Jump to content

Tenali Raman (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by WOSlinker (talk | contribs) at 09:00, 13 August 2020 (use wikitable class). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Tenali Raman
Theatrical release poster
Directed byB. S. Ranga
Screenplay byB. S. Ranga
Based onTenali Ramakrishna
by Ch. Venkataramaiah
Produced byB. S. Ranga
StarringSivaji Ganesan
N. T. Rama Rao
V. Nagaiah
P. Bhanumathi
Jamuna
CinematographyB. S. Ranga
Edited byP. G. Mohan
Music byViswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Production
company
Vikram Productions
Release date
  • 3 February 1956 (1956-02-03)
Running time
169 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Tenali Raman is a 1956 Indian Tamil-language historical drama film produced and directed by B. S. Ranga based on Ch. Venkataramaiah's stage play Tenali Ramakrishna. Produced for the banner Vikram Productions, the film stars N. T. Rama Rao, Sivaji Ganesan, V. Nagaiah, P. Bhanumathi and Jamuna. Ranga also handled the cinematography while P. G. Mohan edited the film. Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy composed the soundtrack and background score.

Tenali Raman narrates the story of the 14th century poet and scholar Tenali Rama, and his life as a member of the court of Krishnadevaraya, the king of Vijayanagara Empire. Raman, with his wits, manages to save Krishnadevaraya from the attacks made by the Bahmani Sultanate who try to invade Vijayanagara Empire. The rest of the film is about Raman's efforts in saving Krishnadevaraya from courtesan Krishnasani, a spy and convincing emperor Babur against extending support to the Sultanate in the war.

Produced as a trilingual film shot simultaneously in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada languages with a slightly altered cast, Tenali Raman was filmed in and around Revathy Studios at Madras. It was released on 3 February 1956, nearly a month after the Telugu version Tenali Ramakrishna.

Plot

Raman is a poet and scholar whose talent is not recognised in his hometown Tenali. To earn a livelihood, he migrates to Hampi along with his wife Kamala and son Madhava. On his way to Hampi, he halts at a Kali temple where he is initially terrified looking at the goddess' idol and the animal sacrifices made to please her. That night, Kali appears before him and grants a boon: he would have to choose either wisdom or materialistic wealth. Raman opts for both, which angers Kali who warns that he might end up as a clownish poet whose wisdom is solely useful for entertaining others. Raman accepts it as a blessing and requests Kali to save him from further dangers, to which the goddess agrees and disappears.

Raman reaches Hampi and approaches Rajaguru, the royal priest of the Vijayanagara empire to find employment in the court of king Krishnadevaraya. Neither Rajaguru nor his assistants help him and he returns dejected. However, he finds an opportunity when Krishnadevaraya is unable to distribute 17 disputed elephants among three brothers as per their deceased father's will. Raman solves the problem and Krishnadevaraya appoints him as a court member. With his wit and loyalty, Raman soon earns the respect of all the court members, except Rajaguru who sees him as a problem.

The Deccan Sultans of Berar, Ahmednagar, Bidar, Bijapur, and Golconda decide to wage a war on Vijayanagara empire with united military forces. They send Kanakaraju, a spy, to Hampi where he meets Raman, who happens to be his distant relative. Some days later, Kanakaraju tries to assassinate Krishnadevaraya and Rajaguru blames Raman for giving shelter to a spy. As Raman is about to be killed as per the king's orders, he overhears a conversation between another spy and the court's astrologer. The spy bribes the astrologer to influence Krishnadevaraya in postponing the war on Bijapur so that they can have time for proper preparations. Raman escapes and meets Appaji with whose help he reveals the astrologer's intentions. The astrologer is killed and Rajaguru, who believed in him with good faith, is accused of trying to back stab the king. Raman intervenes and Rajaguru is saved, which improves their relation.

The Bahmani Sultanate then send courtesan Krishna to Hampi. With her acclaimed dancing skills, she manages to elicit the notice of Krishnadevaraya, who finds himself besotted by her wits and sensuousness. He issues orders that anyone who enters his private chamber would be beheaded and continues to spend with time with Krishna for months. Appaji and Raman learn that the Sultans are planning to take advantage of the King's inaccessibility and shall launch a combined attack on Hampi soon. Worried at the state of affairs, Raman braves the prohibitory order and enters Krishna's abode dressed as a woman, but is ignored and expelled from the kingdom.

