Kuravanji

Kuravanji
Kuravanji
	Poster
Directed by	A. Kasilingam
Written by	M. Karunanidhi
Produced by	M. Karunanidhi; R. M. Veerappan; A. Kasilingam
Starring	Sivaji Ganesan; Savitri
Cinematography	G. Durai
Edited by	A. Kasilingam
Music by	T. R. Pappa
Production; company	Mekala Pictures
Release date	4 March 1960;
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Kuravanji is a 1960 Indian Tamil language film directed by A. Kasilingam. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Savitri. The film, produced by M. Karunanidhi, R. M. Veerappan, and A. Kasilingam, was released on 4 March 1960,^[1] and was not a commercial success.^[2]

Plot

The film tells the story of Thenpandiko, the king of Inbapuri. Ellaipuram is a part of the kingdom and the king appoints his brother, Mukhari, to rule it. Mukhari has a minister, Imaya, who has evil designs. Mukhari falls prey to his evil plans, and besides taking over Ellaipuram, he plans to usurp Inbapuri from his brother. To help the suffering people enter a man named Kadhiravan, hailing from the royal family. He moves around the kingdom in the guise of a vagabond. Princess Kumari wishes to marry him, while he falls in love with Ponni, who is from the fisherfolk community. Coming to know of this, Kadhiravan's brother is furious. The princess is equally upset, but Kadhiravan is more interested in saving the people. Soon there is a protest led by him that gains momentum. What happens to it is narrated in the latter half of the film.

Cast

Male cast^[3]

Sivaji Ganesan as Kathiravan
O. A. K. Thevar
R. Balasubramaniam
M. N. Krishnan
M. R. Santhanam as Kathiravan's Father
N. S. Natarajan
S. V. Ramadas
Karuppaiah
Senthamarai
Jayaraman
Kuladeivam Rajgopal
Wahab Kashmiri
S. R. Gopal
T. K. Sampangi
Karikol Raj
Krishnamurthi
Rajamohan
S. A. G. Sami

Female cast

Savithri as Kuravanji, Kumari
Mynavathi as Ponni
Pandari Bai
Susheela
Radhabhai as Kathiravan's mother
C. K. Saraswathi
Vanaja (Guest Artist)
Sampathkumari
Indra

Dance

Production

S. S. Rajendran was initially to play the lead role in Kuravanji. However, due to some "friction" between him and M. Karunanidhi, the role was later offered to Sivaji Ganesan. He was hesitant to accept as he believed Rajendran would misunderstand him if he accepted, but after being reassured by Karunanidhi, Ganesan accepted the offer out of respect.^[4] Kuravanji is Ganesan's 60th film as an actor.^[5] During the shoot, Ganesan chose to wear a gunny sack instead of the woollen clothes that were given to him. He wanted to "connect with the reality of the character of a tribesman".^[6] Rajasulochana had been offered to act in the film but declined.^[7]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by T. R. Pappa.^[3]^[8]

Song	Singers	Lyrics	Length
"Kaadhal Pollathadhu"	P. Susheela	Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass	03:06
"Sengkayil Vandu Kalin" "Thannamudhudan Pirandhhai" "Sollakelaai Kuri Sollakelaai" "Irunda Megam Sutri"	C. S. Jayaraman & Ramaiya P. Leela A. P. Komala & A. G. Rathnamala C. S. Jayaraman	Thirikooda Rasappa Kavirayar	02:20 02:21 01:05 00:48
"Ennaalum Thanniyile"	A. L. Raghavan & Jikki	Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass	03.27
"Thanneril Meen Irukum.... Unakku Puriyudhu"	C. S. Jayaraman & P. Leela	Kannadasan	05:17
"Athaachi Naazhi Pathaachi"	A. L. Raghavan & M. S. Rajeswari	Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
"Kaadhal Kadal Karaiyorame"	C. S. Jayaraman, P. Leela & P. Susheela	Kannadasan	03:53
"Paadi Azhaippen Endru"	C. S. Jayaraman	Kannadasan	03:23
"Nee Sollavidil Yaar Solluvar Nilavae"	C. S. Jayaraman	Kudanthai R. Krishnamurthi	03:30
"Alai Irukkuthu Kadalile"	K. Jamuna Rani	M. Karunanidhi	03:12
"Alaiyitta Karumbaaka"	C. S. Jayaraman	Kannadasan	01:07
"Onne Onnu Irukku"	Jikki		03:16

Reception

Kanthan of Kalki noted that the film's lengthy runtime was not a detriment to it being an entertainer.^[9]

References

^ "51–60". nadigarthilagam.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
^ Guy, Randor (5 July 2014). "Kuravanji (1960)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
^ ^a ^b குறவஞ்சி (PDF) (song book) (in Tamil). Madras: Mekala Pictures. 1960. Retrieved 29 June 2022 – via Internet Archive.
^ Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, pp. 116–117.
^ Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, p. 147.
^ "Sivaji statue unveiled". The Hindu. 5 October 2009. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
^ சரவணன், ஏவி.எம். (12 December 2004). "முரசொலி வந்த கதை!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 28–30. Retrieved 6 October 2024 – via Internet Archive.
^ Neelamegam, G. (2014). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 196.
^ காந்தன் (20 March 1960). "குறவஞ்சி". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 16–17. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.

Bibliography

Ganesan, Sivaji; Narayana Swamy, T. S. (2007) [2002]. Autobiography of an Actor: Sivaji Ganesan, October 1928 – July 2001. Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust. OCLC 297212002.

External links

Kuravanji at IMDb

[1] "51–60". nadigarthilagam.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2014.

[2] Guy, Randor (5 July 2014). "Kuravanji (1960)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2021.

[songbook-3] குறவஞ்சி (PDF) (song book) (in Tamil). Madras: Mekala Pictures. 1960. Retrieved 29 June 2022 – via Internet Archive.

[FOOTNOTEGanesanNarayana_Swamy2007116–117-4] Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, pp. 116–117.

[FOOTNOTEGanesanNarayana_Swamy2007147-5] Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, p. 147.

[6] "Sivaji statue unveiled". The Hindu. 5 October 2009. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.

[Maran-7] சரவணன், ஏவி.எம். (12 December 2004). "முரசொலி வந்த கதை!" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 28–30. Retrieved 6 October 2024 – via Internet Archive.

[8] Neelamegam, G. (2014). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 196.

[9] காந்தன் (20 March 1960). "குறவஞ்சி". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 16–17. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.

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