Karnan (1964 film)

For other uses, see Karna (disambiguation).

Karnan கர்ணன்
File:Karnan Cover.jpg Promotional Poster
Directed by	B. R. Panthulu
Written by	Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy
Produced by	B. R. Panthulu
Starring	Sivaji Ganesan N.T. Rama Rao S. A. Ashokan R. Muthuraman Devika Savitri M. V. Rajamma
Cinematography	V. Ramamoorthy
Edited by	R. Devarajan
Music by	M. S. Viswanathan T. K. Ramamoorthy
Production company	Padmini Pictures
Release date	14 January 1964
Running time	175 min
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Karnan (Tamil: கர்ணன்) is a Tamil mythological epic film written by Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy and directed by B. Ramakrishnaiah Panthulu. It features an ensemble cast composed of Sivaji Ganesan, N. T. Rama Rao, S. A. Ashokan, R. Muthuraman, Devika, Savitri and M. V. Rajamma. The film is based on the story of Karna, a character from the great Indian epic Mahabharata, who is born to an unwed mother Kunti and is therefore set afloat in the Ganges, later discovered and adopted by a kind charioteer and his wife. He does not want to follow in his foster father's footsteps and wants to be a warrior. He then befriends Duryodhan, thus setting the initial grounds of the Kurukshetra war - where he will join Duryodhan to battle the Pandavas - none other than Kunti's sons. The film was dubbed in Telugu as Karna and subsequently as Dhaan Veer Karna in Hindi. Karnan was critically acclaimed upon release, and is considered an "All time great Indian Classic".

Plot

Born with Kavasam and Kundalam (Armour and ear-rings), and bequeathed as a gift from the Sun God to an unwed Kunti (M. V. Rajamma), Karnan is abandoned so as to prevent embarrassment for her. He is set afloat in the Ganga, rescued and adopted by a charioteer, who is employed with Dhritarashtra, the blind king. Years later, the now-grown up Karnan (Sivaji Ganesan) realizes that the charioteer is his foster father only, thus heartbroken. He however masters archery and challenges Arjun (R. Muthuraman) at a contest. When Karnan is insulted on account of his birth, Duryodhan (S. A. Ashokan) defends him and accepts him as his partner. Karnan is eventually crowned the king of Anga.

Karnan is keen to acquire the Brahmastra mantra from the great teacher Parasuram. However, he knows that Parasuram gives instructions to Brahmins (the priestly tribe) only. So he disguises as a Brahmin and beseeches Parasuram to accept him as a sishya (disciple). Parsuram accepts him as such and starts giving him instructions. One day when Parasuram is resting in Karnan's lap, it so happens that a giant bee stings Karnan on the lower portion of his thigh. It was very painful and he starts bleeding. However, fearing that if he moved his legs, he would awaken Parasuram, he does not move at all and continues to suffer. When Parasuram wakes up, he sees Karnan bleeding. He asks Karnan about his true identity, and states that a Brahmin cannot suffer so much physical pain. Only a kshattriya (the warrior tribe) can endure so much discomfort. Karnan is obliged to disclose his identity. Parasuram is greatly enraged, because he is a sworn enemy of Kshattriyas. He therefore curses Karnan that as he had learnt through deceit, he shall forget the vidya (skill) which Parasuram had taught him at the crucial juncture.

Meanwhile, Karnan saves Subhangi (Devika) from an out-of-control chariot, and they fall for each other. However, Subhangi's parents disapprove of this because they don't want their daughter to marry someone who doesn't know about his own parents. However, after some time they accept, so Karnan and Subhangi are happily married. She gives birth to a son Vrishasena.

