Ambikapathy (1937 film)

Last updated

Ambikapathy
Ambikapathy 1937 poster.jpg
Theatrical poster
Directed by Ellis R. Dungan
Screenplay byT. P. S. Mani
Elangovan
Story byElangovan
Starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
M. R. Santhanalakshmi
CinematographyBal Brigae
Krishnagopal [1]
Edited by Ellis R. Dungan
Music by Papanasam Sivan
Production
company
Salem Shankar Films
Distributed by East India Film Company
Release date
  • 11 December 1937 (1937-12-11)(India)
Running time
210 min.
Language Tamil

Ambikapathy (also spelled as Ambikapathi) is a 1937 Indian Tamil musical period film directed by American film director Ellis R. Dungan. [2] [3] [4] [5] It starred M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, M. R. Santhanalakshmi, Serugulathur Sama, T. S. Balaiya, N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Madhuram and P. G. Venkatesan. Ambikapathy is regarded as one of the greatest hits of pre-independence Tamil cinema. Ambikapathy, along with Chintamani were the greatest hits of 1937 [2] [6] and made critics regard Bhagavathar as the "first superstar of Tamil cinema". [4] [7] [8] This was the first Tamil film to name a music director in its credits. [9]

Contents

Production

The film highlighted the Romeo-Juliet type romance between Bhagavathar and Santhanalakshmi. Dungan who did not know Tamil, used Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet as an inspiration and incorporated some of its scenes in the script. The writer for the film was the Tamil scholar Thanigachalam working under the pen name Elangovan. He translated the scenes Dungan had marked out from Shakespeare into Tamil. One of them was the balcony scene. The lines describing Romeo taking leave of Juliet – "Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast", were translated by Elangovan as Thookkam Un Kangalai Thazhuvattum! Amaithi Un Nenjil Nilavattum. Dungan also introduced some daring (for that time period) intimate scenes like Ambikapathi carrying Amaravathi to the bed and Ambikapathi winking at her. The poet Kambar was played by Serugalathur Sama whose appearance was based on that of Rabindranath Tagore. T. S. Balaiya was cast as the villain Rudrasenan. The comic relief was provided by the husband and wife comedy team of N. S. Krishnan – T. A. Madhuram. The film was shot in East India Studio in Calcutta. Background score was composed by K. C. Dey, while Papanasam Sivan composed music and wrote lyrics for the Songs. The completed film was 19,000 fet in length (runtime : 210 minutes). [2] [8] [10] [1] Initially, the producer M. S. Thottana Chettiar, wanted Y. V. Rao to direct the film, but buoyed by the success ofChintamani, Rao demanded a huge amount of money as payment which the producers could not afford. Instead they hired the up-and-coming American film director Eungan. [2] [10] Ellis R. Dungan, on hearing the story, immediately agreed to direct the film. [10] A devadasi had earlier been chosen to form the lead pair with M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar in the movie. [11] But she refused when she discovered that M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar was not a Brahmin and she had to be teamed up with another Brahmin actor in a minor role. [11] M. R. Santhanalakshmi, a popular stage actress was cast as Amaravathi.

Plot

The film is based on a story set in the Chola Empire in year 1083 AD. The titular character in the story is Ambikapathy (M K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar), the son of the Tamil poet Kambar (Serugulathur Sama) who is in love with the Chola princess and daughter of Kulothunga Chola, Amaravati (played by M. R. Santhanalakshmi). The king objects to their love and insists on testing Ambikapathy's literary mettle before judging his worth. The test given to Ambikapathi is that he should write and sing a hundred poems in the field of Puram (dealing with war and politics). The poems should not have any reference to the field of Agam (dealing of love and romance). Ambikapathi begins the test in the King's court with a Kadavul Vaazhthu (invocation to God). Amaravathi who is keeping the count, mistakes the invocation as a poem and counts it as poem number one. When he has sung only ninety nine Puram poems, she thinks he has completed the task and signals him that hundred poems have been sung. Declaring victory, Ambikapathy sings of his love for her and thus fails the test. He is executed by the king. [4]

Cast

Ellis R. Dungan directing M. S. Santhanalakshmi in Ambikapathi Ellis Dungan SD Santhanalakshmi MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar Ambikavathy 1937.jpg
Ellis R. Dungan directing M. S. Santhanalakshmi in Ambikapathi

Credit to Music Director

Film historian G. Dhananjayan says Ambikapathy is the first Tamil language film that named a music director in its credits. This film was also the first to give credibility and respect for dialogues. [12]

Soundtrack

This is a partial Soundtrack list. You can expand it.

