of Vijayan.

To begin with, by eliminating him...

Cast

Actor	Role
M. G. Ramachandran	as Vijaya alias Vijayan, a common man, after the new king of the kingdom Kumari
B. Saroja Devi	as Amala, the revolutionary dancer alias the princess Amutha
Jayalalithaa	as Moghana
S. A. Ashokan	as the prince Vilavan
M. N. Nambiar	as the commander of the strengths, the princess Amudha's guardian
R. S. Manohar	as the perfidious minister
Nagesh	as the tribal leader
P. S. Veerappa (guest-star)	as the King of the kingdom of Kumari
K. R. Ramaswamy (guest-star)	as the patriot with the flag (an activist)
Brent Ramaswamy	as
M. A. G. Samy	as
N. S. Nadharajan	as a tribal
S. M. Thirupadhiswamy	as
Kundhumany	as a tribal
D. S. Raja	as
T. S. Manikkum	as
Ramsingh	as
Chandrakantha	as
Madhavi	as Jambha, the tribal girl
C. T. Rajakantham	as
Santha	as
G. Sakunthala	as
Rajeshwari	as

Production

The film initially began under the title Bhavani, which was written by A. K. Velan and was to be directed by Masthan. Ramachandran's brother Chakrapani produced this film, which got shelved after some progress, but Chakrapani later revived this film as Arasa Kattalai, with Ramachandran returning.[1] Apart from directing, Chakrapani made a cameo appearance in the film. Jayalalithaa earned the title "Kavarchi Kanni" through this film.[2]

Songs

Soundtrack was composed by K. V. Mahadevan and lyrics were written by Muthukoothan, Vaali and Alangudi Somu.[3] The songs "Aadi Vaa" and "Vettaiyadu Vilayaadu" became chartbusters.[2]

Tracklist

No.	Title	Lyrics	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Aadiva Aadiva"	N. M. Muthukkoothan	T. M. Soundararajan	3:29
2.	"Ennai Paadavaithavan"	Vaali	P. Susheela	3:22
3.	"Mugathai Paarthathillai"	Alangudi Somu	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela	3:23
4.	"Pan Paadum"	Vaali	P. Susheela	3:24
5.	"Putham Pudhiya"	Vaali	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela	3:14
6.	"Vettaiyadu Vilaiyaadu"	Alangudi Somu	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela	5:47
7.	"Yethannai Kaalam"	N. M. Muthukkoothan	P. Susheela	3:09
Total length:				24:68

Release

The film was a hit movie and ran more than 80 days.

In popular culture

The song "Vettaiyadu Vilayadu" inspired Gautham Menon to title his 2006 film of the same name.[4]

References

1. Guy, Randor (16 February 2012). "Fame eluded this sibling of an icon". The Hindu. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
2. Guy, Randor (23 April 2016). "Arasa Kattalai (1967)". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
3. "Arasa Kattalai songs". Retrieved 20 February 2012.
4. "MGR to the rescue". The Hindu. 8 March 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 April 2020.

External links

• Arasa Kattalai at IMDb