Naan Kanda Sorgam
Naan Kanda Sorgam (transl. My Heaven) is a 1960 Indian Tamil-language comic fantasy film directed and produced by C. Pullaiah. The film stars K. A. Thangavelu and Sowcar Janaki in the lead roles. It is a remake of the 1958 Bengali film Jamalaye Jibanta Manush, and was simultaneously filmed in Telugu as Devanthakudu. The film was released on 12 August 1960 and became a commercial success.
| Naan Kanda Sorgam | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | C. Pullaiah |
| Produced by | C. Pullaiah |
| Based on | Jamalaye Jibanta Manush (1958) |
| Starring | K. A. Thangavelu Sowcar Janaki |
| Music by | G. Aswathamma |
| Cinematography | Nanjappa P. S. Loganathan |
Production company | Bharghavi Films |
Release date |
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| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
Meenakshi is the daughter of Parama Pillai, a miserly millionaire. While she is drawn to public service, her father despises the idea. Meenakshi falls in love with Sundar, a theatre artiste who donates earnings to impoverished people. Parama Pillai despises him but, unknown to him, his daughter assists Sundar in his social welfare activities. When Parama Pillai realises this, he forbids Meenakshi to leave the house and even appoints two men to guard her. Sundar disguises himself as a woman and fools the millionaire into appointing him as Meenakshi's tutor. When Parama Pillai arranges Meenakshi's marriage with a rich but older man, Sundar saves her by helping her escape. Parama Pillai finds his daughter and locks her up, beating Sundar to an inch of his life. The rest of the film deals with how Yama, Vishnu and other gods help Meenakshi and Sundar unite.
Cast
- K. A. Thangavelu as Sundar[1]
- Sowcar Janaki as Meenakshi[1]
- Alwar Kuppuswamy as Parama Pillai[2]
- M. S. Sundari Bai as Parama Pillai's wife[2]
- S. V. Ranga Rao as Yama[2]
- P. V. Narasimha Bharathi as Narada[3]
Production
Naan Kanda Sorgam was produced and directed by C. Pullaiah under the banner Bharghavi Films.[1] It was remade from the 1958 Bengali film Jamalaye Jibanta Manush, and simultaneously filmed in Telugu as Devanthakudu with a largely different cast.[3] K. S. Gopalakrishnan wrote the dialogues. Nanjappa, assisted by P.S. Loganathan, handled the cinematography. Shooting for the film took place at Vijaya-Vauhini Studios. The film featured an apsara dance sequence choreographed by Gemini Ramamurthi.[1]
Soundtrack
G. Aswathamma composed the film's music. The lyricists were Thanjai N. Ramaiah Das, K. S. Gopalakrishnan, Parthiban, and G. Sundara Bhagavathar. Playback singers are C. S. Jayaraman, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, V. N. Sundharam, P. B. Sreenivas, S. Janaki, P. Leela & N. L. Ganasaraswathi.
The film had a dance-drama called "Usha Parinayam" for which P. B. Sreenivas and S. Janaki lent their voices.[1]
| No. | Song | Singer | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Kizhavan Vadivodu Kaana Vandhaan" | S. Janaki | 03:35 | |
| 2 | "Thaamarai Kannaa" | C. S. Jayaraman | 01:46 | |
| 3 | "Ungal Azhagai Kanden" | Seerkazhi Govindarajan & S. Janaki | 03:54 | |
| 4 | "Ilamai Maaraadha Inbam" | P. Leela & N. L. Ganasaraswathi | 05:31 | |
| 5 | "Nee Yaaro Naan Yaaro" | P. B. Sreenivas & S. Janaki | 04:36 | |
| 6 | "Paar Paar Parra Saambaaru" | Seerkazhi Govindarajan & S. Janaki | 03:39 | |
| 7 | "O Thimi Thimthimikku Thimi Endru" | P. B. Sreenivas | 01:18 |
Release and reception
Naan Kanda Sorgam was released on 12 August 1960.[4] The Indian Express said, "A hilarious comedy in the best tradition of Tamil genius has been brought to the screen by the plucky Producer-Director C. Pullayya in Nan Kanda Swargam."[2] According to film historian Randor Guy, the film was a commercial success "mainly because of the unusual story line and fantasy elements."[1]
References
- Guy, Randor (7 February 2015). "Naan Kanda Sorgam 1960". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- N. V. (14 August 1960). "Nan Kanda Swargam". The Indian Express. p. 3.
- Narasimham, M. L. (10 March 2016). "Blast from the Past: Devanthakudu (1960)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 June 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [Tamil film history and its achievements] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publishers. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017.