Ambikapathy (1957 film)
Encyclopedia
Ambikapathy was a 1957 Tamil
film starring Sivaji Ganesan
and P. Bhanumathi as the main cast.
directed by Ellis R. Dungan and starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
and M. R. Santhanalakshmi
in the lead was one of the biggest hits of early Tamil cinema
In 1957, A. L. Srinivasan decided to remake the story with P. Neelakantan
as the director. He picked Sivaji Ganesan to play the role of Ambikapathi and Bhanumati to play the role of Amaravathi in the movie. He initially requested M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar to play the role of Kambar
but the former refused having played the role of Ambikapathi in the 1937 version. Veteran Tamil actor M. K. Radha was later cast as Kambar.
. The movie version of the story is this: Kambar, the kavichakravarthi whose name in enshrined forever as the author of Ramavatharam, the Tamil version of Ramayana
, is a poet in Kulothunga’s court in Urayur
. Despite his erudite scholarship, deep learning of Sanskrit and Tamil and extraordinary poetic skills, Kamban remains a humble, unassuming, deeply pious man, and a loyal subject of the King. All this earns Kamban a special place in the heart of Kulothunga who treats him with utmost deference and affection. Ottakoothar is another great poet in the King’s court, and Kamban’s ascent in the firmament and the King’s unabashed admiration for Kamban’s poetry has Ottakoothar simmering in jealousy.
It is in this backdrop that the love story blossoms. Amaravathi, the beautiful princess and Ambikapathy, the handsome and talented son of Kambar, fall in love. Ambikapathy is a bold, assertive and supremely self-confident youth, who even at that age, exhibits poetic skills equal to that of his illustrious father. Ottakoothar
is doubly dismayed when he hears of this affair, for he had planned to bring about the marriage of Amaravathi with his stooge, Prince Kulasekharan of Vengi
. With a brilliant, cunning mind at work, Ottakoothar sets about poisoning the King’s mind against Ambikapathi and contrives to bring about various situations wherein Ambikapathi might fall to disgrace. Luck seems to be on Ambikapathi’s side as he comes unscathed through these traps.
However, when Kamban discovers his son’s love for the princess and realizes the gruesome retribution that would undoubtedly follow, he pleads with Ambikapathi to give up his love. Meanwhile, Ottakoothar gets possession of a verse that Ambikapathi had penned as an ode to Amaravathi’s beauty and loses no time to showing the parchment to the King. The King is shaken by this clinching evidence of the love affair, and is determined to put it to an end. However, wishing to avoid any unwanted publicity and not willing to take any drastic measures, at the suggestion of Kamban, the King orders Ambikapathi to go to the distant Pushpaga Theevu, apparently to propagate the greatness of Tamil. A storm leads to the ship in which Ambikapathy is traveling being wrecked; and hanging on to a log, Ambikapathi is washed ashore in Shenbaga Theevu. Coming to know of the developments in Uraiyur, Ambikapathy hastens in disguise thereto.
With the help of Kannamma, the daughter of Pugazhendhi Pulavar, he succeeds in meeting Amaravathi, and they plan to flee to Shenbaga Theevu that night. But their plans go awry and both are caught trying to leave the palace. The King sentences Ambikapathy to death. But Amaravathi intervenes, claiming equal responsibility for whatever may have been the crime that Ambikapathi is said to have committed. In the ensuing argument, the King condemns Ambikapathi as sham poet who could write only verses that cater to man’s baser instincts. Ambikapathy is outraged at this slur on his poetic capabilities. The upshot is that if Ambikapathi could sing 100 devotional songs in succession, the King promises him Amaravathi’s hand in marriage. If he failed in this challenge, he would be executed forthwith. Amaravathi visits Ambikapathi in prison that night and urges caution. Ambikapathi laughs away her fears, assuring her that he is wholly confident of his own capabilities. A relieved Amaravathi says that she would be counting the songs, and would appear before him at the end of the ordeal.
The court assembles next day at the vasantha madapam, and in the august presence of the King, ministers and scholars, Ambikapathy commences his soiree with a short invocation to Saraswathi, the Goddess of learning. Amaravathi mistakenly counts this as one of the hundred songs, and so at the end of the 99th song, she appears happily in front of Ambikapathi to signal his victory. Overjoyed at sighting his beloved, and thinking that he has completed the hundred songs, Ambikapathy bursts into a verse in praise of Amaravathi’s appearance. Rising with grim satisfaction, Ottakoothar points out that only 99 devotional songs had been sung, and hence Ambikapathy has lost the challenge. Kamban’s anguish-filled plea for clemency falls on deaf ears, as the King orders the death sentence to be carried out. Ambikapathi is put to death, and the grief-stricken Amaravathi too falls dead… their souls unite in heaven.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
film starring Sivaji Ganesan
Sivaji Ganesan
Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan Manrayar , commonly known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan , was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century. He is one of the most respected film actors in India. He is well known for his versatility and acting skills with...
and P. Bhanumathi as the main cast.