Meanwhile, Krishnadevaraya's wife Thirumalambal falls seriously ill, and he finally realises his mistakes. Once the King is back at his palace, Raman manages to gain entry into Krishna's chamber again, this time under the guise of a saint who assures her that he would bring the King back to her. He catches her red-handed with her gang of spies, and signals to the hidden soldiers to surround her. She kills herself preferring a dignifying death, and Raman wishes to leave for Delhi to convince emperor Babur from sending his elephantry to support the Sultanate in the war.

Raman reaches Delhi and meets Babur in the guise of an aged fakir and sings praises of him, until he empties all the gold coins he has. Babur then invites him to his palace to gift him properly. Raman goes to Babur's palace, and introduces himself as one of those innocent citizens of the Vijayanagara empire who shall suffer if Babur extends his support to the unjust Sultanate. Babur is convinced and calls off his elephantry back. Dismayed at the sudden turn of events, the Sultanate call off the war. Krishnadevaraya learns about Raman's efforts in stopping the war from Appaji. Remorseful, Krishnadevaraya invites Raman to rejoin the court, to which he agrees gladly.

Cast

Male cast
Female cast

Production

Development

After the success of his first production venture Maa Gopi (1954), B. S. Ranga wished to produce and direct a historical film based on the life of the 14th century Telugu poet and scholar Tenali Rama, who was one of the Ashtadiggajas (a collective title given to the eight Telugu poets in the court of Krishnadevaraya, which literally translates to eight great elephants).[1] He planned it as a multilingual film to be filmed simultaneously in Telugu, Tamil and Kannada languages with a slightly altered cast.[2] Ranga collaborated with Samudrala Raghavacharya, Kannadasan and Murugadasa on the basic script for all the versions.[2] They decided to adapt Ch. Venkataramaiah's Kannada stage play Tenali Ramakrishna into a film, instead of following the script of H. M. Reddy's 1941 Telugu film of the same name.[1] Ranga titled the film as Tenali Raman in Tamil,[3] while Tenali Ramakrishna was chosen for the remaining two versions.[2] Tenali Raman was the second Tamil film based on Tenali Rama, after a 1938 film.[4]

Venkataramaiah's play was comical in nature, and focused plainly on the life and times of Rama. Fearing that it would fail to translate on-screen effectively, Raghavacharya and Kannadasan decided to incorporate political elements during the rule of Krishnadevaraya.[5] While Raghavacharya focused on the administrative aspects of Krishnadevaraya, Kannadasan opted to "humanise" the king by writing scenes related to his personal life and preferences.[5] Tenali Raman was filmed in and around Revathy Studios at Madras, as the floors of Ranga's production company Vikram Studios were still under construction excluding the recording and projection theatres.[6]

Cast and crew

Ranga cast Sivaji Ganesan to play Raman in Tamil, with Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Rajkumar replacing him in the Telugu and Kannada versions respectively.[2] N. T. Rama Rao and V. Nagaiah were signed to play Krishnadevaraya and his minister.[6] M. N. Nambiar played the role of the kingdom's royal priest, and was replaced by Mukkamala and Balkrishna in the Telugu and Kannada versions.[6][2]

Ranga approached P. Bhanumathi to play Krishna. Initially disinterested, Bhanumathi accepted the offer keeping in view Ranga's association as a cinematographer for films produced by the former's production company Bharani Pictures.[6] Surabhi Balasaraswathi, Jamuna and Master Venkateshwar were cast in key supporting roles.[3]

Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy were signed to compose the soundtrack and background score for all the three versions.[2] In addition to directing, Ranga also worked as the director of photography. P. G. Mohan edited the film. Vali and Ganga were the art directors, while Chopra and Gopalakrishnan choreographed the dance sequences.[7]

Soundtrack

Tenali Raman
Film score by
Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Released1956
GenreSoundtrack
ProducerViswanathan–Ramamoorthy

The soundtrack was composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy.[8]

