Director: Raja Chandrasekhar; Writer: Elangovan; Cinematographer: Jiten Bannerjee; Editor: T.R. Raghunath; Cast: M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, Chittor V. Nagaiah, Pasupuleti Kannamba, T.V. Kumudini, N.S. Krishnan, T.A. Madhuram, M.G. Ramachandran, K. Mahadevan, Rangaswami Ayyangar, K.V. Venkatarama Iyer, Ranjan
Duration: 03:00:39; Aspect Ratio: 1.333:1; Hue: 283.953; Saturation: 0.000; Lightness: 0.224; Volume: 0.158; Cuts per Minute: 8.015
Summary: Hit Tamil historical retelling of the famous and often filmed (cf. Veer Kunal, 1925) legend of the 3rd-C. BC Mauryan King Ashoka (Nagaiah). His second wife Tishyarakshithai (Kannamba) tries to seduce his son Gunalan (Bhagavathar) but he prefers Pramila (Kumudini). The queen then accuses him of having tried to seduce her and Ashoka exiles his son and has him blinded. Later the emperor repents and the Buddha (Ranjan) appears to restore the prince’s sight. The film takes many liberties with the legend as it appears in the original Ashokavadana (cf. Romila Thapar’s Asoka and the Decline of the Mauryas, 1961), while addressing notions of non-violence and vegetarianism. It is remembered mainly as Bhagavathar’s film, at the zenith of his career, singing songs that have become part of Tamil Nadu’s social history (e.g. Boomiyil manida genman, also sung by the Sri Lankan plantation workers in Dieterle’s Elephant Walk, 1953). Other hits included songs by Nagaiah making his Tamil debut. Besides recycling the tune of Pankaj Mullick’s Hindi song
Piya milan from the film
Kapal Kundala (1939), a growing practice at the time, the film also shows the influence of Busby Berkeley in the staging of a dance at court. The action sequences feature an early appearance of MGR in a minor role (as the General Mahendran). It is also an early film of stunt actor Ranjan (who became famous with
Chandralekha, 1948). The known Tamil comic duo of Krishnan and Mathuram have a subplot of their own.
Song Book:
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