Production
The first movie adaptation of this love story was in 1937. The 1937 versionAmbikapathy (1937 film)
Ambikapathy a 1937 Tamil film directed by American film director Ellis R. Dungan. It starred M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, M. R. Santhanalakshmi, Serugulathur Sama, T. S. Balaiya, N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Madhuram and P. G. Venkatesan. Ambikapathy is regarded as one of the greatest hits of...
directed by Ellis R. Dungan and starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Mayavaram Krishnamurthy Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , also called M.K.T., was a Tamil film actor, producer and Carnatic music singer. He is considered to be one of the most successful Tamil film actors ever....
and M. R. Santhanalakshmi
M. R. Santhanalakshmi
M. R. Santhanalakshmi was a Tamil film actress who played lead roles in movies of the 1930s and 1940s.- Filmography :...
in the lead was one of the biggest hits of early Tamil cinema
In 1957, A. L. Srinivasan decided to remake the story with P. Neelakantan
P. Neelakantan
Neelakantan is Tamil film director. He was born in Villupuram. He graduated to movies from stage play. His play Nam Iruvar was brought by movie mogul A.V. Meyyappa Chettiar and made into a film in 1947. Then he wrote the dialogues for films like Vedala Ulagam in 1948...
as the director. He picked Sivaji Ganesan to play the role of Ambikapathi and Bhanumati to play the role of Amaravathi in the movie. He initially requested M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar to play the role of Kambar
Kambar
Kambar was a medieval Tamil poet and the author of the Tamil Ramayanam known as Kambaramayanam, the Tamil version of Ramayana. Kambar also authored other literary works in Tamil such as Erezhupathu,Silaiezhupathu, Kangai Puranam and Sarasvati Anthati.-Life:Kambar belonged to the Ochchan or Occhan...
but the former refused having played the role of Ambikapathi in the 1937 version. Veteran Tamil actor M. K. Radha was later cast as Kambar.
Plot
This story, passed on through centuries through traditional verse and folklore, dates back to the early 12th century during the reign of Kulothunga Chola IKulothunga Chola I
Kō Rājakēsarivarman Abaya Kulōthunga Chōla was one of the greatest kings of the Chola Empire. He was one of the sovereigns who bore the title Kulottunga, literally meaning the exalter of his race.-Early life:...
. The movie version of the story is this: Kambar, the kavichakravarthi whose name in enshrined forever as the author of Ramavatharam, the Tamil version of Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
, is a poet in Kulothunga’s court in Urayur
Urayur
Urayur , located near the city of Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu, India, was the capital of the early Cholas, who were one of the three main kingdoms of the ancient Tamil country. Sometimes spelled as Uraiyur, this location is also known as Thirukkozhi, Nikalaapuri, Uranthai, and Kozhiyur. It has a...
. Despite his erudite scholarship, deep learning of Sanskrit and Tamil and extraordinary poetic skills, Kamban remains a humble, unassuming, deeply pious man, and a loyal subject of the King. All this earns Kamban a special place in the heart of Kulothunga who treats him with utmost deference and affection. Ottakoothar is another great poet in the King’s court, and Kamban’s ascent in the firmament and the King’s unabashed admiration for Kamban’s poetry has Ottakoothar simmering in jealousy.
It is in this backdrop that the love story blossoms. Amaravathi, the beautiful princess and Ambikapathy, the handsome and talented son of Kambar, fall in love. Ambikapathy is a bold, assertive and supremely self-confident youth, who even at that age, exhibits poetic skills equal to that of his illustrious father. Ottakoothar
Ottakoothar
Ottakoothar was a court poet of three Chola kings namely Vikrama Chola, Kulotunga II and Rajaraja II. He wrote poems in praise of these three kings namely Vikrama Cholan Ula, Kulothunga Cholan Ula and Rajarajan Ula...
is doubly dismayed when he hears of this affair, for he had planned to bring about the marriage of Amaravathi with his stooge, Prince Kulasekharan of Vengi
Vengi
The Vengi kingdom extended from the Godavari River in the north to Mount Mahendragiri in the southeast and to just south of the banks of River Krishna in the south of India. This area was part of Kalinga until that kingdom was conquered by Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire in the mid 3rd century...
