Ponni
Encyclopedia
Ponni is a 1976 Malayalam language
film scripted and directed by Thoppil Bhasi
based on Malayattoor Ramakrishnan
's novel of the same name
. Produced by M. O. Joseph under the banner of Manjilas, the film features music by G. Devarajan
, cinematography by Balu Mahendra
and editing by M. S. Mani. It has Kamal Haasan
in the lead role of the protagonist and Lakshmi
in the eponymous role. The supporting cast includes Soman
, Adoor Bhasi
, Sankaradi
, Bahadoor
, Janardhanan
, Rajakumari and K. P. A. C. Lalitha
.
s of Attappady at Malleswaram Hills. Slash and burn cultivation practised by the Adivasis suddenly stopped by the Government forcing them to search for new jobs. The hero changes his hair style to suit the times. The courtship dance and traditional songs were depicted in a realistic way.
's famous novel titled Ponni
. The novel was written in 1966-67 and was inspired by true stories that Malayattoor heard when he worked as Ottappalam sub collector during 1959 - 1961.
Malayalam language
Malayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...
film scripted and directed by Thoppil Bhasi
Thoppil Bhasi
Thoppil Bhasi was a Malayalam playwright, screenwriter, and film director. He was associated with the communist movement in Kerala and his play Ningalenne Communistakki is considered to be a groundbreaking event in the history of Malayalam theatre.Thoppil Bhasi was born in Vallikunnam, a small...
based on Malayattoor Ramakrishnan
Malayattoor Ramakrishnan
Malayattoor Ramakrishnan was a prominent Malayali novelist of the 20th century from Kerala state, South India. He is credited with having authored several important works in Malayalam literature, including novels, short stories and biographical sketches...
's novel of the same name
Ponni (novel)
Ponni is a Malayalam novel written by Malayattoor Ramakrishnan in 1967. It is based on the lifestyle of Adivasis of Attappady at Malleswaram Hills.-Plot summary:...
. Produced by M. O. Joseph under the banner of Manjilas, the film features music by G. Devarajan
G. Devarajan
Paravoor Govindan Devarajan , popularly known as G. Devarajan or Devarajan master, was a noted Malayalam music composer, died on March 15, 2006 in Chennai, at the age of 80....
, cinematography by Balu Mahendra
Balu Mahendra
Balanathan "Balu" Mahendran is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, and cinematographer widely regarded as part of the first in a wave of directors and screenwriters from the Chennai film industry who revitalised Tamil cinema...
and editing by M. S. Mani. It has Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan
Kamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
in the lead role of the protagonist and Lakshmi
Lakshmi (actress)
Lakshmi Narayan is an Indian National Film Award winning actress who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Lakshmi has acted in more than 300 films in all south Indian languages apart from few in Bollywood. She has won a Filmfare Best Actress Award and eight Filmfare Awards South.-Early...
in the eponymous role. The supporting cast includes Soman
M. G. Soman
M. G. Soman was an actor in Malayalam film. He was considered to be one of the superstars in Malayalam cinema along with Sukumaran and Jayan during the 1970s. He was born in Tiruvalla, Travancore...
, Adoor Bhasi
Adoor Bhasi
Adoor Bhasi was an Indian film actor and film director from Kerala. Adoor Bhasi was almost always cast as the man who stands next to the hero. His hilarious actions and roles became the cynosure of comic scenes in the Malayalam films of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s. He is also famous for his...
, Sankaradi
Sankaradi
Sankaradi was an Indian actor. He was a veteran Malayalam comedian and character artiste, who had over 700 Malayalam films to his credit....
, Bahadoor
Bahadoor
Bahadoor , born P. K. Kunjalu, was a Malayalam film comedian who, along with Adoor Bhasi, redefined the way in which comedy and funny scenes were perceived in Malayalam cinema. They made a significant contribution toward establishing comedy as the predominant genre of Malayalam cinema...
, Janardhanan
Janardhanan (actor)
Janardhanan is a Malayalam film actor. He is known for his peculiar style of handling humor and his quaint voice. He started his career playing brusque villains in the 1970s but later went on to establish himself as a highly sought-after comedian. The turning point of his career was the role of...
, Rajakumari and K. P. A. C. Lalitha
K. P. A. C. Lalitha
Maheshwari Amma, better known by her stage name K.P.A.C. Lalitha, is a National Award winning Indian film and stage actress. She was the wife of late filmmaker Bharathan.-Biography:...
