Sati Sulochana
Encyclopedia
Sati Sulochana is a film
made in Kannada language
. The film was released in the year 1934
and is the first talkie film in Kannada language. It is also the first film to be screened in the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom.
businessman from Bangalore
(A native of AHORE, Jalore District of Rajasthan ) named Shah Chamanlal Doongaji, who started a film production company in Bangalore called South India Movietone in 1932. He decided to make a mythological movie called Sati Sulochana involving characters from the Ramayana
like Ravana
, Ravana's son Indrajit
, Ravana's wife Mandodari
and Indrajit's wife Sulochana
. He engaged the services of Yaragudipati Varada Rao to direct the film as well as play a character of Lakshman in the film. He also engaged the services of Bellave Narahari Sastry to write the screenplay, dialogues and lyrics. Nagendra Rao, who had previous exposure to films, was selected to play the role of Ravana and was given an additional role of production management. M. V. Subbaiah Naidu was selected to play the role of Indrajit
and two ladies; Lakshmi Bai and Thripuramaba were selected to play the roles of Mandodari
and Sulochana
respectively.
. The length of the film was 170 min. Being the first Kannada talkie film, it ran house-full at Bangalore for six weeks.
from the Ramayana. She is the wife of Indrajit
and the daughter-in-law of Ravana
, the demon-king in Ramayana. The film tries to portray the goings on of the war between the Hindu
god Rama
and Ravana
as seen from the point-of-view of Sulochana. Ravana abducts Rama's wife Sita
to his kingdom of Lanka
, drawing Rama into a war. In the course of the war, Rama's brother Lakshman is knocked unconscious by an arrow from Indrajit and is revived by a medicinal herb called Sanjeevani
. The revived Lakshman kills Indrajit and makes Sulochana a widow. Ravana's defeat by Lord Rama and the killing of Indrajit is viewed through the eyes of Sulochana. Unable to bear the pain of husband's death, Sulochana
commits sati
sacrifice.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
made in Kannada language
Kannada language
Kannada or , is a language spoken in India predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Kannada, whose native speakers are called Kannadigas and number roughly 50 million, is one of the 30 most spoken languages in the world...
. The film was released in the year 1934
1934 in film
-Events:*January 26 - Samuel Goldwyn purchases the film rights to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the L. Frank Baum estate for $40,000.*February 19 - Bob Hope marries Dolores Reade...
and is the first talkie film in Kannada language. It is also the first film to be screened in the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom.
Background
The producer of the film was a MarwariMarwaris
Marwari or Marwadi or Rajasthani people are Indian ethnic group, that inhabit the Rajasthan region of India. Their language Rajasthani is a part of the western group of Indo-Aryan languages....
businessman from Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
(A native of AHORE, Jalore District of Rajasthan ) named Shah Chamanlal Doongaji, who started a film production company in Bangalore called South India Movietone in 1932. He decided to make a mythological movie called Sati Sulochana involving characters from the 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...
like Ravana
Ravana
' is the primary antagonist character of the Hindu legend, the Ramayana; who is the great king of Lanka. In the classic text, he is mainly depicted negatively, kidnapping Rama's wife Sita, to claim vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister...
, Ravana's son Indrajit
Indrajit
Indrajit or Meghanatha , a warrior mentioned in the Indian epic Ramayana, was the son of the Lankan king Ravana. The word 'Indrajit' literally means the 'conqueror of Indra '....
, Ravana's wife Mandodari
Mandodari
Mandodari is the Queen Consort of Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, according to the Hindu epic Ramayana. The Ramayana describes Mandodari as beautiful, pious, and righteous...
and Indrajit's wife Sulochana
Sulochana (Ramayana)
Sulochana was the daughter of the King of the Serpents Shesha Naga, who is mentioned in the Indian epic Ramayana. She was married to Indrajit who was the son of demon king Ravana, who defeated Indra, hence received his title....
