Major Chandrakanth
Theatrical release poster
Directed byK. Balachander
Written byK. Balachander
Based onMajor Chandrakanth
by K. Balachander
Produced byA. V. Meiyappan
Starring
CinematographyS. Maruti Rao
Edited byR. G. Gopu
Music byV. Kumar
Production
company
Release date
  • 11 November 1966 (1966-11-11)
Running time
163 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Major Chandrakanth is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by K. Balachander. Based on his play of the same name, the film stars Major Sundarrajan, Nagesh, R. Muthuraman, A. V. M. Rajan and Jayalalithaa. Produced by A. V. Meiyappan of AVM Productions, it revolves around a retired and blind major who gives asylum to a fugitive wanted for committing murder, unaware that the victim was his younger son.

Major Chandrakanth was released on 11 November 1966, during Diwali. It became a commercial success, and won two Chennai Film Fans' Association Awards: Best Film, and Best Supporting Actor (Muthuraman). Sundarrajan, who portrayed the title role, later became popularly known with the prefix "Major".

Plot

Mohan is a tailor who lives with his younger sister Vimala. Orphaned at an early age, Mohan goes through a life of hardship and fulfills all his sister's wishes. Rajinikanth, a womaniser, lures Vimala and cheats on her. Unable to face her brother, she commits suicide. Mohan confronts Rajinikanth and kills him in revenge. Now a fugitive, Mohan hides in the house of Chandrakanth, a retired and blind major

Mohan is amused and fascinated by Chandrakanth's virtues and how he manages to live though he is blind. Mohan reveals why he is on the run from law and ironically, the deceased happens to be Chandrakanth's younger son. Chandrakanth feels humiliated for nurturing Rajinikanth and is sorry for Mohan's plight. Ultimately, Chandrakanth's elder son Srikanth, an inspector, arrests Mohan along with his own father for showing hospitality to a criminal.

Cast

Production

In October 1963, it was announced that K. Balachander had sold the film rights of his play Major Chandrakanth; the film adaptation would be directed by P. Madhavan for Nithyakalyani Films, and star Sivaji Ganesan, but was later shelved.[2][3] Instead, the play was adapted into a Hindi film Oonche Log in 1965, with a different cast and crew.[4][5] A. V. Meiyappan later decided to produce a Tamil film adaptation of the play under his banner AVM Productions with the same title, and Balachander was chosen as director, as it was Meiyappan's long-time desire that Balachander make a film for AVM.[6][7]

Sundarrajan, who portrayed the blind major Chandrakanth in the Tamil play, reprised his role in this film.[8][9] The character's sons Srikanth and Rajinikanth were played by R. Muthuraman and A. V. M. Rajan respectively, replacing Venky and Govindarajan.[1][10] Jayalalithaa was cast as Vimala,[1] unlike the play where the same character was unseen.[10][11] The film was the only collaboration between her and Balachander.[3][12] Nagesh was cast as Vimala's brother Mohan, replacing Gokulnath.[1][10] The role was a departure from the comedic roles he was then generally known for.[13] Cinematography was handled by S. Maruti Rao,[14] the art direction by A. K. Sekhar,[15] and the editing by R. G. Gopu.[16] Meiyappan's sons Murugan, Kumaran and Saravanan were assistant producers.[16] The final length measured 4,425 metres (14,518 ft).[6]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by V. Kumar, while the lyrics were written by Vaali and Suratha.[17] The song "Kalyana Sapadu Podava" is set in the Carnatic raga known as Sindhu Bhairavi.[18] The song "Oru Naal Yaaro", picturised on Mohan going to prove to the audience in his neighbourhood that his Vimala is singing on the radio, became a chartbuster.[12]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Naane Pani Nilavu"VaaliP. Susheela4:06
2."Oru Naal Yaaro"VaaliP. Susheela3:35
3."Netrunee Chinnapappa"VaaliT. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela4:01
4."Kalyana Sapadu Podava"VaaliT. M. Soundararajan4:12
5."Kalyana Sapadu Podava" (Pathos)VaaliT. M. Soundararajan1:35
6."Thuninthunil"SurathaSirkazhi Govindarajan1:25
Total length:18:54

