Kumara Raja (1961 film) explained

Kumara Raja
Director:G. K. Ramu
Producer:K. Muniratnam
Screenplay:Murasoli Maran
Starring:J. P. Chandrababu
T. S. Balaiah
M. N. Rajam
Suryakala
Music:T. R. Pappa
Cinematography:G. K. Ramu
Studio:Sivakami Pictures
Country:India
Language:Tamil

Kumara Raja is a 1961 Indian Tamil-language film directed by G. K. Ramu. The film stars J. P. Chandrababu, T. S. Balaiah and M. N. Rajam.[1] It was released on 21 April 1961.[2]

Plot

A wealthy man (T. S. Balaiah) has a son (J. P. Chandrababu) who spends his money and time singing and dancing with girls. The father tries to marry him to a modest girl (M. N. Rajam). But the son spends most of his time with his girl friend (Suryakala). How the son is brought back to normal life forms the rest of the story.

Cast

The list was adapted from Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 2[3]

Production

J. P. Chandrababu, who was playing mostly comedian roles was cast in the main role. At a time when bigger stars like M. G. Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan were paid salaries ranging from —, Chandrababu received for this film. The film was in production as early as 1960.[4]

Soundtrack

Music was composed by T. R. Pappa while the lyrics were penned by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, A. Maruthakasi, Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass and K. D. Santhanam.

Song Singer/s Lyricist Duration
"Yettil Padithathodu Irundhuvidaathe" P. Leela Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram 03:12
"Kandaleh Podhum, Kadhal Vandhu Modhum" K. Jamuna Rani & Group
"Manamagalaaga Varum Mangai Evalo" V. N. Sundaram 02:54
"Naan Vandhu Serndha Idam Nalla Idam" V. N. Sundaram & P. Leela 03:50
"Ennai Paartha Kannu Veru Pennai Parkuma" J. P. Chandrababu & K. Jamuna Rani
"Moodinaalum Thiranthaalum" K. D. Santhanam
"Onnume Puriyalae Ulagathile" J. P. Chandrababu 03:20
"Aanundu Paada, Pennundu Aada" J. P. Chandrababu & P. Leela 03:00
"Angadikadai Veedhiyile" Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi & A. G. Rathnamala Thanjai Ramaiah Dass
"Kannalagi Bhama, Enmunne Vaamma" K. Jamuna Rani A. Maruthakasi

Reception

Kanthan of Kalki wrote that when the producers themselves did not care about the script, why should the viewer care about it.[5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Guy . Randor . Randor Guy . 3 March 2012 . Kumara Raja 1961 . . dead . 8 March 2017 . https://archive.today/20130820043537/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/kumara-raja-1961/article2957403.ece . 20 August 2013.
  2. News: 21 April 1961 . Kumara Raja . 30 August 2021 . . 12 . Google News Archive.
  3. Book: Neelamegam, G. . Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 2 . Manivasagar Publishers . 2016 . Chennai . 20 . Tamil.
  4. News: 13 April 1960 . Kumara Raja . 12 November 2022 . . 12 . Google News Archive.
  5. 21 May 1961 . குமார ராஜா . live . https://archive.today/20240213155019/https://archive.org/details/kalki1961-05-21/page/n53/mode/2up . 13 February 2024 . 13 February 2024 . . 53 . Ta . Internet Archive.