Balayogini

Last updated

Balayogini
Balayogini poster.jpg
Poster in Tamil
Tamil பாலயோகினி
Running time
210 minutes
Country India
LanguageTamil

Balayogini (transl.Girl Saint) is a 1937 Indian film made in Tamil and Telugu languages. It was directed by K. Subramanyam. It is one of the earliest Tamil films to be set in a contemporary social setting and to advocate reformist social policies. This film is considered to be first children's talkie film of South India. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Contents

Production

Subramanyam, was influenced by the reformist ideals of his father C.V. Krishnaswamy Iyer. He was moved by the social conditions around him to make reform oriented films. Balayogini (lit. Child Saint) was made to expose the plight and suffering of widows in middle class Brahmin communities in Tamil Nadu. Subramanyam produced this film under his "Madras United Artists Corporation" banner to express his criticism of the existing social norms and his disapproval of priesthood. [7] [10] He wrote the story, screenplay & dialogues and directed it himself. He cast his niece Saroja as the titular character. The film was started in 1936 and released in 1937. The completed film was 19,000 feet (210 minutes runtime) in length. [1]

Plot

Sarasa's (K. R. Chellam) father is arrested by Police for being a debtor. She goes to the sub collector's (K. B. Vatsal) house to ask for help. The collector's widowed sister Janaki and her niece (Baby Saroja) take pity on her. They are driven out of the house by the angry collector. They take refuge in the house of their low-caste servant Munuswamy. Munuswamy dies and Janaki cares for his children as her own. This causes outrage in the conservative society and Munuswamy's house is burned down by a mob. The child Saroja changes everyone's mind with her arguments.

Tamil cast

"Baby Saroja" in Balayogini Balayogini 1937film.jpg
"Baby Saroja" in Balayogini

Telugu cast

Soundtrack

The music was by Moti Babu and the lyrics were Papanasam Sivan. ‘Kanney papa, kanimuthu paapa’, rendered by Baby Saroja as a lullaby to her doll, became popular. [5]

Reception

The film was released on 5 February 1937 to critical and public acclaim. "Baby" Saroja was hailed as "Shirley Temple of India". [5] Many girls were named "Saroja" after her. [5] The film's success inspired a number of socially themed films in South India.

Reviewing the film in the magazine Jaganmohini in February 1937, reviewer Vatsakumari wrote:

After seeing Saroja's acting, Shirley Temple's talent does not impress anymore. Saroja's appearance, acting and words give us the impression of a lonely new flower's fragrance. There is no doubt that behind her and the other children's acting success is the director K. Subramaniam...It can be said such a complete Tamil film has not been made so far. [3]

A similar review was written in Manikodi magazine in its February 1937 issue:

..The four year old faces make us remember rose buds. Their laughter reminds us of Jasmine flowers waiting for the Margazhi sunrise. Baby Saroja's quick responses capture our heart. We should congratulate the director Sri Subramanyam for making such a successful film with children. [4]

Film historian Theodore Baskaran has called it the most significant Tamil film of its period. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B. Saroja Devi</span> Indian actress

Bangalore Saroja Devi is an Indian actress who has acted in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films. She acted in around 200 films over seven decades. She is known by the epithets "Abhinaya Saraswathi" in Kannada and "Kannadathu Paingili" in Tamil. She is one of the most successful actresses in the history of Indian cinema.

<i>Devadasu</i> (1953 film) 1953 film by Vedantam Raghavayya

Devadasu is a 1953 Indian romance film directed by Vedantam Raghavayya and produced by D. L. Narayana for Vinodha Pictures. Chakrapani wrote the script based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel, Devdas. C. R. Subbaraman composed the film's music. The film was edited by P. V. Narayanan, while B. S. Ranga provided the cinematography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S. Varalakshmi</span> Indian actress and singer

Saridey Varalakshmi was an Indian actress and singer who worked in Telugu and Tamil-language films. She was popular for her roles and songs in Telugu films like Sri Venkateswara Mahatyam (1960) and Mahamantri Timmarasu (1962) and Tamil films like Veerapandiya Kattabomman (1959) and in Poova Thalaiya (1969).

