Rajambal (1951 film) explained

Rajambal
Director:R. M. Krishnaswamy
Producer:V. C. Subburaman
M. Radhakrishnan
R. M. Krishnaswamy
Screenplay:A. T. Krishnaswamy
Story:J. R. Rangaraju
Starring:R. S. Manohar
P. K. Saraswathi
K. Sarangapani
Madhuri Devi
Music:M. S. Gnanamani
Cinematography:R. M. Krishnaswamy
Editing:C. V. Raju
Pal G. Yadav
Studio:Aruna Films
Runtime:209 mins. (18850 ft.)
Country:India
Language:Tamil

Rajambal is a 1951 Indian, Tamil language film directed by R. M. Krishnaswamy. The film stars R. S. Manohar and P. K. Saraswathi.[1]

Plot

The story is of a judicial officer who misuses his office to achieve his personal needs.

Cast

List adapted from the film's song book[2]

Male cast
Female cast

Production

The film was produced by V. C. Subbaraman and M. Radhakrishnan together with R. M. Krishnaswamy who also directed the film and handled the cinematography. C. V. Raju and Paul G. Yadav did the editing. The screenplay was based on a stage play with the same name written by J. R. Rangaraju. Dialogues were penned by A. T. Krishnaswamy. T. V. Sarma was in charge of art direction while the choreography was done by Kumar. Still photography was done by R. N. Nagaraja Rao. The film was processed at Vijaya laboratory.

This film is the debut for R. S. Manohar whose real-life name was R. S. Lakshminarasimhan. He was working in the Postal Department and was acting in stage dramas as an amateur artiste.

This is the second version of the stage play. It was filmed earlier in 1935 with the same title, Rajambal directed by A. Narayanan.

Trivia

Film historian Randor Guy says when the producer went to renew the certificate, the then Regional Censor Officer G. T. Sastri, who was the toughest ever censor officer, not only refused to renew the certificate but also asked to surrender the negatives of the film as the subject of the story "was illegal, immoral and anti-social!"

Soundtrack

Music for songs was composed by M. S. Gnanamani while background score was by S. Balachander. The lyrics were penned by A. Maruthakasi and Ku. Sa. Krishnamoorthy. Singers are S. Balachander and K. Sarangapani while the playback singers are A. M. Rajah, V. N. Sundaram, Thiruchi Loganathan, M. L. Vasanthakumari, P. Leela and A. G. Rathnamala.[3]

No. Song Singer/s Lyricist Duration (m:ss)
1 "Kani Mozhi Maathae" A. M. Rajah & P. Leela A. Maruthakasi 03:25
2 "Thathina Theen Pasi Theeruma" P. Leela & group
3 "Vaazhvu Uyara Vendum" M. L. Vasanthakumari 03:02
4 "Ahaa Haa Manaiviyaaven" 03:00
5 "Theeraadha Thunbam Thaanaa"
6 "Jayame Vaazhvil Peruvaen" P. Leela 02:53
7 "Idhaya Thaamarai Malara Cheyvadhum" V. N. Sundaram & P. Leela
8 "Maathar Maniye Vaa" S. Balachander & P. Leela 03:09
9 "Ullondru Vaithu" Thiruchi Loganathan
10 "Oru Thinusaa Irukudhu" A. G. Rathnamala & K. Sarangapani Ku. Sa. Krishnamoorthy 02:55

Reception

The film fared moderately at the box office and is "Remembered for R. S. Manohar’s film debut, ‘Veena’ Balachandar’s performance and background score and for being the first production of RMK."

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rajambal 1951 . . 3 January 2009 . 18 June 2017. Guy. Randor. Randor Guy . https://archive.today/20170618013456/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/Rajambal-1951/article15934288.ece. 18 June 2017.
  2. https://archive.org/details/sok.Rajambal_R.M.Krishnaswamy_1951/page/n1 Song Book
  3. Book: Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1. G. Neelamegam. Tamil. 25 . Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108 (Ph:044 25361039). First edition December 2014.