Or Iravu
Encyclopedia
Or Iravu is a 1951 Tamil film
produced by AVM Productions
. It was based on the play of the same name written by C. N. Annadurai
(later chief minister of Tamil Nadu
).
of AVM productions decided to make a film based on the play. Annadurai was paid 10,000 Rupees for writing the screenplay. Annadurai went to AVM studios and wrote the entire script and dialogues totaling 300 pages in a single night. The screenplay was later modified by the director and the producer of the film. This was the third film to be made based on Annadurai's plays, after Velaikaari
(1949) and Nallathambi
(1949). P. Neelakantan, who had began working for AVM in the 1947 film Nam Iruvar
as assistant director, made his debut as director with this film. Per Annadurai's recommendation Velaikari's lead actor K. R. Ramasamy was hired to play the hero. Akkineni Nageswara Rao
and T. S. Balaiya
played supporting roles in the film. The completed film was 14,980 feet in length.
praised Annadurai as "Tamil Nadu's Bernard Shaw
". Writing about the film in his biography, the film's producer Meyyappan explains the reasons for its failure:
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...
produced by AVM Productions
AVM Productions
AVM is the oldest and largest film production studio in India. It is currently owned by M. Saravanan and his son, M. S. Guhan. The most recent film they have produced since their opening with Nam Iruvar in 1947, is Vettaikkaaran and Leader. The filming studios are located in Vadapalani, Chennai....
. It was based on the play of the same name written by C. N. Annadurai
C. N. Annadurai
Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai , popularly called Anna , or Arignar Anna was a former Chief Minister of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu...
(later chief minister of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
).
Production
Or iravu (lit. one night) was a stage play written by Annadurai. It was originally written for K. R. Ramasamy's Krishnan memorial drama company by Annadurai . Avichi Meiyappa ChettiarAvichi Meiyappa Chettiar
Avichi Meiyappa Chettiar , also known as A. V. Meiyappan or AVM was an Indian film producer, director and philanthropist who established the AVM Productions in Vadapalani, Chennai. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Tamil cinema, and one of three movie moguls of the South Indian film...
of AVM productions decided to make a film based on the play. Annadurai was paid 10,000 Rupees for writing the screenplay. Annadurai went to AVM studios and wrote the entire script and dialogues totaling 300 pages in a single night. The screenplay was later modified by the director and the producer of the film. This was the third film to be made based on Annadurai's plays, after Velaikaari
Velaikaari
Velaikaari is a 1949 Tamil film produced by Jupiter Pictures. It was based on the play of the same name written by C. N. Annadurai . This was the second film to be based on Annadurai's plays.-Production:...
(1949) and Nallathambi
Nallathambi
Nallathambi is a 1949 Tamil film starring and produced by N. S. Krishnan. The film's script was written by C. N. Annadurai . This film marked Annadurai's debut in Tamil films.-Production:...
(1949). P. Neelakantan, who had began working for AVM in the 1947 film Nam Iruvar
Nam Iruvar
Nam Iruvar is a 1947 Tamil film directed and produced by A. V. Meiyappan.- Production :Based on a play written by Pa. Neelakantan and directed by Sahasranamam, Nam Iruvar was directed and produced by A.V. Meiyappan...
as assistant director, made his debut as director with this film. Per Annadurai's recommendation Velaikari's lead actor K. R. Ramasamy was hired to play the hero. Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Akkineni Nageswara Rao , also known as ANR, is a Telugu cinema actor from Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh. Nageswara Rao has worked in several genres of films in his 70-year acting career, including mythological, social, and drama films...
and T. S. Balaiya
T. S. Balaiya
Tirunelveli S. Balaiah is a Tamil film actor who is best known for the supporting roles in the Tamil film industry. He was one of the very few actors who excelled both in character roles and comic roles....
played supporting roles in the film. The completed film was 14,980 feet in length.
Plot
The play Or iravu depicted events that happen in a single night. Older incidents were depicted using flashbacks. However in the film version, flash backs were replaced with a linear narration. Or iravu tells the story of a thief who breaks into a rich man's house without knowing that the rich man is his own father who had abandoned him and his mother long ago.Cast and crew
- K. R. Ramasamy
- T. S. BalaiyaT. S. BalaiyaTirunelveli S. Balaiah is a Tamil film actor who is best known for the supporting roles in the Tamil film industry. He was one of the very few actors who excelled both in character roles and comic roles....
- Akkineni Nageswara RaoAkkineni Nageswara RaoAkkineni Nageswara Rao , also known as ANR, is a Telugu cinema actor from Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh. Nageswara Rao has worked in several genres of films in his 70-year acting career, including mythological, social, and drama films...
- T. K. Shanmugam
- T. P. Muthulakshmi
- Lalitha
- B. S. Saroja
- T. S. Durairaj
- P. Neelakantan - Director, Screenplay
- C. N. AnnaduraiC. N. AnnaduraiConjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai , popularly called Anna , or Arignar Anna was a former Chief Minister of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu...
- Story, original screenplay - R. Sudarsan - Music
- BharathidasanBharathidasanBharathidasan was a twentieth century Tamil poet and rationalist whose literary works handled mostly socio-political issues. His writings served as a catalyst for the growth of the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu...
-lyrics - T. K. Shanmugam - lyrics
- K. P. Kamatchi - Lyrics
- Ku. ma. pa. Bharathiyar - Lyrics
- S. Maruti Rao - Cinematographer
- A. Balu - Art director
- K. Shankar - Editor
- Ramaya pillai & Hiralal - Choreographers
Reception
The film was a box office failure. However, it was received well by critics and contemporary writers of Annadurai. After seeing the film Kalki KrishnamurthyKalki Krishnamurthy
Kalki was the pen name of R. Krishnamurthy , a noted Tamil writer, film & music critic, Indian independence activist and journalist from Tamil Nadu, India.- Biography:...
praised Annadurai as "Tamil Nadu's Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
". Writing about the film in his biography, the film's producer Meyyappan explains the reasons for its failure:
Soundtrack
Partial list of songs from Or iravu:- Ayya sami Aooji Sami - M. L. VasanthakumariM. L. VasanthakumariMadras Lalitangi Vasanthakumari , was a Carnatic musician and playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. MLV and her contemporaries D. K. Pattammal and M. S. Subbulakshmi were popularly referred to as the "female trinity of Carnatic Music. A prime disciple of the G. N...
- Thunbam sergayil - M. S. Rajeswari & V. J. Varma
- Vasantha Mullaiyum Malligaiyum - M. S. Rajeswari
- Kottu Murase - K. R. Ramasamy, M. S. Rajeswari & V. J. Varma