Haridas (1944 film)
Encyclopedia
Haridas is a 1944 Tamil language film
directed by Sundar Rao Nadkarni
and starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
. It holds the record of being the first film to run continuously for 110 weeks at a single theatre.
film director and produced by Royal Talkies. It was based on the story of the life of a poet-saint called Haridas. The role of Haridas was played by M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, who was highest paid actor in Tamil film industry then. The film was very short (10,994 Feet) compared to other films from the same period. Featuring a number of melodious songs sung by Bhagavathar, the film was released on Deepavali
Day (16 October) 1944. Classical musician N. C. Vasanthakokilam, who was often compared to M. S. Subbulakshmi
as a singer, played the role of Haridas' wife. The film also marked the debut of renowned Tamil actress Pandari Bai
. The comedic duo of N. S. Krishnan
and T. A. Mathuram were also cast in this film. Post production work was done in central labs.
usage. Papanasam Sivan was the composer for this film and G. Ramanathan was in charge of the orchestration. A partial list of songs from this film:
. Bhagavathar became Tamil cinema industry's highest paid star and was offered One lakh (1,00,000) Rupees per film. Following the success of Haridas, Bhagavathar was immediately booked for as many as twelve films. However, he was not able to enjoy his success as he was arrested in November 1944 as a suspect in the Lakshmikanthan Murder Case
.
Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
directed by Sundar Rao Nadkarni
Sundar Rao Nadkarni
Sundar Rao Nadkarni was an Indian film actor, editor, cinematographer and director. He was the director of the record-creating Tamil film Haridas.- Early life :...
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....
. It holds the record of being the first film to run continuously for 110 weeks at a single theatre.
Production
Haridas was directed by Sundar Rao Nadkarni, a MarathiMarathi people
The Marathi people or Maharashtrians are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India. Their language Marathi is part of the southern group of Indo-Aryan languages...
film director and produced by Royal Talkies. It was based on the story of the life of a poet-saint called Haridas. The role of Haridas was played by M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, who was highest paid actor in Tamil film industry then. The film was very short (10,994 Feet) compared to other films from the same period. Featuring a number of melodious songs sung by Bhagavathar, the film was released on Deepavali
Diwali
Diwali or DeepavaliThe name of the festival in various regional languages include:, , , , , , , , , , , , , popularly known as the "festival of lights," is a festival celebrated between mid-October and mid-December for different reasons...
Day (16 October) 1944. Classical musician N. C. Vasanthakokilam, who was often compared to M. S. Subbulakshmi
M. S. Subbulakshmi
Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi , also known as M.S., was a renowned Carnatic vocalist. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor. She is the first Indian musician to receive...
as a singer, played the role of Haridas' wife. The film also marked the debut of renowned Tamil actress Pandari Bai
Pandari Bai
Pandari Bai was a prominent heroine of South Indian languages films mostly in Kannada and Tamil during the 1950s and 60s. She has the distinction of having acted as both heroine and mother to stalwarts such as Dr. Rajkumar and Sivaji Ganesan...
. The comedic duo of 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....
and T. A. Mathuram were also cast in this film. Post production work was done in central labs.
Plot synopsis
Haridas (Thyagaraja Bhagavathar) is a vain individual who spends his life in luxury and lust ignoring his wife(Vasanthakokilam). But when his wealth is appropriated by a courtesan (T. R. Rajakumari), he realizes life's realities, reforms and spends the rest of his days serving his parents and God.Cast and crew
- 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....
- Haridas - T. R. RajakumariT. R. RajakumariThanjavur Ranganayaki Rajayee , popularly known by her screen name T. R. Rajakumari was a Tamil film actress, Carnatic singer and dancer. She has been called the first "dream girl" of Tamil cinema.-Early life:...
- Haridas' mistress - N. C. Vasanthakokilam - Haridas' wife
- 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. Mathuram
- P. B. Rangachari
- Harini
- Radhabai
- Pandari BaiPandari BaiPandari Bai was a prominent heroine of South Indian languages films mostly in Kannada and Tamil during the 1950s and 60s. She has the distinction of having acted as both heroine and mother to stalwarts such as Dr. Rajkumar and Sivaji Ganesan...
- Sundar Rao Nadkarni - Editor and Director
- Ilankovan - Dialogue
- G. Ramanathan - Music
- Papanasam SivanPapanasam SivanPapanasam Sivan was a prominent composer of Carnatic music and a singer.A famous composer, Sivan was also known as Tamil Thyagayya. Using Classical South Indian as a base, Sivan created numerous hits popularised by M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar and M. S...
- Lyrics - Adi Irani - Cinematographer
- T. Muthuswamy - Cinematographer
- H. Shantaram - Art Director
Soundtrack
All songs in this film became hits. The song "Manmadha leelayai vendrar undo" celebrating erotic love has become an enduring hit and the phrase has entered every day TamilTamil 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...
usage. Papanasam Sivan was the composer for this film and G. Ramanathan was in charge of the orchestration. A partial list of songs from this film:
- ”Manmadha leelayai vendrar undo”
- ”Krishnaa mukunda muraree”
- ”Annaiyum thandhaiyum”
- ”Vaazhvil oru thirunaal”
- ”Nijamma idhu nijamma”
- ”Kadhiravan vudhayam kanden”
- ”Ullam kavarum en paavaai”
- ”Natanam innum aadanam”
- ”Ennalum Indha”
- ”Thottadharkellam”
- ”Enadhuyir nadhar”
- ”Ennudal thanil”
- ”Kanna vaa manivanna vaa”
Reception
Haridas hit the theatres on Deepavali day (16 October) 1944. It was a huge success and ran for 110 consecutive weeks till Deepavali day (22 November) 1946 at the Sun Theatres in Broadway, Madras. Including different theatres it had an uninterrupted theatrical run of 133 weeks. With the profits earned from the film, the producers established a knitting company in MaduraiMadurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
. Bhagavathar became Tamil cinema industry's highest paid star and was offered One lakh (1,00,000) Rupees per film. Following the success of Haridas, Bhagavathar was immediately booked for as many as twelve films. However, he was not able to enjoy his success as he was arrested in November 1944 as a suspect in the Lakshmikanthan Murder Case
Lakshmikanthan Murder Case
The Lakshmikanthan murder case was a high-profile criminal trial which was conducted in the then Madras Presidency between November 1944 and April 1947. The cause of the trial was the murder of C. N. Lakshmikanthan, a Tamil film journalist with a hoary past. Lakshmikanthan was stabbed in Vepery,...
.