Kula Deivam (1956 film)

Kula Deivam (transl.Family deity) is a 1956 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Krishnan–Panju and written by Murasoli Maran. It is a remake of the 1954 Bengali film Bhanga Gora. The film stars S. V. Sahasranamam, S. S. Rajendran and Pandari Bai, while Rajagopal, Chandrababu, S. A. Ashokan and Vijayakumari play supporting roles. The film's soundtrack and background score were composed by R. Sudarsanam. Maruthi Rao and Panju (under the alias S. Panjabi) handled cinematography and editing respectively.

Kula Deivam
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKrishnan–Panju
Screenplay byMurasoli Maran
Based onBanga Kora
StarringS. V. Sahasranamam
S. S. Rajendran
Pandari Bai
CinematographyMaruthi Rao
Edited byS. Panjabi
Music byR. Sudarsanam
Production
company
SK Pictures
Release date
  • 29 September 1956 (1956-09-29)
Running time
168 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Kula Deivam was released on 29 September 1956, and became a commercial success, winning the National Film Award for Best Tamil Feature Film. Bhanga Gora went on to be remade in Hindi as Bhabhi and in Kannada as Jenu Goodu. Pandari Bai reprised her role in both the versions.

Plot

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Cast

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Male support cast
  • P. S. Venkatachalam, Sethu, Kottapuli Jayaraman, A. S. Kannan, Ganapathi, Thiruvenkatam, Kittan and Pottai Krishnamoorthy.

Production

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Kula Deivam was remade from the 1954 Bengali film Bhanga Gara.[2] It was directed by the duo Krishnan–Panju, and the dialogues were written by Murasoli Maran, making his cinematic debut.[3] Stage actor V. R. Rajagopal, who appeared in this film, later adapted the film's title as a prefix to his name.[4]

Soundtrack

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Soundtrack was composed by R. Sudharsanam and lyrics were written by Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiyar, Bharathidasan, Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, K. P. Kamatchi and M. K. Athmanathan.[5] A Kriti composed by Oothukadu Venkata Subbaiyer, Thaaye Yasodha Undhan, was included in the film for a dance sequence of Kumari Kamala.

Song Singers Lyrics Length
"Thaaye Yasodaa Undhan Aayar Kulatthudhittha" M. L. Vasanthakumari 05:42
"Kottupotta Pota Chinna Machane" P. Susheela 02:06
"Aanum Pennum" T. V. Rathnam 02:37
"Kaiyaale Kannai.... Mudiyadhu Nanba Mudiyadhu" T. M. Soundararajan 04:48
"Inba Vargamellaam.... Vetkamillai Vetkamillai" C. S. Jayaraman Bharathidasan 04:27
"Kaadhal Kaadhal Kaadhal" T. M. Soundararajan 03:34
"Vaarayo Ennai Paaraayo" T. V. Rathnam 03:10
"Adiyaargal Ullatthile" (Pathar Vellai kootthu) T. M. Soundararajan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan & M. M. Muthu 06:16
"Sathiram Paarkatheer" C. S. Jayaraman

Release

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Kula Deivam was released on 29 September 1956,[6] delayed from a 20 September release.[7] The film was a commercial success, and ran for over 100 days in theatres.[3] Randor Guy of The Hindu noted that the film was "Remembered for the socially relevant storyline, excellent performances by Sahasranamam and Pandari Bai, pleasing music and touching on-screen narration".[4] The film won National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b காந்தன் (14 October 1956). "குல தெய்வம்". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 68–69. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  2. ^ Vamanan (23 April 2018). "Tamil cinema's Bong connection". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  3. ^ a b "குலதெய்வம் படத்தில் விஜயகுமாரி அறிமுகம்". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 8 January 2017. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  4. ^ a b Guy, Randor (4 December 2010). "Blast from the past: Kula Deivam 1956". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Kuladeivam". Saregama. Archived from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Kuladeivam". The Indian Express. 29 September 1956. p. 1. Retrieved 20 June 2018 – via Google News Archive.
  7. ^ "Kuladeivam". The Indian Express. 7 September 1956. p. 1. Retrieved 7 August 2021 – via Google News Archive.
  8. ^ "State Awards for Films" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
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