Gulebakavali (1955 film)

Gulebakavali (transl. The Flower of Bakavali) is a 1955 Indian Tamil-language action adventure film produced and directed by T. R. Ramanna. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran, T. R. Rajakumari, Rajasulochana, G. Varalakshmi, S. D. Subbulakshmi and E. V. Saroja, while K. A. Thangavelu, J. P. Chandrababu, E. R. Sahadevan and A. Karunanidhi play supporting roles. It tells the story of a young prince who sets out to the kingdom of Bakavali to find a mysterious flower which is believed to have the power to restore his father's eyesight. The story originated from the Arabic folklore collection, One Thousand and One Nights.

Gulebakavali
Theatrical release poster
Directed byT. R. Ramanna
Produced byT. R. Ramanna
Screenplay byThanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Based onOne Thousand and One Nights
StarringM. G. Ramachandran
T. R. Rajakumari
Rajasulochana
G. Varalakshmi
Music byViswanathan–Ramamoorthy
CinematographyT. K. Rajabahathar
Edited byM. S. Mani
A. Thangaraj
Production
company
Release date
29 July 1955
Running time
165 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

Dasan, a prince, sets out to the kingdom of Bakavali to find a mysterious flower which is believed to have the power to restore his father's eyesight.

Cast

Production

Gulebakavali is the second Tamil film to be based on the story of the same name from the Arabic folklore collection One Thousand and One Nights, following a 1935 film.[1] The film also involved a fight sequence between lead actor M. G. Ramachandran and a tiger.[2] Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, who wrote the film's script, also wrote the film's dialogues and the song's lyrics.[1]

Soundtrack

The film's music was composed by the duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy while the lyrics were written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass.[3] The song "Mayakkum Maalai" was composed in the Carnatic raga named Bageshri, being one of the earliest film songs to do so.[4] It was originally composed by K. V. Mahadevan for T. R. Ramanna's previous film Koondukkili (1954). As that film was getting delayed and the song was yet to be filmed, Ramanna instead used it in Gulebakavali, with Jikki and A. M. Rajah as the singers. Viswanathan and Ramamoorthy were credited as the composers instead of Mahadevan.[1][5] The lyrics for this song was penned by Vindhan.

No.TitleLyricsSingersLength
1."Mayakkum Maalai"VindhanJikki, A. M. Rajah4:27
2."Nayagamae Nabi" S. C. Krishnan & Nagore E. M. Hanifa2:51
3."Acchu Nimirndha Vandi" J. P. Chandrababu, A. G. Rathnamala3:12
4."Villendhum Veerarellam" Thiruchi Loganathan, P. Leela, G. K. Venkatesh6:33
5."Maaya Valayil" T. M. Sounderarajan1:13
6."Vitthara Kalliyellam" T. M. Sounderarajan1:29
7."Kaiyai Thottathum" T. M. Sounderarajan, P. Leela2:37
8."La Sokka Potta Navabu" Jikki3:36
9."Aasaiyum Nesamum" K. Jamuna Rani3:37
10."Bhagavali Naattilae" T. M. Sounderarajan3:47
11."Kannalae Pesum" Jikki3:54
12."Arivuppoti (Dialogues)" MGR3:26

Reception

Gulebakavali was released on 29 July 1955.[6] Randor Guy praised the film for its "well-orchestrated fight sequences", the "interesting storyline and T. R. Rajakumari providing the glamour quotient (she was then 33)", and concluded that the film would be "Remembered for the excellent onscreen narration by Ramanna".[1]

Namesake

The 2018 film Gulaebaghavali was named after this film, but with a different spelling. To connect these two films, director Kalyaan devised a "special flashback sequence".[7]

References
  1. Guy, Randor (30 October 2010). "Blast from the past — Gulebakavali (1955)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  2. Kannan, R. (2017). MGR: A Life. India: Penguin Random House. p. 90.
  3. "Gulebakavali (1955)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  4. Mani, Charulatha (13 April 2012). "A Raga's Journey — Bewitching Bhagesri". The Hindu. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  5. Guy, Randor (10 October 2008). "Goondukili 1954". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  6. Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [Tamil film history and its achievements] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publishers. Archived from the original on 3 April 2017.
  7. "Prabhu Deva's 'Gulebakavali' Begins From Where MGR's Film Ended". Silverscreen.in. 19 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
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