Naanum Oru Penn

Naanum Oru Penn

Film Poster
Directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar
Produced by M. Saravanan
M. Kumaran
M. Murugan
Written by Aaroor Das (dialogues)
Based on Podhu by Sri Shailesh Dey[1]
Starring S. S. Rajendran
C. R. Vijayakumari
S. V. Ranga Rao
A. V. M. Rajan
Music by R. N. Sudharsanam
Cinematography T. Muthusamy
Edited by R. G. Gope
Production
company
Distributed by AVM Productions
Release dates
  • 6 June 1963 (1963-06-06)

[1]

Running time
 155 minutes
Country India
Language Tamil

Naanum Oru Penn (English: I am a woman too) is a 1963 Indian Tamil drama film directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar. The film was produced by A. V. Meiyappan under AVM Productions and stars S. S. Rajendran and C. R. Vijayakumari in the lead roles, while A. V. M. Rajan, S. V. Ranga Rao and M. R. Radha play pivotal roles. The film's soundtrack and background score were composed by R. Sudarsanam, while the lyrics for the songs were written by Kannadasan, Panchu Arunachalam, Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam and V. Seetharaman.

In addition to being AVM Rajan's debut film, Naanum Oru Penn was conceived as an adaptation on Sri Shailash Dey's Bengali play Podhu. The plot revolves around the dark complexioned and uneducated girl and how she convinces everyone that more than appearance and education, it is the character which is important for a woman.

Released on 6 June 1963, Naanum Oru Penn earned positive critical feedback and went on to become a commercial success. The songs "Kanna Karumai Nira" and "Emara Sonnadhu" remain popular today in Tamil Nadu. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil at 11th National Film Awards. It also won Filmfare Award for Best film and Cinema Fans Award for Best film.

Cast

Production

One of Meiyappan's friends, V. A. P. Iyer, suggested Meiyappan to remake the Bengali play Podhu. After watching the play, Meiyappan was impressed with it and made a decision to remake the play.[2] Meiyappan was interested to rope Krishnan-Panju to direct the film however Meiyappan's sons and the film's co-producers M. Saravanan, M. Kumaran and M. Murugan roped in Tirulokachandar to direct the film. Meiyappan agreed to their decision provided they hire a screenplay writer.[2]

Meiyappan's sons met K. P. Kottarakkara who scripted Pasamalar to write the screenplay for the film. Thirulokchandar was not happy about inviting a screenplay as he himself was a writer. Meiyappan's sons convinced him to direct the film and agreed to credit him as the screenplay for the film. Kottarakkara agreed to the decision of them for not crediting him in the film and thus he developed the screenplay for the film along with them.[2]

Nagesh portrayed the character of brother of two girls in this film. Most people had concerns about whether Nagesh would be accepted by audience in a serious character.[3] However his acting in the film was accepted and he became a good character artiste apart from being a comedian.[4] Crew initially wanted Gemini Ganesan and Savithri to act in this film, however Tirulokchandar was adamant and chosen Rajendran and Vijayakumari as a lead pair.[5] In order to give dark complexion for the character of Vijayakumari in the film, a special make up material was imported.[3] The make up was done by famous make up artist Kini.[4] Vijayakumari initially had apprehension of portraying the character since many people warned her not to spoil her career by doing this character, later Sivaji Ganesan encouraged her to act in this film.[6] The song "Yemara Sonnadhu" was shot at Vidhan Soudha, Bangalore after getting the permission with much difficulty.[2] The song was reshot at Vijaya Garden as Censor Board objected to the scene where AVM Rajan and Pushpalatha is dancing in NCC costume.[4][3] The final length of the film's prints were 4,468 m (14,659 ft) long.[1]

Soundtrack

Naanum Oru Penn
Soundtrack album by
R. Sudarsanam
Released 1963
Genre Feature film soundtrack
Language Tamil
Label Saregama[7]

The soundtrack and musical score for Naanum Oru Penn were composed by R. Sudarsanam, while the lyrics were written by Kannadasan, Panchu Arunachalam, Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam and V. Seetharaman. The soundtrack was released under the label of Saregama.[7] The soundtrack was received positively by critics, with "Kanna Karumai" remaining popular today in Tamil Nadu. In his book Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931 to 2013, G. Dhananjayan wrote that the film is remembered for this song "which appealed to the audience and remain popular in the hearts".[3]

Tracklist

All lyrics written by Kannadasan, Panchu Arunachalam, Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam and V. Seetharaman. 