All lyrics are written by Papanasam Sivan; all music is composed by Papanasam Sivan

No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Aayakalaigal Arupathi Naanginaiyum" Papanasam Sivan M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar 11:13
2."Chandra Sooriyar" Papanasam Sivan M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar 2:47
3."Unnai Allaal" Papanasam Sivan M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar 5:26
4."Ini Evvaru Marappen" Papanasam Sivan M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar 2:30
5."Enna Seythaayi" Papanasam Sivan M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar 1:38
6."Unnai Aadaiya" Papanasam Sivan M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar 1:47
7."Mannulagil" Papanasam Sivan Serukalathur Sama 3:14
Total length:28:49

Reception

The film was released on 11 December 1937 and was a big box office success. It ran for 52 weeks. Dungan's love scenes, Bhagavathar's singing and Elangovan's dialogue made the film a talked after success. After Chintamani, this was the second hit film for Bhagavathar in 1937 and made him the "first superstar of Tamil cinema". [8] [1] [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chola Nadu</span> Region of Tamil Nadu

Chola Nadu is an ancient region spanning on the current state of Tamil Nadu and union territory of Puducherry in southern India. It encompasses the lower reaches of the Kaveri River and its delta, and formed the cultural homeland and political base of the Chola Dynasty which ruled large parts of India and Sri Lanka between the 9th and 13th centuries CE. Uraiyur served as the early Chola capital, then medieval Cholas shifted to Thanjavur and later cholas king Rajendra Chola I moved the capital to Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Ariyalur district in the 11th century CE. Chola Nadu is therefore larger than the Tanjore region or the Cauvery delta in the strict sense. Although it essentially corresponds to these two overlapping areas.

Paapanaasam Raamayya Sivan was an Indian composer of Carnatic music and a singer. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in 1971. He was also a film score composer in Kannada cinema as well as Tamil cinema in the 1930s and 1940s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellis R. Dungan</span> American director of Indian films

Ellis Roderick Dungan was an American film director, who was well known for working in Indian films, predominantly in Tamil cinema, from 1936 to 1950. He was an alumnus of the University of Southern California and moved to India in 1935. During his film career in South India, Dungan directed the debut films of several popular Tamil film actors, such as M. G. Ramachandran in Sathi Leelavathi, T. S. Balaiya, Kali N. Ratnam and N. S. Krishnan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Studios</span> Indian film studio

Central Studios was an Indian film studio in the neighbourhood of Singanallur, Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, started by B.Rangaswamy Naidu and other prominent industrialists like Swamikannu Vincent of Coimbatore in 1935 to make Tamil and other South Indian language movies. The studio was a major hub of Tamil movie production and notable for its association with many early day Tamil Movie Superstars, directors and script writers etc. and many making their career debuts here. The studio is best remembered for movies like Sivakavi, Velaikari and Haridas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar</span> Indian actor and carnatic singer (1910-1959)

Mayavaram Krishnasamy Thiyagaraja Bhagavathar, also known by his initials as M. K. T., was an Indian actor and carnatic singer. Critics and film historians acknowledge Bhagavathar as the first superstar of tamil cinema. Bhagavathar was born in the town of Mayiladuthurai in then-Tanjore district of the Madras Presidency, British India. He started his career as a classical singer and stage artist in the late 1920s. In 1934, he made his debut in films with the movie Pavalakkodi which turned out to be a hit.

<i>Haridas</i> (1944 film) 1944 Indian film

Haridas is a 1944 Tamil language film directed by Sundar Rao Nadkarni and starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, T. R. Rajakumari and N. C. Vasanthakokilam.

<i>Sri Murugan</i> 1946 Indian film

Sri Murugan is a 1946 Indian Tamil-language film produced by Jupiter Pictures and directed by M. Somasundaram and V. S. Narayanan. The film featured Honnappa Bhagavathar in the lead role. M. G. Ramachandran performed a dance number, Shiva Thandavam along with K. Malathi in the film.

<i>Raja Mukthi</i> 1948 Indian film

Raja Mukthi is a 1948 Indian Tamil language film starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, V. N. Janaki and P. Bhanumathi. M. G. Ramachandran had done a supporting role. The film was released on 9 October 1948.

<i>Pavalakkodi</i> (1934 film) 1934 film by K. Subramanyam

Pavalakkodi is a 1934 Tamil language film starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and directed by K. Subramanyam. It was the first film for both of them. The film's music was composed by Papanasam Sivan.

<i>Chintamani</i> (1937 film) 1937 Indian film

Chintamani is a 1937 Indian Tamil-language film directed by Y. V. Rao starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, Serugulathur Sama and Aswathamma. It was the first Tamil film to run for a year in a single theatre.

<i>Thiruneelakantar</i> 1939 Indian film

Thiruneelakantar is a 1939 Indian Tamil-language film directed by Raja Sandow and starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. The film, based on the life of Tirunilakanta Nayanar, was a big hit and was known for Thyagaraja Bhagavathar's acting apart from his songs. The noted nadaswaram player T. N. Rajarathinam Pillai makes a guest appearance.

