Jump to content

Veerapandiya Kattabomman (film): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 112: Line 112:
}}
}}


''Veerapandiya Kattabomman''{{'}}s original soundtrack was composed by [[G. Ramanathan]], while the lyrics were written by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam.<ref>http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0001250</ref> The album became a major breakthrough for [[P. B. Srinivas]], then a struggling playback singer, who was recruited by Ramanathan to sing the track ''Inbam Pongum Vennila'' picturised on Gemini Ganesan, with P. Susheela.<ref>http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/veteran-singer-pbs-passes-away/article4617069.ece</ref>
Partial list of songs from [[Veerapandiya Kattabomman]] :


* ''Seermevum Paanchi Nagar'' - [[Seerkazhi Govindarajan]] , [[V. N. Sundaram]] & [[Thiruchi Loganathan]]
* ''Seermevum Paanchi Nagar'' - [[Seerkazhi Govindarajan]] , [[V. N. Sundaram]] & [[Thiruchi Loganathan]]
Line 118: Line 118:
* ''Anjaatha Singgam En Kaalai'' - [[P. Suseela]]
* ''Anjaatha Singgam En Kaalai'' - [[P. Suseela]]
* ''Singgara Kanne'' - [[S. Varalakshmi]]
* ''Singgara Kanne'' - [[S. Varalakshmi]]
* ''Inbam Ponggum Vennila'' - [[P. B. Sreenivos]] & [[P. Suseela]]
* ''Inbam Pongum Vennila'' - [[P. B. Sreenivos]] & [[P. Suseela]]
* ''Takku Takku'' - [[S. Varalakshmi]] , [[P. Suseela]] & [[A. P. Komala]]
* ''Takku Takku'' - [[S. Varalakshmi]] , [[P. Suseela]] & [[A. P. Komala]]
* ''Aathukkulle Oothu Vetti'' - [[Thiruchi Loganathan]] , [[K. Jamuna Rani]] , [[V. T. Rajagopalan]] & [[A. G. Rathnamala]]
* ''Aathukkulle Oothu Vetti'' - [[Thiruchi Loganathan]] , [[K. Jamuna Rani]] , [[V. T. Rajagopalan]] & [[A. G. Rathnamala]]

Revision as of 16:40, 28 July 2013

For the 1993 film, see Kattabomman (film).
Veerapandiya Kuttabomman
File:Veerapandiya Kattabomman Poster.jpg
Promotional Poster
Directed byB. R. Panthulu
Written bySakthi T. K. Krishnasamy[2]
Produced byB. R. Panthulu
Padmini Pictures
StarringSivaji Ganesan
Gemini Ganesan
Padmini
S. Varalakshmi,
V. K. Ramaswamy
Music byG. Ramanathan
Release date
16 May 1959[1]
Running time
201 mins
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Veerapandiya Kattabomman ([The Hero Kattabomman] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: text has italic markup (help)) is a 1959 Tamil feature film written by Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The cast includes Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Padmini, S. Varalakshmi, and V. K. Ramasamy. One of the memorable films of Sivaji Ganesan, it was produced and directed by B. R. Banthulu. Veerapandiya Kattabomman was a Tamil chieftain who rose in rebellion against the East India Company and fought with alien combination. One of the earliest freedom fighters of India he laid his life in sacrifice at the altar of freedom of his motherland.

This role of a historic figure Kattabomman was played with majesty and grandeur by great actor Sivaji Ganesan portrayed this personality of the rebel hero in a most effective manner. Sivaji`s performance won him an international award at the Egypt Film Festival. Veerapandiya Kattabomman is notable for being the first Tamil film to be shot in Technicolor.[3] This movie ran 100 days in 28 theatres in those days which is worth to mention for all time. When this movie was re released in USA ie in third round, ran with houseful shows in second week. Padmini(Nattipaeroli) said in one interview.

