Jump to content

Parasakthi (film): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
the goddess
Filling in 4 references using Reflinks
Line 15: Line 15:
| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
}}
}}
'''''Parasakthi''''' ({{lang-ta|பராசக்தி}}; {{lang-en|The Goddess}}) is a 1952 [[India]]n [[Tamil film]] starring [[Sivaji Ganesan]] in his debut, [[Pandari Bai]], S. S. Rajendran, S. V. Sahasranamam and [[Sriranjani (junior)|Sriranjani]]. It was directed by R. Krishnan and S. Panju and produced by [[A. V. Meiyappan|AVM]]. The dialogues for the film were penned by writer [[M. Karunanidhi]] who later became the [[Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu]].<ref name="lanbdmarks">{{Cite web|url=http://www.indiafilm.com/lm.htm|title=Land Marks in Tamil cinema|accessdate=27 April 2008|publisher=indiafilm.com}}</ref>
'''''Parasakthi''''' ({{lang-ta|பராசக்தி}}; {{lang-en|The Goddess}}) is a 1952 [[India]]n [[Tamil film]] starring [[Sivaji Ganesan]] in his debut, [[Pandari Bai]], S. S. Rajendran, S. V. Sahasranamam and [[Sriranjani (junior)|Sriranjani]]. It was directed by R. Krishnan and S. Panju and produced by [[A. V. Meiyappan|AVM]]. The dialogues for the film were penned by writer [[M. Karunanidhi]] who later became the [[Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu]].<ref name="lanbdmarks">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiafilm.com/lm.htm|title=Land Marks in Tamil cinema|accessdate=27 April 2008|publisher=indiafilm.com}}</ref>


==Plot ==
==Plot ==
The story is based on the life of three brothers &mdash; Chandrasekaran (Sahasranamam), Gnanasekaran (S. S. Rajendran) and Gunasekaran (Sivaji Ganesan) &mdash; who settle down in [[Burma]] during the [[Second World War]]. The youngest, Gunasekaran, gets the opportunity to visit India for the marriage of their younger sister Kalyani (Sriranjani) but, as fate would have it, he gets stranded at sea due to intense Japanese bombardment of Burmese ports.
The story is based on the life of three brothers &mdash; Chandrasekaran (Sahasranamam), Gnanasekaran (S. S. Rajendran) and Gunasekaran (Sivaji Ganesan) &mdash; who settle down in [[Burma]] during the [[Second World War]]. The youngest, Gunasekaran, gets the opportunity to visit India for the marriage of their younger sister Kalyani (Sriranjani) but, as fate would have it, he gets stranded at sea due to intense Japanese bombardment of Burmese ports.


[[Image:Sivaji Parasakthi.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The epic court scene from ''Parasakthi'' which propelled [[Sivaji Ganesan]] to superstardom|thumb]]
[[Image:Sivaji Parasakthi.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The scene from ''Parasakthi'' which propelled [[Sivaji Ganesan]] to stardom|thumb]]
As the Japanese shelling of Burma intensifies, Chandrasekaran and Gnanasekaran pack their belongings and cross over to India. But Gnanasekaran is lost and is presumed killed in the bombardment.
As the Japanese shelling of Burma intensifies, Chandrasekaran and Gnanasekaran pack their belongings and cross over to India. But Gnanasekaran is lost and is presumed killed in the bombardment.


Line 32: Line 32:
* '''[[Sivaji Ganesan]]''' as Gunasekaran, the youngest of three brothers
* '''[[Sivaji Ganesan]]''' as Gunasekaran, the youngest of three brothers
* '''[[Sriranjani (junior)|Sriranjani]]''' as Kalyani, the sister of the three brothers
* '''[[Sriranjani (junior)|Sriranjani]]''' as Kalyani, the sister of the three brothers
* '''[[Pandari Bai]]''' as Vimala
* '''[[Pandari Bai]]''' as Vimala, love interest of Gunasekaran
* '''S. S. Rajendran''' as Gnanasekaran, the second of three brothers
* '''S. S. Rajendran''' as Gnanasekaran, the second of three brothers
* '''Sahasranamam''' as Chandrasekaran, the oldest of three brothers
* '''Sahasranamam''' as Chandrasekaran, the oldest of three brothers


