Wikipedia

Naanum Oru Penn

Naanum Oru Penn (transl. I too am a woman) is a 1963 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar and written by K. P. Kottarakkara. The film stars S. S. Rajendran and R. Vijayakumari, with S. V. Ranga Rao, M. R. Radha, S. V. Subbaiah, C. K. Nagesh, Rajan and C. S. Pushpalatha in supporting roles. It revolves around a dark complexioned and uneducated girl and how she convinces everyone that more than appearance and education, it is the character which is important for a woman.

Naanum Oru Penn
Theatrical release poster
Directed byA. C. Tirulokchandar
Screenplay byA. C. Tirulokchandar
K. P. Kottarakkara (uncredited)
Based onBodhu
by Sri Shailesh Dey
Produced byM. Saravanan
M. Kumaran
M. Murugan
StarringS. S. Rajendran
R. Vijayakumari
CinematographyT. Muthusamy
Edited byR. G. Gopi
Music byR. Sudarsanam
Production
company
Release date
  • 7 June 1963 (1963-06-07)
Running time
155 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Naanum Oru Penn is an adaptation of Sri Shailesh Dey's Bengali play Bodhu. The film is the second production of Murugan Brothers, a subsidiary of AVM Productions, and the feature film debut of Rajan. The soundtrack and background score were composed by R. Sudarsanam, while the lyrics for the songs were written by Kannadasan, Panchu Arunachalam, Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam and V. Seetharaman.

Naanum Oru Penn was released on 7 June 1963. The film earned positive critical feedback and went on to become a commercial success. It won many awards, including the National Film Award for Best Tamil Feature Film, the Filmfare Award for Best Tamil Film and Cinema Fans Award for Best Film. The film was remade in Telugu as Naadi Aada Janme and in Hindi as Main Bhi Ladki Hoon (1964). Both the versions were directed by Tirulokachander with Ranga Rao reprising his role.

Plot

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The Zamindar of Selvapuram is unable to get over the death of his wife and continues grieving her. His sons Bhaskar and Balu live with him. Sabapathi, the Zamindar's brother-in-law, lives in the same house with his wife and son, and secretly lusts for the Zamindar's wealth. Bhaskar, the older son, desires to marry an attractive and educated girl. Balu and his collegemate Malathi are lovers.

Kali, the Zamindar's trusted servant, advises the Zamindar to have Bhaskar married, believing the bride would fill the void left by the Zamindar's wife. The Zamindar tasks Sabapathi with finding a girl for Bhaskar. Sabapathi cunningly schemes to have Bhaskar marry Kalyani, a dark-skinned, illiterate girl whose brother Chidambaram is a grocer. He takes Balu and Bhaskar to Chidambaram's house. There, he tricks them by presenting Kalyani's younger sister, revealed to be the more attractive Malathi. Bhaskar agrees, and Balu becomes disheartened. The Zamindar agrees to the marriage without having seen the bride.

On the day of the marriage, the truth is revealed and everyone abuses Kalyani. But to protect her grace and his esteem, Bhaskar decides to continue with the marriage. Sabapathi, to save himself, pins the manipulation on Chidambaram. The Zamindar, who is displeased over not getting an attractive daughter-in-law, cancels the reception arrangements, and refuses to bless the newly married couple. He treats Kalyani poorly and she becomes depressed. Kalyani, oblivious to Sabapathi's machinations, apologises to Bhaskar and he wholeheartedly accepts her. The Zamindar too gradually begins to accept her.

Months later, Kalyani becomes pregnant. Bhaskar, unaware that Kalyani cannot read, sends her a letter asking her to prepare dinner for his visiting friends and appear presentable, but is dismayed when neither instruction is followed. He berates her until she apologises and confesses she is illiterate; Kalyani explains that, following her parents' death, she sacrificed her education to support Malathi. Kalyani's trauma causes her to miscarry.

