Pankajavalli is a 1947 Indian Tamil-language film written, produced and directed by S. Soundararajan.[2] The music was by Papanasam Sivan. The film starred P. U. Chinnappa, T. R. Rajakumari and Kumari Rukmani. The film was basically the story of Alli, who dominates men in her kingdom and treats them like slaves.[3] The film was inspired by the popular Kerala folktale Malayala Pankajavalli, which Ayyangar adapted.

Pankajavalli
Poster
Directed byS. Soundararajan Ayyangar
Screenplay byS. Soundararajan Ayyangar
Based onMalayala Pankajavalli
Produced byS. Soundararajan Ayyangar
StarringP. U. Chinnappa
T. R. Rajakumari
Kumari Rukmani
Music byPapanasam Sivan
Production
company
Tamil Nadu Talkies
Release date
  • 10 October 1947 (1947-10-10) (India)[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

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Arjuna decides to conquer Pankajavalli. However, she captures him. He prays to Krishna, who turns him into a woman named Brihannala. After many incidents, the truth comes out and everything ends happily.[3]

Cast

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Production

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The role of Krishna was played by a woman, at a time when women portray male figures was unusual.[3]

Soundtrack

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The film's music was composed and lyrics by Papanasam Sivan. His assistant and P. U. Chinnappa sat together. Chinnappa apparently felt that Papanasam Sivan favoured M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar. So during the session, he expressed this to Sivan, who smiled and told him that while Bhagavathar had a high pitched voice conducive for songs such as Manmadaleelaiyai (from Haridas) Chinnappa had a low-pitched voice. After, this Sivan wrote the opening line of the first song of the film – a prayer song in Ragha Karaha Priya. Sivan also sang the song Nee Illamal Anuvum Asaiyumo.[3]

No Songs Singer Lyrics Duration
1 "Nee Illamal Anuvum Aasaiyumo" P. U. Chinnappa Papanasam Sivan 03:19
2 "Aaruyirellam Amuthum" P. U. Chinnappa 03:14
3 "Dheivamum Mandhira Vaal T. R. Rajakumari 03:02
4 "Devinin Vadivazhagai" T. R. Rajakumari 03:03
5 "Vennilave.... Aaruyirkkellam" P. U. Chinnappa 03:18
6 "Utthama Nanban Unpol Undo" P. U. Chinnappa 03:11

References

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  1. ^ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  2. ^ Dhananjayan, G. (2014). Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931–2013. Blue Ocean Publishers. p. 99. OCLC 898765509.
  3. ^ a b c d Guy, Randor (27 July 2013). "Pankajavalli (1947)". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 December 2021.