Veerapandiya Kattabomman (film): Difference between revisions
Kailash29792 (talk | contribs) →External links: arrange alphabetically |
Kailash29792 (talk | contribs) (edited with ProveIt) |
||
Line 63: | Line 63: | ||
The idea to make a film adaptation on the life of [[Veerapandiya Kattabomman]] occurred to many producers in the late 1940s, just after [[Indian independence movement|India's freedom]] from the [[British Raj]].{{Sfn|Guy|1997|pages=281–282}} In 1947, soon after the British left India, a production company{{efn|Film critic [[Randor Guy]] does not mention the company's name.{{Sfn|Guy|1997|page=282}}}} announced its intention to produce ''Kattabommu'' (named after the rebel's real name), a "mammoth production" which was to star [[P. U. Chinnappa]]; this production did not materialise.{{Sfn|Guy|1997|page=282}} Another attempt was initiated in 1953 by producer [[S. S. Vasan]].<ref name="Mayyam">{{cite web | url=http://www.mayyam.com/talk/showthread.php?8593-Nadigar-Thilagam-Sivaji-Ganesan-Part-9/page349 | title=Veerapandiya Kattabomman - Mayyam | publisher=Mayyam | date=24 May 2012 | accessdate=3 April 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150403054358/http://www.mayyam.com/talk/showthread.php?8593-Nadigar-Thilagam-Sivaji-Ganesan-Part-9/page349 | archivedate=3 April 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> A promotional poster announcing the project was released in ''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'' on 5 November 1953.<ref name="Mayyam"/> On 8 November 1953, a notice was issued at Vasan's production company, [[Gemini Studios]], through ''Ananda Vikatan'' stating that anyone who had any useful information regarding Kattabomman and his exploits can send them to the studios' storyboard department.<ref name="Mayyam"/> |
The idea to make a film adaptation on the life of [[Veerapandiya Kattabomman]] occurred to many producers in the late 1940s, just after [[Indian independence movement|India's freedom]] from the [[British Raj]].{{Sfn|Guy|1997|pages=281–282}} In 1947, soon after the British left India, a production company{{efn|Film critic [[Randor Guy]] does not mention the company's name.{{Sfn|Guy|1997|page=282}}}} announced its intention to produce ''Kattabommu'' (named after the rebel's real name), a "mammoth production" which was to star [[P. U. Chinnappa]]; this production did not materialise.{{Sfn|Guy|1997|page=282}} Another attempt was initiated in 1953 by producer [[S. S. Vasan]].<ref name="Mayyam">{{cite web | url=http://www.mayyam.com/talk/showthread.php?8593-Nadigar-Thilagam-Sivaji-Ganesan-Part-9/page349 | title=Veerapandiya Kattabomman - Mayyam | publisher=Mayyam | date=24 May 2012 | accessdate=3 April 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150403054358/http://www.mayyam.com/talk/showthread.php?8593-Nadigar-Thilagam-Sivaji-Ganesan-Part-9/page349 | archivedate=3 April 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> A promotional poster announcing the project was released in ''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'' on 5 November 1953.<ref name="Mayyam"/> On 8 November 1953, a notice was issued at Vasan's production company, [[Gemini Studios]], through ''Ananda Vikatan'' stating that anyone who had any useful information regarding Kattabomman and his exploits can send them to the studios' storyboard department.<ref name="Mayyam"/> |
||
The concept of ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' began when Sivaji Ganesan and [[Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy]]{{efn|Sivaji Ganesan had once been on the payroll of a theatre group owned by Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy, Sakthi Nataka Sabha. Krishnasamy had encouraged Sivaji Ganesan in his early days as a stage actor.{{Sfn|Guy|1997|page=283}}}} were travelling through [[Kayatharu]],{{efn|The author of the article, [[Mohan V. Raman]], does not name the place where Sivaji Ganesan and Krishnasamy were going to.<ref name="Kattabomman"/>}} where Kattabomman was hanged.<ref name="Kattabomman">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/the-power-of-the-pen/article4594630.ece | title=The power of the pen | work=[[The Hindu]] | date=8 April 2013 | accessdate=20 February 2015 | |
The concept of ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' began when Sivaji Ganesan and [[Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy]]{{efn|Sivaji Ganesan had once been on the payroll of a theatre group owned by Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy, Sakthi Nataka Sabha. Krishnasamy had encouraged Sivaji Ganesan in his early days as a stage actor.{{Sfn|Guy|1997|page=283}}}} were travelling through [[Kayatharu]],{{efn|The author of the article, [[Mohan V. Raman]], does not name the place where Sivaji Ganesan and Krishnasamy were going to.<ref name="Kattabomman"/>}} where Kattabomman was hanged.<ref name="Kattabomman">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/the-power-of-the-pen/article4594630.ece | title=The power of the pen | work=[[The Hindu]] | date=8 April 2013 | accessdate=20 February 2015 | last=Raman | first=Mohan V. | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150220142438/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/the-power-of-the-pen/article4594630.ece | archivedate=20 February 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> While there, Ganesan expressed a desire of doing a [[Play (theatre)|play]] based on Kattabomman's life, to which Krishnasamy immediately agreed, and started to write the play. Coincidentally, Ganesan's first exposure to the field of acting was when he saw a [[Street theatre|street play]] on Kattabomman’s life titled ''Kambalaththaar Kooththu''.<ref name="Kattabomman"/> Krishnasamy completed writing the script for the play in a month's time.<ref name="Kattabomman"/> The play was launched in [[Salem district|Salem]] on 29 August 1957.<ref name="Kattabomman"/> Ganesan had invested close to {{INR}}{{formatnum:50000}}{{efn|The exchange rate in 1958 was 4.79 Indian rupees ({{INR}}) per 1 US dollar (US$).<ref name="value">{{cite web | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-08-24/news/41444029_1_indian-rupee-american-currency-continued-dollar-demand | title=Rupee's journey since Independence: Down by 65 times against dollar | work=[[The Economic Times]] | date=24 August 2013 | accessdate=23 March 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20130829085318/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-08-24/news/41444029_1_indian-rupee-american-currency-continued-dollar-demand | archivedate=29 August 2013 | deadurl=no}}</ref>|name = exchange1958}} for the play's sets and costumes.<ref name="Kattabomman"/> |
||
On seeing the play, [[B. R. Panthulu]] decided to adapt it into a feature film and hired Krishnasamy to write the screenplay.<ref name="Kattabomman"/> The play was staged 16 times before it was adapted into a film.<ref name = "Glimpses">{{cite web | url=http://tamil.filmibeat.com/specials/veerapandiya-kattabomman-tamil-classic-033649.html | title=வீரபாண்டிய கட்டபொம்மன்.... வரலாற்று காவியத்தின் சில சாதனை துளிகள்! (Veerapandiya Kattabomman... Glimpses of a Tamil classic) | publisher=[[Oneindia|Oneindia Entertainment]] | date=19 March 2015 | accessdate=26 March 2015 | author=Shankar | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XJVovFmr | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> G. Dharmarajan, who was the play's set designer, was selected to do the same for the film.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/art-grand-and-eloquent/article2834203.ece | title=Art grand and eloquent | work=The Hindu | date=26 January 2012 | accessdate=20 February 2015 | |
On seeing the play, [[B. R. Panthulu]] decided to adapt it into a feature film and hired Krishnasamy to write the screenplay.<ref name="Kattabomman"/> The play was staged 16 times before it was adapted into a film.<ref name = "Glimpses">{{cite web | url=http://tamil.filmibeat.com/specials/veerapandiya-kattabomman-tamil-classic-033649.html | title=வீரபாண்டிய கட்டபொம்மன்.... வரலாற்று காவியத்தின் சில சாதனை துளிகள்! (Veerapandiya Kattabomman... Glimpses of a Tamil classic) | publisher=[[Oneindia|Oneindia Entertainment]] | date=19 March 2015 | accessdate=26 March 2015 | author=Shankar | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XJVovFmr | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> G. Dharmarajan, who was the play's set designer, was selected to do the same for the film.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/art-grand-and-eloquent/article2834203.ece | title=Art grand and eloquent | work=The Hindu | date=26 January 2012 | accessdate=20 February 2015 | last=Shivapprasadh | first=S. | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150220144643/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/art-grand-and-eloquent/article2834203.ece | archivedate=20 February 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> For the purpose of making the popular play into a film, a "History-Film Format Research Group" was formed under the leadership of Ma. Po. Sivagnanam, with Krishnasamy, Panthulu, Ganesan, P. A. Kumar, K. Singamuthu, and S. Krishnaswamy as members.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=183}} |
||
=== Production === |
=== Production === |
||
[[G. Dhananjayan]]'s 2011 book ''The Best of Tamil Cinema'' states that when Ganesan heard of Vasan's attempt to make a film adaptation on Kattabomman, he personally requested Vasan to abandon the project.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=183}} While a 1957 article by the [[Singapore]]-based ''Indian Movie News'' supports this statement, adding that Vasan even lent Ganesan important research materials on Kattabomman,<ref name="Mayyam"/> film historian [[Randor Guy]] contradicted both the sources in his 1997 book ''Starlight, Starbright: The Early Tamil Cinema'' by stating that writers like [[Kothamangalam Subbu]] and Veppathur Kittoo were employed by Vasan to conduct an extensive research on Kattabomman's life, but the only eligible choice to play Kattabomman was Ganesan, who by then had become popular after ''[[Parasakthi (film)|Parasakthi]]'' (1952). Guy noted that Ganesan was hesitant to play the role under Vasan's direction as he was earlier rejected by Vasan for the role of a bodyguard in ''[[Chandralekha (1948 film)|Chandralekha]]'' (1948), which lead to Vasan dropping the project.{{Sfn|Guy|1997|page=282}}<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://madrasmusings.com/Vol%2018%20No%2017/and_thus_he_made_chandralekha_sixty_years_ago.html | title=... And thus he made Chandralekha sixty years ago | date=December 2008 | accessdate=27 March 2015 | |
[[G. Dhananjayan]]'s 2011 book ''The Best of Tamil Cinema'' states that when Ganesan heard of Vasan's attempt to make a film adaptation on Kattabomman, he personally requested Vasan to abandon the project.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=183}} While a 1957 article by the [[Singapore]]-based ''Indian Movie News'' supports this statement, adding that Vasan even lent Ganesan important research materials on Kattabomman,<ref name="Mayyam"/> film historian [[Randor Guy]] contradicted both the sources in his 1997 book ''Starlight, Starbright: The Early Tamil Cinema'' by stating that writers like [[Kothamangalam Subbu]] and Veppathur Kittoo were employed by Vasan to conduct an extensive research on Kattabomman's life, but the only eligible choice to play Kattabomman was Ganesan, who by then had become popular after ''[[Parasakthi (film)|Parasakthi]]'' (1952). Guy noted that Ganesan was hesitant to play the role under Vasan's direction as he was earlier rejected by Vasan for the role of a bodyguard in ''[[Chandralekha (1948 film)|Chandralekha]]'' (1948), which lead to Vasan dropping the project.{{Sfn|Guy|1997|page=282}}<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://madrasmusings.com/Vol%2018%20No%2017/and_thus_he_made_chandralekha_sixty_years_ago.html | title=... And thus he made Chandralekha sixty years ago | date=December 2008 | accessdate=27 March 2015 | last=Guy | first=Randor | authorlink=Randor Guy | journal=Madras Musings | volume=XVIII | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20130524070957/http://madrasmusings.com/Vol%2018%20No%2017/and_thus_he_made_chandralekha_sixty_years_ago.html | archivedate=2 July 2013 | deadurl=no}}</ref> But later on, Ganesan acted in ''[[Irumbu Thirai]]'' (1960), which was produced and directed by Vasan, and ''[[Motor Sundaram Pillai]]'' (1966), which was produced by Vasan.{{Sfn|Guy|1997|page=283}} |
||
Ganesan originally offered the role of Vellaiyathevan to [[S. S. Rajendran]], who declined it due to his commitment to the film ''[[Sivagangai Seemai]]'' (1959).{{Sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|pages=120–121}} He later requested actress [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]] to ask her husband [[Gemini Ganesan]] to play the role, which she agreed to do despite being pregnant at that time.{{Sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|pages=120–121}} Gemini Ganesan was initially reluctant to accept the role, but eventually agreed.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.chennailivenews.com/Entertainment/Features/20104014044031/The-magic-of-Gemini-Ganesan.aspx | title=The magic of Gemini Ganesan | work=Chennai Live News | date=14 April 2010 | accessdate=10 April 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150410235817/http://www.chennailivenews.com/Entertainment/Features/20104014044031/The-magic-of-Gemini-Ganesan.aspx | archivedate=11 April 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]], O. A. K. Thevar, and [[V. K. Ramasamy (actor)|V. K. Ramasamy]] were chosen to play Vellaiyammal, [[Oomaithurai]] and [[Ettappan]] respectively.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=182}} S. Varalakshmi played Kattabomman's wife, Jakkamma, and also worked as a playback singer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/S-Varalakshmi-passes-away/articleshow/5048475.cms|title=S Varalakshmi passes away|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=24 September 2009|accessdate=25 March 2015| |