Kalyani decides to learn to read and Balu agrees to help her; they decide on night time tuitions to conceal Kalyani's illiteracy from the others. While Bhaskar is in Delhi, Sabapathi tries to steal valuables from the safe, but Kalyani thwarts him. In revenge, he tells the Zamindar of an extramarital affair between her and Balu. While Kalyani is attending tuition in Balu's room, the Zamindar spots them together; he throws them out of the house after believing Sabapathi's lies, despite them pleading innocent.

In Delhi, Bhaskar finds his friend Mohan unconscious on the road after drinking. Mohan says his attractive wife abandoned him and tells Bhaskar that character and culture matter more than beauty, education and sophistication. A regretful Bhaskar returns to Selvapuram to meet Kalyani. He learns that she and Balu were thrown out of the house due to their alleged affair. Bhaskar refuses to believe that story; after unsuccessfully trying to pacify his father, Bhaskar too leaves the house.

The Zamindar goes into depression, becomes ill and bedridden. Seizing the change to usurp the Zamindar's wealth, Sabapathi requests him to sign a document giving himself certain properties, concealing the fact that it means his entire wealth. Meanwhile Kalyani, on learning of the Zamindar's condition, rushes to meet him. Just before the Zamindar signs the document without having read the full content, Kalyani snatches it and exposes Sabapathi's foul play by reading the full content aloud, much to the surprise of the Zamindar, Bhaskar, Balu and Kali; Sabapathi escapes. The Zamindar understands Kalyani's noble character and apologises. With the family reunited, the Zamindar fixes Balu and Malathi's marriage.

Cast

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Production

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Development

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After watching the Bengali play Bodhu, A. V. Meiyappan of AVM Productions was impressed and decided to adapt it into a Tamil film. A. C. Tirulokchandar was selected to direct the film, titled Naanum Oru Penn.[3][4] It was produced by Meiyappan's sons Murugan, Saravanan and Kumaran under Murugan Brothers, a subsidiary of AVM. Naanum Oru Penn was the second production of Murugan Brothers.[5][6] The producers wanted K. P. Kottarakkara to write the screenplay and he agreed, but Tirulokchandar, a screenwriter himself, was against anyone writing the screenplay under his direction. However the producers remained resolute and persuaded him to co-operate with Kottarakkara in the screenwriting process. Tirulokchandar relented under the condition that he be credited as the sole screenwriter.[7] Cinematography was handled by T. Muthusamy and editing by R. G. Gopi.[5] Sowcar Janaki, in an interview with Kalki in 1993, said that Naanum Oru Penn was based on the 1955 Telugu film Kanyadaanam in which she acted.[8]

Casting

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The crew initially wanted Gemini Ganesan and Savitri as Bhaskar and Kalyani; however Tirulokchandar was adamant and chose S. S. Rajendran and R. Vijayakumari instead.[9] The make-up for Vijayakumari was done by Kini.[10] Vijayakumari initially had apprehension of portraying the character since many people warned her not to spoil her career by doing this character, but Sivaji Ganesan encouraged her to act in this film.[11] This was the feature film debut of Rajan, who later prefixed AVM to his name; he portrayed Bhaskar's brother Balu.[12] Rajan and C. S. Pushpalatha, who portrayed Kalyani's sister Malathi, met during the film's production, fell in love and got married.[13][14] C. K. Nagesh initially charged ₹10,000 (equivalent to ₹830,000 or US$9,900 in 2023) for portraying Kalyani's brother Chidambaram, while AVM suggested half the price; he finally agreed for ₹6,000 (equivalent to ₹500,000 or US$6,000 in 2023).[15][16] This was Nagesh's first film with AVM.[10]

Filming

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The song "Yemara Sonnadhu" was shot at main road of Vidhan Soudha, Bangalore with Karnataka Assembly building in the background.[17] It was later reshot at Vijaya Garden in Madras as the Censor Board objected to the scene where Rajan and Pushpalatha's characters are shown dancing in NCC costumes.[10] A scene required Chidambaram to cry over the misfortune of his sister Kalyani; Nagesh was concerned whether people would accept such a scene due to his reputation as a comedian, but Tirulokchander encouraged him; everyone was impressed after watching the filmed footage.[16][18]