<i>Parasakthi</i> (film) 1952 film by Krishnan–Panju

Parasakthi is a 1952 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Krishnan–Panju and written by M. Karunanidhi. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, S. V. Sahasranamam, S. S. Rajendran, Sriranjani Jr., and Pandari Bai. It is the cinematic acting debut of Ganesan and Rajendran. Based on Pavalar Balasundaram's play of the same name, Parasakthi narrates the misfortunes that befall the members of a Tamil family during World War II.

<i>Thyaga Bhoomi</i> 1939 Indian film

Thyaga Bhoomi is a 1939 Indian Tamil-language film directed and produced by K. Subramanyam. Starring K. J. Mahadevan and S.D.Subbalakshmi, the film was produced at the height of India's freedom movement and glorified Mahatma Gandhi and his ideals in no mean terms. The story for the film was based on a novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy and was financed and distributed by S. S. Vasan before he created Gemini Studios. Thyagabhoomi is the only Indian film to be banned after release by the British government. The film's only existing print is now at an archive store in Pune. The story was serialized in Ananda Vikatan simultaneously when the film production was going on with stills from the film being published. This was the first time ever something like this had ever been attempted in the world and garnered great success both in India and across other Tamil populations across the world and British Empire.

<i>Iru Sahodarargal</i> 1936 film by Ellis R. Dungan

Iru Sahodarargal is a 1936 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Ellis R. Dungan. This was the second film for M. G. Ramachandran and Dungan. This film cemented the reputation of Dungan as the most successful Tamil film director of that period. It is one of the earliest Tamil films to be set in a contemporary social setting. No print of the film is known to survive, making it a lost film.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">P. K. Raja Sandow</span>

Raja Sandow was an Indian actor, film director and producer. He began his career as an actor in silent films and later became a prominent actor and director in Tamil and Hindi films of the 1930s. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of early Indian cinema.>

<i>Sevasadanam</i> 1938 Indian Tamil film by Krishnaswami Subramanyam

Sevasadanam is a 1938 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Subrahmanyam. It is one of the early Tamil films to be set in a contemporary social setting and to advocate reformist social policies. This was the first film for M. S. Subbulakshmi and the Tamil debut of Telugu actress S. Varalakshmi.

<i>Bhakta Nandanar</i> 1935 film by Maniklal Dandan

Bhakta Nandanar is a 1935 Tamil-language film directed by Manik Lal Tandon. It marked the cinematic debut of the Carnatic singer and stage artist K. B. Sundarambal. She was paid a then unprecedented ₹100,000 as salary for this film. This was also the first film for Ellis R. Dungan. No print of the film is known to survive, making it a lost film.

<i>Sathi Leelavathi</i> (1936 film) 1936 film by Ellis R. Dungan

Sathi Leelavathi is a 1936 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Ellis R. Dungan and written by Madras Kandaswamy Mudaliar. It is based on S. S. Vasan's novel of the same name, which had been serialised in 1934. M. K. Radha stars as Krishnamurthy, a man from Madras, who is lured into drinking alcohol by an acquaintance. Believing he murdered his friend in a drunken stupor, Krishnamurthy flees to Ceylon while his wife and daughter, played by M. R. Gnanambal and M. K. Mani respectively, are reduced to poverty. T. S. Balaiah, M. G. Ramachandran, M. V. Mani and P. Nammalvar appear in supporting roles.

<i>Velaikari</i> 1949 film by A. S. A. Sami

Velaikari is a 1949 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by A. S. A. Sami and produced by M. Somasundaram under Jupiter Pictures. It was based on the play of the same name written by C. N. Annadurai, while incorporating plot details from the Alexandre Dumas novel The Count of Monte Cristo (1844). The film stars K. R. Ramasamy, V. N. Janaki and M. V. Rajamma. It was released on 25 February 1949 and became a success. The film was remade in Telugu as Santhosham (1955), in Hindi as Naya Aadmi (1956), and in Kannada as Malli Maduve (1963).

<i>Mathru Bhoomi</i> 1939 Indian film

Mathru Bhoomi is a 1939 Indian Tamil-language film directed by H. M. Reddy. It was an adaptation of the Bengali stage play Chandragupta by Dwijendralal Ray.