Ganesan originally offered the role of Vellaiyathevan to [[S. S. Rajendran]], who declined it due to his commitment to the film ''[[Sivagangai Seemai]]'' (1959).{{Sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|pages=120–121}} He later requested actress [[Savitri (actress)|Savitri]] to ask her husband [[Gemini Ganesan]] to play the role, which she agreed to do despite being pregnant at that time.{{Sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|pages=120–121}} Gemini Ganesan was initially reluctant to accept the role, but eventually agreed.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.chennailivenews.com/Entertainment/Features/20104014044031/The-magic-of-Gemini-Ganesan.aspx | title=The magic of Gemini Ganesan | work=Chennai Live News | date=14 April 2010 | accessdate=10 April 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150410235817/http://www.chennailivenews.com/Entertainment/Features/20104014044031/The-magic-of-Gemini-Ganesan.aspx | archivedate=11 April 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]], O. A. K. Thevar, and [[V. K. Ramasamy (actor)|V. K. Ramasamy]] were chosen to play Vellaiyammal, [[Oomaithurai]] and [[Ettappan]] respectively.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=182}} S. Varalakshmi played Kattabomman's wife, Jakkamma, and also worked as a playback singer.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/S-Varalakshmi-passes-away/articleshow/5048475.cms | title=S Varalakshmi passes away | work=[[The Times of India]] | date=24 September 2009 | accessdate=25 March 2015 | last=Ravi | first=Bhama Devi | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XQorwkvD | archivedate=31 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> C. R. Parthiban played the role of Lord W. C. Jackson.<ref name="mohanmuses">{{cite web | url=http://mohanramanmuses.blogspot.in/2009/07/kattabomman.html | title=Kattabomman | publisher=mohanramanmuses.blogspot.in | date=19 July 2009 | accessdate=20 February 2015 | author=Mohan V. Raman | last=Raman | first=Mohan V. | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150220145840/http://mohanramanmuses.blogspot.in/2009/07/kattabomman.html | archivedate=20 February 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/fans-keep-the-legend-alive/article6467476.ece | title=Fans keep the legend alive | work=The Hindu | date=2 October 2014 | accessdate=25 March 2015 | last=Naig | first=Udhav | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150325141759/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/fans-keep-the-legend-alive/article6467476.ece | archivedate=25 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> Kattabomman's daughter in the film, Meena, was a fictional character created by Krishnasamy. The character was based on Krishnasamy's own daughter, Mynavathi, who died when she was five years old.<ref name="Kattabomman"/> Krishnasamy initially refused to include the scene involving Meena's death as it reminded him of his daughter, but finally did so reluctantly.<ref name="Kattabomman"/> The character was played by Baby Kanchana.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=182}} |
||
The film was launched at Ganesan's house ''Annai Illam''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/apr-09-02/asal-08-04-09.html | title=Asal – Ajith hailed, Rajini calls it a family affair | publisher=[[Behindwoods]] | date=8 April 2009 | accessdate=10 April 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150411000131/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/apr-09-02/asal-08-04-09.html | archivedate=11 April 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> [[Principal photography]] began in October 1957 with a [[Puja (Hinduism)|''puja'']].<ref name="Mayyam"/> Most of the film's shooting took place at [[Jaipur]]. With help from Janakaraja, the man in charge of the cavalry division, the production unit of ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' managed to hire junior artistes to portray the cavalry soldiers for shooting the war scenes.{{Sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|page=121}} When the film was being shot at [[Bharani Pictures|Bharani Studios]] in 1958, [[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]], who witnessed the shooting that afternoon, recalled that after every take, the actors would rush out due to the intense heat on the set. He also stated, "The speed of the film was so low those days that one needed many, many lights for correct exposure."{{sfn|Bhaskaran|2010|p=47}} Dhananjayan's 2014 book ''Pride of Tamil Cinema'' states that Panthulu "surprised everyone by completing the film in a short time", though it does not mention when filming ended.{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|p=131}} ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' is notable for being the first Tamil film to be shot in [[Technicolor]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/article294362.ece | title=One hundred years of superstardom | work=[[The New Indian Express]] | date=24 October 2010 | accessdate=24 March 2015 | |
The film was launched at Ganesan's house ''Annai Illam''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/apr-09-02/asal-08-04-09.html | title=Asal – Ajith hailed, Rajini calls it a family affair | publisher=[[Behindwoods]] | date=8 April 2009 | accessdate=10 April 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150411000131/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/apr-09-02/asal-08-04-09.html | archivedate=11 April 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> [[Principal photography]] began in October 1957 with a [[Puja (Hinduism)|''puja'']].<ref name="Mayyam"/> Most of the film's shooting took place at [[Jaipur]]. With help from Janakaraja, the man in charge of the cavalry division, the production unit of ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' managed to hire junior artistes to portray the cavalry soldiers for shooting the war scenes.{{Sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|page=121}} When the film was being shot at [[Bharani Pictures|Bharani Studios]] in 1958, [[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]], who witnessed the shooting that afternoon, recalled that after every take, the actors would rush out due to the intense heat on the set. He also stated, "The speed of the film was so low those days that one needed many, many lights for correct exposure."{{sfn|Bhaskaran|2010|p=47}} Dhananjayan's 2014 book ''Pride of Tamil Cinema'' states that Panthulu "surprised everyone by completing the film in a short time", though it does not mention when filming ended.{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|p=131}} ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' is notable for being the first Tamil film to be shot in [[Technicolor]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/article294362.ece | title=One hundred years of superstardom | work=[[The New Indian Express]] | date=24 October 2010 | accessdate=24 March 2015 | last=Narayanan | first=Sharadha | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150324054201/http://www.newindianexpress.com/magazine/article294362.ece | archivedate=24 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/regional/stories-of-indian-freedom-struggle-told-through-tamil-films_160111.html | title=Stories of Indian freedom struggle told through Tamil films | publisher=[[Zee News]] | date=15 August 2014 | agency=[[Indo-Asian News Service|IANS]] | accessdate=24 March 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150324055510/http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/regional/stories-of-indian-freedom-struggle-told-through-tamil-films_160111.html | archivedate=24 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref>{{efn|Some portions of the film were made in [[Gevacolor]] and then converted into [[Technicolor]] at [[London]] to offer superior quality film prints.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=183}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/a-100-goes-unsung/article2853657.ece | title=A 100 goes unsung | work=The Hindu | date=2 February 2012 | accessdate=20 February 2015 | last=Rangarajan | first=Malathi | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150220143805/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/a-100-goes-unsung/article2853657.ece | archivedate=20 February 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref>}} Panthulu adopted American director [[Cecil B. DeMille]]'s tactic of personally introducing the film on camera.{{Sfnm|1a1=Guy|1y=1997|1p=282|2a1=Rajadhyaksha|2a2=Willemen|2y=2014|2p=361}} The final length of the film was {{Convert|5512|metres|feet}}.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=182}} |
||
== Music == |
== Music == |
||
Line 95: | Line 95: | ||
| Next album = |
| Next album = |
||
}} |
}} |
||
''Veerapandiya Kattabomman''{{'}}s original soundtrack album was composed by [[G. Ramanathan]], with lyrics by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0001250 |title=Veerapandia Kattabomman Songs |publisher=[[Raaga.com]] |accessdate=29 July 2013|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XGFpc80z|archivedate=24 March 2015|deadurl=no}}</ref> The soundtrack album was released on 1 December 1959 under the label of [[Saregama]].<ref name="iTunes">{{cite web | url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/veerapandiya-kattabomman/id850864509 | title=Veerapandiya Kattabomman – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | publisher=[[iTunes]] | date=1 December 1959 | accessdate=24 March 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150324080759/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/veerapandiya-kattabomman/id850864509 | archivedate=24 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> The album became a major breakthrough for [[P. B. Srinivas]], then a struggling playback singer. He was recruited by Ramanathan to sing the track "Inbam Pongum Vennila", which was picturised on Gemini Ganesan and Padmini, with [[P. Susheela]].<ref>{{cite web| |
''Veerapandiya Kattabomman''{{'}}s original soundtrack album was composed by [[G. Ramanathan]], with lyrics by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0001250 | title=Veerapandia Kattabomman Songs | publisher=[[Raaga.com]] | accessdate=29 July 2013 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XGFpc80z | archivedate=24 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> The soundtrack album was released on 1 December 1959 under the label of [[Saregama]].<ref name="iTunes">{{cite web | url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/veerapandiya-kattabomman/id850864509 | title=Veerapandiya Kattabomman – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | publisher=[[iTunes]] | date=1 December 1959 | accessdate=24 March 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150324080759/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/veerapandiya-kattabomman/id850864509 | archivedate=24 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> The album became a major breakthrough for [[P. B. Srinivas]], then a struggling playback singer. He was recruited by Ramanathan to sing the track "Inbam Pongum Vennila", which was picturised on Gemini Ganesan and Padmini, with [[P. Susheela]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/veteran-singer-pbs-passes-away/article4617069.ece | title=Veteran singer PBS passes away | work=The Hindu | date=14 April 2013 | accessdate=29 July 2013 | last=Kolappan | first=B. | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150324060218/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/veteran-singer-pbs-passes-away/article4617069.ece | archivedate=24 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> The song "Pogaathe Pogaathe" is based on the ''[[Kharaharapriya#Janya rāgams|Mukhari]]'' [[Raga]].<ref name="RJ">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/notes-of-peace/article4272618.ece | title=Notes of peace | work=The Hindu | date=4 January 2013 | accessdate=20 February 2015 | last=Mani | first=Charulatha | authorlink=Charulatha Mani | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150324061050/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/notes-of-peace/article4272618.ece | archivedate=24 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> Theatre actor K. B. Chellamuthu was the [[violinist]] for the songs.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/faithful-to-his-mentors-memories/article3183749.ece | title=Faithful to his mentor's memories | work=The Hindu | date=26 February 2006 | accessdate=25 March 2015 | last=Prabu | first=M. J. | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150325141410/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/faithful-to-his-mentors-memories/article3183749.ece | archivedate=25 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> A remix version of "Inbam Pongum Vennila" was done by [[Hiphop Tamizha]] for the film, ''[[Aambala]]'' (2015).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/and-the-film-ends-on-a-happy-note/article6695398.ece | title=And the film ends on a happy note | work=The Hindu | date=16 December 2014 | accessdate=20 February 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150324055350/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/and-the-film-ends-on-a-happy-note/article6695398.ece | archivedate=24 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sify.com/movies/aambala-audio-review-news-tamil-om3qFwaeehdib.html | title=Aambala -Audio review | publisher=[[Sify]] | date=29 December 2014 | accessdate=1 April 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150402085737/http://www.sify.com/movies/aambala-audio-review-news-tamil-om3qFwaeehdib.html | archivedate=2 April 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> |
||
According to S. R. Ashok Kumar of ''[[The Hindu]]'', "Manam Kanintharul" and "Singara Kanne", both of which were sung by Varalakshmi, "remained all time favourites."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/yesteryear-actor-s-varalakshmi-dead/article24197.ece | title=Yesteryear actor S. Varalakshmi dead | work=The Hindu | date=23 September 2009 | accessdate=24 March 2015 | |
According to S. R. Ashok Kumar of ''[[The Hindu]]'', "Manam Kanintharul" and "Singara Kanne", both of which were sung by Varalakshmi, "remained all time favourites."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/yesteryear-actor-s-varalakshmi-dead/article24197.ece | title=Yesteryear actor S. Varalakshmi dead | work=The Hindu | date=23 September 2009 | accessdate=24 March 2015 | last=Ashok Kumar | first=S. R. | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150324070513/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/yesteryear-actor-s-varalakshmi-dead/article24197.ece | archivedate=24 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> On the song, "Pogaathe Pogaathe", singer [[Charulatha Mani]] said that it was "a meandering, melancholic Mukhari."<ref name = "RJ"/> She also labelled Ratnamala's rendition of the song as "expressive".<ref name = "RJ"/> G. Dhananjayan, in ''The Best of Tamil Cinema'', called the songs "memorable", further stating that they contributed to the film's success.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=183}} Film critic [[Baradwaj Rangan]] of ''The Hindu'', in his review of the film's digital re-release, said that Ramanathan's music "is still superb, spanning the range from folksy to light to classical".<ref name="BR">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/veerapandiya-kattabomman-movie-review/article7566330.ece | title=Veerapandiya Kattabomman: Much more than just that one scene | work=The Hindu | date=21 August 2015 | accessdate=22 August 2015 | last=Rangan | first=Baradwaj | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150822054710/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/veerapandiya-kattabomman-movie-review/article7566330.ece | archivedate=22 August 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> |