No. Song Singers Lyrics Length
1 Ulagellaam Unatharulaal Malarum P. Leela M. K. Athamanathan
2 Naattu Jananga Adaiyelam Karikkol Raju Kannadasan
3 Chandana Charchita Nila Kalebara P. Suseela Geetha Govindam
4 Ullaasam Thedum Ellorum Or Naal Ghantasala Tamaizhmannan
5 Ulagellaam Unatharulaal Malarum (pathos) P. Leela M. K. Athamanathan
6 Chittu Pole Mullai Mottuppole A. P. Komala Kannadasan
7 Aadum Kalaiyellam Paruva Mangaiyar Azhagu Koorum P. Leela
8 Thennavan Thaai Nattu Singaarame P. Suseela
9 Thangam Pogum Meni Undhan Sondham Ini R. Balasaraswathi Devi
10 Putrile Pambirukkum.... Kottaiyile Oru Kaalatthile T. M. Soundararajan & V. Nagaiah
11 Kangalil Adidum Penmaiyin Naadagam P. Bhanumathi
12 Kannamirandum Minnidum Annam P. Bhanumathi
13 Pirandha Naal Mannan Pirandha Naal P. Bhanumathi
14 Vinnulagil Minni Varum Thaaragaiye Po Po P. Bhanumathi
15 Adari Padarndha V. N. Sundharam
16 Ponnalla Porul V. N. Sundharam
17 Kannaa Pinnaa Mannaa V. N. Sundharam
18 Vindhiyam Vadakkaaga V. N. Sundharam
19 Chandhiran Pole V. N. Sundharam
20 Drru Drru Ena Madugal V. N. Sundharam
21 Thaadhi Thoodho Theedhu V. N. Sundharam

Release and reception

Tenali Raman was released on 3 February 1956, nearly a month after the Telugu version.[6] Kannadasan published a still from the film showing Raman buried neck deep, waiting to be trampled by an elephant, with a caption describing it as Ganesan's future.[9] The Hindu wrote, "It is a film which deserves to be seen.... It is a narrative well told, in terms of resourceful acting, (from [Sivaji] Ganesan in the central role in particular, and from others) attractive high flown language, and impressive backgrounds built with an eye to period." The Indian Express said, ".... is a very entertaining picture. Some of the songs in the classical style are pleasing. There are a few delightful dances which ought to enhance the entertainment value of the picture." The Mail said, "With witty dialogues, and a number of pleasing dances and songs the film is entertaining." The Screen said, "[Sivaji] Ganesan portrays the role of Tenali Raman extremely well. The film should appeal to all sections of picture-goers."[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "రంగా మలచిన రమ‌ణీయ దశ్య‌కావ్యం 'తెనాలి రామకృష్ణ'" [Ranga's memorable work on Celluloid 'Tenali Ramakrishna']. Sithara (in Telugu). 18 June 2018. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press. p. 348. ISBN 0-19-563579-5.
  3. ^ a b "Vikraman's Proudest Presentation". The Indian Express. 8 February 1956. p. 3.
  4. ^ Gupta, Rinku (21 May 2013). "Vadivelu gets 60's style return tune". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  5. ^ a b "తెనాలి రామ‌కృష్ణ‌" [Tenali Ramakrishna]. Prajasakti. 3 February 2018. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d e Narasimham, M. L. (14 November 2014). "Tenali Ramakrishna (1956)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 September 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  7. ^ Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [Tamil film history and its achievements] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publishers. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019.
  8. ^ தெனாலிராமன் (songbook) (in Tamil). Vikram Productions. 1956.
  9. ^ Kannan, R. (28 June 2017). MGR: A Life. India: Penguin Random House. ISBN 978-93-86495-88-4. Poet Kannadasan published a still from Ganesan's Tenaliraman (1956), for which he had penned the dialogues, showing Ganesan buried neck deep, waiting to be trampled by an elephant, with the caption 'Sivaji Ganesan's Future'. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  10. ^ "Acclaimed by the public.. Applauded by the press." The Indian Express. Vol. XXIC No. 118. Madras. 17 February 1956. p. 1.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tenali_Raman_(film)&oldid=972676453"