While discussing the ending, the team felt this film's end should be tragic with S. V. Ranga Rao and Vijayakumari's characters dying as they felt Pasamalar (1961) succeeded because of its tragic climax and wanted to repeat it; however Meiyappan decided to have a happy ending as he wanted Vijayakumari's character to lead a happy life.[19] The final length of the film's prints were initially over 16,000 ft (4,900 m), at a time when films were generally 15,000 ft (4,600 m); it was edited down to 4,520 m (14,830 ft).[1][20][21]

Soundtrack

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The soundtrack was composed by R. Sudarsanam.[22] The tune of the song "Kanna Karumai" was created before the lyrics had been written. Saravanan was not happy with the lyrics provided by the lyricist despite it matching the tune, so Kannadasan was approached. According to Saravanan, "He said the lyric should precede the music, and also insisted that the pallavi should present the basic theme of the film. Thus was born ‘Kanna karumai nira Kanna,’ which we then set to tune".[23]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Poopola Poopola"Panchu ArunachalamP. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan3:54
2."Emara Sonnathu" (female)Ku. Ma. BalasubramaniamP. Susheela3:17
3."Kanna Karumai"KannadasanP. Susheela3:21
4."Emara Sonnathu" (male)Ku. Ma. BalasubramaniamT. M. Soundararajan3:06
Total length:18:00

Release

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Naanum Oru Penn was released on 7 June 1963.[3] It became a commercial success, completing a theatrical run of 25 weeks, and becoming a silver jubilee film.[24]

Reception

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The Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan, in its original review of the film dated 30 June 1963 mentioned that though many had acted well, Ranga Rao deserved the first prize for acting in the film for making viewers cry in a few places.[25] T. M. Ramachandran, writing for Sport and Pastime, praised the film for Tirulokchandar's "imaginative screenplay and skilful direction", the performances of Vijayakumari, Rajendran, Ranga Rao, Rajan and Pushpalatha, and the music by Sudarsanam.[6] Kanthan of Kalki appreciated many aspects of the film, including Tirulokchandar's execution of the story, the cast performances, the music and the cinematography.[26] Politician Jothi Venkatachalam, then the minister for public health in Madras, appreciated the film for its quality and gave souvenirs to the cast and crew during the film's 100th day celebrations.[27]

Accolades

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The film won the National Film Award for Best Tamil Feature Film at 11th National Film Awards.[28][29] It also won Filmfare Award for Best Film and Film Fans Award for Best Film.[30][25]

Remakes

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Naanum Oru Penn was remade in Telugu as Naadi Aada Janme and in Hindi as Main Bhi Ladki Hoon (1964). Both versions were directed by Tirulokachander and featured Ranga Rao reprising his role.[31][32] The song "Kanna Karumai" was reused in the Hindi remake.[33] The film was also remade in Malayalam as Hridhayathinte Nirangal (1979).[34]