== Production ==
== Production ==
The film ''Parasakthi'' was released on [[Deepavali|Diwali Day]] in 1952, after months of shooting and preparations. Meiyappan's newly established [[AVM Productions]] which was on a roll having produced a series of hits as ''[[Nam Iruvar]]'' and ''[[Vazhkai]]'' planned to make a film in 1952 with a newcomer called [[Sivaji Ganesan]], who had earlier [[dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbed]] for a [[Telugu people|Telugu]] artist in the Tamil film ''[[Niraparadhi]]''.<ref>http://www.hindu.com/cp/2008/11/14/stories/2008111450391600.htm</ref>
The film ''Parasakthi'' was released on [[Deepavali|Diwali Day]] in 1952, after months of shooting and preparations. Meiyappan's newly established [[AVM Productions]] which was on a roll having produced a series of hits as ''[[Nam Iruvar]]'' and ''[[Vazhkai]]'' planned to make a film in 1952 with a newcomer called [[Sivaji Ganesan]], who had earlier [[dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbed]] for a [[Telugu people|Telugu]] artist in the Tamil film ''[[Niraparadhi]]''.<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/cp/2008/11/14/stories/2008111450391600.htm Cinema Plus / Columns : Niraparadhi 1951]. The Hindu (2008-11-14). Retrieved on 2012-04-04.</ref>


Made at an impressive budget and with dialogues penned by eminent writer [[M. Karunanidhi]], the film critically examined the social issues at the time. By the time the film was off the theatres, it had created a revolution.<ref name="sivaji_tribute">{{Cite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/bio-data/bio-sivaji.html|title=Tribute-Sivaji Ganesan|accessdate=2008-04-27|publisher=idlebrain.com|author=PSK}}</ref> Today, it forms a part of Tamil political history and comprises an unforgettable chapter in the history of the Dravidian Movement.
Made at an impressive budget and with dialogues penned by eminent writer [[M. Karunanidhi]], the film critically examined the social issues at the time. By the time the film was off the theatres, it had created a revolution.<ref name="sivaji_tribute">{{cite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/bio-data/bio-sivaji.html|title=Tribute-Sivaji Ganesan|accessdate=2008-04-27|publisher=idlebrain.com|author=PSK}}</ref> Today, it forms a part of Tamil political history and comprises an unforgettable chapter in the history of the Dravidian Movement.


==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack==
The music of ''Parasakthi'' is composed by R. Sudarsanam.<ref>http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/album/T0001758.html</ref> Lyrics by [[Kannadasan]], [[M. Karunanidhi]], T.N. Ramaiah Das and [[Bharathidasan]].<ref>http://www.hummaa.com/music/album/parasakthi/14128</ref>
The music of ''Parasakthi'' is composed by R. Sudarsanam.<ref>[http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/album/T0001758.html Parasakthi Songs - Parasakthi Tamil Movie Songs - Tamil Songs Lyrics Trailer Videos, Preview Stills Reviews]. Raaga.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-04.</ref> Lyrics by [[Kannadasan]], [[M. Karunanidhi]], T.N. Ramaiah Das and [[Bharathidasan]].<ref>[http://www.hummaa.com/music/album/parasakthi/14128 Parasakthi : Tamil Movie - Parasakthi Songs, Parasakthi Mp3 Downloads, Parasakthi Music, Parasakthi Lyrics]. Hummaa.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-04.</ref>


{| class="wikitable"
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCF" align="center"
|- style="background:#cccccf; text-align:center;"
! No. !! Song !! Singers !! Length
! No. !! Song !! Singers !! Length
|-
|-
Line 69: Line 69:
|-
|-
| 11|| "Vaazhga Vaazhgave" || M. L. Vasanthakumari || 05:00
| 11|| "Vaazhga Vaazhgave" || M. L. Vasanthakumari || 05:00
|-
|}
|}


==Reception==
==Reception==
''Parasakthi'', regarded as the first significant attempt by the Dravidian Movement to use media for propaganda, catapulted Sivaji Ganesan to fame overnight and evoked comparisons with the Hollywood legend [[Spencer Tracy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2001/07/27/stories/09270225.htm|title=Talent, charisma and much more|publisher=[[The Hindu]]|date=July 27, 2001}}</ref> Specifically, his valiant defense in the court filled with soul-stirring dialogues revolutionized the [[Tamil film industry]]. The film was the biggest hit of the year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2011/04/24/stories/2011042450301600.htm|title=Blast from the Past: Parasakthi|publisher=[[The Hindu]]|date=April 24, 2011}}</ref>
''Parasakthi'', regarded as the first significant attempt by the Dravidian Movement to use media for propaganda, catapulted Sivaji Ganesan to fame overnight and evoked comparisons with the Hollywood legend [[Spencer Tracy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2001/07/27/stories/09270225.htm|title=Talent, charisma and much more|publisher=[[The Hindu]]|date=July 27, 2001}}</ref> Specifically, his valiant defense in the court-scene filled with soul-stirring dialogues revolutionized the [[Tamil film industry]]. The film was the biggest hit of the year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2011/04/24/stories/2011042450301600.htm|title=Blast from the Past: Parasakthi|publisher=[[The Hindu]]|date=April 24, 2011}}</ref>