. With a brilliant, cunning mind at work, Ottakoothar sets about poisoning the King’s mind against Ambikapathi and contrives to bring about various situations wherein Ambikapathi might fall to disgrace. Luck seems to be on Ambikapathi’s side as he comes unscathed through these traps.
However, when Kamban discovers his son’s love for the princess and realizes the gruesome retribution that would undoubtedly follow, he pleads with Ambikapathi to give up his love. Meanwhile, Ottakoothar gets possession of a verse that Ambikapathi had penned as an ode to Amaravathi’s beauty and loses no time to showing the parchment to the King. The King is shaken by this clinching evidence of the love affair, and is determined to put it to an end. However, wishing to avoid any unwanted publicity and not willing to take any drastic measures, at the suggestion of Kamban, the King orders Ambikapathi to go to the distant Pushpaga Theevu, apparently to propagate the greatness of Tamil. A storm leads to the ship in which Ambikapathy is traveling being wrecked; and hanging on to a log, Ambikapathi is washed ashore in Shenbaga Theevu. Coming to know of the developments in Uraiyur, Ambikapathy hastens in disguise thereto.
With the help of Kannamma, the daughter of Pugazhendhi Pulavar, he succeeds in meeting Amaravathi, and they plan to flee to Shenbaga Theevu that night. But their plans go awry and both are caught trying to leave the palace. The King sentences Ambikapathy to death. But Amaravathi intervenes, claiming equal responsibility for whatever may have been the crime that Ambikapathi is said to have committed. In the ensuing argument, the King condemns Ambikapathi as sham poet who could write only verses that cater to man’s baser instincts. Ambikapathy is outraged at this slur on his poetic capabilities. The upshot is that if Ambikapathi could sing 100 devotional songs in succession, the King promises him Amaravathi’s hand in marriage. If he failed in this challenge, he would be executed forthwith. Amaravathi visits Ambikapathi in prison that night and urges caution. Ambikapathi laughs away her fears, assuring her that he is wholly confident of his own capabilities. A relieved Amaravathi says that she would be counting the songs, and would appear before him at the end of the ordeal.
The court assembles next day at the vasantha madapam, and in the august presence of the King, ministers and scholars, Ambikapathy commences his soiree with a short invocation to Saraswathi, the Goddess of learning. Amaravathi mistakenly counts this as one of the hundred songs, and so at the end of the 99th song, she appears happily in front of Ambikapathi to signal his victory. Overjoyed at sighting his beloved, and thinking that he has completed the hundred songs, Ambikapathy bursts into a verse in praise of Amaravathi’s appearance. Rising with grim satisfaction, Ottakoothar points out that only 99 devotional songs had been sung, and hence Ambikapathy has lost the challenge. Kamban’s anguish-filled plea for clemency falls on deaf ears, as the King orders the death sentence to be carried out. Ambikapathi is put to death, and the grief-stricken Amaravathi too falls dead… their souls unite in heaven.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Sivaji Ganesan Sivaji Ganesan Viluppuram Chinnaiahpillai Ganesan Manrayar , commonly known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan , was an Indian stage and film actor active during the latter half of the 20th century. He is one of the most respected film actors in India. He is well known for his versatility and acting skills with... |
Ambikapathy |
| P. Bhanumathi | Amaravathi |
| M. K. Radha | Kambar |
| Chittor V. Nagaiah Chittor V. Nagaiah Chitturu Nagayya or Chittor V. Nagaiah birth name - Vuppaladadiyam Nagayya was an Indian actor, composer, director, producer, writer and playback singer of Telugu film industry, Andhra Pradesh, India. Indian film journalist and the editor of Film India, Baburao Patel, described Nagiah as ‘The... |
King Kulothunga Chola I Kulothunga Chola I Kō Rājakēsarivarman Abaya Kulōthunga Chōla was one of the greatest kings of the Chola Empire. He was one of the sovereigns who bore the title Kulottunga, literally meaning the exalter of his race.-Early life:... |
| M. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar ( (born Manjeri Narayanan Nambiar 7 March 1919 — 19 November 2008) was a film actor in Tamil cinema and had been in the film industry for more than 50 years.-Biography:... |