.
Plot
The film is based on the lifestyle of AdivasiAdivasi
Adivasi is an umbrella term for a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups claimed to be the aboriginal population of India. They comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population of India...
s of Attappady at Malleswaram Hills. Slash and burn cultivation practised by the Adivasis suddenly stopped by the Government forcing them to search for new jobs. The hero changes his hair style to suit the times. The courtship dance and traditional songs were depicted in a realistic way.
Writing
The film is based on MalayattoorMalayattoor Ramakrishnan
Malayattoor Ramakrishnan was a prominent Malayali novelist of the 20th century from Kerala state, South India. He is credited with having authored several important works in Malayalam literature, including novels, short stories and biographical sketches...
's famous novel titled Ponni
Ponni (novel)
Ponni is a Malayalam novel written by Malayattoor Ramakrishnan in 1967. It is based on the lifestyle of Adivasis of Attappady at Malleswaram Hills.-Plot summary:...
. The novel was written in 1966-67 and was inspired by true stories that Malayattoor heard when he worked as Ottappalam sub collector during 1959 - 1961.
Cast
- Kamal HaasanKamal HaasanKamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter and director, considered to be one of the leading method actors of Indian cinema. He is widely acclaimed as an actor and is well known for his versatility in acting...
as Maaran - SomanM. G. SomanM. G. Soman was an actor in Malayalam film. He was considered to be one of the superstars in Malayalam cinema along with Sukumaran and Jayan during the 1970s. He was born in Tiruvalla, Travancore...
as Chellan - Adoor BhasiAdoor BhasiAdoor Bhasi was an Indian film actor and film director from Kerala. Adoor Bhasi was almost always cast as the man who stands next to the hero. His hilarious actions and roles became the cynosure of comic scenes in the Malayalam films of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s. He is also famous for his...
as Bomman - SankaradiSankaradiSankaradi was an Indian actor. He was a veteran Malayalam comedian and character artiste, who had over 700 Malayalam films to his credit....
as Nanjan - BahadoorBahadoorBahadoor , born P. K. Kunjalu, was a Malayalam film comedian who, along with Adoor Bhasi, redefined the way in which comedy and funny scenes were perceived in Malayalam cinema. They made a significant contribution toward establishing comedy as the predominant genre of Malayalam cinema...
as Adhikari - JanardhananJanardhanan (actor)Janardhanan is a Malayalam film actor. He is known for his peculiar style of handling humor and his quaint voice. He started his career playing brusque villains in the 1970s but later went on to establish himself as a highly sought-after comedian. The turning point of his career was the role of...
as sub collector - Paravoor BharathanParavoor BharathanParavoor Bharathan is an Indian actor of Malayalam films who started his career in movies during 1960s. Bharathan is known as a versatile actor as he has acted in a variety of roles including negative roles, character roles and comedy roles.- Biography :...
as Hanuman - Manavalan Joseph as Sankaran
- Sam as Aandhi
- Muthukulam Raghavan PillaiMuthukulam Raghavan PillaiMuthukulam Raghavan Pillai was a Malayalam dramatist, poet, screen play writer and actor. He was born on 1900 in Muthukulam, a small village in Alappuzha District, Kerala, India...
as mooppan - J. A. R. Anand as mooppans assistant
- PrathapachandranPrathapachandranPrathapachandran was a Malayalam film actor who left a vivid impression through his dramatic portrayal of villainous and character roles in over 300 movies. He was born in 1941 at Omallur in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India. He died on December 16, 2004. He was 63.-Biography:Prathapachandran...
as Chinnan - Punjabi as tea-shop keeper
- C. A. Balan as Bhandari
- E. Madhavan as Muthalali
- LakshmiLakshmi (actress)Lakshmi Narayan is an Indian National Film Award winning actress who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Lakshmi has acted in more than 300 films in all south Indian languages apart from few in Bollywood. She has won a Filmfare Best Actress Award and eight Filmfare Awards South.-Early...
as Ponni - Rajakumari as Maashi
- K. P. A. C. LalithaK. P. A. C. LalithaMaheshwari Amma, better known by her stage name K.P.A.C. Lalitha, is a National Award winning Indian film and stage actress. She was the wife of late filmmaker Bharathan.-Biography:...
as Chikki - Pala Thankam as Chelli
External links
- Ponni at the Malayalam Movie Database