||
;Tracklist<ref name="iTunes"/> |
;Tracklist<ref name="iTunes"/> |
||
Line 157: | Line 157: | ||
== Release == |
== Release == |
||
[[Image:Kattabomman1959.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The scene where Kattabomman and Jackson confront each other was praised by critics.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=184}}]] |
[[Image:Kattabomman1959.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The scene where Kattabomman and Jackson confront each other was praised by critics.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=184}}]] |
||
''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'''s premiere was held in [[London]] on 10 May 1959,<ref name = "Glimpses"/> and it had a wide release on 16 May 1959.<ref name="mohanmuses"/> It was a commercial success and achieved [[cult film|cult status]],<ref name="BFTP">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/veera-pandya-kattabomman-1959/article7188251.ece | title=Veera Pandya Kattabomman 1959 | work=The Hindu | date=9 May 2015 | accessdate=10 May 2015 | |
''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'''s premiere was held in [[London]] on 10 May 1959,<ref name = "Glimpses"/> and it had a wide release on 16 May 1959.<ref name="mohanmuses"/> It was a commercial success and achieved [[cult film|cult status]],<ref name="BFTP">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/veera-pandya-kattabomman-1959/article7188251.ece | title=Veera Pandya Kattabomman 1959 | work=The Hindu | date=9 May 2015 | accessdate=10 May 2015 | last=Guy | first=Randor | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150510043441/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/veera-pandya-kattabomman-1959/article7188251.ece | archivedate=10 May 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> becoming a [[silver jubilee]] film.{{Sfnm|1a1=Ganesan|1a2=Narayana Swamy|1y=2007|1p=121|2a1=Dechamma C. C.|2a2=Prakash|2y=2010|2p=152}}{{efn|A Silver Jubilee film is one that completes a theatrical run of 175 days (25 weeks).{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=184}}}} The film was dubbed and released in Telugu as ''Veerapandiya Kattabrahmanna'' in 1959.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=131}} In Hindi, it was dubbed and released as ''Amar Shaheed'' in 1960.{{Sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|2014|page=361}} |
||
=== Critical reception === |
=== Critical reception === |
||
''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' received positive reviews upon release.{{Sfn|Guy|1997|page=283}} ''Ananda Vikatan'', in its original review dated 24 May 1959, wrote, "[''Veerapandiya''] ''Kattabomman'' will not leave the hearts of the people who have seen it ... Sivaji Ganesan has acted so well. This film adds pride to every person born as a [[Tamilian]]".{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=184}} Rangan praised Ganesan's performance, stating that "To watch ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' is to marvel at the shades and nuances an actor can infuse into oratory."<ref name="BR"/> |
''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' received positive reviews upon release.{{Sfn|Guy|1997|page=283}} ''Ananda Vikatan'', in its original review dated 24 May 1959, wrote, "[''Veerapandiya''] ''Kattabomman'' will not leave the hearts of the people who have seen it ... Sivaji Ganesan has acted so well. This film adds pride to every person born as a [[Tamilian]]".{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=184}} Rangan praised Ganesan's performance, stating that "To watch ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' is to marvel at the shades and nuances an actor can infuse into oratory."<ref name="BR"/> |
||
Guy labelled Ganesan's performance as "breathtaking".<ref name="BFTP"/> Janani Karthik of ''[[The Times of India]]'' wrote, "Watch this [film] for the legendary actor's performance, something that old-timers remember even today".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Evergreen-biopics-in-Tamil-cinema/articleshow/21822775.cms | title=Evergreen biopics in Tamil Cinema | work=The Times of India | date=15 August 2013 | accessdate=15 August 2013 | |
Guy labelled Ganesan's performance as "breathtaking".<ref name="BFTP"/> Janani Karthik of ''[[The Times of India]]'' wrote, "Watch this [film] for the legendary actor's performance, something that old-timers remember even today".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/tamil/news-interviews/Evergreen-biopics-in-Tamil-cinema/articleshow/21822775.cms | title=Evergreen biopics in Tamil Cinema | work=The Times of India | date=15 August 2013 | accessdate=15 August 2013 | last=Karthik | first=Janani | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XGkkuEct | archivedate=24 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> Another review from the same newspaper stated, "This digitally restored version is far from perfect — there are instances when in the same scene, the colours seem to have been leached of the frames. The sound, too, feels a bit contemporary. And the casting of Indian actors to play the British characters feels dated and even amusing. But set these niggles aside and the film still retains its dramatic force."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/Veerapandiya-Kattabomman/movie-review/48609800.cms | title=Veerapandiya Kattabomman Movie Review | work=The Times of India | date=22 August 2015 | accessdate=22 August 2015 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6axvaW1so | archivedate=22 August 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> |
||
[[Behindwoods]] called it "an epic that involves some of the all-time greats that the world of Kollywood has ever seen." before concluding that the film is "An immortal all-time classic".<ref name="BW Review">{{cite web | url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veerapandiya-kattabomman/veerapandiya-kattabomman-review.html | title=Veerapandiya Kattabomman Movie Review | publisher=Behindwoods | date=21 August 2015 | accessdate=21 August 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150821145944/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veerapandiya-kattabomman/veerapandiya-kattabomman-review.html | archivedate=21 August 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> IndiaGlitz praised Ganesan's performance and mentioned his scene with Parthiban as one of the film's highlights before concluding, "This movie is sure to give you the Goosebumps with {{sic|Shivaji's|nolink=y}} powerful acting and a sense of what rebellion and freedom fighting is."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/89358.html |title=End of the world movies |publisher=IndiaGlitz |date=20 December 2012 |accessdate=29 July 2013 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XGkj6NIV | archivedate=24 March 2015 |deadurl=no}}</ref> [[L. K. Advani]], currently one of the senior leaders of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], said, "I have seen the Tamil movie of {{sic|''Veerapandia Kattabomman''}}, acted by Shivaji Ganesan, many times. It is fresh in my memory."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2009/feb/13sld2-advani-comes-out-in-support-of-lankan-tamils.htm |title=Advani supports Lankan Tamils |publisher=[[Rediff.com]] |date=13 February 2009 |accessdate=29 July 2013 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XGkEIcxq |archivedate=24 March 2015 |deadurl=no}}</ref> |
[[Behindwoods]] called it "an epic that involves some of the all-time greats that the world of Kollywood has ever seen." before concluding that the film is "An immortal all-time classic".<ref name="BW Review">{{cite web | url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veerapandiya-kattabomman/veerapandiya-kattabomman-review.html | title=Veerapandiya Kattabomman Movie Review | publisher=Behindwoods | date=21 August 2015 | accessdate=21 August 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150821145944/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veerapandiya-kattabomman/veerapandiya-kattabomman-review.html | archivedate=21 August 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> IndiaGlitz praised Ganesan's performance and mentioned his scene with Parthiban as one of the film's highlights before concluding, "This movie is sure to give you the Goosebumps with {{sic|Shivaji's|nolink=y}} powerful acting and a sense of what rebellion and freedom fighting is."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/89358.html | title=End of the world movies | publisher=IndiaGlitz | date=20 December 2012 | accessdate=29 July 2013 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XGkj6NIV | archivedate=24 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> [[L. K. Advani]], currently one of the senior leaders of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], said, "I have seen the Tamil movie of {{sic|''Veerapandia Kattabomman''}}, acted by Shivaji Ganesan, many times. It is fresh in my memory."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2009/feb/13sld2-advani-comes-out-in-support-of-lankan-tamils.htm | title=Advani supports Lankan Tamils | publisher=[[Rediff.com]] | date=13 February 2009 | accessdate=29 July 2013 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XGkEIcxq | archivedate=24 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> |
||
=== Accolades === |
=== Accolades === |
||
Sivaji Ganesan's performance as Kattabomman earned him an international award as the Best Actor at the 1960 Afro-Asian Film Festival, held from 29 February to 11 March.<ref name="dated"/> The award was presented to him by [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]], then the President of Egypt.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/a-born-showman/article528992.ece | title=A born showman | work=The Hindu | date=23 July 2010 | accessdate=15 April 2015 | |
Sivaji Ganesan's performance as Kattabomman earned him an international award as the Best Actor at the 1960 Afro-Asian Film Festival, held from 29 February to 11 March.<ref name="dated"/> The award was presented to him by [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]], then the President of Egypt.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/a-born-showman/article528992.ece | title=A born showman | work=The Hindu | date=23 July 2010 | accessdate=15 April 2015 | last=Khajane | first=Muralidhara | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704092234/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/a-born-showman/article528992.ece | archivedate=4 July 2013 | deadurl=no}}</ref> It was Ganesan's first award in his film career.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=183}} It also made him the first Indian actor to receive an international award.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Sivaji-Ganesans-birth-anniversary/articleshow/23338524.cms? | title=Sivaji Ganesan's birth anniversary | work=The Times of India | date=1 October 2013 | accessdate=26 March 2015 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XJoRZkLs | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> On hearing of Ganesan's return from Cairo after winning the Afro-Asian Film Festival award for the Best Actor category in 1960, fellow actor [[M. G. Ramachandran]], who also served as the president of the [[South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce|South Indian Actors Guild]] organised a huge reception in [[Chennai]] to welcome him.{{Sfn|Veeravalli|2013|page=26}} |
||
In his autobiography, Ganesan recalled that during the Afro-Asian film festival, "I was called on stage and I went up a diminutive, five foot nothing, looking boyish with my build, whereas they had expected me to be a colossus, on seeing [Veerapandiya] Kattabomman, at least seven or eight feet tall! Irrespective of this they gave me a standing ovation for five minutes."{{Sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|page=129}} |
In his autobiography, Ganesan recalled that during the Afro-Asian film festival, "I was called on stage and I went up a diminutive, five foot nothing, looking boyish with my build, whereas they had expected me to be a colossus, on seeing [Veerapandiya] Kattabomman, at least seven or eight feet tall! Irrespective of this they gave me a standing ovation for five minutes."{{Sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|page=129}} |
||
Line 185: | Line 185: | ||
| [[B. R. Panthulu]] |
| [[B. R. Panthulu]] |
||
| {{won}} |
| {{won}} |
||
| {{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=183}}<br/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/7th_nff.pdf|title=7th National Film Awards|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|accessdate=4 September 2011|format=PDF|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150326125140/http://dff.nic.in/2011/7th_nff.pdf|archivedate=26 March 2015|deadurl=no}}</ref> |
| {{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=183}}<br/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/7th_nff.pdf | title=7th National Film Awards | publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]] | accessdate=4 September 2011 | format=PDF | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150326125140/http://dff.nic.in/2011/7th_nff.pdf | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| rowspan="3"|Afro-Asian Film Festival |
| rowspan="3"|Afro-Asian Film Festival |
||
Line 192: | Line 192: | ||
| B. R. Panthulu |
| B. R. Panthulu |
||
| {{won}} |
| {{won}} |
||
| rowspan=3|{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=183}}<br/><ref name="dated">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/dated-march-17-2010-afroasian-film-festival/article729841.ece|title=dated March 17, 2010: Afro-Asian film festival|work=The Hindu|accessdate=20 February 2015|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150326125636/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/dated-march-17-2010-afroasian-film-festival/article729841.ece|archivedate=26 March 2015|deadurl=no}}</ref><br/>{{Sfnm|1a1=Ganesan|1a2=Narayana Swamy|1y=2007|1p=129|2a1=Dhananjayan|2y=2011|2p=183}}<br/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/kids/a-valiant-warriors-birthplace/article2768236.ece|title=A valiant warrior's birthplace |
| rowspan=3|{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=183}}<br/><ref name="dated">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/dated-march-17-2010-afroasian-film-festival/article729841.ece | title=dated March 17, 2010: Afro-Asian film festival | work=The Hindu | accessdate=20 February 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150326125636/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/dated-march-17-2010-afroasian-film-festival/article729841.ece | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref><br/>{{Sfnm|1a1=Ganesan|1a2=Narayana Swamy|1y=2007|1p=129|2a1=Dhananjayan|2y=2011|2p=183}}<br/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/kids/a-valiant-warriors-birthplace/article2768236.ece | title=A valiant warrior's birthplace | work=The Hindu | date=2 January 2012 | accessdate=20 February 2015 | last=Joseph | first=Praveen | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150326125610/http://www.thehindu.com/features/kids/a-valiant-warriors-birthplace/article2768236.ece | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| Best Actor |