No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Poopola Poopola"  P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan 
2."Kanna Karumai"  P. Susheela 
3."Kannukkul"  T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela 
4."Emara Sonnathu"  T. M. Soundararajan 
5."Emara Sonnathu"  P. Susheela 
Total length:25:24

Release and reception

Naanum Oru Penn was released on 6 June 1963.[1] It earned positive critical feedback and went on to become a commercial success, completing a theatrical run of 100 days.[3] The film was remade in Telugu as Naadi Aade Janma (1964) with N. T. Rama Rao and in Hindi as Main Bhi Ladki Hoon (1964) with Dharmendra. Both versions were directed by Tirulokachander and featured Rangarao reprising his role both versions.[8]

Dhananjayan appreciated the film stating that film "outlined beautifully that what is needed in woman is a good character, behaviour, discipline and not just education and beauty [..] through this film convincingly which appealed to the masses".[3] Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan, in its original review of the film dated 30 June 1963 mentioned that "Though many have acted well, S. V. Ranga Rao deserves the first prize for acting in the film for making us cry in few places".[3]

Awards

The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil at 11th National Film Awards. It also won Filmfare Award for Best film and Filmfans Award for Best film.[3][9][10] S. V. Ranga Rao won the Rashtrapati Award. [11]

Legacy

The song "Kanna Karumai" was considered as one of the memorable songs of P. Susheela. The song was rendered thrice by the contestants of the television contest show, Airtel Super Singer 4, and once each by the contestants of the second and third season of its junior version, Airtel Super Singer Junior.[12]

Rajan who acted in this film was came to known as AVM Rajan.[13][2] AVM Rajan and Pushpalatha who acted in this film met during the film's production fell in love and got married.[3][14][15]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dhananjayan 2014, p. 168.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Dhananjayan 2014, p. 169.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dhananjayan 2014, p. 170.
  4. 1 2 3 எஸ்பி.முத்துராமன். "சினிமா எடுத்துப் பார் 18- நாகேஷின் அழுகை!". தி இந்து. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "ஏ.சி.திருலோகசந்தர்: எம்.ஜி.ஆரை வைத்து இயக்கிய ஒரே படம் 'அன்பே வா'". Maalai Malar. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "விஜயகுமாரி கறுப்புப் பெண்ணாக நடித்த நானும் ஒரு பெண்". Maalai Malar. 1 January 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Naanum Oru Penn". Saregama. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  8. ↑ Dhananjayan 2014, p. 169,170.
  9. ↑ "11th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
  10. ↑ Tamil Film History and Its Achievements, p 13
  11. ↑ Sanmana Satkaralu, Viswa Nata Chakravarti, M. Sanjay Kishore, Sangam Akademy, Hyderabad, 2005, pp: 65.
  12. ↑ Kanna Karumai from Naanum oru penn by Namitha in Super Singer Junior 4 (Reality show). India: Vijay TV. 14 June 2013.
    • Kanna Karumai by Aishwarya (Reality show). India: Vijay TV. 28 May 2014.
    • Airtel Super Singer Junior3, Rakshitha Sings Kanna Karumai Song (Reality show). India: Vijay TV. 17 June 2012.
    • Airtel Super Singer Junior3, Haripriya sings Kanna Karumai (Reality show). India: Vijay TV. 13 February 2012.
  13. ↑ "About AVM Rajan's name". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  14. ↑ randor guy. "Chitrangi (1964)". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  15. ↑ "நானும் ஒரு பெண்ணில் இணைந்து நடித்த ஏ.வி.எம்.ராஜன்- புஷ்பலதா வாழ்க்கையிலும் இணைந்தனர்". Maalai Malar. 3 June 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2015.

Bibliography

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