== Controversy ==
== Controversy ==
Right from the onset, ''Parasakthi'' was marred by much controversy. It was accused of trying to portray [[Brahmin]]s in poor light. Abuse of [[Hindu]] customs and religious practices evoked strong protests from the Hindu orthodoxy.<ref name="censorship">{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/12/stories/2006061206151100.htm|title=Films and the politics of convenience |accessdate=2008-04-27|publisher=idlebrain.com|author=A. Srivathsan|location=Chennai, India|date=2006-06-12}}</ref> The film was labelled as "one of the most controversial films in the history of [[Tamil cinema]]".<ref>http://books.google.co.in/books?id=PhFlAAAAMAAJ&q=parasakthi#search_anchor</ref>
Right from the onset, ''Parasakthi'' was marred by much controversy. It was accused of trying to portray [[Brahmin]]s in poor light. Abuse of [[Hindu]] customs and religious practices evoked strong protests from the Hindu orthodoxy.<ref name="censorship">{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/12/stories/2006061206151100.htm|title=Films and the politics of convenience |accessdate=2008-04-27|publisher=idlebrain.com|author=A. Srivathsan|location=Chennai, India|date=2006-06-12}}</ref> The film was labelled as "one of the most controversial films in the history of [[Tamil cinema]]".<ref>[http://books.google.co.in/books?id=PhFlAAAAMAAJ&q=parasakthi#search_anchor The eye of the serpent: an introduction to Tamil cinema - Sundararaj Theodore Baskaran - Google Books]. Books.google.co.in. Retrieved on 2012-04-04.</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 10:06, 4 April 2012

Parasakthi
File:Parasakthi.jpg
Directed byR. Krishnan
S. Panju
Written byM. Karunanidhi
Produced byA. V. Meiyappan, P.A.Perumal Mudaliar
StarringSivaji Ganesan
Pandari Bai
S. S. Rajendran
S. V. Sahasranam
Sriranjani
Music byR.Sudarsanam
Release date
17 October 1952
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Parasakthi (Tamil: பராசக்தி; English: The Goddess) is a 1952 Indian Tamil film starring Sivaji Ganesan in his debut, Pandari Bai, S. S. Rajendran, S. V. Sahasranamam and Sriranjani. It was directed by R. Krishnan and S. Panju and produced by AVM. The dialogues for the film were penned by writer M. Karunanidhi who later became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.[1]

Plot

The story is based on the life of three brothers — Chandrasekaran (Sahasranamam), Gnanasekaran (S. S. Rajendran) and Gunasekaran (Sivaji Ganesan) — who settle down in Burma during the Second World War. The youngest, Gunasekaran, gets the opportunity to visit India for the marriage of their younger sister Kalyani (Sriranjani) but, as fate would have it, he gets stranded at sea due to intense Japanese bombardment of Burmese ports.

thumb

As the Japanese shelling of Burma intensifies, Chandrasekaran and Gnanasekaran pack their belongings and cross over to India. But Gnanasekaran is lost and is presumed killed in the bombardment.

Meanwhile, Kalyani delivers a boy after her marriage. Soon after the birth of the child, her husband and her father die, leaving her destitute. Gunasekaran manages to reach India but is robbed of his belongings. He begins to beg people to give him food and shelter, but they refuse. Because of their aggressive nature, he understands that being a good and innocent person cannot fetch him his wants and needs. So he turns into a robber and causes all sorts of havoc around the town to live better. Later, Gnanasekaran is revealed to be alive, although he loses a leg and walks on crutches, having no clue where his family is.

Gunasakeran manages to find out where Kalyani lives and meets her many times; he hides the fact that he is her brother. He meanwhile falls for Vimala (Pandari Bai). Kalyani becomes the target of anti-social elements. A number of people, including a rich man and a temple priest, make sexual advances at her. In the meantime, she tosses her baby boy into the river because of no way to feed him or make him live properly, thus leading her to face the high court. Gunasekaran attacks the temple priest who tortured Kalyani for his misdemeanor and lands up in the same court as Kalyani. Gunasekaran fights an epic battle in the court explaining the misfortunes which had befallen him and justifying his actions. Eventually, the baby tossed by Kalyani is revealed to be alive as it was caught by Vimala before it touched the water. But the judge at the court (Chandrasekaran) realizes that he was dealing with his own sister whom he was unable to recognize and falls into a coma out of sadness.

