Kaalam Maari Pochu (1956 film)

Kaalam Maari Pochu (transl. The times have changed) is a 1956 Indian Tamil-language film starring Gemini Ganesan and Anjali Devi. It is a remake of the Telugu film Rojulu Marayi.[1][2]

Kaalam Maari Pochu
Theatrical release poster
Directed byT. P. Chanakya
Screenplay byKondepudi Lakshminarayana
Tapi Chanakya
C. V. R. Prasad
Story byK. L. Narayana
Produced byC. V. R. Prasath
StarringGemini Ganesan
Anjali Devi
T. S. Balaiah
S. V. Subbaiah
K. A. Thangavelu
CinematographyKamal Ghosh
Edited bySanjeevi
Music byMaster Venu
Production
company
Sarathi Films
Distributed byAVM Productions
Release date
  • 4 May 1956 (1956-05-04)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

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The story focuses social and economic issues faced by farmers in rural areas and intertwined with a love story. A money lender in the village surreptitiously grabs the lands of poor farmers after lending them money. The un-educated poor farmers lose their lands due to ignorance. Later, the son of a poor farmer, who is educated, bares the truth about the money lender and in the presence of the District Collector gives back the lands to the owners.

Cast

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Production

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The film was originally produced in Telugu with the title Rojulu Marayi by C. V. R. Prasath and directed by Tapi Chanakya. The Tamil film was produced with entirely new cast. Dialogues and songs were written originally for the Tamil version. The dialogues were written by Muhavai Rajamanickam who was a freedom fighter and (at that time) was the leader of the then united Communist Party of India. He was also a famous writer in Tamil Language. The film was shot entirely on rural locations with real-life farmers partaking.[3]

Soundtrack

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Music was composed by Master Venu and lyrics by Muhavai Rajamanickam.[citation needed] The song "Kallam Kabadam Theriyadhavane" is based on "Yeruvaaka Saagaaro Ranno Chinnanna" from Rojulu Marayi. Madurai Veeran, released one month before Kaalam Maari Pochu, had a song "Summa Kidantha Sothukku Kashtam" with the same tune. A. V. Meiyappan, the distributor of Kaalam Maari Pochu, thought the Madurai Veeran song would jeopardise the success of his film.[4] He went as far as advertising "Dont be misled by the so-called 'Veerans' of the films!".[5] He later filed a case against the producer of Madurai Veeran, Lena Chettiar, accusing him of plagiarism. The lawyer V. L. Ethiraj appeared for Chettiar. The judge observed that the tune of the songs are based on folklore music and no one can claim a right of ownership to such folklore music. The case was dismissed.[4]

Song Singers Raga Length
"Ennamadhellam Neeye" M. L. Vasanthakumari Kamboji 02:38
"Kallam kabadam Theriyadhavane" Jikki 05:18
"Maariye Kelamma" Thiruchi Loganathan, S. C. Krishnan, K. Rani & group 04:19
"Inithaai Naame" Thiruchi Loganathan & Jikki Mohanam 03:01
"Vanganne Povome" Thiruchi Loganathan & group Suddha Saveri 03:22
"Punnagai Thanai Veesi" Thiruchi Loganathan, Jikki & K. Rani 04:28
"Vandi Pogudhu" T. M. Soundararajan 03:40
"Idar Pattu" Thiruchi Loganathan & group 00:59
"Poliyo Poli" Thiruchi Loganathan & Group 05:19
"Aduvoma Koodi Kulavi" Jikki 03:02

Reception

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The Hindu wrote, "Well acted, it develops its central theme – the possibility of the kisan liberating himself from the dominant influence of the rich landholder and promoting his own and the country's interest through collective effort – with considerable effect". The Indian Express wrote, "S. V. Subbiah steals the sow with a masterly portrayal of the poor, humble, old-world peasant who is a great stickler to properties".[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "1956 – காலம் மாரிப்போச்சு – சாரதி பிலிம்ஸ் ரோஜுலு மாராயி(தெ)" [1956 – Kaalam Maari Pochu – Sarathi Films Rojulu Marayi(te)]. Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  2. ^ Narasimham, M. L. (31 July 2014). "Rojulu Maaraayi (1955)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  3. ^ "தமிழ்த்திரை இசையில் ராகங்கள் : [ 11 ] : T.சௌந்தர்". Inioru (in Tamil). 11 September 2013. Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b "திண்ணை!". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 12 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Kalam Mari Poachu". The Indian Express. 11 April 1956. p. 1. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Outstanding says the Press". The Indian Express. 29 June 1956. p. 10. Retrieved 5 May 2022 – via Google News Archive.
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