| Best Actor |
||
Line 204: | Line 204: | ||
== Historical inaccuracies == |
== Historical inaccuracies == |
||
''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' has often been criticised because of its historical inaccuracies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/mkus-film-institute-may-have-a-dream-run/article3344864.ece|title=MKU’s film institute may have a dream run| |
''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' has often been criticised because of its historical inaccuracies.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/mkus-film-institute-may-have-a-dream-run/article3344864.ece | title=MKU’s film institute may have a dream run | work=The Hindu | date=23 April 2012 | accessdate=20 February 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150326132301/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/mkus-film-institute-may-have-a-dream-run/article3344864.ece | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no | first=D. | last=Karthikeyan}}</ref><ref name="BFTP"/> Randor Guy stated in 2015 that a Tamil weekly even went to the extent of saying, "[...] a new face called Kattabomman acted brilliantly as Sivaji Ganesan!”{{efn|Guy refused to reveal the name of the weekly, commenting "no prizes for guessing!"<ref name="BFTP"/>}} Poet [[Kannadasan]] said, "Kattabomman was not a real freedom fighter; he was a Telugu and a robber." He also stated that the [[Maruthu Pandiyar]]s were the real freedom fighters and wrote a script about them, which was adapted into the film, ''Sivagangai Seemai''. The film was released in the same month as ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'', but failed at the box office.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=183}} Kannadasan's statement was supported by writer Lena Tamizhvanan,{{efn|Lena Tamizhvanan is the editor of ''Kalkandu'', a children's magazine in Tamil.{{Sfn|Dechamma C. C.|Prakash|2010|page=156}}}} who denounced Kattabomman's glorification.{{Sfn|Dechamma C. C.|Prakash|2010|page=152}} |
||
In ''Starlight, Starbright: The Early Tamil Cinema'', Guy noted that according to [[East India Company]] records, Kattabomman was of Telugu ancestry, and that he was a strong and silent man, not of dash and daring as depicted in the film. Guy also noted that Ganesan portrayed Kattabomman as a "larger-than-life-character, haranguing audiences in a high-flown Tamil replete with literary flourishes", as opposed to the real Kattabomman, who was not fluent in Tamil.{{Sfn|Guy|1997|page=282}} ''Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema'' by Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen states, "A love interest has been added as well", implying that the character of Vellaiyammal was fictional.{{Sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|2014|page=361}} Film historian S. Krishnaswamy, writing for ''The Hindu'' in 2001, noted that the film was "historically far from accurate" and that it was "more like a costume drama or a mythological."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2001/07/27/stories/09270221.htm | title=The legend lives on... | work=The Hindu | date=27 July 2001 | accessdate=6 April 2015 | |
In ''Starlight, Starbright: The Early Tamil Cinema'', Guy noted that according to [[East India Company]] records, Kattabomman was of Telugu ancestry, and that he was a strong and silent man, not of dash and daring as depicted in the film. Guy also noted that Ganesan portrayed Kattabomman as a "larger-than-life-character, haranguing audiences in a high-flown Tamil replete with literary flourishes", as opposed to the real Kattabomman, who was not fluent in Tamil.{{Sfn|Guy|1997|page=282}} ''Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema'' by Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen states, "A love interest has been added as well", implying that the character of Vellaiyammal was fictional.{{Sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|2014|page=361}} Film historian S. Krishnaswamy, writing for ''The Hindu'' in 2001, noted that the film was "historically far from accurate" and that it was "more like a costume drama or a mythological."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2001/07/27/stories/09270221.htm | title=The legend lives on... | work=The Hindu | date=27 July 2001 | accessdate=6 April 2015 | last=Krishnaswamy | first=S. | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150406121325/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2001/07/27/stories/09270221.htm | archivedate=6 April 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> |
||
In their 2010 book, ''Cinemas of South India: Culture, Resistance, Ideology'', Sowmya Dechamma C. C. and Elavarthi Sathya Prakash state that Kattabomman's Telugu identity is used in such a way that "while National historiography tries to elevate him, some versions of Tamil history seem to downgrade him."{{Sfn|Dechamma C. C.|Prakash|2010|page=153}} In 2011, [[S. Theodore Baskaran]] said, "Tamil films have scant regard for history. Almost always, they confuse between history and folklore," and added, "Kattabomman was not even a king. His arsenal had just about three to four guns."<ref>{{cite web |
In their 2010 book, ''Cinemas of South India: Culture, Resistance, Ideology'', Sowmya Dechamma C. C. and Elavarthi Sathya Prakash state that Kattabomman's Telugu identity is used in such a way that "while National historiography tries to elevate him, some versions of Tamil history seem to downgrade him."{{Sfn|Dechamma C. C.|Prakash|2010|page=153}} In 2011, [[S. Theodore Baskaran]] said, "Tamil films have scant regard for history. Almost always, they confuse between history and folklore," and added, "Kattabomman was not even a king. His arsenal had just about three to four guns."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/kollywood/7-aum-arivu-row-debate-rages-over-bodhi-dharma%E2%80%99s-identity-006 | title=7 Aum Arivu row: Debate rages over Bodhi Dharma's identity | work=[[Deccan Chronicle]] | date=9 November 2011 | accessdate=29 July 2013 | last=Muralidharan | first=Kavitha | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20111109212945/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/kollywood/7-aum-arivu-row-debate-rages-over-bodhi-dharma%E2%80%99s-identity-006 | archivedate=29 July 2013}}</ref> In 2014, Ramu Manivannan, the HOD of politics and public administration at [[University of Madras]], told ''The Times of India'', "The popular images of [historical] characters have been constructed from oral descriptions and accounts. In some cases, the popular image overtakes the historical one as in the case of Sivaji Ganesan's portrayal of Kattabomman on the screen".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Did-Thiruvalluvar-really-have-pointy-ribs/articleshow/44831906.cms | title=Did Thiruvalluvar really have pointy ribs? | work=The Times of India | date=16 October 2014 | accessdate=6 April 2015 | last=Valsan | first=Binoy | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XZzAQUGs | archivedate=29 July 2013 | deadurl=no}}</ref> |
||
== Legacy == |
== Legacy == |
||
''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' took Ganesan's career to a higher level,{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=182}} so much so that [[Tamil people|Tamilians]] identified Kattabomman with him.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/costume-drama/748424/ | title=Costume Drama | work=[[The Indian Express]] | date=12 February 2011 | accessdate=9 April 2015 |
''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' took Ganesan's career to a higher level,{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=182}} so much so that [[Tamil people|Tamilians]] identified Kattabomman with him.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/costume-drama/748424/ | title=Costume Drama | work=[[The Indian Express]] | date=12 February 2011 | accessdate=9 April 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150409122334/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/costume-drama/748424/ | archivedate=9 April 2015 | deadurl=no | first=Shruti | last=Ravindran}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://m.rediff.com/movies/2001/jul/23siv1.htm | title='We felt we were in the presence of a diety!' | publisher=Rediff.com | date=23 July 2001 | accessdate=9 April 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150409122709/http://m.rediff.com/movies/2001/jul/23siv1.htm | archivedate=9 April 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> The film also became a trendsetter for presenting freedom fighters in a heroic manner, thus creating a new perception of the value of independence.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=182}} The film's success encouraged many in Tamil cinema to make films based on freedom fighters and historical figures, notable of which include ''[[Kappalottiya Thamizhan]]'' (1961) and ''[[Bharathi (film)|Bharathi]]'' (2000).{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=184}} ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' was re-released in 1984 during Ramachandran's tenure as [[List of Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu|Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu]]. The film was granted [[tax exemption]] by the state government and was commercially successful at that time as well.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Veerapandiya-Kattabomman-Conquered-Land-of-Pyramids/2015/08/22/article2987210.ece | title=Veerapandiya Kattabomman 'Conquered' Land of Pyramids | work=The New Indian Express | date=22 August 2015 | accessdate=22 August 2015 | last=K. R. | first=Manigandan | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150822132835/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Veerapandiya-Kattabomman-Conquered-Land-of-Pyramids/2015/08/22/article2987210.ece | archivedate=22 August 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> |
||
In 1970, eleven years after the film's release, Ganesan established a statue of Kattabomman at Kayatharu, where the rebel was hanged.<ref name = "Glimpses"/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/heir-wants-kattabommans-statue-in-chennai/article6205380.ece | title=Heir wants Kattabomman’s statue in Chennai | work=The Hindu |
In 1970, eleven years after the film's release, Ganesan established a statue of Kattabomman at Kayatharu, where the rebel was hanged.<ref name = "Glimpses"/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/heir-wants-kattabommans-statue-in-chennai/article6205380.ece | title=Heir wants Kattabomman’s statue in Chennai | work=The Hindu | date=13 July 2014 | accessdate=6 April 2015 | last=Praveen Paul Joseph | first=J. | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150406140841/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/heir-wants-kattabommans-statue-in-chennai/article6205380.ece | archivedate=6 April 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> The rights to the statue were handed over to the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]] in 1999.<ref name = "Glimpses"/> A special postal cover was released on 16 May 2009 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film's release. The cover was jointly released by the Sivaji–Prabhu Charities trust and the Indo-Russian Cultural and Friendship Society.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.indianstampghar.com/2009/06/special-cover-veerapandiya-kattabomman-film/ | title=Special Cover – Veerapandiya Kattabomman Film | publisher=Indianstampghar.com | date=5 June 2009 | accessdate=27 March 2015 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XKs5oj6r | archivedate=27 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> The postal cover was designed by actor and historian [[Mohan V. Raman]].<ref name="mohanmuses"/> |
||
A. V. Ashok wrote for ''The Hindu'', "It is no exaggeration to say that Sivaji's heroic outpouring as ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' is an integral part of the Tamil cultural psyche."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/07/19/stories/2002071900990600.htm | title=Incredible charisma on screen | work=The Hindu | date=19 July 2002 | accessdate=20 February 2015 | |
A. V. Ashok wrote for ''The Hindu'', "It is no exaggeration to say that Sivaji's heroic outpouring as ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' is an integral part of the Tamil cultural psyche."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/07/19/stories/2002071900990600.htm | title=Incredible charisma on screen | work=The Hindu | date=19 July 2002 | accessdate=20 February 2015 | last=Ashok | first=A. V. | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150326134335/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/07/19/stories/2002071900990600.htm | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> Actor [[Sivakumar]] stated, "You can’t reproduce movies like ''Parasakthi'', ''[[Pasamalar]]'', ''[[Devadasu (1953 film)|Devadas]]'', ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' or ''[[Ratha Kanneer]]'' [...] By remaking such films, you are lowering yourself, while it enhances the original artists’ image."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/sivakumar-not-for-old-wine-in-new-bottle/article1170631.ece | title=Sivakumar not for old wine in new bottle | work=The Hindu | date=3 January 2008 | accessdate=20 February 2015 | last=Anand | first=N. | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150326134402/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/sivakumar-not-for-old-wine-in-new-bottle/article1170631.ece | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> [[Suhasini Maniratnam]] listed ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' alongside ''Kappalottiya Thamizhan'', ''[[Aayirathil Oruvan (1965 film)|Aayirathil Oruvan]]'' (1965) and ''[[Iruvar]]'' (1997), as her favourite period films in Tamil.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/period-charm/article5128595.ece | title=Period charm | work=The Hindu | date=15 September 2013 | accessdate=20 February 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150326134708/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/period-charm/article5128595.ece | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no | first=Lakshmi | last=Krupa}}</ref> ''The Times of India'' included ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' in its list of "Top 5 Sivaji Ganesan films on his birthday".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/Top-5-Sivaji-Ganesan-films-on-his-birthday/photostory/43985473.cms | title=Top 5 Sivaji Ganesan films on his birthday | work=The Times of India | accessdate=27 March 2015 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XLJjEz8A | archivedate=27 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> An elephant that Ganesan presented to the [[Punnainallur Mariamman]] temple in 1960 was named "Vellaiyammal", after the character from the film. It was later donated to the [[Brihadeeswarar Temple]] in 1980.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/trumpet-of-vellaiyammal-at-big-temple-in-thanjavur-falls-silent/article5130903.ece | title=Trumpet of Vellaiyammal at Big Temple in Thanjavur falls silent | work=The Hindu | date=15 September 2013 | accessdate=20 February 2015 | last=Srinivasan | first=G. | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150326134847/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/trumpet-of-vellaiyammal-at-big-temple-in-thanjavur-falls-silent/article5130903.ece | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> |
