Ponvayal
Ponvayal (transl. Golden Farm) is a 1954 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by A. T. Krishnaswamy, and produced by T. R. Ramachandran. It is based on the story Poimaan Karadu by Kalki Krishnamurthy that was serialised in the weekly magazine Kalki. The film stars T. R. Ramachandran and Anjali Devi. It was released on 12 February 1954 and failed commercially. The film is lost. The film dubbed into Telugu as Bangaru Bhoomi.
| Ponvayal | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | A. T. Krishnaswamy |
| Produced by | T. R. Ramachandran |
| Screenplay by | A. T. Krishnaswamy |
| Based on | Poimaan Karadu by Kalki Krishnamurthy |
| Starring |
|
| Music by | Thurayur Rajgopal Sarma R. Rajagopal |
| Cinematography | Nemai Ghosh |
| Edited by | M. K. Mani |
Production company | Jayanthi Pictures |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Cast
- T. R. Ramachandran as Sengodan[1]
- Anjali Devi as Semba[1]
- Manohar as Bangaru[1]
- Mynavathi as Bangaru's lover[1]
- K. Sarangapani as the policeman[1]
- K. A. Thangavelu as Esraj[1]
- T. P. Muthulakshmi
Production
Poimaan Karadu was a novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy and serialised in his own magazine Kalki. When the film rights to this story were bought, the film adaptation was titled Ponvayal. It was directed and written by A. T. Krishnaswamy, and produced by T. R. Ramachandran (who also played the male lead) under Jayanthi Pictures.[1][2]
Soundtrack
The music of the film was composed by Thuraiyur Rajagopal Sarma and R. Rajagopal, under the supervision of N. P. Abdul Khader. The lyrics were written by Yogi Suddhanantha Bharathiyar and Sundara Vathiyar.[1] The playback singers are Sirkazhi Govindarajan, N. L. Ganasaraswathi, Jikki and A. Andal.[3]
| No. | Song | Singer/s | Lyricist | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Maathamum Maari" | Group song | ||
| 2 | "Pongalo Pongal Pongalo" | N. L. Ganasaraswathi | Suddhanantha Bharathiyar | 03:20 |
| 3 | "Polladha Paavigal Ellaam" | |||
| 4 | "Maadugalaa Kaalai Maadugalaa" | Sirkazhi Govindarajan | ||
| 5 | "Siripputhaan Varuguthaiyaa" | 05:53 | ||
| 6 | "Onghi Valarndha Payir" | |||
| 7 | "Namma Kalyaanam Romba Nalla" | T. R. Ramachandran & N. L. Ganasaraswathi | 02:47 | |
| 8 | "Enna Vinodham Paaru" | K. Sarangkapani | ||
| 9 | "Vaazhvinile Naame Jaaliyaaka Povom" | |||
| 10 | "Koodayirundhu Kudiyai Keduththida" | |||
| 11 | "Azhaiyaadha Veettil Nuzhayaadha Seemaan" | Jikki | 02:57 | |
| 12 | "Vaanga Vaanga Maappillai" | A. Andal | ||
| 13 | "Azhaiyaadha Veettil" |
Release and reception
Ponvayal was released on 12 February 1954.[2][4] The critic from The Indian Express positively reviewed the film for Krishnaswamy's writing and direction, along with the performances of Ramachandran, Anjali Devi and Muthulakshmi.[5] Despite this, it failed at the box office. No print of the film is known to survive, making it a lost film.[1]
References
- Guy, Randor (14 January 2012). "Ponvayal 1954". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- Film News Anandan (2004). Saadhanaigal Padaitha thamizh thiraipada varalaru [Tamil film history and its achievements] (in Tamil). Sivagami Publications. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017.
- Neelamegam, G. (2014). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 77.
- "Ponvayal". The Indian Express. 12 February 1954. p. 3.
- "Ponvayal". The Indian Express. 13 February 1954. p. 3.