Gulebakavali (1955 film)
| Gulebakavali | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | T. R. Ramanna |
| Screenplay by | Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass |
| Based on | One Thousand and One Nights |
| Produced by | T. R. Ramanna |
| Starring | M. G. Ramachandran T. R. Rajakumari Rajasulochana G. Varalakshmi |
| Cinematography | T. K. Rajabahathar |
| Edited by | M. S. Mani A. Thangaraj |
| Music by | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy |
Production company | |
Release date | 29 July 1955 |
Running time | 165 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Gulebakavali (transl. The Flower of Bakavali) is a 1955 Indian Tamil-language action adventure film produced and directed by T. R. Ramanna. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran, T. R. Rajakumari, Rajasulochana, G. Varalakshmi, S. D. Subbulakshmi and E. V. Saroja, while K. A. Thangavelu, J. P. Chandrababu, E. R. Sahadevan and A. Karunanidhi play supporting roles. It tells the story of a young prince who sets out to the kingdom of Bakavali to find a mysterious flower which is believed to have the power to restore his father's eyesight. The story originated from the Arabic folklore collection, One Thousand and One Nights.
Plot
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Dasan, a prince, sets out to the kingdom of Bakavali to find a mysterious flower which is believed to have the power to restore his father's eyesight.
Cast
- M. G. Ramachandran as Prince Dasan
- T. R. Rajakumari as Princess Lakbesha
- Rajasulochana as Princess Mehmoodha
- G. Varalakshmi as Princess Bakavali
- S. D. Subbulakshmi
- E. V. Saroja as Gulzar
- K. A. Thangavelu as Sukur
- J. P. Chandrababu as Gulam
- E. R. Sahadevan
- A. Karunanidhi as Prince
Production
Gulebakavali is the second Tamil film to be based on the story of the same name from the Arabic folklore collection One Thousand and One Nights, following a 1935 film.[1] The film also involved a fight sequence between lead actor M. G. Ramachandran and a tiger.[2] Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, who wrote the film's script, also wrote the film's dialogues and the song's lyrics.[1]
Soundtrack
The film's music was composed by the duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy while the lyrics were written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass.[3] The song "Mayakkum Maalai" was composed in the Carnatic raga named Bageshri, being one of the earliest film songs to do so.[4] It was originally composed by K. V. Mahadevan for T. R. Ramanna's previous film Koondukkili (1954). As that film was getting delayed and the song was yet to be filmed, Ramanna instead used it in Gulebakavali, with Jikki and A. M. Rajah as the singers. Viswanathan and Ramamoorthy were credited as the composers instead of Mahadevan.[1][5] The lyrics for this song was penned by Vindhan.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mayakkum Maalai" | Vindhan | Jikki, A. M. Rajah | 4:27 |
| 2. | "Nayagamae Nabi" | S. C. Krishnan & Nagore E. M. Hanifa | 2:51 | |
| 3. | "Acchu Nimirndha Vandi" | J. P. Chandrababu, A. G. Rathnamala | 3:12 | |
| 4. | "Villendhum Veerarellam" | Thiruchi Loganathan, P. Leela, G. K. Venkatesh | 6:33 | |
| 5. | "Maaya Valayil" | T. M. Sounderarajan | 1:13 | |
| 6. | "Vitthara Kalliyellam" | T. M. Sounderarajan | 1:29 | |
| 7. | "Kaiyai Thottathum" | T. M. Sounderarajan, P. Leela | 2:37 | |
| 8. | "La Sokka Potta Navabu" | Jikki | 3:36 | |
| 9. | "Aasaiyum Nesamum" | K. Jamuna Rani | 3:37 | |
| 10. | "Bhagavali Naattilae" | T. M. Sounderarajan | 3:47 | |
| 11. | "Kannalae Pesum" | Jikki | 3:54 | |
| 12. | "Arivuppoti (Dialogues)" | MGR | 3:26 |
Reception
Gulebakavali was released on 29 July 1955.[6] Randor Guy praised the film for its "well-orchestrated fight sequences", the "interesting storyline and T. R. Rajakumari providing the glamour quotient (she was then 33)", and concluded that the film would be "Remembered for the excellent onscreen narration by Ramanna".[1]
Namesake
The 2018 film Gulaebaghavali was named after this film, but with a different spelling. To connect these two films, director Kalyaan devised a "special flashback sequence".[7]
References
- ^ a b c d Guy, Randor (30 October 2010). "Blast from the past — Gulebakavali (1955)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ Kannan, R. (2017). MGR: A Life. India: Penguin Random House. p. 90.
- ^ "Gulebakavali (1955)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ Mani, Charulatha (13 April 2012). "A Raga's Journey — Bewitching Bhagesri". The Hindu. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
- ^ Guy, Randor (10 October 2008). "Goondukili 1954". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
- ^ 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 3 April 2017.
- ^ "Prabhu Deva's 'Gulebakavali' Begins From Where MGR's Film Ended". Silverscreen.in. 19 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2 March 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
External links
- Gulebakavali at IMDb
- Gulebakavali at Upperstall.com