Vazhkai Vazhvatharke (transl. Life is for living) is a 1964 Indian Tamil-language romance film directed by Krishnan–Panju from a story by Kothamangalam Subbu. The film stars Gemini Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi. It was released on 7 February 1964.

Vazhkai Vazhvatharke
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKrishnan–Panju
Story byKothamangalam Subbu
Produced byKamaludheen
StarringGemini Ganesan
B. Saroja Devi
CinematographyS. Maruti Rao
Music byViswanathan–Ramamoorthy
Production
company
Kamal Brothers
Release date
  • 7 February 1964 (1964-02-07)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot edit

Cousins Kandan and Valli have been lovers since childhood. As a boy, Kandan leaves the home of Valli after being insulted and ridiculed by her mother as good-for-nothing and as the offspring of mother whose fidelity has been questioned by her husband. Picked up by a race horse owner, Kandan grows up into a jockey and when he becomes rich, he goes to Valli's home to claim her in marriage. He is again rebuffed and, after several moments of anguish, he clears up the stigma attached to his mother and, when all doubts and misunderstandings are cleared, he re-unites with Valli. With the re-union of the family members, his sister also finds a solution to the problem of her marriage with her lover, a zamindar.

Cast edit

Male cast
Female cast

Production edit

Vazhkai Vazhvatharke was directed by Krishnan–Panju (a duo consisting of R. Krishnan and S. Panju) and produced by Kamaludheen under the banner Kamal Brothers.[1] The story was written by Kothamangalam Subbu and the dialogue by Murasoli Maran. Cinematography was handled by S. Maruti Rao, and the art direction by A. K. Sekhar.[2] The length of the film was 4,550 metres (14,930 ft).[1]

Soundtrack edit

The music of the film was composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy (a duo consisting of M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy) while the lyrics were written by Kannadasan.[2][3]

Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Pachai Kuthalaiyo"L. R. Eswari 
2."Aathoram Manaleduthu"Latha, Ramamani 
3."Aadakkaanbathu Kaaviri Vellam"P. Susheela, K. Jamuna Rani, M. S. Viswanathan 
4."Azhagu Rasippatharke"P. Susheela, chorus 
5."Avan Porukkup Ponaan"P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela 
6."Nenjathil Iruppathu Enna Enna"P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela 
7."Aathoram Manaleduthu" (Pathos)P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela 

Release and reception edit

Vazhkai Vazhvatharke was released on 7 February 1964.[2] On the same day, The Indian Express described the story as lacking "life" and the direction as "amateurish", concluding, "The producers, perhaps, want us to believe that this is life and it is worth living."[4] On 21 March 1964, T. M. Ramachandran of Sport and Pastime dismissed the film as a potboiler, but praised the performances of Ganesan and Saroja Devi, while describing Thangavelu, in his dual role performance, as "the real life and soul of the picture".[5] Kanthan of Kalki panned the film, criticising virtually every aspect including the story, songs, characters and the confusing screenplay.[6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "1964 – வாழ்க்கை வாழ்வதற்கே – கமால் பிரதர்ஸ்" [1964 – Vazhkai Vazhvatharke – Kamal Brothers]. Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Vazhkai Vazhavatharke". The Indian Express. 7 February 1964. p. 10. Retrieved 6 October 2017 – via Google News Archive.
  3. ^ வாழ்க்கை வாழ்வதற்கே (song book) (in Tamil). Kamal Brothers. 1964. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Vazhkai Vazhvatharke lacks life". The Indian Express. 7 February 1964. p. 3. Retrieved 6 October 2017 – via Google News Archive.
  5. ^ Ramachandran, T. M. (21 March 1964). "Ganesh Sustains His Name". Sport and Pastime. Vol. 18. p. 50. Archived from the original on 10 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ காந்தன் (1 March 1964). "வாழ்க்கை வாழ்வதற்கே". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 61. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2021.

External links edit