||
In [[Outlook (magazine)|Outlook]]'s issue dated 20 October 2008, Ganesan's line, "''Vari, vatti, kisthi...Yaarai ketkirai vari...Etharkku ketkirai vari. Vaanam polikirathu, bhumi vilaigirathu, unakken katta vendum vari....''", (Roughly translated in English as "''Tributes, Tax, Loan, Interest. The rains pour from the sky, the land blossoms, why should I offer you money?''"{{Sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|page=169}}) which he speaks in the scene featuring him and C. R. Parthiban, was ranked at number 8 in the magazine's list of the "13 cheesiest, chalkiest lines in Indian cinema".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/13-Cheesiest-Chalkiest-Lines-In-Indian-Cinema/238709 | title=13 cheesiest, chalkiest lines in Indian cinema | publisher=[[Outlook (magazine)|Outlook]] | date=20 October 2008 | accessdate=26 March 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150326142610/http://www.outlookindia.com/article/13-Cheesiest-Chalkiest-Lines-In-Indian-Cinema/238709 | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> Behindwoods ranked the scene featuring Sivaji Ganesan and C. R. Parthiban at number one in their list of "Top 20 Mass Scenes".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/top-20-mass-scenes/1veerapandi-kattabomman.html | title=Top 20 Mass Scenes – Veerapandiya Kattabomman | publisher=Behindwoods | accessdate=27 March 2015 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XKZmKOqz | archivedate=27 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> The dialogue also became a text book example of dialogue delivery for aspiring actors.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=184}} When director [[Vasanthabalan]] was in the third grade, he received a standing ovation after delivering the dialogue during his school's fancy dress competition. Following this, every year for the next seven years, he got the first prize for delivering the same dialogue.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-celebrity-column/Vasanthabalan-shines-31-05-12.html | title=Vasanthabalan Shines... | publisher=Behindwoods | accessdate=10 April 2015 | author=Rekhs |
In [[Outlook (magazine)|Outlook]]'s issue dated 20 October 2008, Ganesan's line, "''Vari, vatti, kisthi...Yaarai ketkirai vari...Etharkku ketkirai vari. Vaanam polikirathu, bhumi vilaigirathu, unakken katta vendum vari....''", (Roughly translated in English as "''Tributes, Tax, Loan, Interest. The rains pour from the sky, the land blossoms, why should I offer you money?''"{{Sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|page=169}}) which he speaks in the scene featuring him and C. R. Parthiban, was ranked at number 8 in the magazine's list of the "13 cheesiest, chalkiest lines in Indian cinema".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.outlookindia.com/article/13-Cheesiest-Chalkiest-Lines-In-Indian-Cinema/238709 | title=13 cheesiest, chalkiest lines in Indian cinema | publisher=[[Outlook (magazine)|Outlook]] | date=20 October 2008 | accessdate=26 March 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150326142610/http://www.outlookindia.com/article/13-Cheesiest-Chalkiest-Lines-In-Indian-Cinema/238709 | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> Behindwoods ranked the scene featuring Sivaji Ganesan and C. R. Parthiban at number one in their list of "Top 20 Mass Scenes".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/top-20-mass-scenes/1veerapandi-kattabomman.html | title=Top 20 Mass Scenes – Veerapandiya Kattabomman | publisher=Behindwoods | accessdate=27 March 2015 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XKZmKOqz | archivedate=27 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> The dialogue also became a text book example of dialogue delivery for aspiring actors.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2011|page=184}} When director [[Vasanthabalan]] was in the third grade, he received a standing ovation after delivering the dialogue during his school's fancy dress competition. Following this, every year for the next seven years, he got the first prize for delivering the same dialogue.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-celebrity-column/Vasanthabalan-shines-31-05-12.html | title=Vasanthabalan Shines... | publisher=Behindwoods | date=31 May 2012 | accessdate=10 April 2015 | author=Rekhs | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150411000339/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-celebrity-column/Vasanthabalan-shines-31-05-12.html | archivedate=11 April 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> |
||
In April 2012, Rediff included the film in its list "The A to Z of Tamil Cinema".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-the-a-to-z-of-tamil-cinema/20120418.htm?print=true | title=Special: The A to Z of Tamil Cinema | publisher=Rediff.com | date=18 April 2012 | accessdate=11 April 2015 | |
In April 2012, Rediff included the film in its list "The A to Z of Tamil Cinema".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-the-a-to-z-of-tamil-cinema/20120418.htm?print=true | title=Special: The A to Z of Tamil Cinema | publisher=Rediff.com | date=18 April 2012 | accessdate=11 April 2015 | last=Srinivasan | first=Pavithra | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150411111521/http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-the-a-to-z-of-tamil-cinema/20120418.htm?print=true | archivedate=11 April 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> In a January 2015 interview with ''The Times of India'', playwright [[Y. G. Mahendra]] said, "most character artists today lack variety [...] Show me one actor in India currently who can do a Kattabomman, a [[V. O. Chidambaram Pillai|VOC]], a ''[[Vietnam Veedu]]'', a ''[[Galatta Kalyanam]]'' and a ''[[Thiruvilaiyadal|Thiruvilayadal]]''."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Oscar-worthy-performance-by-Sivaji-Y-Gee-Mahendra/articleshow/45883224.cms | title=Oscar-worthy performance by Sivaji: Y Gee Mahendra | work=The Times of India | date=14 January 2015 | accessdate=2 April 2015 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XVOxkz6M | archivedate=3 April 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> Actor [[Rana Daggubati]], in an interview with Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of ''The Hindu'', said that Ganesan's performances as Kattabomman and [[Karna]] (in the 1964 film ''[[Karnan (film)|Karnan]]'') served as inspirations for his role in ''[[Baahubali: The Beginning|Baahubali]]'' (2015).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/rana-daggubati-on-a-warrior-mode/article7057707.ece | title=On a warrior mode | work=The Hindu | date=2 April 2015 | accessdate=6 April 2015 | last=Dundoo | first=Sangeetha Devi | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150406054346/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/rana-daggubati-on-a-warrior-mode/article7057707.ece | archivedate=6 April 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> Behindwoods, in its list named "Tamil Superstars' tyrst with facial hair", called Kattabomman's moustache "Vintage".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/nothing-but-rajinikanth-kamal-vijay-and-ajith-mustache/veerapandiya-kattabomman.html | title=Tamil Superstars' tyrst with facial hair {{mdash}} Vintage | publisher=Behindwoods | accessdate=11 April 2015 | author=Ameenuddin; Kaushik L M; Avinash Pandian | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150411011753/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/nothing-but-rajinikanth-kamal-vijay-and-ajith-mustache/veerapandiya-kattabomman.html | archivedate=11 April 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> |
||
== Re-release == |
== Re-release == |
||
In 2012, [[Raj Television Network]] announced that they would re-release ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' in [[3D film|3D]] in early 2013,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Kattabomman-in-3D/articleshow/12492246.cms|title=Kattabomman in 3D!|work=The Times of India| |
In 2012, [[Raj Television Network]] announced that they would re-release ''Veerapandiya Kattabomman'' in [[3D film|3D]] in early 2013,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Kattabomman-in-3D/articleshow/12492246.cms | title=Kattabomman in 3D! | work=The Times of India | date=2 April 2012 | accessdate=25 March 2015 | last=Suganth | first=M. | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6XJXtkP02 | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/apr-12-01/hollywood-titanic-3d-02-04-12.html | title=Yet Another Classic In 3d | publisher=Behindwoods | date=2 April 2012 | accessdate=29 July 2013 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150326100707/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/apr-12-01/hollywood-titanic-3d-02-04-12.html | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> but that did not materialise.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/tamil-classic-karnan-is-still-ruling-the-kollywood-box-office/378092-71-180.html | title=Tamil classic 'Karnan' is still ruling the Kollywood box office | publisher=[[CNN-IBN]] | date=11 March 2013 | accessdate=20 February 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150326123105/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/tamil-classic-karnan-is-still-ruling-the-kollywood-box-office/378092-71-180.html | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> However, in March 2015, they announced that they would release a digital [[5.1 surround sound]] version of the film in collaboration with Sai Ganesh Films, on an unspecified date in April,<ref name="Thrill">{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Kattabomman-to-Thrill-Once-Again/2015/03/21/article2723012.ece | title=Kattabomman to Thrill Once Again | work=The New Indian Express | date=21 March 2015 | accessdate=25 March 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150326123314/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Kattabomman-to-Thrill-Once-Again/2015/03/21/article2723012.ece | archivedate=26 March 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> though it was moved to July 31,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/sivaji-family-to-have-3-releases-on-the-31st-of-july.html | title=When 3 generations of the Sivaji family come together on a single day! | publisher=Behindwoods | date=23 July 2015 | accessdate=27 July 2015 | last=Pandian | first=Avinash | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150727120543/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-15/sivaji-family-to-have-3-releases-on-the-31st-of-july.html | archivedate=27 July 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> but was finally released on August 21.<ref name="BW Review"/> The trailer of the digitised version was released on 20 March 2015.<ref name="Thrill"/> Murali B. V., coordinator of the production company, Sai Ganesh Films, which helped in the restoration and digitisation of the film's original prints, told ''[[The New Indian Express]]'' that nine months were taken to clean the film prints and completely restore them for digitisation from the original [[35 mm film]] prints with [[Monaural|mono sound]].<ref name="Thrill"/> The film collected {{INRConvert|5.53|l|year=2015}} in its opening weekend from 39 shows in Chennai,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/kick-2-first-weekend-box-office-collection-ravi-teja-starrer-loses-simbus-vaalu-aryas-643964 | title='Kick 2' First Weekend Box Office Collection: Ravi Teja Starrer Loses to Simbu's 'Vaalu', Arya's 'VSOP' in Chennai | work=[[International Business Times]] | date=24 August 2015 | accessdate=24 August 2015 | last=Upadhyaya | first=Prakash | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150824214916/http://www.ibtimes.co.in/kick-2-first-weekend-box-office-collection-ravi-teja-starrer-loses-simbus-vaalu-aryas-643964 | archivedate=25 August 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> and its total collections in Chennai were {{INRConvert|8.46|l|year=2015}} by the end of the second week.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veerapandiya-kattabomman/veerapandiya-kattabomman-box-office-aug-30.html | title=Veerapandiya Kattabomman box office collection | publisher=Behindwoods | date=31 August 2015 | accessdate=31 August 2015 | archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20150831055424/http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/veerapandiya-kattabomman/veerapandiya-kattabomman-box-office-aug-30.html | archivedate=31 August 2015 | deadurl=no}}</ref> |
||
== Notes == |
== Notes == |
Revision as of 16:02, 10 March 2016
Veerapandiya Kattabomman | |
---|---|
File:Veerapandiya Kattabomman Poster.jpg Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | B. R. Panthulu |
Written by | Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy |
Screenplay by | Ma. Po. Sivagnanam[1] |
Story by | Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy |
Produced by | B. R. Panthulu |
Starring | Sivaji Ganesan Gemini Ganesan Padmini S. Varalakshmi Ragini |
Cinematography | W. R. Subbarao Karnan |
Edited by | R. Devarajan |
Music by | G. Ramanathan |
Production company | Padmini Pictures[2] |
Distributed by | Padmini Pictures[2] |
Release dates | 10 May 1959 (London premiere) |
Running time | 166 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Tamil |
Veerapandiya Kattabomman ([Kattabomman, the Brave Warrior] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help)) is a 1959 Indian Tamil biographical film directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film's screenplay was written by Ma. Po. Sivagnanam while its story and dialogue were written by Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy. The film features Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Padmini, S. Varalakshmi, and Ragini in the lead roles, with V. K. Ramasamy and Javar Seetharaman in pivotal supporting parts.