At one time, Lord Indra, the rain god and king of heavens, disguised as an old Brahmin, goes to Karnan and asks for his Kavasam and Kundalam in daanam (donation). Indra was apprehensive that Karnan, by virtue of his phenomenal skills as a warrior, may be able to overwhelm Arjun. He therefore asked for this gift so as to reduce his strength. Karnan had been cautioned by the Sun God that Lord Indra was going to make some such move. But Karna is so large hearted that he cannot refuse anyone. Knowing fully well, that Indra was playing a trick on him disguised as a Brahmin, he yet parts with his Kavasam and Kundalam, which were parts of his body since birth and which made him invincible. Lord Indra is taken aback at Karnan's capacity to give away anything asked for. He tells that what Karnan has done today, no ordinary mortal could have done. Immensely pleased with Karnan's generosity, Indra lets him ask for any varam (wish). Karnan asks Indra to kindly give him the weapon Shakti which has the potential to destroy any enemy. Lord Indra gives Shakti to Karnan with the proviso however that he could use it only once and that thereafter the weapon shall return to Lord Indra. Meanwhile, Lord Krishna (N. T. Rama Rao) tells Kunti that Karnan is her first born son who she abandoned it. She realizes it soon, and so does Karnan. He reconciles with his mother. Kunti gets a wish from Karnan that he will not attack anyone other than Arjun and he will attack Arjun only twice. Krishna goes against Karnan after this.

Parasuram's curse was to prove Karnan's undoing. At the Kurukshetra war, when facing Arjun, Karnan's son Vrishasena gets killed by Arjun. This results in Subhangi and Karnan's dismay, making Karnan more determined to kill Arjun. The next day during war, Karnan forgets the Brahmastra mantra taught to him by Parasuram. The wheels of his chariot sink in soft earth and he gets immobilised. At that time, Arjun defeats him. Arjun shoots many arrows at the helpless Karnan, severely wounding him, but is curiously unable to kill him. Krishna tells him that the great Dharma of noble charity that Karnan had performed during his lifetime was protecting him. Krishna disguises as a brahmin, goes to karnan and asks him his virtues as donation. Karnan who cannot say no to anyone gives his virtues to the brahmin. Then Karnan dies. The other Pandavas arrive and are saddened by the death of their eldest brother, so is Kunti. Arjun, struck by guilt, curses himself for killing Karnan. But Krishna reminds him that before the final battle, the curses that inflicted Karnan (eg: by Lord Indra and Parasuram) were also responsible for his death, and that there was no need for Arjun to blame just himself.

It is later revealed that Parasuram knew about the impending massacre at Kurukshetra; he explained to Karnan in a dream, on the night before Karnan's battle with Arjun, that he purposely cursed him in that way so as to ensure the defeat of the Kauravas. In this dream, he blesses Karnan with everlasting glory after his death, because of his humble acceptance of the curse.

Cast

• Sivaji Ganesan as Karnan, the titular protagonist and eldest of the Pandavas. He is the son of Kunti and the son god Surya. He was born to Kunti before her marriage with Pandu, thus abandoned to prevent embarrasment. Karna is the closest friend of Duryodhan and fought on his behalf against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra war. Karnan fought against misfortune throughout his life and kept his word under all circumstances.

• N. T. Rama Rao as Krishna. He reveals to Karnan that the latter is the eldest son of Kunti, and therefore, technically, the eldest Pandava. He asks Karnan to change sides, but he refuses because he has sworn fidelity to Duryodhan. Thus, Krishna is against Karnan during the Kurukshetra war, where he orders Arjun to kill both Karnan and his son.

• S. A. Ashokan as Duryodhan, Karnan's eternally best friend and the eldest of the Kauravas. When Karnan is insulted on account of his birth, Duryodhan defends him and makes him king of Anga so that he is regarded as Arjun's equal. Karnan pledges his allegiance and friendship to Duryodhana, as Duryodhana had rescued him from a source of continuing humiliation and hardship. Neither of them know that Karna is in fact Kunti's oldest son.

• R. Muthuraman as Arjun, the third of the five Pandavas. He and Karnan form a terrible rivalry when Karnan seeks to avenge his humiliation by Arjun's guru and the princely order. During the Kurukshetra war, Karnan's chariot gets immobilized in soft earth and Karnan stops to fix the issue. That time, Arjun kills Karnan on Krishna's orders, not realizing that Karnan is his half-brother and is distraught when he realizes the truth.

• Devika as Subhangi, wife of Karnan. When she is trapped an out-of-control chariot, Karnan saves her and they fall for each other. However, Subhangi's parents disapprove of this because they don't want their daughter to marry someone who doesn't know about his own parents. However, after some time they accept, so Karnan and Subhangi are happily married. She gives birth to a son Vrishasena.

