Arasilankumari
Arasilankumari (transl. Princess) is a 1961 Indian Tamil-language historical adventure film directed by A. S. A. Sami and A. Kasilingam, and produced by M. Somasundaram under Jupiter Pictures. An adaptation of the 1952 film, Scaramouche, itself based on a novel by the same name, it stars M. G. Ramachandran, Padmini and Rajasulochana. The film was originally directed by Sami, and completed by Kasilingam. It was released on 1 January 1961, and failed commercially.
| Arasilankumari | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | A. S. A. Sami A. Kasilingam |
| Produced by | M. Somasundaram |
| Screenplay by | A. S. A. Sami |
| Story by | M. Karunanidhi |
| Based on | Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini |
| Starring | M. G. Ramachandran Padmini Rajasulochana |
| Music by | G. Ramanathan |
| Cinematography | P. Dattu P. Ramasamy |
| Edited by | G. D. Joshi M. Kannan N. P. Sarathi |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 140 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
Arivazhagan (M. G. Ramachandran) has a sister Anbukarasi (Padmini). Anbukarasi falls in love with Vetrivelan (M. N. Nambiar), who is commander-in-chief of the royal army, but he tells Anbukarasi and Arivazhagan that he is just an ordinary citizen of the kingdom and marries Anbukarasi. Arivazhagan leaves on a mission after his sister's marriage. After some time, Vetrivelan deserts his wife and child and returns to the palace. He starts plotting against the royal family. How his plans are set at naught by the hero and how his wife fights for him against her own brother form the rest of the film.
Cast
- M. G. Ramachandran as Arivazhagan[1]
- Padmini as Anbukarasi[1]
- Rajasulochana as Azhagurani[1]
- R. Muthuraman as Pulikesi
- M. N. Nambiar as Vetrivelan[1]
- K. A. Thangavelu as Kalaimani
- Sandow M. M. A. Chinnappa Thevar in Guest Appearance
- R. Nagendra Rao
- S. A. Ashokan as Manimara Bhoopathi[1]
- T. A. Mathuram
- M. Saroja as Annam
Production
Arasilankumari was adapted from the 1952 film version of the Rafael Sabatini novel Scaramouche. It took as long as five years to complete. The film was originally directed by A. S. A. Sami, who had differences with the cast and crew; he was replaced by A. Kasilingam who completed the film.[2] This was the final film produced by Jupiter Pictures.[3]
Soundtrack
The music was composed by G. Ramanathan. Lyrics were by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, Kannadasan, Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam, K. S. Gopalakrishnan, R. Pazhanichami & Muthukoothan.[4][5] Singer is N. S. Krishnan. Playback singers are T. M. Soundararajan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, S. C. Krishnan, P. Leela, P. Susheela, Soolamangalam Jayalakshmi, K. Jamuna Rani and S. Janaki.
The song "Chinna Payale" was later adapted into "Thiruttu Payale" for the 2006 film of the same name.[6]
The song Setthaalum Unnai Naan Vida Maatten was not included in the film, because N. S. Krishnan died during the making and was replaced by a different actor.[7] The song Aav Aaahaav En Aasai Purave Aav by P. Susheela also did not take place in this film.[8]
| No. | Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Chinna Payale Chinna Payale" | T. M. Soundararajan | Pattukottai Kalyanasundaram | 03:39 |
| 2 | "Etramunnaa Etram" | T. M. Soundararajan & Seerkazhi Govindarajan | 03:11 | |
| 3 | "Kandi Kadhirkamam...Kazhugumalai Pazhanimalai" | Seerkazhi Govindarajan | 01:58 | |
| 4 | "Nandhavanatthil Or Aandi" | T. M. Soundararajan | 00:54 | |
| 5 | "Setthaalum Unnai Naan Vida Maatten" | N. S. Krishnan & S. C. Krishnan | 03:32 | |
| 6 | "Thillaalangadi Thillaalangadi" | P. Susheela | Kannadasan | 03:32 |
| 7 | "Thaaraa Avar Varuvaaraa" | S. Janaki | Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam | 03:36 |
| 8 | "Oorvalamaaga Maappillai Pennum" | Soolamangalam Jayalakshmi, T. M. Soundararajan & P. Susheela | R. Pazhanichami | 02:19 |
| 9 | "Atthaane Aasai Atthaane" | P. Leela | K. S. Gopalakrishnan | 02:10 |
| 10 | "Thoondiyile Maattikkittu Muzhikkudhu" | K. Jamuna Rani, Seerkazhi Govindarajan & S. C. Krishnan | Muthukoothan | 02:39 |
| 11 | "Aav Aaahaav En Aasai Purave Aav" | P. Susheela | Udumalai Narayana Kavi | 03:23 |
Release and reception
Arasilankumari was released on 1 January 1961.[9] The film was not commercially successful, with historian Randor Guy attributing it to the prolonged production schedule.[2]
References
- Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul, eds. (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press. p. 367. ISBN 0-19-563579-5.
- Guy, Randor (2 March 2013). "Arasilankumari 1961". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 September 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- "ஜுபிடர் சோமு மறைந்தார்". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 17 June 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
- Neelamegam, G. (2016). Thiraikalanjiyam – Part 2 (in Tamil). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 14.
- அரசிளங்குமரி (PDF) (song book) (in Tamil). Jupiter Pictures. 1961.
- Vamanan (12 November 2018). "'புதிய பறவை'யும் திருட்டுப் பயல்களும் !". Dinamalar (in Tamil). Retrieved 26 March 2020.
- "Arasilankumari 1961 -- Sethalum Unnai Naan Vida Matten". youtube. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
- "Arasilankumari 1961 -- Aav ... Aav ... En Aasai Purave Aav". youtube. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
- "Arasilankumari". The Indian Express. 1 January 1961. p. 8.