Produced and distributed by Panthulu under his banner, Padmini Pictures, Veerapandiya Kattabomman is loosely based on the story of the 18th century South Indian chieftain of the same name, who rose in rebellion against the East India Company. The film was an adaptation of the play Kattabomman, performed by Sivaji Ganesan's troupe. Most of the film was shot in Jaipur. Veerapandiya Kattabomman is notable for being the first Tamil film to be shot in Technicolor.
Veerapandiya Kattabomman's premiere was held in London on 10 May 1959, and it had a wide release six days later. The film's final length was 5,512 metres (18,084 ft). It became a critical and commercial success and had a theatrical run of 175 days. It was dubbed and released in Telugu as Veerapandiya Kattabrahmanna in 1959 and in Hindi as Amar Shaheed in 1960. In addition to winning the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil under the "Certificate of Merit" section, it was also the first Tamil film to receive international awards for Best Film, Best Actor, and Best Music Director at the 1960 Afro-Asian Film Festival in Cairo. A digitally restored version of the film was released on 21 August 2015.
Plot
Veerapandiya Kattabomman (Sivaji Ganesan), the king of Panchalankurichi, is a brave fighter and a devotee of his family deity, Lord Murugan of Tiruchendur. On receiving the news of a robbery in his territory, Kattabomman and his retinue set out incognito to capture the robbers. When the robbers are captured, they confess that they had been hired by the British to create unrest in Kattabomman's domain. They also tell him that the British had enticed the neighbouring chieftain, Ettappan (V. K. Ramasamy), to help them in their endeavour to annex Panchalankurichi. Ettappan was promised that an additional two villages would be added to his land by the British, as a price for his betrayal. Ettappan, in disguise, goes to Kattabomman's court and tries to frighten him by extolling the omnipotence of the British. Kattabomman is indignant and tears off Ettappan's fake beard, but spares him because he had come to his court as an ambassador.
At Chayalkudi, a village near Panchalankurichi, lives Vellaiyammal (Padmini), who vows to marry the man who tames her pet bull. She takes her bull to participate in a Jallikattu game held at Panchalankurichi under Kattabomman's patronage. All those who attempt to tame the bull fail. At Kattabomman's call, his Commander-in-chief, Vellaiyathevan (Gemini Ganesan), subdues the bull and wins Vellaiyammal's love. Later, Kattabomman comes to know of their love and gets them married.
Kattabomman receives a message from Lord W. C. Jackson (C. R. Parthiban), collector of Tirunelveli, who demands a meeting with Kattabomman at Ramanathapuram to discuss the payment of Kattabomman's tribute. Captain Davison (S. A. Kannan), Kattabomman's British friend, advises him to go and see Jackson. Jackson, finding that Kattabomman has come to see him with his troops, demands to meet him alone. At the meeting, Jackson insults him and orders his arrest. Though surrounded by the British troops, Kattabomman fights his way out, but during his escape his Minister, Thanapathi Sivasubramaniam Pillai (M. R. Santhanam), is captured by the British.
Some time later, Pillai is released. He brings news that Jackson has been transferred back to England on Davison's recommendation. At Kattabomman's court, a British messenger sent by Colonel Ooshington, Tirunelveli's new collector, reports that Pillai and his men have looted their granaries and killed their men at Srivaikuntam. Pillai justifies his act, saying that he instructed his men to do it due to the famine conditions prevalent in their kingdom. Ashamed of Pillai's act, Kattabomman accuses him of injustice. Pillai apologises and offers himself as a prisoner to the British, but Kattabomman refuses to hand Pillai over; instead he offers money to the British as compensation for the looted rice. Ooshington does not agree and, with Major Bannerman's (Javar Seetharaman) and Ettappan's help, instigates the neighbouring rulers to attack Kattabomman. Bannerman is placed in charge of the British troops. He and Ettappan plan to attack Panchalankurichi when the people are away attending a festival in Tiruchendur. Kattabomman's spy Sunderalingam (A. Karunanidhi), overhears this and informs Kattabomman, who prepares for battle.
On the day of the battle, Vellaiyammal pleads Vellaiyathevan not to go because the previous night she had a nightmare, which was full of evil omens. Ignoring her entreaties, Vellaiyathevan sets out, and is killed in the ensuing battle. Vellaiyammal, on learning of his death, kills the man who killed him, avenging her husband's death. She finds Vellaiyathevan's corpse and, out of grief, falls dead on it. Bannerman's troops attack Panchalankurichi with heavy artillery and Kattabomman's army suffers badly. Kattabomman is wounded in the neck, but is saved by his brother, Oomaithurai (O. A. K. Thevar). Sensing that the fort cannot survive another cannon barrage, Kattabomman and Oomaithurai flee to the adjoining kingdom of Kovilpatti. Pillai, disguising himself as Kattabomman, misleads the British soldiers who are on the trail of Kattabomman. From Kovilpatti, Kattabomman and Oomaithurai then flee to Pudukkottai. Thondaimaan, the king of Pudukkottai, is ordered by the British to capture Kattabomman and Oomaithurai. In fear of the British, Thondaimaan captures the two and hands them over. While Oomaithurai is jailed, Kattabomman faces a summary trial by the British and is hanged from a Tamarind tree at Kayatharu.
Cast
- Lead actors[3]
- Sivaji Ganesan as Veerapandiya Kattabomman
- Gemini Ganesan as Vellaiyathevan
- Padmini as Vellaiyammal
- S. Varalakshmi as Jakkamma
- Ragini as Sundaravadivu
- Supporting actors[3]
- V. K. Ramasamy as Ettappan
- Javar Seetharaman as Major Bannerman
- O. A. K. Thevar as Oomaithurai
- M. R. Santhanam as Thanapathi Sivasubramaniam Pillai
- A. Karunanidhi as Sunderalingam
- S. A. Kannan as Captain Davison
- C. R. Parthiban as Jackson Durai (Lord W. C. Jackson)
- Baby Kanchana as Meena
History
Background
The idea to make a film adaptation on the life of Veerapandiya Kattabomman occurred to many producers in the late 1940s, just after India's freedom from the British Raj.[4] In 1947, soon after the British left India, a production company[a] announced its intention to produce Kattabommu (named after the rebel's real name), a "mammoth production" which was to star P. U. Chinnappa; this production did not materialise.[5] Another attempt was initiated in 1953 by producer S. S. Vasan.[6] A promotional poster announcing the project was released in Ananda Vikatan on 5 November 1953.[6] On 8 November 1953, a notice was issued at Vasan's production company, Gemini Studios, through Ananda Vikatan stating that anyone who had any useful information regarding Kattabomman and his exploits can send them to the studios' storyboard department.[6]
The concept of Veerapandiya Kattabomman began when Sivaji Ganesan and Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy[b] were travelling through Kayatharu,[c] where Kattabomman was hanged.[8] While there, Ganesan expressed a desire of doing a play based on Kattabomman's life, to which Krishnasamy immediately agreed, and started to write the play. Coincidentally, Ganesan's first exposure to the field of acting was when he saw a street play on Kattabomman’s life titled Kambalaththaar Kooththu.[8] Krishnasamy completed writing the script for the play in a month's time.[8] The play was launched in Salem on 29 August 1957.[8] Ganesan had invested close to ₹50,000[d] for the play's sets and costumes.[8]
On seeing the play, B. R. Panthulu decided to adapt it into a feature film and hired Krishnasamy to write the screenplay.[8] The play was staged 16 times before it was adapted into a film.[10] G. Dharmarajan, who was the play's set designer, was selected to do the same for the film.[11] For the purpose of making the popular play into a film, a "History-Film Format Research Group" was formed under the leadership of Ma. Po. Sivagnanam, with Krishnasamy, Panthulu, Ganesan, P. A. Kumar, K. Singamuthu, and S. Krishnaswamy as members.[1]
Production
G. Dhananjayan's 2011 book The Best of Tamil Cinema states that when Ganesan heard of Vasan's attempt to make a film adaptation on Kattabomman, he personally requested Vasan to abandon the project.[1] While a 1957 article by the Singapore-based Indian Movie News supports this statement, adding that Vasan even lent Ganesan important research materials on Kattabomman,[6] film historian Randor Guy contradicted both the sources in his 1997 book Starlight, Starbright: The Early Tamil Cinema by stating that writers like Kothamangalam Subbu and Veppathur Kittoo were employed by Vasan to conduct an extensive research on Kattabomman's life, but the only eligible choice to play Kattabomman was Ganesan, who by then had become popular after Parasakthi (1952). Guy noted that Ganesan was hesitant to play the role under Vasan's direction as he was earlier rejected by Vasan for the role of a bodyguard in Chandralekha (1948), which lead to Vasan dropping the project.[5][12] But later on, Ganesan acted in Irumbu Thirai (1960), which was produced and directed by Vasan, and Motor Sundaram Pillai (1966), which was produced by Vasan.[7]
Ganesan originally offered the role of Vellaiyathevan to S. S. Rajendran, who declined it due to his commitment to the film Sivagangai Seemai (1959).[13] He later requested actress Savitri to ask her husband Gemini Ganesan to play the role, which she agreed to do despite being pregnant at that time.[13] Gemini Ganesan was initially reluctant to accept the role, but eventually agreed.[14] Padmini, O. A. K. Thevar, and V. K. Ramasamy were chosen to play Vellaiyammal, Oomaithurai and Ettappan respectively.[2] S. Varalakshmi played Kattabomman's wife, Jakkamma, and also worked as a playback singer.[15] C. R. Parthiban played the role of Lord W. C. Jackson.[16][17] Kattabomman's daughter in the film, Meena, was a fictional character created by Krishnasamy. The character was based on Krishnasamy's own daughter, Mynavathi, who died when she was five years old.[8] Krishnasamy initially refused to include the scene involving Meena's death as it reminded him of his daughter, but finally did so reluctantly.[8] The character was played by Baby Kanchana.[2]
The film was launched at Ganesan's house Annai Illam.[18] Principal photography began in October 1957 with a puja.[6] Most of the film's shooting took place at Jaipur. With help from Janakaraja, the man in charge of the cavalry division, the production unit of Veerapandiya Kattabomman managed to hire junior artistes to portray the cavalry soldiers for shooting the war scenes.[19] When the film was being shot at Bharani Studios in 1958, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, who witnessed the shooting that afternoon, recalled that after every take, the actors would rush out due to the intense heat on the set. He also stated, "The speed of the film was so low those days that one needed many, many lights for correct exposure."[20] Dhananjayan's 2014 book Pride of Tamil Cinema states that Panthulu "surprised everyone by completing the film in a short time", though it does not mention when filming ended.[21] Veerapandiya Kattabomman is notable for being the first Tamil film to be shot in Technicolor.[22][23][e] Panthulu adopted American director Cecil B. DeMille's tactic of personally introducing the film on camera.[25] The final length of the film was 5,512 metres (18,084 ft).[2]
Music
Untitled | |
---|---|
Veerapandiya Kattabomman's original soundtrack album was composed by G. Ramanathan, with lyrics by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam.[27] The soundtrack album was released on 1 December 1959 under the label of Saregama.[26] The album became a major breakthrough for P. B. Srinivas, then a struggling playback singer. He was recruited by Ramanathan to sing the track "Inbam Pongum Vennila", which was picturised on Gemini Ganesan and Padmini, with P. Susheela.[28] The song "Pogaathe Pogaathe" is based on the Mukhari Raga.[29] Theatre actor K. B. Chellamuthu was the violinist for the songs.[30] A remix version of "Inbam Pongum Vennila" was done by Hiphop Tamizha for the film, Aambala (2015).[31][32]
According to S. R. Ashok Kumar of The Hindu, "Manam Kanintharul" and "Singara Kanne", both of which were sung by Varalakshmi, "remained all time favourites."[33] On the song, "Pogaathe Pogaathe", singer Charulatha Mani said that it was "a meandering, melancholic Mukhari."[29] She also labelled Ratnamala's rendition of the song as "expressive".[29] G. Dhananjayan, in The Best of Tamil Cinema, called the songs "memorable", further stating that they contributed to the film's success.[1] Film critic Baradwaj Rangan of The Hindu, in his review of the film's digital re-release, said that Ramanathan's music "is still superb, spanning the range from folksy to light to classical".[34]
- Tracklist[26]
