Rajee En Kanmani

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Rajee En Kanmani
Rajee En Kanmani poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byK. J. Mahadevan
Written bySangu Subramaniam (dialogues)
Screenplay byK. J. Mahadevan
Story byK. J. Mahadevan
Based on City Lights
by Charlie Chaplin
Produced by S. S. Vasan
Starring T. R. Ramachandran
Sriranjani
CinematographyC. A. S. Mani
Edited byM. Umanatha Rao
Music by S. Hanumantha Rao
Production
company
Release date
  • 29 January 1954 (1954-01-29)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Rajee En Kanmani (English: Rajee, my darling) is a 1954 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film directed by K. J. Mahadevan and produced by S. S. Vasan. The film stars T. R. Ramachandran and Sriranjani Jr. [1] A remake of Charlie Chaplin's City Lights (1931), it was remade in Telugu with the title Rajee Naa Pranam in the same year. [2]

Contents

Plot

Ramu is a homeless orphan. He saves a blind flower-seller girl, Rajee, from a car accident. Ramu takes pity on her and helps her sell flowers, as love develops between them. Ramu happens to know an eye specialist, whom he takes Rajee to for consultation. The doctor says her eyesight could be restored, but it will cost 1000 rupees. To earn money for the procedure, Ramu accepts a challenge from a boxing stalwart and wins the prize money. However, two crooks rob Ramu of the money soon after his win. Then, Ramu helps a drunken rich businessman, who gives the money to Ramu as a present. After Ramu pays the doctor, he is arrested by the police on a false charge of theft and sent to prison.

In the meantime, the doctor performs the surgery, and Rajee regains eyesight. She is longing to see Ramu, but she has not heard any news about him. Ramu tries to escape from the prison and gets caught, causing his sentence to be extended. Rajee's aunt, who was her only support, dies. The house owner tries to advance on the helpless Rajee, causing her distress to the point that she decides to end her life by drowning herself in the sea. At the nick of time, an unknown woman saves her. She finds out the woman is none other than the doctor's mother, who takes Rajee home and agrees to let her begin working as a nurse for the doctor.

The doctor starts falling in love with Rajee, but her mind is filled with Ramu. Another woman, Roopa, has a one-sided love with the doctor. She finds the doctor is interested in Rajee and precipitates matters. The doctor opens his heart to Rajee, causing her to feel torn between love and gratitude. She decides to leave the doctor's place, but the mother intercepts and pleads with Rajee to marry her son for the sake of his happiness. Rajee marries the doctor and bears a son, whom she names Ramu.

Eventually, Ramu is released from prison, and he comes to the doctor's place to find out whether Rajee got her eyesight back. When he comes to the doctor's house, Rajee is at the threshold, looking at Ramu. Because he now looks like a beggar, she does not recognize him. When their eyes meet, the events of the day make him realize that her love for him has not diminished over the years. Rajee presents him a flower, which he accepts and fades out of her life with joy, without identifying himself to her. [3]

Cast

Cast according to the opening credits of the film and song book [3]

Dance

Production

The film was produced by S. S. Vasan, owner of Gemini Studios, and directed by K. J. Mahadevan. He made Rajee En Kanmani, an adaptation of the 1931 Charlie Chaplin film City Lights. Mahadevan stuck to the original storyline of City Lights for the most part, and included the dream ballet executed by Chaplin in his film. However, Vasan felt it was too "highbrow" and did not include it in the final cut of the film. [2]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by S. Hanumantha Rao, and the lyrics were penned by Sangu Subramaniam. The song "Malligai Poo Jaadhi Roja" sung by R. Balasaraswathi Devi became a hit, [2] and is based on "La Violetera," a Spanish copla song, composed by José Padilla. [4]

SongSingerLength
"Malligai Poo Jaadhi Roja" R. Balasaraswathi Devi 04:57
"Thoongaayo Dhuraiye"02:29
"Sundhara Malare"02:11
"Ammaa Vareero"
"Ulagam Ithuthaano" V. N. Sundaram 03:09
Telugu version [5]

Music was composed by S. Hanumantha Rao and the lyrics were penned by Devulapalli Krishnasastri. All the tunes for all the songs and singers for both languages are the same.

SongSingerLength
"Mallepoolu Mollapoolu"R. Balasaraswathi Devi04:57
"Managalana — Raavu"
"Meeraina Chusi Teluparamma"
"Amma Ivigonamma Dayatho"
"Nindu Vennela"
"Inthena Brathukantha Inthena" A. M. Rajah 03:09
"Rammani Cheppiraave"
"Holiday Holiday Holiday"

Reception

The film was praised for its story and the performances of Ranga Rao, Ramachandran and Sriranjani, but became a box office failure. [2]

References

  1. ↑ "1954 – ராஜீ என் கண்மணி – ஜெமினி ஸ்டுடியோ-ராஜீ நா பிராணம்(தெ)". Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 9 February 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Guy, Randor (24 July 2009). "Rajee En Kanmani 1954". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 ராஜி என் கண்மணி [Rajee, My Darling](PDF) (song book) (in Tamil). Gemini Studios . Retrieved 18 July 2022– via Internet Archive.
  4. ↑ S, Karthik. "Tamil [Other Composers]". ItwoFS . Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  5. ↑ రాజీ నా ప్రాణం (PDF) (in Telugu). Gemini Studios. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022– via Indiancine.ma.
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