Ottakoothar Ottakoothar Ottakoothar was a court poet of three Chola kings namely Vikrama Chola, Kulotunga II and Rajaraja II. He wrote poems in praise of these three kings namely Vikrama Cholan Ula, Kulothunga Cholan Ula and Rajarajan Ula... |
| Rajasulochana Rajasulochana Pilliarchetty Bhakthavatsalam Naidu Rajeevalochana, better known as Rajasulochana is an South Indian classical dancer and film actress. She has acted in hundreds of films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi language films.-Brief lifesketch:... |
Kannamma |
| N. S. Krishnan N. S. Krishnan Nagerkoyil Sudalaimuthu Krishnan , popularly known as Kalaivanar and also as 'NSK' was a leading Tamil film comedian, drama artist, playback singer and writer in the early stages of the Tamil film industry - in the 1940s and 1950s.... |
|
| T. A. Madhuram T. A. Madhuram T. A. Madhuram was a Tamil stage and film actress and Tamil film producer. She was the wife of Tamil actor and comedian N. S. Krishnan.- Biography :... |
|
| K. A. Thangavelu K. A. Thangavelu K. A. Thangavelu popularly known as "Danaal Thangavelu" was a Tamil film comedian popular in the 1950s to 1970s. Not known for physical, acrobatic comedy like his contemporaries J.P.Chandrababu and Nagesh, Thangavelu's humor is recognized for his impeccable timing in verbal agility and the... |
Prince Kulesekharan |
| A. Karunanidhi | Vengayam |
| K. D. Santhanam | Vallal Sadaiyappa Mudaliar |
Crew
- Producer: A. L. Srinivasan
- Production Company: ALS Productions
- Director: P. NeelakantanP. NeelakantanNeelakantan is Tamil film director. He was born in Villupuram. He graduated to movies from stage play. His play Nam Iruvar was brought by movie mogul A.V. Meyyappa Chettiar and made into a film in 1947. Then he wrote the dialogues for films like Vedala Ulagam in 1948...
- Music: G. RamanathanG. RamanathanG. Ramanatha Iyer was a famous Music Composer for Tamil Movies. He is also known as 'Isai Methai' or 'Sangeetha Chakravarthy' and considered to be one of the influential Tamil Music composers to take Carnatic Music to the masses. Notable for his association with M.K.Thyagaraja Bhagavathar...
- Screenplay: ’Sakthi’ Krishnaswami, Chinna Annamalai and M. Lakshmanan.
- Dialogues: P. Neelakantan
- Lyrics: Thanjai Ramiah Doss, K. D. Santhanam, Ku. Sa. Krishnamoorthi, Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam, Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, KannadasanKannadasanKannadasan was a Tamil poet and lyricist, heralded as one of the greatest and most important writer in the Tamil language...
and Aadhimoolam Gopalakrishnan. - Art Direction:
- Editing: R. Devarajan
- Choreography:
- Cinematography: V. Ramamoorthi & W . R. Subba Rao
- Stunt:
- Dance:
Soundtrack
- kaNda kanavu indRu paliththathE by N. L. Ganasaraswathi
- soRu maNakkum chO naadaam by V.N.Sundaram
- velga nin kotRam manna by Sirkazhi GovindarajanSirkazhi GovindarajanSirkazhi Govindarajan was a leading vocalist in Carnatic Music.Govindarajan, born in Sirkali in Madras Presidency) and started performing at the age of eight in Tirupurasundari Temple. His son Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram is also a Carnatic singer....
- varum pagaivar padai kaNdu by T. M. Soundararajan
- kottikkizhangO kizhangO by V. N .Sundaram
- ennarum nalathinaal by V. N. Sundaram
- kalaiyendRaal kalaiyum aagum kalaithalum aagum by N. S. KrishnanN. S. KrishnanNagerkoyil Sudalaimuthu Krishnan , popularly known as Kalaivanar and also as 'NSK' was a leading Tamil film comedian, drama artist, playback singer and writer in the early stages of the Tamil film industry - in the 1940s and 1950s....
- kaNNE unnaal naan adaiyum kavalai konjama by N. S. KrishnanN. S. KrishnanNagerkoyil Sudalaimuthu Krishnan , popularly known as Kalaivanar and also as 'NSK' was a leading Tamil film comedian, drama artist, playback singer and writer in the early stages of the Tamil film industry - in the 1940s and 1950s....
& T. A. MadhuramT. A. MadhuramT. A. Madhuram was a Tamil stage and film actress and Tamil film producer. She was the wife of Tamil actor and comedian N. S. Krishnan.- Biography :... - aavi udaigaLai naan katti vittEn by Sirkazhi GovindarajanSirkazhi GovindarajanSirkazhi Govindarajan was a leading vocalist in Carnatic Music.Govindarajan, born in Sirkali in Madras Presidency) and started performing at the age of eight in Tirupurasundari Temple. His son Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram is also a Carnatic singer....