All lyrics are written by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Inbam Pongum Vennila" | P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela | 4:42 |
2. | "Maattuvandi Pootikittu" | T. M. Soundararajan, T. V. Rathinam | 2:53 |
3. | "Seermevum" | Chorus | 0:42 |
4. | "Anjatha Singam" | P. Susheela | 3:26 |
5. | "Aathukkulle" | Tiruchi Loganathan, K. Jamuna Rani, V. T. Rajagopalan, A. G. Rathnamala | 3:14 |
6. | "Singara Kanne" | S. Varalakshmi | 3:10 |
7. | "Karantha Palaiyum" | T. M. Soundararajan | 2:45 |
8. | "Takku Takku" | P. Susheela, S. Varalakshmi, A. P. Komala | 3:23 |
9. | "Manam Kanintharul (Vetrivadivelane)" | V. N. Sundharam, S. Varalakshmi | 3:21 |
10. | "Jakkamma" | Seerkazhi Govindarajan | 3:16 |
11. | "Veerathin Chinname" | Seerkazhi Govindarajan | 1:04 |
12. | "Pogaathe Pogaathe" | A. G. Ratnamala | 2:40 |
Total length: | 34:36 |
Release
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Kattabomman1959.jpg/200px-Kattabomman1959.jpg)
Veerapandiya Kattabomman's premiere was held in London on 10 May 1959,[10] and it had a wide release on 16 May 1959.[16] It was a commercial success and achieved cult status,[36] becoming a silver jubilee film.[37][f] The film was dubbed and released in Telugu as Veerapandiya Kattabrahmanna in 1959.[21] In Hindi, it was dubbed and released as Amar Shaheed in 1960.[38]
Critical reception
Veerapandiya Kattabomman received positive reviews upon release.[7] Ananda Vikatan, in its original review dated 24 May 1959, wrote, "[Veerapandiya] Kattabomman will not leave the hearts of the people who have seen it ... Sivaji Ganesan has acted so well. This film adds pride to every person born as a Tamilian".[35] Rangan praised Ganesan's performance, stating that "To watch Veerapandiya Kattabomman is to marvel at the shades and nuances an actor can infuse into oratory."[34]
Guy labelled Ganesan's performance as "breathtaking".[36] Janani Karthik of The Times of India wrote, "Watch this [film] for the legendary actor's performance, something that old-timers remember even today".[39] Another review from the same newspaper stated, "This digitally restored version is far from perfect — there are instances when in the same scene, the colours seem to have been leached of the frames. The sound, too, feels a bit contemporary. And the casting of Indian actors to play the British characters feels dated and even amusing. But set these niggles aside and the film still retains its dramatic force."[40]
Behindwoods called it "an epic that involves some of the all-time greats that the world of Kollywood has ever seen." before concluding that the film is "An immortal all-time classic".[41] IndiaGlitz praised Ganesan's performance and mentioned his scene with Parthiban as one of the film's highlights before concluding, "This movie is sure to give you the Goosebumps with Shivaji's [sic] powerful acting and a sense of what rebellion and freedom fighting is."[42] L. K. Advani, currently one of the senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, said, "I have seen the Tamil movie of Veerapandia Kattabomman [sic], acted by Shivaji Ganesan, many times. It is fresh in my memory."[43]
Accolades
Sivaji Ganesan's performance as Kattabomman earned him an international award as the Best Actor at the 1960 Afro-Asian Film Festival, held from 29 February to 11 March.[44] The award was presented to him by Gamal Abdel Nasser, then the President of Egypt.[45] It was Ganesan's first award in his film career.[1] It also made him the first Indian actor to receive an international award.[46] On hearing of Ganesan's return from Cairo after winning the Afro-Asian Film Festival award for the Best Actor category in 1960, fellow actor M. G. Ramachandran, who also served as the president of the South Indian Actors Guild organised a huge reception in Chennai to welcome him.[47]
In his autobiography, Ganesan recalled that during the Afro-Asian film festival, "I was called on stage and I went up a diminutive, five foot nothing, looking boyish with my build, whereas they had expected me to be a colossus, on seeing [Veerapandiya] Kattabomman, at least seven or eight feet tall! Irrespective of this they gave me a standing ovation for five minutes."[48]
Award | Ceremony | Category | Nominee(s) | Outcome | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
National Film Awards | 7th National Film Awards | Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Tamil | B. R. Panthulu | Won | [1] [49] |
Afro-Asian Film Festival | Afro-Asian Film Festival - 1960 | Best Film | B. R. Panthulu | Won | [1] [44] [50] [51] |
Best Actor | Sivaji Ganesan | Won | |||
Best Music Director | G. Ramanathan | Won |
Historical inaccuracies
Veerapandiya Kattabomman has often been criticised because of its historical inaccuracies.[52][36] Randor Guy stated in 2015 that a Tamil weekly even went to the extent of saying, "[...] a new face called Kattabomman acted brilliantly as Sivaji Ganesan!”[g] Poet Kannadasan said, "Kattabomman was not a real freedom fighter; he was a Telugu and a robber." He also stated that the Maruthu Pandiyars were the real freedom fighters and wrote a script about them, which was adapted into the film, Sivagangai Seemai. The film was released in the same month as Veerapandiya Kattabomman, but failed at the box office.[1] Kannadasan's statement was supported by writer Lena Tamizhvanan,[h] who denounced Kattabomman's glorification.[54]
In Starlight, Starbright: The Early Tamil Cinema, Guy noted that according to East India Company records, Kattabomman was of Telugu ancestry, and that he was a strong and silent man, not of dash and daring as depicted in the film. Guy also noted that Ganesan portrayed Kattabomman as a "larger-than-life-character, haranguing audiences in a high-flown Tamil replete with literary flourishes", as opposed to the real Kattabomman, who was not fluent in Tamil.[5] Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema by Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen states, "A love interest has been added as well", implying that the character of Vellaiyammal was fictional.[38] Film historian S. Krishnaswamy, writing for The Hindu in 2001, noted that the film was "historically far from accurate" and that it was "more like a costume drama or a mythological."[55]
In their 2010 book, Cinemas of South India: Culture, Resistance, Ideology, Sowmya Dechamma C. C. and Elavarthi Sathya Prakash state that Kattabomman's Telugu identity is used in such a way that "while National historiography tries to elevate him, some versions of Tamil history seem to downgrade him."[56] In 2011, S. Theodore Baskaran said, "Tamil films have scant regard for history. Almost always, they confuse between history and folklore," and added, "Kattabomman was not even a king. His arsenal had just about three to four guns."[57] In 2014, Ramu Manivannan, the HOD of politics and public administration at University of Madras, told The Times of India, "The popular images of [historical] characters have been constructed from oral descriptions and accounts. In some cases, the popular image overtakes the historical one as in the case of Sivaji Ganesan's portrayal of Kattabomman on the screen".[58]
Legacy
Veerapandiya Kattabomman took Ganesan's career to a higher level,[2] so much so that Tamilians identified Kattabomman with him.[59][60] The film also became a trendsetter for presenting freedom fighters in a heroic manner, thus creating a new perception of the value of independence.[2] The film's success encouraged many in Tamil cinema to make films based on freedom fighters and historical figures, notable of which include Kappalottiya Thamizhan (1961) and Bharathi (2000).[35] Veerapandiya Kattabomman was re-released in 1984 during Ramachandran's tenure as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The film was granted tax exemption by the state government and was commercially successful at that time as well.[61]
In 1970, eleven years after the film's release, Ganesan established a statue of Kattabomman at Kayatharu, where the rebel was hanged.[10][62] The rights to the statue were handed over to the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1999.[10] A special postal cover was released on 16 May 2009 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film's release. The cover was jointly released by the Sivaji–Prabhu Charities trust and the Indo-Russian Cultural and Friendship Society.[63] The postal cover was designed by actor and historian Mohan V. Raman.[16]
A. V. Ashok wrote for The Hindu, "It is no exaggeration to say that Sivaji's heroic outpouring as Veerapandiya Kattabomman is an integral part of the Tamil cultural psyche."[64] Actor Sivakumar stated, "You can’t reproduce movies like Parasakthi, Pasamalar, Devadas, Veerapandiya Kattabomman or Ratha Kanneer [...] By remaking such films, you are lowering yourself, while it enhances the original artists’ image."[65] Suhasini Maniratnam listed Veerapandiya Kattabomman alongside Kappalottiya Thamizhan, Aayirathil Oruvan (1965) and Iruvar (1997), as her favourite period films in Tamil.[66] The Times of India included Veerapandiya Kattabomman in its list of "Top 5 Sivaji Ganesan films on his birthday".[67] An elephant that Ganesan presented to the Punnainallur Mariamman temple in 1960 was named "Vellaiyammal", after the character from the film. It was later donated to the Brihadeeswarar Temple in 1980.[68]
In Outlook's issue dated 20 October 2008, Ganesan's line, "Vari, vatti, kisthi...Yaarai ketkirai vari...Etharkku ketkirai vari. Vaanam polikirathu, bhumi vilaigirathu, unakken katta vendum vari....", (Roughly translated in English as "Tributes, Tax, Loan, Interest. The rains pour from the sky, the land blossoms, why should I offer you money?"[69]) which he speaks in the scene featuring him and C. R. Parthiban, was ranked at number 8 in the magazine's list of the "13 cheesiest, chalkiest lines in Indian cinema".[70] Behindwoods ranked the scene featuring Sivaji Ganesan and C. R. Parthiban at number one in their list of "Top 20 Mass Scenes".[71] The dialogue also became a text book example of dialogue delivery for aspiring actors.[35] When director Vasanthabalan was in the third grade, he received a standing ovation after delivering the dialogue during his school's fancy dress competition. Following this, every year for the next seven years, he got the first prize for delivering the same dialogue.[72]
In April 2012, Rediff included the film in its list "The A to Z of Tamil Cinema".[73] In a January 2015 interview with The Times of India, playwright Y. G. Mahendra said, "most character artists today lack variety [...] Show me one actor in India currently who can do a Kattabomman, a VOC, a Vietnam Veedu, a Galatta Kalyanam and a Thiruvilayadal."[74] Actor Rana Daggubati, in an interview with Sangeetha Devi Dundoo of The Hindu, said that Ganesan's performances as Kattabomman and Karna (in the 1964 film Karnan) served as inspirations for his role in Baahubali (2015).[75] Behindwoods, in its list named "Tamil Superstars' tyrst with facial hair", called Kattabomman's moustache "Vintage".[76]
Re-release
In 2012, Raj Television Network announced that they would re-release Veerapandiya Kattabomman in 3D in early 2013,[77][78] but that did not materialise.[79] However, in March 2015, they announced that they would release a digital 5.1 surround sound version of the film in collaboration with Sai Ganesh Films, on an unspecified date in April,[80] though it was moved to July 31,[81] but was finally released on August 21.[41] The trailer of the digitised version was released on 20 March 2015.[80] Murali B. V., coordinator of the production company, Sai Ganesh Films, which helped in the restoration and digitisation of the film's original prints, told The New Indian Express that nine months were taken to clean the film prints and completely restore them for digitisation from the original 35 mm film prints with mono sound.[80] The film collected ₹5.53 lakh (equivalent to ₹8.3 lakh or US$10,000 in 2023) in its opening weekend from 39 shows in Chennai,[82] and its total collections in Chennai were ₹8.46 lakh (equivalent to ₹13 lakh or US$15,000 in 2023) by the end of the second week.[83]
Notes
- ^ Film critic Randor Guy does not mention the company's name.[5]
- ^ Sivaji Ganesan had once been on the payroll of a theatre group owned by Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy, Sakthi Nataka Sabha. Krishnasamy had encouraged Sivaji Ganesan in his early days as a stage actor.[7]
- ^ The author of the article, Mohan V. Raman, does not name the place where Sivaji Ganesan and Krishnasamy were going to.[8]
- ^ The exchange rate in 1958 was 4.79 Indian rupees (₹) per 1 US dollar (US$).[9]
- ^ Some portions of the film were made in Gevacolor and then converted into Technicolor at London to offer superior quality film prints.[1][24]
- ^ A Silver Jubilee film is one that completes a theatrical run of 175 days (25 weeks).[35]
- ^ Guy refused to reveal the name of the weekly, commenting "no prizes for guessing!"[36]
- ^ Lena Tamizhvanan is the editor of Kalkandu, a children's magazine in Tamil.[53]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Dhananjayan 2011, p. 183.