<i>Ashok Kumar</i> (film) 1941 Indian film

Ashok Kumar is a 1941 Indian Tamil-language historical drama film directed by Raja Chandrasekhar. Based on a legend involving the Mauryan emperor Ashoka The Great, his son Kunala and Ashoka's second wife Thishyarakshai, it stars M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, Chittoor V. Nagayya and P. Kannamba. The film was released on 17 September 1941.

<i>Sivakavi</i> 1943 film by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu

Sivakavi is a 1943 Indian Tamil-language film directed, initially, by P. K. Raja Sandow and later, S. M. Sriramulu Naidu. It starred M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, S. Jayalakshmi, Serukalathur Sama, Thirupurambal, T. R. Rajakumari, N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Mathuram. The film's screenplay was written by Thiru Muruga Kirubanandha Variyar. The film was shot at Central Studios and released by Pakshiraja Films in Coimbatore. The film was released on 10 April 1943.

<i>Sakuntalai</i> 1940 Indian film

Sakuntalai is a 1940 Indian Tamil-language film directed by Ellis R. Dungan and starring M. S. Subbulakshmi and G. N. Balasubramaniam.

<i>Valmiki</i> (1946 film) 1946 Indian film

Valmiki is a 1946 Tamil-language film starring Honnappa Bhagavathar, U. R. Jeevarathinam, N. C. Vasanthakokilam, T. R. Rajakumari and T. S. Balaiah. It was directed by Sundar Rao Nadkarni.

<i>Jagathalapratapan</i> 1944 Indian film

Jagathalapratapan is a 1944 Indian Tamil-language film starring P. U. Chinnappa and M. S. Sarojini. A film adaptation of a folk tale "12 Minister's Tale", the film also features P. B. Rangachari, M. R. Santhanalakshmi and N. S. Krishnan playing supporting roles. The film revolves around the theme of a prince who through his talents wins over several girls and marries them. The film was released on 13 April 1944 and became a box-office success and established Chinnappa as one of the top stars in Tamil cinema.

<i>Ambikapathy</i> (1957 film) 1957 Indian film

Ambikapathy is a 1957 Indian Tamil language film directed by P. Neelakantan, starring Sivaji Ganesan and P. Bhanumathi. The film, primarily in black-and-white, had sequences in Gevacolor. It was released on 22 October 1957.

<i>Pankajavalli</i> (film) 1947 Indian film

Pankajavalli is a 1947 Indian Tamil-language film written, produced and directed by S. Soundararajan. The music was by Papanasam Sivan. The film starred P. U. Chinnappa, T. R. Rajakumari and Kumari Rukmani. The film was basically the story of Alli, who dominates men in her kingdom and treats them like slaves. The film was inspired by the popular Kerala folktale Malayala Pankajavalli, which Ayyangar adapted.

Aaravalli Sooravalli is a 1946 Indian, Tamil language film directed by C. V. Raman. The film stars K. Thavamani Devi, V. A. Chellappa, P. S. Govinda, M. R. Santhanalakshmi and Serukulathur Sama.

<i>Naveena Sarangadhara</i> 1936 Indian film

Naveena Sarangadhara is a 1936 Tamil film directed by K. Subramaniam under Murugan Talkies. Naveena in Tamil means modern. The film was titled thus in order to distinguish itself from the earlier versions and also in order to highlight the slight modifications made to the original story. The cast includes M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and S. D. Subbulakshmi in the lead roles supported by S. S. Mani Bhagavathar, G. Pattu Iyer and Indubala. The music was composed by Papanasam Sivan.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal padaitha Tamil Thiraipada Varalaaru (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publications. pp. 28:10.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Muthiah, S. (6 September 2004). "Americans in Tamil cinema". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  3. ↑ Muthiah, S. (1 February 2002). "He transcended barriers with aplomb". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 "Regional Indian cinema – Tamil". India Heritage. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  5. ↑ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1994). Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema. British Film Institute. p. 325. ISBN   0-85170-455-7.
  6. ↑ Muthiah, S. (3 March 2008). "An unforgettable superhit". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  7. ↑ "Tamil cinema history – The Early Days 1937 – 1944". indolink.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. 1 2 3 "Blast from the Past – Ambikapathi 1937". The Hindu . 26 October 1937. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016.
  9. ↑ Baskaran, S. Theodore (1996). The eye of the serpent: an introduction to Tamil cinema. Chennai: East West Books. p. 61.
  10. 1 2 3 "MKT Filmography Part I". M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar fan site. Archived from the original on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
  11. 1 2 Muthiah, S. (4 November 2002). "Art that never vanished". The Hindu:Metro Plus Chennai. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  12. ↑ G. Dhananjayan (November 2014). Pride of Tamil Cinema:1931 to 2013. Chennai: Blue Ocean Publishers.
  13. ↑ Arandhai Narayanan (2008). Arambakala Tamil Cinema (1931-41) (in Tamil). Chennai: Vijaya Publications. p. 48.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.