Avana Ivan
| Avana Ivan | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | S. Balachander |
| Produced by | S. Balachander |
| Written by |
S. Balachander Viduvain K. Lakshmanan |
| Story by | S. Balachander |
| Based on |
An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser |
| Music by | S. Balachander |
Release dates | 31 August 1962 |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Avana Ivan (English: Is that him?) is a 1962 Tamil film directed by S. Balachander. The film was an adaptation of the 1951 American film A Place in the Sun,[1] itself adapted from the novel An American Tragedy written by Theodore Dreiser.[2] The novel was based on the Gillette murder case that shook America in the early 20th century.
Plot
S. Balachandar played the role of Gillette, who kills his wife played by Lakshmirajam Sadan in order to marry another woman, Vaasanthi. The murder is witnessed by two children, Kutty Padmini and Master Sridhar, who go for a picnic along with other children who later expose the truth. At the last the murderer (S. Balachander) is arrested and taken away by the police; he winks at the kids who exposed him and says "Tata".
Cast
- Javert N. Sitharaman
- S. Balachander as Kumar
- Vasanthi as Jamuna (Rajam Ram's Daughter)
- Ramesh as Sub- Inspector Kannan (Sadhanandham's Son)
- C. Lakshmi Rajyam as Sumathi (Kannan Finance)
- Kutty Padmini as Meena (Rajam Ram's Younger Daughter)
- Master Sridhar as Venu (Meena's Friend)
- V. S. Raghavan as Raja Ram (Jamuna and Meena's Father)
- C. K. Saraswathy as Paruvatham (Jamuna and Meena's mother0
- Serukalathur Sama as Sadhanandham (Kannan's father)
- S. N. Lakshmi as Amudhavalli (Kannan's mother)
- Sadan as Velu (Raja Ram's house cook)
- :Thilagam" Rajakumari as Valli (Velu's finance)
- Mali as Mali (Kumar's friend)
- P. T. Sambatham as School Teacher
- S. G. Eswar as Eswar (Kumar's friend)
- Shanthini as Ponnamma (Venu's mother)
Inspiration
The film was an adaptation of the American film A Place in the Sun, based on the novel An American Tragedy written by Theodore Dreiser.[1] The novel was inspired by the Gillette murder case that shook America in the early part of the 20th century. The original film, featuring Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift, and Shelley Winters, was a major success in India. S. Balachander was much impressed with the film and tried to remake the film in Tamil, thus making his production debut. He named his company S. B. Creations, the first time the word "Creations" was used in a south Indian film for a film production company.[2]
Reception
Before the making of the film, it was reported that Balachandar sent blank cheques to the cast and crew. The film failed to make an impact at the box office.[2][3]
Soundtrack
The soundtrack features 5 songs composed by S. Balachander
- Kalyana Ponnu
- Kalyana Tirunaal
- Manam Vittu
- Val Val
- Varanamayeram Soozha
References
- 1 2 Sruti. P. N. Sundaresan. 1990. p. 35.
- 1 2 3 "Avana Ivan 1962". The Hindu. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
- ↑ V, Lakshmi (10 March 2010). "Horror films disappoint movie buffs". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 September 2011.