Madanakamarajan
Encyclopedia
Madanakamarajan is a 1941 Tamil film directed by B. N . Rao and produced by S. S. Vasan. It was the first film for Vasan as producer.
's Motion Pictures Producers' Combine (MPPC) studios in a court auction. The company was renamed as Gemini Studios
and entered film production in association with a group of businessmen from Dindigal. Dindugal Amirtham studios and Gemini came together to produce a new film titled Madanakamarajan. Later differences arose between them and Vasan bought out his partners and produced the film alone. B. N. Rao (Balakrishnan Narayanan Nair) was hired to direct the film. The film was based on a screenplay written by playwright B. S. Ramaiya
. Carnatic musician V. V. Satakopan and popular actress K. L. V. Vasantha were cast in the lead roles. Table Tennis
player N. Krishnamurthy and Kothamangalam Subbu
were cast in a supporting roles. Comic relief was provided by the comedian T. S. Durairaj. The film was advertised as a "Produced for Dindugal Amirtham Talkies At Gemini Studios" and not officially produced by the Gemini Studios. M. D. Parthasaraty and S. Rajeshwara Rao composed the music while Papanasam Sivan
wrote the lyrics. The camerawork has handled by Adi M. Irani. The completed film was 17,907 feet in length.
went on to become a major player in the Tamil film industry
Production
In 1940, S. S. Vasan purchased director K. SubramaniamK. Subramaniam
Krishnaswami Subramaniam was a renowned Tamil film director of the 30s and 40s. He is the father of popular Indian danseuse Padma Subramanyam.-Biography:...
's Motion Pictures Producers' Combine (MPPC) studios in a court auction. The company was renamed as Gemini Studios
Gemini Studios
Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film...
and entered film production in association with a group of businessmen from Dindigal. Dindugal Amirtham studios and Gemini came together to produce a new film titled Madanakamarajan. Later differences arose between them and Vasan bought out his partners and produced the film alone. B. N. Rao (Balakrishnan Narayanan Nair) was hired to direct the film. The film was based on a screenplay written by playwright B. S. Ramaiya
B. S. Ramaiya
Batlagundu Subramanian Ramaiya was a Tamil, writer, journalist, and critic from Tamil Nadu, India. He was also a script and dialogue writer in Tamil films.-Biography:...
. Carnatic musician V. V. Satakopan and popular actress K. L. V. Vasantha were cast in the lead roles. Table Tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
player N. Krishnamurthy and Kothamangalam Subbu
Kothamangalam Subbu
Kothamangalam Subbu , a noted Padmashri-award winning poet, lyricist, writer, actor and director from Tamil Nadu who authored the cult classic of Tamil novelThillana Mohanambal, later made into an enchanted movie...
were cast in a supporting roles. Comic relief was provided by the comedian T. S. Durairaj. The film was advertised as a "Produced for Dindugal Amirtham Talkies At Gemini Studios" and not officially produced by the Gemini Studios. M. D. Parthasaraty and S. Rajeshwara Rao composed the music while Papanasam Sivan
Papanasam Sivan
Papanasam 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...
wrote the lyrics. The camerawork has handled by Adi M. Irani. The completed film was 17,907 feet in length.
Plot
Madanakamarajan is tale of the adventures of a prince (Satakopan) and his friend (N. Krishnamurthy).Cast and crew
- K. L. V. Vasantha
- V. V. Satagopan
- Kothamangalam SubbuKothamangalam SubbuKothamangalam Subbu , a noted Padmashri-award winning poet, lyricist, writer, actor and director from Tamil Nadu who authored the cult classic of Tamil novelThillana Mohanambal, later made into an enchanted movie...
- T. S. Durairaj
- M. R. Santhanam
- M. V. Rajamma
- K. R. Chellam
- M. S. Sundaribai
- B. N. Rao - Director
- B. S. Ramaiah - Story, Screenplay
- M. D. Parthasarathy - Music
- S. Rajeshwara Rao - 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 M. Irani - Cinematographer
- K. R. Sharma - Art director
- J. S. Sircar - Editor
- Nagarajarao - Still photographer
Reception
The film was released on 28 November 1941 and was a commercial success. Gemini StudiosGemini Studios
Gemini Studios was launched when Thiruthuraipoondi Subramanian Srinivasan bought a film distribution concern at an auction and renamed it as Gemini Pictures also known as Gemini Studios. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film...
went on to become a major player in the Tamil film industry
Soundtrack
Partial list of songs in Madanakamarajan:- Prema Premanee illamal - V. V. Satakopan
- Ennai therri thoodhu sella - K. L. V. Vasantha