Ashok Kumar (film) explained

Ashok Kumar
Director:	Raja Chandrasekhar
Starring:	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar Chittoor V. Nagayya P. Kannamba
Cinematography:	Jiten Banerjee
Editing:	T. R. Raghunath
Music:	Alathur V. Subramanyam
Studio:	Murugan Talkies
Runtime:	211 minutes
Country:	India
Language:	Tamil

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.

Plot

The Mauryan emperor Ashokar's son Kunalan is courted by Ashokar's second wife Tishyarakshai. When he rejects her advances, he is falsely accused by the queen of trying to seduce her, and is thrown into prison and blinded. The story, however, comes to a happy end with his eyesight being restored by Gautama Buddha and the king acquits him of all the charges.

Cast

Male cast

Female cast

Production

Ashok Kumar is based on a legend involving the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, his son Kunalan and Ashoka's younger queen Thishyarakshai. It was the first Tamil film based on the legend, which was previously filmed in Hindi as Veer Kunal (1925). Telugu actress P. Kannamba played the role of Thishyarakshai. This was her second Tamil film and since she did not know the language, she was provided with a script in which Tamil words had been transliterated into Telugu. Ashok Kumar marked the debut of Ranjan (credited as R. Ramani), who portrayed Gautama Buddha. The song and dance sequence, "Unnai Kandu Mayangaatha" was shot in a single night at Newtone Studio.^[1]

Soundtrack

The songs were composed by Alathur V. Subramanyam and the lyrics were written by Papanasam Sivan. Playback singers are Rama Rao and Mani of the Renuka Orchestra.^{[2] [3]}

Music Credits

Sharma Brothers Orchestra

• R. N. Thambi – Veena
• V. Govindasami – Fiddle
• N. L. Ramalingam – Harmonium
• R. V. Parikshithu – Mridangam

Release and reception

Ashok Kumar was released on 17 September 1941.^[4] Kay Yess Enn of The Indian Express praised the film for Kannamba's performance.^[5]

In other media

Portions of "Bhoomiyil Maanida" were used in "Theepidikka", a song in Arinthum Ariyamalum (2005).^[6]

Bibliography

• Book: Rajadhyaksha . Ashish . Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema . Willemen . Paul . . 1998 . 0-19-563579-5 . Ashish Rajadhyaksha . Paul Willemen . 1994.

Notes and References

1. News: Guy . Randor . Randor Guy . 25 January 2008 . Ashok Kumar 1941 . . dead . 4 February 2020 . https://archive.today/20150318140612/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/ashok-kumar-1941/article3022478.ece . 18 March 2015.
2. Web site: Ashok Kumar . 20 March 2020 . . 20 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200320092630/https://gaana.com/album/ashok-kumar . live .
3. Web site: Ashok Kumar . 20 March 2020 . Hungama.
4. News: 17 September 1941 . Asok-Kumar . 5 . . 4 February 2020.
5. News: Kay Yess Enn . 20 September 1941 . Asok-Kumar . 3 . . 3 September 2021.
6. News: 12 September 2017 . சாதனை புரிந்த தமிழ் படங்கள் – 312– எஸ்.கணேஷ் . ta . . Nellai . usurped . 29 March 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180329113248/http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/34669 . 29 March 2018.