Through a sequence of events, Gunasekaran, Gnanasekaran and Kalyani finally find their elder brother Chandrasekaran and reunite with him, thus returning to their rich life. Vimala also joins them and decides to get married to Gunasekaran. The film ends with C.N. Annadurai, M. Karunanidhi and several other famous people attending a stage drama conducted by Gnanasekaran.

Cast

  • Sivaji Ganesan as Gunasekaran, the youngest of three brothers
  • Sriranjani as Kalyani, the sister of the three brothers
  • Pandari Bai as Vimala, love interest of Gunasekaran
  • S. S. Rajendran as Gnanasekaran, the second of three brothers
  • Sahasranamam as Chandrasekaran, the oldest of three brothers

Production

The film Parasakthi was released on Diwali Day in 1952, after months of shooting and preparations. Meiyappan's newly established AVM Productions which was on a roll having produced a series of hits as Nam Iruvar and Vazhkai planned to make a film in 1952 with a newcomer called Sivaji Ganesan, who had earlier dubbed for a Telugu artist in the Tamil film Niraparadhi.[2]

Made at an impressive budget and with dialogues penned by eminent writer M. Karunanidhi, the film critically examined the social issues at the time. By the time the film was off the theatres, it had created a revolution.[3] Today, it forms a part of Tamil political history and comprises an unforgettable chapter in the history of the Dravidian Movement.

Soundtrack

The music of Parasakthi is composed by R. Sudarsanam.[4] Lyrics by Kannadasan, M. Karunanidhi, T.N. Ramaiah Das and Bharathidasan.[5]

No. Song Singers Length
1 "Desam Gnanam Kalvi" C. S. Jayaraman 03:26
2 "Kaa Kaa Kaa" C. S. Jayaraman 03:00
3 "Nenju Porkku Thillaiye" C. S. Jayaraman 04:50
4 "Ill Vaazhviniley" T S Bhagavathi, M.H. Hussain 02:07
5 "Puthu Pennin" M.S. Rajeswari 04:23
6 "Oh Rasikkum Seemane" M.S. Rajeswari 01:44
7 "Ellorum" T. S. Bhagavathi, M. L. Vasanthakumari 01:35
8 "Koneu Mozhi" T. S. Bhagavathi 03:03
9 "Poomaalai" T. S. Bhagavathi 03:01
10 "Porule Illaarkku" T. S. Bhagavathi 03:37
11 "Vaazhga Vaazhgave" M. L. Vasanthakumari 05:00

Reception

Parasakthi, regarded as the first significant attempt by the Dravidian Movement to use media for propaganda, catapulted Sivaji Ganesan to fame overnight and evoked comparisons with the Hollywood legend Spencer Tracy.[6] Specifically, his valiant defense in the court-scene filled with soul-stirring dialogues revolutionized the Tamil film industry. The film was the biggest hit of the year.[7]

Controversy

Right from the onset, Parasakthi was marred by much controversy. It was accused of trying to portray Brahmins in poor light. Abuse of Hindu customs and religious practices evoked strong protests from the Hindu orthodoxy.[8] The film was labelled as "one of the most controversial films in the history of Tamil cinema".[9]

References

  1. ^ "Land Marks in Tamil cinema". indiafilm.com. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  2. ^ Cinema Plus / Columns : Niraparadhi 1951. The Hindu (2008-11-14). Retrieved on 2012-04-04.
  3. ^ PSK. "Tribute-Sivaji Ganesan". idlebrain.com. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
  4. ^ Parasakthi Songs - Parasakthi Tamil Movie Songs - Tamil Songs Lyrics Trailer Videos, Preview Stills Reviews. Raaga.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-04.
  5. ^ Parasakthi : Tamil Movie - Parasakthi Songs, Parasakthi Mp3 Downloads, Parasakthi Music, Parasakthi Lyrics. Hummaa.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-04.
  6. ^ "Talent, charisma and much more". The Hindu. July 27, 2001.
  7. ^ "Blast from the Past: Parasakthi". The Hindu. April 24, 2011.
  8. ^ A. Srivathsan (2006-06-12). "Films and the politics of convenience". Chennai, India: idlebrain.com. Retrieved 2008-04-27.
  9. ^ The eye of the serpent: an introduction to Tamil cinema - Sundararaj Theodore Baskaran - Google Books. Books.google.co.in. Retrieved on 2012-04-04.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Parasakthi_(film)&oldid=485483039"