Arangetram (film)

Arangetram

Promotional poster
Directed by K. Balachander
Produced by N. Selvaraj
V. Duraisamy
V. Govindarajan
Written by K. Balachander
Starring
Music by V. Kumar
Cinematography B. S. Lokanath
Edited by N. R. Kittu
Production
company
Kalakendra Films
Distributed by Kalakendra Films
Release dates
 2 February 1973
Running time
 152 minutes
Country India
Language Tamil

Arangetram is a 1973 Tamil-language family drama film directed by K. Balachander, starring Prameela, Sivakumar, S. V. Subbaiah, Kamal Haasan and M. N. Rajam in prominent roles. The film marked Kamal Haasan's first adult role,[1][2] while, along with Prameela, Jayachitra, Jayasudha, Sashikumar and Achacho Chitra made their debuts in Tamil cinema.[3] V. Kumar composed the music for the film, which was the last Balachander film he worked on.

The film told the story of a young woman who is forced to become a prostitute to support her conservative, but extremely poor Brahmin family.[4][5][6] It carried hard hitting messages and very bold scenes and was controversial at the time of its release,[7] but became a commercial hit.[8] The film was featured as part of the Tamil Nadu government's information campaign promoting family planning.[9]

Synopsis

Lalitha is the eldest daughter of a pious and conservative Brahmin family. She has eight siblings and poverty rules reign. Her aunt comes with her unmarried daughter and starts living with them. they are a spendthrift and creates lots of problems. She decides to take up the family mantle and goes to work. She starts work as office help. She travels to Madras to meet a politician for requesting her brothers medicine seat. She was advised to go home. Another person promises to get a seat for her brother but forces her to something else. She tries to commit suicide and drops it when she talks with her brother. she leaves to Hyderbad with a promotion. Due to family needs and ill fate, she ends up as a prostitute but manages to settle all her brothers and sisters. when she returns home for a visit, her mother realises something is different with lalitha. when Kamal's marriage with the local girl is fixed her aunt makes trouble and spreads the truth with all. her aunt wanted to marry her daughter to Kamal. Her family ditches her when they come to know about her dark side. Thangavelu, a man who was once rejected by her marries her. She loses her sanity in the end.[10]

Cast

Production

T. S. B. K. Moulee in an interview in 2014 told that Balachander, who used to watch Moulee's plays, wanted him to write a comedy track for the film as he liked Moulee's style of writing. Moulee, however, felt that the film did not warrant any separate comedy as it would "dilute its seriousness" and did not work on the film.[11]

Music

Arangetram's music was composed by V. Kumar. It marks the last collaboration between Kumar and Balachander. Kannadasan had written the lyrics.

Song Singers Duration (mm:ss)
Aaramba Kaalaththil S. P. Balasubramaniam, P. Susheela 3:01
Mappilai Rakasiyam L. R. Easwari, T. V. Rathinam 3:20
Aandavanin Thottathile P. Susheela 3:14
Moothaval Nee K. Swarna, Trichy Loganathan 3:13

Remakes

Balachander remade this film in Hindi as Aaina with Mumtaz playing the lead supported by Rajesh Khanna and Kamal Hassan.[4] This was Kamal Haasan's first Hindi film. Later he was launched as a leading actor with Ek Duuje Ke Liye by K. Balachander.

In Telugu it was remade as Jeevitha Rangamu. Rama sarma, head of the family is Gummadi and his wife by Savithri. Main lead role once again played by Prameela. Other artistes include Jayasidha, Phataphat Jayalakshmi, Lakshmikanth, Chalam, S.V.Rangarao and Ravi Kondalarao. Music composed by S.Rajeswara Rao. Film includes three musically good songs.

References

  1. ↑ "Artiste with endless dreams". The Hindu. 25 May 2001. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "rediff.com, Movies: Kamal, as we know him". Rediff. 8 November 2000. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "Productions ::". Kavithalayaa. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Forbes India Magazine — K. Balachander: The Middle-Class Maestro". Forbesindia.com. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  5. ↑ "ESSAY: Women Who Have Jobs And Other Troublesome Pursuits (Part 1)". Film Impressions. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  6. ↑ "Interview: K Balachander | Baradwaj Rangan". Baradwajrangan.wordpress.com. 10 September 2006. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  7. ↑ Manushi. 22 September 1998. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  8. ↑ "Tamil Brahmins: Lost in Tamil Nadu. by G. Venkatesh". Boloji.com. 15 September 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  9. ↑ Celluloid Deities: The Visual Culture of Cinema and Politics in South India — Preminda Jacob. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  10. ↑ Different Bodies: Essays on Disability in Film and Television. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  11. ↑ T. SARAVANAN. "Mouli and the moolah". The Hindu. Retrieved 3 April 2016.

External links

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