<i>Thennilavu</i> 1961 film by C. V. Sridhar

Thennilavu is a 1961 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film written, produced and directed by Sridhar. It stars Gemini Ganesan and Vyjayanthimala, with K. A. Thangavelu, M. N. Nambiar, M. Saroja and Vasanthi in supporting roles. The film's plot is about a man who, due to mistaken identity, is appointed as a manager by a young woman for her father's honeymoon in Kashmir. The man and the woman fall in love but things go awry when the real manager arrives in Kashmir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby Saroja</span> Indian actress (1931–2019)

Saroja Ramamrutham, better known by her screen name Baby Saroja, was an Indian actress who was known for her roles as a child actor in Tamil films of the late 1930s. She was known as the "Shirley Temple of India" due to her popularity.

Keechaka Vadham is an Indian silent film produced, directed, filmed and edited by R. Nataraja Mudaliar. The first film to have been made in South India, it was shot in five weeks at Nataraja Mudaliar's production house, India Film Company. As the members of the cast were Tamils, Keechaka Vadham is considered to be the first Tamil film. No print of it is known to have survived, making it a lost film.

<i>Kalyana Parisu</i> 1959 film by C. V. Sridhar

Kalyana Parisu is a 1959 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film written and directed by Sridhar. The film stars Gemini Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi while K. A. Thangavelu, Vijayakumari, M. Saroja, S. D. Subbulakshmi, A. Nageswara Rao and M. N. Nambiar play supporting roles. A triangular love story, it is about two close sisters whose lives turn upside down when they both fall in love with the same man. Out of respect, the younger sister decides to sacrifice her love, unknown to the elder sister.

<i>Missiamma</i> 1955 film by L. V. Prasad

Missiamma is a 1955 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed by L. V. Prasad. Produced by B. Nagi Reddy and Aluri Chakrapani's Vijaya Vauhini Studios, the script was adapted by Chakrapani from the Bengali novel Manmoyee Girls School by Rabindranath Maitra. Missiamma also focused on social issues such as unemployment, corruption, and freedom of worship. Missiamma tells the story of two unemployed people of different religions and mentalities: Balu and Mary. They pose as a married couple to obtain jobs in a high school founded by Gopal, the zamindar of Aandipettai. As Balu and Mary fall in love, Gopal's nephew Raju learns that Mary is Gopal's missing elder daughter Mahalakshmi; she is unaware of her true identity.

<i>Pandithevan</i> 1959 Indian film

Pandithevan is a 1959 Indian Tamil-language film, produced and directed by K. Subramanyam. The film stars M. G. Chakrapani, T. K. Balachandran, Rajasulochana and B. S. Saroja.

<i>Minnalkodi</i> 1937 film directed by K. Amarnath

Minnalkodi is a 1937 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film, directed by K. Amarnath and produced by Ramaniklal and Mohanlal. The film stars K. T. Rukmini, Srinivasa Rao, and S. S. Kokko. Released on 30 October 1937, it became a commercial success, but no print of the film is known to survive, making it a lost film.

References

  1. 1 2 Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal padaitha Tamil Thiraipada Varalaaru (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publications. pp. 28:12.
  2. ↑ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). British Film Institute and Oxford University Press. p. 248. ISBN   0-19-563579-5.
  3. 1 2 Baskaran, S. Theodore (2004). Chithiram Pesuthadi (in Tamil). Chennai: Kalachuvadu. pp. 50–51. ISBN   81-87477-75-X.
  4. 1 2 Arandhai Narayanan (2008). Arambakala Tamil Cinema (1931–41) (in Tamil). Chennai: Vijaya Publications. p. 23.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Blast From the Past – Balayogini 1937, The Hindu 10 April 2009
  6. ↑ Baskaran, S. Theodore (1996). The eye of the serpent: an introduction to Tamil cinema. Chennai: East West Books. p. 15.
  7. 1 2 Baskaran, S. Theodore (1981). The message bearers: the nationalist politics and the entertainment media in South India, 1880–1945. Chennai: Cre-A. p. 116.
  8. ↑ Thoraval, Yves (2000). The cinemas of India. India: Macmillan. p. 37. ISBN   0-333-93410-5.
  9. ↑ Velayutham, Selvaraj (2008). Tamil cinema: the cultural politics of India's other film industry (Hardback ed.). New York: Routledge. p. 3. ISBN   978-0-415-39680-6.
  10. ↑ A progressive film-maker, Frontline Magazine 03-16 July 2004 [usurped]
  11. ↑ Muthiah, S (1989). Tales of old and new Madras: the dalliance of Miss Mansell and 34 other stories of 350 years. Chennai: Affiliated East-West Press. p. 135. ISBN   81-85336-25-3.
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.