Plot

Veerapandiya Kattabomman is the Rajah of Panchalamkurichi in the extreme south of India - a brave fighter and a devotee of his family deity, Lord Subrahmaniya of Tiruchendur. On receiving the news of loot and arson in his territory, he himself sets out in disguise to encounter the robbers. The robbers are captured and they confess that they had been hired by the Britsh to create unrest in his domain. They also tell him that the British had enticed the neighbouring chieftain Ettayappan to help their endeavour to annex Panchalamkurichi.

Ettayappan is promised by the English an addition of two villages to his land as a price for his betrayal. Ettayappan goes in disguise to Kattabomman's court and tries to frighten him with his account of the omnipotence of the British. Kattabomman is indignant and tears out the mask of Ettayappan but spares him because he had come to his court as an ambassador. At Chayalkudi, a village near Panchalamkurichi, lives a beautiful damsel, Vellaiamma, who would marry the man who tames her bull, a proud pet. She takes her bull for participation in the games to be held at Panchalamkurichi under the patronage of the king. No-one dare touch Vellaiamma's bull. At Kattabomman's call, his Commander-in-chief Vellaiathevan, comes forward, subdues the bull and gets the prize - the hands of the beautiful Vellaiamma.

Kattabomman is delivered a message from the collector W. C. Jackson that he should meet him on an appointed day, following which he would be deprived of his kingdom. Davison, a British friend of Kattabomman advises him to go and see the collector. Jackson, finding that Kattabomman has come to see him with his troops, changes his camp from place to place and finally meets him at Ramnad. In the interview, Jackson insults him and orders his arrest. Though surrounded by the British troups, Kattabmman fights his way out and joins his troups. But his Minister is captured by the British.

Some time after, the Minister is released. He brings the news that Jackson has been transferred home on the advice of Davison. Life in Panchalamkurichi goes on with the usual gaiety. At Kattabomman's court, a British messenger comes and reports that the Minister and his men have looted their granaries and killed their men at Srivaikuntam. The Minister justifies his act, by saying that he instructed his men to do it as there was a shortage of food grains due to the British amassing all rice in their granary.

The king accuses him of injustice and he is ashamed of his Minister's acts. The Minister apologises and offers himself as a fugitive to the messenger, whose soldiers are about to handcuff the Minister. But Kattabomman is infuriated and cries that he will never betray his Minister and fail in his duty as a king. The messenger hangs down head in shame and walks out. The king's brother Oomaithurai says that the British will start attacking them. A spy is sent by Kattabomman to the enemy camp and discloses the plans which Ettayappan has drawn up for the British forces for launching an attack on Panchalamkurichi on the day of the festival at Tiruchendur when Kattabomman and most of the people would be away from the capital. Kattabomman gets prepared to meet the enemy.

On the day of the battle, Vellaiamma pleads Vellaiathevan not to go for fighting because the previous night she has had bad dream and seen evil omens in those dreams. Notwithstanding her entreaties, Vellaiathevan sets out for the battle, and so does Kattabomman. The British win because of their brutal strength. Vellaiathevan is killed, and Vellaiamma seeks out under cover of night, the man who killed her husband and avenges her husband's death by killing him. Crawling back, she falls dead on her husband's corpse.

Kattabomman is wounded in the neck. He is, however saved by his devoted followers, who take him to the adjoining kingdom of Kovilapatti. The old woman who protects the royal brothers, sends the prying soldiers away with a clever ruse. Minister Thanapati misleads the British soldiers who are on the trial of Kattabomman by dressing himself as the chief. From Kovilapatti, Kattabomman and his brother flee to Pudhukottai. Rajah of Pudhukottai, afraid of the British, instructs his men to capture Kattabomman. Kattabomman is captured and taken to the British. Undaunted Kattabomman faces a trial by the British and is hanged.

