Saudamini Explained

Saudamini
Director:K. B. Nagabhushanam
Producer:K. B. Nagabhushanam
Screenplay:(Dialogues) Udhayakumar
Story:Samudrala Sr.
Starring:P. Kannamba
M. K. Radha
A. Nageswara Rao
S. Varalakshmi
T. R. Ramachandran
Music:S. V. Venkatraman
Cinematography:P. Ellappa
Editing:N. K. Gopal
Studio:Sri Raja Rajeswari Film Company
Distributor:Gemini Studios
Released:[1]
Runtime:197 mins. (17798 ft.)
Country:India
Language:Tamil

Saudamini (Tamil: சௌதாமினி) is a 1951 Indian, Tamil language film directed by K. B. Nagabhushanam.[2] The film featured M. K. Radha, P. Kannamba and Akkineni Nageswara Rao.[3]

Plot

A Maharshi (sage) blesses King Vikramasenan and Queen Saudamini to beget a child. The queen becomes pregnant. But the king is lured by the court dancer and he neglects the queen. The minister advises the queen to drive away the court dancer from the country. But the court dancer sows seeds of doubt in the king's mind that the queen is having an affair with the minister. So, the king orders the minister to be executed and sends the queen to the forest. The queen delivers a son, Udhayasenan, in the forest and he is growing up. In the meantime, the court dancer and her paramour, the commander blinds the king and take over the administration. Hearing this, the queen sends her son to get his father freed and regain the Kingdom. On his way, the prince meets princess Hemavathi and they fall in love with each other. The son defeats the commander and recaptures the Kingdom. The king's eyesight is restored with the help of an angel. The family is united.

Cast

List adapted from the database of Film News Anandan and from The Hindu review article.

Male cast
Female cast

Production

The film was produced and directed by K. B. Nagabhushanam under the banner Sri Raja Rajeswari Film Company owned by him and P. Kannamba. (Sri Raja Rajeswari is the family deity of Kannamba.) Samudrala Sr. wrote the story and the dialogues were penned by Udhayakumar. Cinematography was handled by P. Ellappa while the editing was done by N. K. Gopal. K. R. Sharma was in charge of art direction. Choreography was done by Anil Kumar, Chopra and Vembatti Satyam. L. K. Rao handled the still photography. The film was shot and processed at Gemini Studios.

The film was also made in Telugu as Soudamini directed by K. B. Nagabhushanam. The cast was slightly different. M. K. Radha was replaced by C. S. R.

Soundtrack

Music was composed by S. V. Venkatraman while the lyrics were penned by Udhayakumar and Lakshmanadas. Playback singers are S. V. Venkatraman and M. L. Vasanthakumari.[4]

No. Song Singer/s
1 "Annavan Rani Maha Padhiviradhai"
2 "Anbe En Sivame Aandarulvaaye" M. L. Vasanthakumari
3 "Maara Sundara Maadhu Ivale"
4 "Onbadhu Maadhamum Niraindha Piragu"
5 "Koohoo Ena Maangkuyil Konjudhaasaiyaale"
6 "Vaa Vaa Vaa Vaanamudhe"
7 "Sollu Sollu Vivaramaayi"
8 "Nenjame Irulaanadhe"
9 "O! Pal Johra Velum Poattu"
10 "Kaarum Karunaanidhiye" S. V. Venkatraman
11 "Vidhiyai Meira Vasama Vilagi Poga Vidumo"
12 "Kaalame Pagaiyaanadh"
13 "Ini Verae Maargamillaiyo"
14 "Anaiyaa Jyothi Polae Naane"
15 "Bale Joraayi Kelaayi Appane"

Notes and References

  1. Book: Film News Anandan

    . Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru. History of Landmark Tamil Films. Sivakami Publishers. Film News Anandan. Film News Anandan. 23 October 2004. Chennai. Tamil. https://archive.today/20170619004037/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1951-cinedetails11.asp. 19 June 2017. dead. dmy-all.

  2. Book: Ashish Rajadhyaksha . Paul Willemen . Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 1998. 157 & 640 .
  3. Web site: SOUDAMINI (1951) . . 31 March 2013 . 19 June 2017 . Narasimham . m.l. . https://archive.today/20170619004727/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/soudamini-1951/article4565739.ece . 19 June 2017 . dead . dmy-all .
  4. Book: Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1. G. Neelamegam. Tamil. 20 . Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108 (Ph:044 25361039). First edition December 2014.