• Savitri as Bhanumati, Duryodhan's wife. Karnan, being Duryodhan's close friend helps the latter to marry Bhanumati, who is the princess of Chitragandha.

• M. V. Rajamma as Kunti, the mother of Karnan and the elder three Pandavas. When young, she is taught a mantra, which will give her a son. Kunti does not believe it, so she tries to use it. The sun god Surya appears and Kunti asks him to go, but Surya said he is compelled to fulfill the mantra before returning. After the birth of the child (Karnan), Kunti abandons him and he is set afloat in the Ganges, before being discovered by a childless horse-carriage driver.

Production

Karnan is based on the life of the namesake warrior from the Indian epic Mahabharata, written by Lord Ganesh and dictated by Veda Vyasa. A magnum opus for its time, it was the first epic film in Tamil language to be shot in opulent locations such as the palaces of Jaipur. The film's art work, a mammoth task was done by Ganga. Huge moving chariots were made in Chennai and transported to Kurukshetra, where the war sequences were filmed. Government permission was sought, and cavalry and infantry from the Indian Army were brought to the locations at Kurukshetra and the first rows of the charging armies on horses and elephants had soldiers from the Indian Army.

Soundtrack

Untitled

The soundtrack consisting of 14 tracks, is composed by M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy, with lyrics by Kannadasan.

Tracklist

No.	Title	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Maharajan"	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela	3:02
2.	"Iravum Pagalum"	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela	3:46
3.	"Nilavum Malarum"	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela	3:43
4.	"Ullathil Nalla Ullam"	Seerkazhi Govindarajan	3:50
5.	"Kangal Engey"	P. Susheela	4:52
6.	"Malai Kodukum"	Thiruchi Loganathan	6:54
7.	"Aayiram Karangal Neeti"	T. M. Soundararajan, P. B. Srinivas, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Thiruchi Loganathan	1:27
8.	"En Uyir Thozhi"	P. Susheela	3:44
9.	"Manjal Mugam"	P. Susheela	4:23
10.	"Maranathai Enni"	Seerkazhi Govindarajan	3:03
11.	"Poi Vaa Magale"	Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi	3:44
12.	"Ennakoduppan"	P. B. Srinivas	1:31
13.	"Naanichivandhana"	Thiruchi Loganathan	1:14
14.	"Malargal Sutti"	P. Susheela	1:18
Total length:			43:5

Critical response

The album received very positive reviews from critics. Baradwaj Rangan of The Hindu said, "My interest in Karnan (apart from the critic's mandate that I see everything) was primarily the songs". Meera Srinivasan, another critic from The Hindu praised the film for the "music score and songs by the inimitable Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy duo with Kannadasan's striking lyrics". M. Suganth of The Times of India stated "The [film's] pacing is uneven, the complexities of the plot are overtly simplified, the songs are one too many (but what songs they are!)".

Release

Reception

Karnan was released on 14 January 1964, coinciding with Pongal festival and opened to high critical acclaim. Ayngaran International called the film as "One of the all time great Indian Classics with a fantastic star cast and great acting". The Hindu stated that "Karnan, directed by B.R. Panthulu in 1964, is considered a classic for many reasons, including the stunning performances of Sivaji [Ganesan] as Karnan and N.T. Rama Rao as Lord Krishna, the powerful battlefield sequences and the music score and songs by the inimitable Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy duo with Kannadasan's striking lyrics". The film subsequently won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil in 1964.

Box Office

Despite critical acclaim, Karnan did not do well at the box office during it's release. It was however declared a "super-hit" by reviewers and audiences.

Re-release

A digitally restored version of Karnan (with digital enhancements and restored audio to enable its screening in digital cinemas) was released on 16 March 2012, to commemorate director B.R. Panthulu's birth centenary. The mammoth efforts of re-releasing the film, which cost ₹40 lakh (US$48,000) and consumed three years of hard work, had been undertaken by film distributor Santhi Chokkalin­gam. In an interview, he stated "The sound negative was totally gone and the five to six reels from the picture negative were damaged to a great extent". Thus, the film was released with DTS 5.1 surround sound, and visual improvements in 50 screens across Tamil Nadu. The restored version of Karnan was also very well received upon release, although the restoration process was criticized for being "far from perfect".

External links

• Karnan at IMDb