Katha Sangama (transl. Confluence of tales) is a 1976 Indian Kannada-language anthology film, directed by Puttanna Kanagal, based on three short stories;[1] Hangu by Giraddi Govindaraj, Athithi by Veena and Munithaayi by Eshwara Chandra. The film stars Kalyan Kumar, Rajinikanth, B. Saroja Devi and Aarathi in the lead roles. The supporting cast includes Lokanath, Vamana Rao, Shivaramaiah and Master Umesh. The film won three awards at the 1975–76 Karnataka State Film Awards, including the award for Best Actress (Aarathi).
| Katha Sangama | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Puttanna Kanagal |
| Screenplay by | Puttanna Kanagal |
| Story by | Giraddy Govindaraja Veena Eshwara Chandra |
| Based on | Hangu by Giraddy Govindaraja Athithi by Veena Munithayi by Eshwara Chandra |
| Produced by | C. S. Rajah |
| Starring | Kalyan Kumar Saroja Devi Aarathi Rajinikanth Gangadhar Kutty Padmini |
| Cinematography | B. N. Haridas |
| Edited by | V. P. Krishna |
| Music by | Vijaya Bhaskar |
| Distributed by | Vardhini Art Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 132 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Kannada |
The 1984 Tamil film Kai Kodukkum Kai was an extended version of the Munithayi segment from this movie. Rajnikanth, who played the antagonist role in the Kannada movie, played the lead role in the Tamil version. The antagonist role of the Kannada movie was also an inspiration for Rajanikanth's characterization in the 1977 Tamil movie 16 Vayathinile directed by debutant Bharathiraja who was an associate of Puttanna Kanagal.[2]
Plot
editHangu
editThe movie is based on a short story by the Kannada writer Giraddi Govindaraj. It is about a poor university professor with high moral values and integrity who is offered a bribe from a wealthy contractor to push some grace marks to his son in his exam paper so that he could get enough percentage to qualify for a medical college. This happens just when the professor's young son is critically ill and requires expensive medical treatment. Whether the professor succumbs to the circumstances or he let go of his integrity forms the crux of the story.
Atithi
editIt tells the story of a middle-aged woman who is the warden of a girls hostel. When younger she had refused to marry the man who loved her because of her ideals about feminism. She had even decided to say unmarried her entire life. A chance encounter with the man, now happily married to someone else, makes her question her earlier decision of not accepting true love.
Munithaayi
editIt has a story of wealthy man marrying a blind girl (Aarathi) out of pity, but in his absence she is raped by an adolescent youth and later blackmailed. The husband eventually "forgives" her. Aarathi plays the role of the blind girl and Rajinikanth plays a small role as the man who rapes her. Rajinikanth's characterisation in this movie went on to be used in the 1977 movie 16 Vayathinile.[3]
The 1984 Tamil movie Kai Kodukkum Kai was based on this segment and was an extended version of the Munithaayi story.[4]
Cast
edit- B. Saroja Devi
- Aarathi
- Rajinikanth
- Kalyan Kumar
- Leelavathi
- Pushpa Bhadaravathi[5]
Awards
edit- Karnataka State Film Awards 1975–76
References
edit- ^ "Puttanna's big feats". The Hindu. 3 June 2005. Archived from the original on 1 October 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
- ^ "Rajinikanth's Kannada movies one must watch on his birthday, today". The Times of India. 12 December 2020.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (2014) [2012]. Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography (2nd ed.). Penguin Books. p. 68. ISBN 978-81-8475-796-5.
- ^ "கன்னடத்தில் இருந்து தமிழுக்கு வந்த கை கொடுக்கும் கை". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 29 November 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
- ^ Reddy, Y. Maheswara (6 January 2023). "Second shot". Bangalore Mirror.