Release and reception

Major Chandrakanth was released on 11 November 1966,[19] during Diwali.[15] In a review dated 26 November 1966, The Indian Express said Sundarrajan brought not only "complete conviction and dignity" to his role but also "revels his rare characterisational depth and sensitivity." The reviewer also praised the performances of Nagesh, Jayalalithaa, Muthuraman and Rajan, the photography and the editing.[20] A critic from Kalki praised the performances of the cast, particularly Sundarrajan, but felt the film looked like a play in many places.[21] The film won two Chennai Film Fans' Association Awards: Best Film, and Best Supporting Actor (Muthuraman).[22]

Legacy

Following the film's commercial success, Sundarrajan became popularly known with the prefix "Major".[23] During the making of Apoorva Raagangal (1975), Balachander rechristened newcomer Shivaji Rao Gaekwad as Rajinikanth, named after A. V. M. Rajan's character,[24] and Rajinikanth went on to become one of the most successful stars of Tamil cinema.[25][26]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 388.
  2. ↑ Ramachandran, T. M. (19 October 1963). "Studio News". Sport and Pastime. Vol. 17. p. 50. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  3. 1 2 ராம்ஜி, வி. (11 November 2022). "சுந்தர்ராஜனுக்கு 'மேஜர்' பட்டம் தந்த 'சந்திரகாந்த்!'". Kamadenu (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 18 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  4. ↑ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 386.
  5. ↑ Narayan, Hari (15 November 2016). "KB's continuum". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  6. 1 2 "1966 – மேஜர் சந்திரகாந்த் – (நாடகம்) ஏ.வி.எம்" [1966 – Major Chandrakanth – (Play) A.V.M.]. Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  7. ↑ Saravanan 2013, pp. 190–191.
  8. ↑ Krishnamachari, Suganthy (27 August 2015). "Made a 'Major' impact". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  9. ↑ Guy, Randor (3 May 2011). "The KB school". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 Bhatt, Karthik (13 April 2017). "Major Chandrakanth : From Stage to Celluloid". The Cinema Resource Centre. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  11. ↑ Yamunan, Sruthisagar (23 December 2014). "A powerful portrayer of middle-class predicament in plays". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  12. 1 2 Ganapathy, Venkatesh (20 December 2016). "The right balance in child-rearing". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  13. ↑ Raman, Mohan (3 January 2015). "KB: Kollywood's Discovery Channel". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  14. ↑ Saravanan 2013, p. 191.
  15. 1 2 "Major Chandrakanth". The Indian Express. 11 November 1966. p. 3. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  16. 1 2 Major Chandrakanth (motion picture) (in Tamil). AVM Productions. 1966. Opening credits, from 0:00 to 5:13.
  17. ↑ "Major Chandrakanth (1966)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  18. ↑ Mani, Charulatha (10 May 2013). "Light and melodious". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  19. ↑ Saravanan 2013, p. 189.
  20. ↑ "Sundararajan excels in Major Chandrakanth". The Indian Express. 26 November 1966. p. 3. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  21. ↑ "மேஜர் சந்திரகாந்த்". Kalki (in Tamil). 4 December 1966. p. 44. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  22. ↑ "அன்றிலிருந்து இன்றுவரை சினிமா" [Cinema from then until today] (PDF). Vlambaram (in Tamil). 1 October 1999. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  23. ↑ Guy, Randor (7 March 2003). "Dialogue delivery set him apart". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  24. ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (8 December 2012). "It was a small role, but people would remember him". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  25. ↑ Narayan, Hari (23 July 2016). "The superstar and the man". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  26. ↑ Ramanujam, Srinivasa (6 March 2015). "Holi: The day Rajinikanth was 'born'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2015.

Bibliography

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