Ambikapathy (1937 film): Difference between revisions
→Pre-Production: Added ref |
|||
| Line 42: | Line 42: | ||
Initially, the producers wanted [[Y. V. Rao]] to direct the film. But reeling under the success of ''Chintamani'', Rao demanded an incredibly high amount of money as payment which the producers could not offer. Hence, they hired upcoming American film director [[Ellis R. Dungan]] instead, to direct the film.<ref name="MKT">{{Cite web|url=http://raja1630.tripod.com/mktb/id2.html|title=MKT Filmography Part I|accessdate=2008-10-12|work=M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar fan site}}</ref><ref name="ellisdungan1" /> Ellis R. Dungan, on hearing the story, immediately agreed to direct the film.<ref name="MKT" /> |
Initially, the producers wanted [[Y. V. Rao]] to direct the film. But reeling under the success of ''Chintamani'', Rao demanded an incredibly high amount of money as payment which the producers could not offer. Hence, they hired upcoming American film director [[Ellis R. Dungan]] instead, to direct the film.<ref name="MKT">{{Cite web|url=http://raja1630.tripod.com/mktb/id2.html|title=MKT Filmography Part I|accessdate=2008-10-12|work=M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar fan site}}</ref><ref name="ellisdungan1" /> Ellis R. Dungan, on hearing the story, immediately agreed to direct the film.<ref name="MKT" /> |
||
A ''[[devadasi]]'' had earlier been chosen to |
A ''[[devadasi]]'' had earlier been chosen to form the lead pair with M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar in the movie.<ref name="devadasi">{{cite news | last= Muthiah | first= S. | title= Art that never vanished | date=[[November 4]], [[2002]] | url =http://www.thehindujobs.com/thehindu/mp/2002/11/04/stories/2002110400170300.htm | work =The Hindu:Metro Plus Chennai | accessdate = 2008-10-13}}</ref> But she refused when she discovered that M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar was not a Brahmin and she had to be teamed up with another Brahmin actor in a minor role.<ref name="devadasi" /> |
||
== Production == |
== Production == |
||
Revision as of 13:45, 13 October 2008
| Ambikapathy | |
|---|---|
| File:Mktwithsanthanalakshmi.jpg Colorized advertisement postcard of the lead pair in Ambikapathy, M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and M. S. Santhanalakshmi | |
| Directed by | Ellis R. Dungan |
| Starring | M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar M. S. Santhanalakshmi Serugulathur Sama T. S. Baliah N. S. Krishnan T. A. Madhuram P. G. Venkatesan |
| Music by | Papanasam Sivan |
Release date | 1937 |
| Language | Tamil |
Ambikapathy was a 1937 Tamil-language film directed by American film director Ellis R. Dungan.[1][2][3] It starred M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, M. S. Santhanalakshmi, Serugulathur Sama, T. S. Baliah, N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Madhuram and P. G. Venkatesan. Ambikapathy is regarded as one of the greatest hits of pre-independence Tamil cinema. Ambikapathy, along with Chintamani were the greatest hits of 1937 [1][4] and firmly established M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar as the first superstar of Tamil cinema.[5][3]
Plot
The film is based on a story set in the Chola Empire in year 1083 AD. The central character in the story is Ambikapathy (played by M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar), the son of the famous Tamil poet Kambar (played by Serugulathur Sama) who is in love with the Chola princess and daughter of Kulothunga Chola, Amaravati (played by M. S. Santhanalakshmi).[3] The king objects to their love and insists on testing Ambikapathy before judging his worth.[3] However, Ambikapathy fails the test thereby destroying all chances for his love to succeed.[3]
Cast
- M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar ... Ambikapathy
- M. S. Santhanalakshmi ... Amaravati
- Serugulathur Sama ... Kambar
- P. B. Ranagachari ... Kulothunga
- T. S. Baliah ... Rudrasenan
- N. S. Krishnan
- T. A. Maduram
- P. G. Venkatesan
- P. R. Mangalam
Pre-Production
Initially, the producers wanted Y. V. Rao to direct the film. But reeling under the success of Chintamani, Rao demanded an incredibly high amount of money as payment which the producers could not offer. Hence, they hired upcoming American film director Ellis R. Dungan instead, to direct the film.[6][1] Ellis R. Dungan, on hearing the story, immediately agreed to direct the film.[6]
A devadasi had earlier been chosen to form the lead pair with M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar in the movie.[7] But she refused when she discovered that M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar was not a Brahmin and she had to be teamed up with another Brahmin actor in a minor role.[7]
Production
The film highlighted the Romeo-Juliet type romance between Bhagavathar and Santhanalakshmi and was a roaring success.[6][1] Ellis R. Dungan introduced some daringly intimate romantic scenes in the movie which were tabooed by the conservative Indian society at that time.[6][1]
The film introduced script writer Elangovan in the Tamil film industry.[6] Famous Tamil comedian N. S. Krishnan also debuted in Ambikapathy.[6]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e Muthiah, S. (September 6, 2004). "Americans in Tamil cinema". The Hindu:Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Muthiah, S. (February 1, 2002). "He transcended barriers with aplomb". The Hindu:Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c d e "Regional Indian cinema - Tamil". India Heritage. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ Muthiah, S. (March 3, 2008). "An unforgettable superhit". The Hindu:Metro Plus. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Tamil cinema history - The Early Days 1937 - 1944". indolink.com. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
- ^ a b c d e f "MKT Filmography Part I". M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar fan site. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
- ^ a b Muthiah, S. (November 4, 2002). "Art that never vanished". The Hindu:Metro Plus Chennai. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)