- andhO parithaabam by C .S. Jayaraman
- kannithamizhagam kaNdedutha kaaviya kalaiyadi by L. R. EswariL. R. EswariL. R. Eswari is a Veteran playback singer of the Tamil movie industry. She also sang in other languages like Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Tulu, and English.-Early Life:...
- aadattuma konjam paadattumaa by P. Suseela
- pOnaa ippana ikkana kavana loona kuthiraiyina by Sirkazhi GovindarajanSirkazhi GovindarajanSirkazhi Govindarajan was a leading vocalist in Carnatic Music.Govindarajan, born in Sirkali in Madras Presidency) and started performing at the age of eight in Tirupurasundari Temple. His son Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram is also a Carnatic singer....
and A. L. RaghavanA. L. RaghavanA. L. Raghavan is an Indian playback singer, who has sung many songs in Tamil language films. He is married to the veteran actress M. N. Rajam.A. L... - amaravathiyE en aasai kaniyamudhE by T. M. Soundararajan
- ambuliyai kuzhambaakki aravinda rasamOdu amudhum sErththu by T. M. Soundararajan
- itta adi nOva eduththa adi koppaLikka by T. M. Soundararajan
- kaNNilE iruppathenna kanni IlamaanE by T. M. Soundararajan
- aaya kalaigaL arubathunaanginaiyum by T. M. Soundararajan
- sindhanai sei manamE by T. M. Soundararajan
- vadivElum mayilum thuNai by T. M. Soundararajan
- thamizh maalai thanai sooduvaar by T. M. Soundararajan
- satRe sarindha kuzhal asaiaya by T. M. Soundararajan
- natREnozhuga nadana singara by T. M. Soundararajan
- kaNNile iruppathenna kanniyiLa manE by P. Bhanumathi
- aNNalum nOkinaan, avaLum nOkkkinaaL by V. N. Sundaram
- maasila nilavE nam kaadhalil magizhvOdu by T. M. Soundararajan & P. Bhanumathi
- chandira sooriyar pOm dhisai maaRinum by N. S. KrishnanN. S. KrishnanNagerkoyil Sudalaimuthu Krishnan , popularly known as Kalaivanar and also as 'NSK' was a leading Tamil film comedian, drama artist, playback singer and writer in the early stages of the Tamil film industry - in the 1940s and 1950s....
& T. A. MadhuramT. A. MadhuramT. A. Madhuram was a Tamil stage and film actress and Tamil film producer. She was the wife of Tamil actor and comedian N. S. Krishnan.- Biography :... - vaada malarE thamizhthEnE by T. M. Soundararajan & P. Bhanumathi
Trivia
- NSK died when the movie was being made. The titles proclaim kalaivaaNar NSK avargaLukku samarppaNam (tribute to Kalaivanar NSK)and Sivaji is shown saluting NSK’s statue as part of the proceedings.
- Sivaji Ganesan had risen to great heights by this time by the dint of his histrionics and for the first time the titles of Aambikapathy referred to Sivaji Ganesan as Nadigar Thilakam.
- A. L. Sreenivasan was determined to get M. K. Thyagaraja BhagavatharM. K. Thyagaraja BhagavatharMayavaram Krishnamurthy Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , also called M.K.T., was a Tamil film actor, producer and Carnatic music singer. He is considered to be one of the most successful Tamil film actors ever....
to act in the role of Kambar. He even offered to pay Rs. 10, 000 more than the remuneration he was paying Sivaji Ganesan. But M. K. Thyagaraja BhagavatharM. K. Thyagaraja BhagavatharMayavaram Krishnamurthy Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , also called M.K.T., was a Tamil film actor, producer and Carnatic music singer. He is considered to be one of the most successful Tamil film actors ever....
declined the offer graciously, explaining that though he was willing to act as Sivaji’s father in any other movie, he would not act as Kambar- having already won fame for his earlier performance as Ambikapathi, people would not accept to see him perform now as Ambikapathi’s father. The hefty remuneration offered would have doubtless been welcome, for M. K. Thyagaraja BhagavatharM. K. Thyagaraja BhagavatharMayavaram Krishnamurthy Thyagaraja Bhagavathar , also called M.K.T., was a Tamil film actor, producer and Carnatic music singer. He is considered to be one of the most successful Tamil film actors ever....
was reeling from the failure of his ‘Pudhu Vazhvu’ released just then, but he was firm in his stated stance.