. He engaged the services of Yaragudipati Varada Rao to direct the film as well as play a character of Lakshman in the film. He also engaged the services of Bellave Narahari Sastry to write the screenplay, dialogues and lyrics. Nagendra Rao, who had previous exposure to films, was selected to play the role of Ravana and was given an additional role of production management. M. V. Subbaiah Naidu was selected to play the role of Indrajit
Indrajit
Indrajit or Meghanatha , a warrior mentioned in the Indian epic Ramayana, was the son of the Lankan king Ravana. The word 'Indrajit' literally means the 'conqueror of Indra '....
and two ladies; Lakshmi Bai and Thripuramaba were selected to play the roles of Mandodari
Mandodari
Mandodari is the Queen Consort of Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, according to the Hindu epic Ramayana. The Ramayana describes Mandodari as beautiful, pious, and righteous...
and Sulochana
Sulochana
-Indian Actresses:* Raja Sulochana, is an Indian actress.* Sulochana , real name Ruby Myers, an Indian silent film actress, sometimes mentioned as Sulchana Sr. , to avoid confusion, with a later character actress:...
respectively.
Production
sachin nayaka chose to shoot the film at Chatrapathi Studio in Kolhapur. The production was started in December 1933 and took 2 months to complete. Shooting was entirely done in natural sunlight and the total amount spent for production was Rs. 40000. The film involved shooting a war scene and this was done using 2 cameras, which was unheard of in those days. The film was released on March 3, 1934 at Paramount cinema theatre (later called as Parimala talkies) near the City Market of BangaloreBangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
. The length of the film was 170 min. Being the first Kannada talkie film, it ran house-full at Bangalore for six weeks.
Plot
Sati Sulochana is based on the character SulochanaSulochana
-Indian Actresses:* Raja Sulochana, is an Indian actress.* Sulochana , real name Ruby Myers, an Indian silent film actress, sometimes mentioned as Sulchana Sr. , to avoid confusion, with a later character actress:...
from the Ramayana. She is the wife of Indrajit
Indrajit
Indrajit or Meghanatha , a warrior mentioned in the Indian epic Ramayana, was the son of the Lankan king Ravana. The word 'Indrajit' literally means the 'conqueror of Indra '....
and the daughter-in-law of Ravana
Ravana
' is the primary antagonist character of the Hindu legend, the Ramayana; who is the great king of Lanka. In the classic text, he is mainly depicted negatively, kidnapping Rama's wife Sita, to claim vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister...
, the demon-king in Ramayana. The film tries to portray the goings on of the war between the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
god Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
and Ravana
Ravana
' is the primary antagonist character of the Hindu legend, the Ramayana; who is the great king of Lanka. In the classic text, he is mainly depicted negatively, kidnapping Rama's wife Sita, to claim vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister...
as seen from the point-of-view of Sulochana. Ravana abducts Rama's wife Sita
SITA
SITA is a multinational information technology company specialising in providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry...
to his kingdom of Lanka
Lanka
Sri Lanka is the name given in Hindu mythology to the island fortress capital of the legendary king Ravana in the great Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata...
, drawing Rama into a war. In the course of the war, Rama's brother Lakshman is knocked unconscious by an arrow from Indrajit and is revived by a medicinal herb called Sanjeevani
Sanjeevani
Sanjeevani may refer to:*Sanjivani , a Hindi television serial*Selaginella bryopteris, a lithophytic plant commonly known as sanjeevani*Sanjivani , Zee TV voice talent hunt reality show SaReGaMa 1995 winner and playback singer...
. The revived Lakshman kills Indrajit and makes Sulochana a widow. Ravana's defeat by Lord Rama and the killing of Indrajit is viewed through the eyes of Sulochana. Unable to bear the pain of husband's death, Sulochana
Sulochana
-Indian Actresses:* Raja Sulochana, is an Indian actress.* Sulochana , real name Ruby Myers, an Indian silent film actress, sometimes mentioned as Sulchana Sr. , to avoid confusion, with a later character actress:...
commits sati
Sati (practice)
For other uses, see Sati .Satī was a religious funeral practice among some Indian communities in which a recently widowed woman either voluntarily or by use of force and coercion would have immolated herself on her husband’s funeral pyre...
sacrifice.