Cast and crew

W. C. Jackson (Parthiban,left) and Kattabomman (Sivaji Ganesan,right) confront each other in one of the most remembered scenes from the film

Cast

Actor Role
Sivaji Ganesan Veerapandiya Kattabomman
S. Varalakshmi Jakkamma
Gemini Ganesan Vellaiyathevan
Padmini Vellaiyammal
O. A. K. Thevar Oomaithurai
Ragini Sundaravadivu
M. R. Santhanam Thaanapathi Pillai
A. Karunanidhi Sundaralingam
T. P. Muthulakshmi Kamakshi
V. K. Ramaswamy Ettappan
Kuladeivaam Rajagopal Kariappan
Tambaram Lalitha Valli
Javar Seetharaman Bannerman
Parthiban C.R. W. C. Jackson
Sukumari
Baby Kanchana Meena

Crew

  • Produced: B. R. Panthulu, Padmini Pictures
  • Directed: B. R. Panthulu
  • Music : G. Ramanathan
  • Lyrics : Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
  • Screenplay & Dialogues: Sakthi T. K. Krishnasamy
  • Art Director: Ganga
  • Editing : R. Devanarayanan
  • Costumes : M. G. Naidu
  • Choreography : Hiralal, P. S. Gopalakrishnan & Madhavan
  • Cinematography : W. R. Subbarao & Karnan

Production

S. S. Rajendran was originally supposed to play the character Vallaithevan, but was ultimately replaced by Gemini Ganesan.[4]

Soundtrack

Untitled

Veerapandiya Kattabomman's original soundtrack was composed by G. Ramanathan, while the lyrics were written by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam.[5] The album became a major breakthrough for P. B. Srinivas, then a struggling playback singer, who was recruited by Ramanathan to sing the track Inbam Pongum Vennila picturised on Gemini Ganesan, with P. Susheela.[6]

Reception

L. K. Advani, said, "I have seen the Tamil movie of Veerapandia Kattabomman, acted by Shivaji Ganesan, many times. It is fresh in my memory."[7] IndiaGlitz said, "Shivaji as Kattabomman gives a tremendous act and the scene when Kattabomman confronts Jackson instantly comes into our mind. This movie is sure to give you the Goosebumps with Shivaji's powerful acting and a sense of what rebellion and freedom fighting is."[8]

Awards

Controversies

In 2011, Veerapandiya Kattabomman faced severe criticism because of its historical inaccuracies, along with two other films – Parthiban Kanavu and 7aum Arivu. Tamil film historian S. Theodore Baskaran said "Celebrated historical movies like Veerapandiya Kattabomman and Parthiban Kanavu have been unfaithful to history. Kattabomman was not even a king. His arsenal had just about three to four guns. All this is well-documented, but the film showed just the opposite.”[10]

Re-release

Veerapandiya Kattabomman is due to be re-released as a 3D film in early 2013.[11]

References

  1. ^ http://www.nadigarthilagam.com/vpkb50anniv/vpkb50annivfunctn.htm
  2. ^ http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/the-power-of-the-pen/article4594630.ece
  3. ^ http://newindianexpress.com/magazine/article294362.ece
  4. ^ http://www.kalyanamalaimagazine.com/Content/Thiraichuvai/Sep_1_10/Potpourri_of_titbits_about_Tamil_cinema_gemini_ganesan_page1.html
  5. ^ http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/moviedetail.asp?mid=T0001250
  6. ^ http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/veteran-singer-pbs-passes-away/article4617069.ece
  7. ^ http://www.rediff.com/news/2009/feb/13sld2-advani-comes-out-in-support-of-lankan-tamils.htm
  8. ^ http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/89358.html
  9. ^ "7th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
  10. ^ http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/showbiz/kollywood/7-aum-arivu-row-debate-rages-over-bodhi-dharma’s-identity-006
  11. ^ http://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/apr-12-01/hollywood-titanic-3d-02-04-12.html

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Veerapandiya_Kattabomman_(film)&oldid=566167400"