Kaviya Thalaivi
Kaviya Thalaivi (transl. Epic Heroine / Queen of Arts) is a 1970 Indian Tamil-language film, written and directed by K. Balachander and produced by Sowcar Janaki. It is a remake of the 1963 Bengali film Uttar Falguni.[2] Janaki also stars alongside Gemini Ganesan and M. R. R. Vasu. The film was released on 29 October 1970, and became a success. For his performance, Ganesan won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor.
Kaviya Thalaivi | |
---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | K. Balachander |
Produced by | Sowcar Janaki |
Screenplay by | K. Balachandar |
Based on | Uttar Falguni by Nihar Ranjan Guptha |
Starring | Gemini Ganesan Sowcar Janaki |
Music by | M. S. Viswanathan |
Cinematography | N. Balakrishnan |
Edited by | N. R. Kittu |
Production company | Selvi Films |
Distributed by | Sree Balaji Movies |
Release date |
|
Running time | 166 minutes[1] |
Country | India |
Language | Tamil |
Plot
Devi is in love with Suresh, a lawyer, but is forced to marry Paranthaman, an alcoholic gambler. Devi escapes from him, and obtains work as a dancer in Hyderabad where she gives birth to a daughter named Krishna. When Vasu tries to kidnap the child, she has Suresh adopt her. Later, when Vasu's blackmail threatens Krishna's marriage, Devi kills him.
Cast
- Gemini Ganesan as Suresh[1]
- Sowcar Janaki as Devi and Krishna[1]
- Ravichandran[3]
- M. R. R. Vasu as Paranthaman[1]
- S. Varalakshmi[3]
- Lakshmi Prabha[3]
- V. Nirmala[3]
- Baby Dolly[3]
Production
Kaviya Thalaivi is a remake of the 1963 Bengali film Uttar Falguni,[4] and was produced by Sowcar Janaki under the banner Selvi Films; she also starred in dual roles.[1][2] The screenplay for the remake was written by K. Balachander, who also directed.[1] Cinematography was handled by N. Balakrishnan,[1] and the editing by N. R. Kittu.[5]
Soundtrack
The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, and the lyrics were written by Kannadasan.[6][7] The song "Oru Naal Iravu" is set in the Carnatic raga known as Sumanesaranjani.[8]
No. | Song | Singer | Lyrics | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Kaiyodu Kai Serkkum" | P. Suseela | Kannadasan | 03:50 |
2 | "Oru Naal Iravu" | P. Suseela | 04:24 | |
3 | "Nerana Nedunsalai" | M. S. Viswanathan | 03:15 | |
4 | "Kavithaiyil Ezhuthiya" | S. Varalakshmi & P. Suseela | 02:39 | |
5 | "Aarambam Indre Agattum" | S. P. Balasubramanyam, L. R. Eswari | 03:21 | |
6 | "Nalam Ketka" (Penn Partha Mappillai) | P. Suseela | 04:22 | |
7 | "En Vaanathil Aayiram" | P. Suseela | 05:30 |
Release and reception
Kaviya Thalaivi was released on 29 October 1970, Diwali day,[9][10] and distributed by Sree Balaji Movies.[11] The Indian Express wrote, "Sowcar Janaki in the dual role gives a sterling performance. Gemini Ganesh, after a long break, comes into his own and is highly satisfactory. K. Balachander's dialogue has flashes of brilliance."[12] It emerged a commercial success,[13] and won Ganesan the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor.[14][15]
Legacy
Film historian Mohan Raman described Kaviya Thalaivi as one of Janaki's "exceptional performances".[16] Janaki also named the film as among her personal favourites.[17]
References
- Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 404.
- Vamanan (23 April 2018). "Tamil cinema's Bong connection". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- "பொன்விழா படங்கள்: காவியத் தலைவி -பெங்காலி படத்தை ரீமேக் செய்த கே.பாலச்சந்தர்" [Golden jubilee films: Kaviya Thalaivi -K. Balachander, who remade a Bengali film]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 31 March 2020. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- "Remakes of Bengali films: What's new in this trend?". The Times of India. 27 November 2019. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- Kaaviya Thalaivi (motion picture) (in Tamil). Selvi Films. 1970. Opening credits, from 0:00 to 3:44.
- "Kaaviya Thalaivi". Saregama. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- "Kaviya Thalaivi 1970". Music India Online. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
- "திரையிசையின் மென்முகம்". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 16 August 2015. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- "Kaviya Thalaivi". The Indian Express. 29 October 1970. p. 5.
- தீனதயாளன், ப. (6 April 2016). "வைஜெயந்தி மாலா: 5. டெலிபோன் ஆபரேட்டர்!". Dinamani. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
- "Kaviya Thalaivi". The Indian Express. 8 November 1970. p. 5.
- "Cinema". The Indian Express. 31 October 1970. p. 10.
- Vijayakumar, B. (25 August 2013). "Ammaye Kanaan 1963". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- Anandan, Film News (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [Tamil Film History and Its Achievements] (in Tamil). Sivagami Publications. p. 738.
- Dineshkumar, P (22 March 2018). "ஜெமினியின் வாடகை வீடு... ஜெயலலிதாவின் உத்தரவு..! - ஜெமினி கணேசனின் நினைவு தினப் பகிர்வு". Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 8 May 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- "A Trip Down Memory Lane". The New Indian Express. 20 August 2015. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- Ashok Kumar, S. R. (25 December 2006). "Still Ready to Act Sowcar Janaki". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 May 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
Bibliography
- Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-563579-5.