Town Bus
Town Bus is a 1955 Indian Tamil language drama film directed by K. Somu and produced by M. A. Venu under his banner M. A. V. Pictures. The film was written by A. P. Nagarajan, and the soundtrack was composed by K. V. Mahadevan. The film stars N. N. Kannappa and Anjali Devi, A. Karunanidhi, T. K. Ramachandran in the lead roles with V. K. Ramasamy M. N. Rajam T. P. Muthulakshmi portraying supporting roles.[1] The plot of the film was built around a bus transport company based in Coimbatore. The film performed well at the box office.[1]
| Town Bus | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | K. Somu |
| Produced by | M. A. Venu |
| Written by | A. P. Nagarajan |
| Story by | A. P. Nagarajan |
| Starring | N. N. Kannappa Anjali Devi M. N. Rajam A. Karunanidhi T. P. Muthulakshmi T. K. Ramachandran V. K. Ramasamy |
| Music by | K. V. Mahadevan |
| Cinematography | V. K. Gopal |
| Edited by | T. Vijayarangam |
Production company | M. A. V. Pictures |
| Distributed by | M. A. V. Pictures |
Release date | 13 November 1955 |
Running time | 130 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
Velu (N. N. Kannappa), an unemployed youth, meets a bus conductor Amutha (Anjali Devi) by circumstance, joins the transporter company as driver and gradually gets close to her. The owner's daughter (Tambaram Lalitha) falls in love with him, but her father wants her to marry Ramu (Ramachandran), a relative who is the manager of the company. He is only after money and also a womaniser.
Velu's friend Mannaru (A. Karunanidhi) falls in love with another conductor Poongavam (T. P. Muthulakshmi). The manager dismisses the two drivers, after which Velu becomes an auto rickshaw driver. Soon he sets up his own company and experiences success in a short span of time. He marries Amutha and has a child through her. As he becomes more successful, his lifestyle changes and he falls in love with another woman, a dancer Pankajam (M. N. Rajam).
Amutha learns about her husband's affair with Pankajam and more complications follow. She eventually learns that Pankajam is her long-lost sister. Ramu locks up Velu in a room with the intention of killing him. The two women and the bus owner's daughter, who remains single, team up to save Velu. In the process, the manager shoots Pankajam and is arrested. Velu, Amutha and their child unite and live happily.[1]
Cast
Adapted from the songbook[2]
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Production
Town Bus was directed by K. Somu and produced by M. A. Venu for M. A. V. Pictures.[1] The screenplay was written by A. P. Nagarajan.[3] V. K. Gopal was the cinematographer. Shooting took place mainly in Coimbatore.[1]
Release and reception
Town Bus was released on 13 November 1955.[4] According to film historian Randor Guy, the film was commercially successful mainly because of the music. He said the film would be "Remembered for the pleasing music, good performances by Anjali Devi and Kannappa, and excellent photography, especially the outdoor sequences of Kovai."[1]
Soundtrack
| Town Bus | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | 1955 |
| Recorded | 1955 |
| Genre | Sareegama |
| Language | Tamil |
| Producer | K. V. Mahadevan |
The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics by Ka. Mu. Sheriff.[5]Playback singers are Tiruchi Loganathan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, T. M. Soundararajan, S. C. Krishnan, M. S. Rajeswari, Radha Jayalakshmi & U. R. Chandra.
Songs such as "Chittukkuruvi Chittukuruvi" (picturised on Anjali Devi) and the dance number "Leda Lady Aruginil Vaada Aadi Paadalam" became popular.[1]
| No | Song | Singers | Lyric | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Chittukuruvi Chittukuruvi" (Happy) | M. S. Rajeswari | Ka. Mu. Sheriff | 2:21 |
| 2 | "Chittukkuruvi Chiitukuruvi" (2) | M. S. Rajeswari | ||
| 3 | "Chittukuruvi Chittukuruvi" | M. S. Rajeswari | ||
| 4 | "Leda Lady Aruginil" | S. C. Krishnan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan & U. R. Chandra | 3:09 | |
| 5 | "Thilalanga Thilalanga" | T. M. Soundararajan | 01:10 | |
| 6 | "Ponnana Vazhve Mannaagi Poma I" | Tiruchi Loganathan, M. S. Rajeswari & Radha Jayalakshmi | 3:28 | |
| 7 | "Intha Vaazhve Sonatham" | Tiruchi Loganathan | ||
| 8 | "Uttamarai" (Thottrathai Kondum) | T. M. Soundararajan | 02:53 | |
| 9 | "Nenjam Urugudhe Panbadu Illamal" | Radha Jayalakshmi | ||
| 10 | "Ponnana Vaazhve" | Tiruchi Loganathan |
References
- Guy, Randor (18 August 2012). "Blast from the Past: Town Bus 1953". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- Town Bus Song Book
- Raman, Mohan V. (14 April 2012). "Master of mythological cinema". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- 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 19 April 2018.
- "Town Bus 1955". Music India Online. Retrieved 21 January 2016.