- ^ a b c d e f g Dhananjayan 2011, p. 182.
- ^ a b Veerapandiya Kattabomman (DVD) (Motion Picture). India: Padmini Pictures. 28 March 2013. Opening credits from 2:00 to 2:24.
- ^ Guy 1997, pp. 281–282.
- ^ a b c d Guy 1997, p. 282.
- ^ a b c d e "Veerapandiya Kattabomman - Mayyam". Mayyam. 24 May 2012. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Guy 1997, p. 283.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Raman, Mohan V. (8 April 2013). "The power of the pen". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Rupee's journey since Independence: Down by 65 times against dollar". The Economic Times. 24 August 2013. Archived from the original on 29 August 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d Shankar (19 March 2015). "வீரபாண்டிய கட்டபொம்மன்.... வரலாற்று காவியத்தின் சில சாதனை துளிகள்! (Veerapandiya Kattabomman... Glimpses of a Tamil classic)". Oneindia Entertainment. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Shivapprasadh, S. (26 January 2012). "Art grand and eloquent". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Guy, Randor (December 2008). "... And thus he made Chandralekha sixty years ago". Madras Musings. XVIII. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
{{cite journal}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; 24 May 2013 suggested (help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, pp. 120–121.
- ^ "The magic of Gemini Ganesan". Chennai Live News. 14 April 2010. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; 10 April 2015 suggested (help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Ravi, Bhama Devi (24 September 2009). "S Varalakshmi passes away". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 31 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Raman, Mohan V. (19 July 2009). "Kattabomman". mohanramanmuses.blogspot.in. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: More than one of|author=
and|last=
specified (help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Naig, Udhav (2 October 2014). "Fans keep the legend alive". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Asal – Ajith hailed, Rajini calls it a family affair". Behindwoods. 8 April 2009. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, p. 121.
- ^ Bhaskaran 2010, p. 47.
- ^ a b Dhananjayan 2014, p. 131.
- ^ Narayanan, Sharadha (24 October 2010). "One hundred years of superstardom". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Stories of Indian freedom struggle told through Tamil films". Zee News. IANS. 15 August 2014. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (2 February 2012). "A 100 goes unsung". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Guy 1997, p. 282; Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 2014, p. 361.
- ^ a b c "Veerapandiya Kattabomman – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". iTunes. 1 December 1959. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Veerapandia Kattabomman Songs". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Kolappan, B. (14 April 2013). "Veteran singer PBS passes away". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Mani, Charulatha (4 January 2013). "Notes of peace". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Prabu, M. J. (26 February 2006). "Faithful to his mentor's memories". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "And the film ends on a happy note". The Hindu. 16 December 2014. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Aambala -Audio review". Sify. 29 December 2014. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Ashok Kumar, S. R. (23 September 2009). "Yesteryear actor S. Varalakshmi dead". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b Rangan, Baradwaj (21 August 2015). "Veerapandiya Kattabomman: Much more than just that one scene". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e Dhananjayan 2011, p. 184.
- ^ a b c d Guy, Randor (9 May 2015). "Veera Pandya Kattabomman 1959". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, p. 121; Dechamma C. C. & Prakash 2010, p. 152.
- ^ a b Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 2014, p. 361.
- ^ Karthik, Janani (15 August 2013). "Evergreen biopics in Tamil Cinema". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Veerapandiya Kattabomman Movie Review". The Times of India. 22 August 2015. Archived from the original on 22 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Veerapandiya Kattabomman Movie Review". Behindwoods. 21 August 2015. Archived from the original on 21 August 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "End of the world movies". IndiaGlitz. 20 December 2012. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Advani supports Lankan Tamils". Rediff.com. 13 February 2009. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b "dated March 17, 2010: Afro-Asian film festival". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Khajane, Muralidhara (23 July 2010). "A born showman". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Sivaji Ganesan's birth anniversary". The Times of India. 1 October 2013. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Veeravalli 2013, p. 26.
- ^ Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, p. 129.
- ^ "7th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, p. 129; Dhananjayan 2011, p. 183.
- ^ Joseph, Praveen (2 January 2012). "A valiant warrior's birthplace". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Karthikeyan, D. (23 April 2012). "MKU's film institute may have a dream run". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Dechamma C. C. & Prakash 2010, p. 156.
- ^ Dechamma C. C. & Prakash 2010, p. 152.
- ^ Krishnaswamy, S. (27 July 2001). "The legend lives on..." The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Dechamma C. C. & Prakash 2010, p. 153.
- ^ Muralidharan, Kavitha (9 November 2011). "7 Aum Arivu row: Debate rages over Bodhi Dharma's identity". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; 9 November 2011 suggested (help) - ^ Valsan, Binoy (16 October 2014). "Did Thiruvalluvar really have pointy ribs?". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Ravindran, Shruti (12 February 2011). "Costume Drama". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "'We felt we were in the presence of a diety!'". Rediff.com. 23 July 2001. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ K. R., Manigandan (22 August 2015). "Veerapandiya Kattabomman 'Conquered' Land of Pyramids". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 22 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Praveen Paul Joseph, J. (13 July 2014). "Heir wants Kattabomman's statue in Chennai". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Special Cover – Veerapandiya Kattabomman Film". Indianstampghar.com. 5 June 2009. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Ashok, A. V. (19 July 2002). "Incredible charisma on screen". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Anand, N. (3 January 2008). "Sivakumar not for old wine in new bottle". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Krupa, Lakshmi (15 September 2013). "Period charm". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Top 5 Sivaji Ganesan films on his birthday". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Srinivasan, G. (15 September 2013). "Trumpet of Vellaiyammal at Big Temple in Thanjavur falls silent". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Ganesan & Narayana Swamy 2007, p. 169.
- ^ "13 cheesiest, chalkiest lines in Indian cinema". Outlook. 20 October 2008. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Top 20 Mass Scenes – Veerapandiya Kattabomman". Behindwoods. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Rekhs (31 May 2012). "Vasanthabalan Shines..." Behindwoods. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Srinivasan, Pavithra (18 April 2012). "Special: The A to Z of Tamil Cinema". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Oscar-worthy performance by Sivaji: Y Gee Mahendra". The Times of India. 14 January 2015. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (2 April 2015). "On a warrior mode". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Ameenuddin; Kaushik L M; Avinash Pandian. "Tamil Superstars' tyrst with facial hair — Vintage". Behindwoods. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Suganth, M. (2 April 2012). "Kattabomman in 3D!". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Yet Another Classic In 3d". Behindwoods. 2 April 2012. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Tamil classic 'Karnan' is still ruling the Kollywood box office". CNN-IBN. 11 March 2013. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ a b c "Kattabomman to Thrill Once Again". The New Indian Express. 21 March 2015. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Pandian, Avinash (23 July 2015). "When 3 generations of the Sivaji family come together on a single day!". Behindwoods. Archived from the original on 27 July 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Upadhyaya, Prakash (24 August 2015). "'Kick 2' First Weekend Box Office Collection: Ravi Teja Starrer Loses to Simbu's 'Vaalu', Arya's 'VSOP' in Chennai". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
{{cite web}}
:|archive-date=
/|archive-url=
timestamp mismatch; 24 August 2015 suggested (help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Veerapandiya Kattabomman box office collection". Behindwoods. 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 31 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help)
Bibliography
- Bhaskaran, Gautaman (2010). Adoor Gopalakrishnan: A Life in Cinema. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-6700-8171-4.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - Dechamma C. C., Sowmya; Prakash, Elavarthi Sathya (2010). Cinemas of South India: Culture, Resistance, and Ideology. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-1980-6795-5.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - Dhananjayan, G. (2011). The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1931–1976. Galatta Media. ISBN 978-81-921043-0-0.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - Dhananjayan, G. (2014). Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931 to 2013. Blue Ocean Publishers. ISBN 978-93-84301-05-7.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - Ganesan, Sivaji; Narayana Swamy, T.S. (2007). Autobiography of an Actor: Sivaji Ganesan, October 1928 – July 2001. Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - Guy, Randor (1997). Starlight, Starbright: The Early Tamil Cinema. Amra Publishers.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (2014) [1999]. Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-5795-8146-6.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help) - Veeravalli, Shrikanth (2013). MGR: A Biography. Rupa Publications. ISBN 978-8-1291-3228-4.
{{cite book}}
: Invalid|ref=harv
(help)
External links
- 1950s Tamil-language films
- 1959 films
- Film scores by G. Ramanathan
- Films directed by B. R. Panthulu
- Films set in the 1790s
- Films set in the British Raj
- Films shot in Rajasthan
- History of India on film
- Indian biographical films
- Indian films
- Indian historical films
- Indian war films
- Tamil-language films dubbed in Hindi
- Tamil-language films dubbed in Telugu
- Tamil-language films
- Tamil-language period films