Konjum Salangai

Not to be confused with Konjum Kumari.

Konjum Salangai
Theatrical release poster
Directed byM. V. Raman
Produced byM. V. Raman
Dialogue byKu. Ma. Balasubramaniam
StarringGemini Ganesan
Savitri
R. S. Manohar
Kumari Kamala
CinematographyS. Harpeet
Art Direction:
M. Azhagappan
Edited byR. Bhaskaran
S. Muthu
Music byS. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Audiography:
E. I. Jeeva
Production
company
Devi Films
Distributed byDevi Films
Release date
  • 14 January 1962 (1962-01-14)
Running time
180 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil
Budget₹4 million

Konjum Salangai (transl. Enticing Anklets) is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language musical dance film directed by M. V. Raman. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, R. S. Manohar and Kumari Kamala. It was released on 14 January 1962. The film was dubbed into Telugu as Muripinche Muvvalu.[1] This film is the Indian Tamil cinema's one and only Tamil film to be entirely shot and released in Technicolor.

Plot

King Parthiban presents a rare anklet (salangai) to the dancer Aparajita, a gesture that angers those who resent a dancer’s influence over the kingdom. Aparajita later gives birth to the king’s son, Amarendran, and entrusts him to a priest along with the anklet. Before her death, she secures a promise from the priest that the truth about the child’s identity will be revealed at the right time.

Amarendran grows up to be a strong and talented young man with a passion for music, dance, and martial arts. During a grand festival, the priest decides it is time to disclose Amarendran’s true heritage and carries the anklet in a wooden box. While crossing a flooded river, however, he loses it. The anklet is recovered by Amarendran, who also rescues a dancer named Mallika from the floodwaters. Amarendran returns the anklet to the king and later meets the singer Shantha, who falls in love with him.

Mallika impresses the king, is subsequently appointed the court dancer and gets the anklet as a gift. In another dance competition, Mallika dances with Kamavalli (Kushalakumari) and the anklet gets stolen due to a conspiracy. The villain Nagadevan lusts after Mallika. How Amarendran and Mallika are united forms the rest of the story.

Cast

Credits adapted from the film's songbook:[2]

Supporting cast
  • T. V. Sethuraman, Gemini Balu, Socrates Thangaraj, Kumari Sasi, Stunt Raji, K. S. Manian

Production

Konjum Salangai was the 100th film for Savitri as an actress.[3] It was shot in 41 different sets at three studios Newtone Studios and Narasu Studios in Madras, and Raman Studio in Bombay.[4] It was processed in London under the direct supervision of Raman.[5] The budget of the film was ₹4 million (equivalent to ₹340 million or US$4.0 million in 2023).[6]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu.[7][8] One of the songs from this film "Singara Velane" was well received and provided breakthrough for S. Janaki who sang the song, Nadaswaram portions for the song was played by Karaikurichi Arunachalam.[5][9] Regarding the recording of the song, the singing by Janaki was recorded at the Raman Studio in Bombay, while the nadaswaram portions were recorded in Madras, and the two tracks were mixed.[5][10] The song is based on Abheri raga.[11] Another song "Orumuraiyudan" is based on Bilahari raga.[12]

Song Singers Lyrics Length
"Orumaiyudan Ninathu Thirumalaradi" Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi Ramalinga Adigalar 03:25
"Dhinamidhuve Subathinamithuve" S. C. Krishnan and group V. Seetharaman 02:10
"Kaana Kann Kodi" Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi 05:22
"Konjum Salangai Olikettu" P. Leela Kannadasan 03:50
"Brahman Thalam Poda" Jayalakshmi, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam 09:57
"Singaravelane Deva" S. Janaki 06:14
"Vel Eduppome.... Vetri Vil Thoduppome" S. C. Krishnan, Chorus
"Kannaa Nee Enge" S. Janaki 00:50
"Kadhal Geetham Ketkuma" T. M. Soundararajan 02:42
"Vasantha Kalathendralil" P. Susheela V. Seetharaman 03:25
"Naadanda Uthamarai.... Vanjakargal Veezhave" T. M. Soundararajan, Chorus Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
"Konjum Salangai Olikettu" P. Susheela Kannadasan 03:23

Release and reception

Konjum Salangai was released in India on 14 January 1962, coinciding with Pongal.[13] It was also released outside India, with the original having subtitles in more than 22 languages by a British company. It was also dubbed into other languages and received a fair amount of notice from critics.[4] The film marked a record for being the first Tamil film to be exhibited in Poland with a dubbed version.[14][15] In a review dated 28 January 1962, The Indian Express said, "Konjum Salangai, the first Technicolor feature film of South India is a revealing experience that even our technicians can bring out in a film the rich, glossy sheen and pleasing tonal gradations comparable with that of any Technicolor product made abroad."[16]

References

  1. ^ Narasimham, M. L. (6 August 2018). "On S. Janaki's sonorous rendition of 'Nee leela paadeda Deva' in 'Muripinche Muvvalu'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  2. ^ கொஞ்சும் சலங்கை [Enticing Anklets] (PDF) (song book) (in Tamil). Devi Films. Retrieved 5 July 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ "100 வது படம்!" [100th film!]. Kungumam (in Tamil). 19 May 2017. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  4. ^ a b The Illustrated Weekly of India: 1962, Volume 83, Issue 1
  5. ^ a b c Guy, Randor (23 May 2015). "Konjum Salangai 1962". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 January 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Konjum Salangai". The Indian Express. 22 December 1961. p. 3. Retrieved 11 February 2019 – via Google News Archive.
  7. ^ Neelamegam, G. (November 2016). Thiraikalanjiyam – Part 2 (in Tamil) (1st ed.). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 59.
  8. ^ "Konjum Salangai (1964)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  9. ^ "Timeless voice". The Hindu. 29 June 2007. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  10. ^ Guy, Randor (23 December 2010). "Memorable notes". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  11. ^ "A Raga's Journey — Aspects of Abheri". The Hindu. 5 August 2011. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Morning ragas". The Hindu. 8 June 2013. Archived from the original on 31 August 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  13. ^ "1962 – கொஞ்சும் சலங்கை – ராமன் புரொடக்" [1962 – Konjum Salangai – Raman Produc]. Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Retrieved 11 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. ^ "This day that age". The Hindu. 30 July 2012. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  15. ^ "The first Tamil film in Poland?". The Times of India. 24 March 2013. Archived from the original on 2 October 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  16. ^ "Pleasing Photography In Konjum Salangai". The Indian Express. 28 January 1962. p. 3. Retrieved 11 May 2017 – via Google News Archive.
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