Legacy

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Naanum Oru Penn is considered a landmark film in Tamil cinema for "the role of women".[35] Historian G. Dhananjayan considers it "the first film to address the relevant theme of what is needed in a woman for a happy family", attributing its success to this.[25]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Dhananjayan 2014, p. 168.
  2. ^ Dhananjayan 2014, p. 169.
  3. ^ a b Saravanan 2013, p. 135.
  4. ^ சரவணன், ஏவி.எம். (20 February 2005). "நாகேஷ் போட்ட சவால்!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 52–55. Retrieved 28 March 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ a b Nanum Oru Penn (motion picture) (in Tamil). Murugan Brothers. Opening credits, from 0:00 to 2:24.
  6. ^ a b Ramachandran, T. M. (6 July 1983). "Nanum Oru Penn" (PDF). Sport and Pastime. Vol. 17. pp. 42–43. Retrieved 28 March 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  7. ^ "ஏவி.எம்., சகாப்தம் (18)". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 7 April 2019. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  8. ^ ஜானகி, சௌகார் (2 May 1993). "வித்தியாச வாய்ப்பு; கூடவே சோதனை!". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 62–63. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  9. ^ "ஏ.சி.திருலோகசந்தர்: எம்.ஜி.ஆரை வைத்து இயக்கிய ஒரே படம் 'அன்பே வா'" [A. C. Tirulokchandar: The only directed film to star M. G. R. was Anbe Vaa]. Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 28 April 2012. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  10. ^ a b c முத்துராமன், எஸ்.பி. (22 July 2015). "சினிமா எடுத்துப் பார் 18- நாகேஷின் அழுகை!". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  11. ^ "விஜயகுமாரி கறுப்புப் பெண்ணாக நடித்த நானும் ஒரு பெண்" [Vijayakumari acted as a dusky girl in Naanum Oru Penn]. Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 1 January 2015. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  12. ^ "About AVM Rajan's name". The Times of India. 7 April 2014. Archived from the original on 6 December 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  13. ^ Guy, Randor (16 July 2010). "Chitrangi (1964)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  14. ^ "நானும் ஒரு பெண்ணில் இணைந்து நடித்த ஏ.வி.எம்.ராஜன் புஷ்பலதா வாழ்க்கையிலும் இணைந்தனர்" [A. V. M. Rajan and Pushpalatha who co-starred in Naanum Oru Penn were also together in real life]. Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 3 June 2012. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  15. ^ Saravanan 2013, pp. 136–137.
  16. ^ a b சரவணன், ஏவி.எம். (27 February 2005). "நாகேஷின் அழுகை!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 44–46. Retrieved 21 June 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  17. ^ "ஏவி.எம்., சகாப்தம் (18)". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 7 April 2019. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  18. ^ Saravanan 2013, pp. 137–138.
  19. ^ "ஏ.வி.எம்: 1–150" [AVM: 1–150] (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). 21 July 1991. pp. 8–12. Retrieved 21 June 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  20. ^ Saravanan 2013, pp. 138–139.
  21. ^ "1963 – நானும் ஒரு பெண் – முருகன் பிரதர்ஸ்" [1963 – Naanum Oru Penn – Murugan Brothers]. Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  22. ^ "Naanum Oru Penn (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – EP". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 9 November 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  23. ^ Krishnamachari, Suganthy (20 October 2016). "Kannadasan's lyrics held a mirror to life". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  24. ^ Raghavendra 2017, p. 43.
  25. ^ a b c Dhananjayan 2014, p. 170.
  26. ^ காந்தன் (30 June 1963). "நானும் ஒரு பெண்". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 44–45. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  27. ^ "Tit-Bits". Sport and Pastime. Vol. 17. 2 October 1963. p. 51. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  28. ^ "State Awards for Films" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. 25 April 1964. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  29. ^ "'Best Picture' award for Hindi film". The Indian Express. 26 March 1964. p. 5. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 9 March 2023 – via Google News Archive.
  30. ^ Guy, Randor (6–12 August 2011). "Tamil cinema 75 – A look back | The AVM Story – 75" (PDF). Mambalam Times. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  31. ^ Saravanan 2013, p. 143.
  32. ^ "காப்பிய நாயகி கண்ணகிக்கு உருவம் கொடுத்தவர் விஜயகுமாரி". Kungumam (in Tamil). 16 May 2019. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  33. ^ "இசை அமைப்பாளருடன் சில அனுபவங்கள்!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). 18 November 1979. pp. 24–26. Retrieved 28 March 2024 – via Internet Archive.
  34. ^ "தமிழ் டூ மலையாளம் உண்டல்லோ?". Puthiya Thalaimurai (in Tamil). 16 July 2015. p. 12.
  35. ^ Raghavendra 2017, pp. 42–43.

Bibliography

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