Wikipedia

Kalyanaraman (1979 film)

Kalyanaraman is a 1979 Indian Tamil-language supernatural comedy film directed by G. N. Rangarajan and written by Panchu Arunachalam. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Sridevi, while V. K. Ramasamy, Major Sundarrajan, Thengai Srinivasan, V. S. Raghavan, Senthamarai, Pushpalatha, Manorama and Master Japan Kuppu play supporting roles. It revolves around Kalyanam, a tea estate owner's son who is duped and murdered by a gang trying to seize the property. Kalyanam lives on as a ghost, his twin brother Raman learns the truth and returns for revenge.

Kalyanaraman
Poster
Directed byG. N. Rangarajan
Written byPanchu Arunachalam
Produced byMeena Panchu Arunachalam
StarringKamal Haasan
Sridevi
CinematographyN. K. Viswanathan
Edited byK. R. Ramalingam
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
P. A. Art Productions
Release date
  • 6 July 1979 (1979-07-06)
Running time
134 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Arunachalam initially wanted to make a film starring Haasan and Rajinikanth, and had the actors' dates ready. The actors did not want to appear in a film together, so it was decided to produce one film for each actor; the film starring Haasan became Kalyanaraman. The film is Rangarajan's directorial debut, and was produced by Arunachalam's wife Meena under their banner P. A. Art Productions; it was photographed by N. K. Viswanathan and edited by K. R. Ramalingam. The story was inspired by Idhu Nijama (1948) and Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands (1976).

Kalyanaraman was released on 6 July 1979 and became a commercial success, running in theatres for 140 days. It was remade in Hindi as Ghazab (1982) and in Kannada as Sriramachandra (1992). A sequel titled Japanil Kalyanaraman was released in 1985.

Plot

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Kalyanam is the naïve, infantile son of Chinnadurai, a wealthy tea estate owner. Realising his son would not be able to manage the estate or even take care of himself after his death, Chinnadurai tries to get him married but Kalyanam does not like the prospective bride. Kalyanam is in love with Shenbagam, a woman who works on the estate and is the daughter of Chinnadurai's driver Perumal. Along with his young friend Kuppu, Kalyanam tries to court Shenbagam but she does not reciprocate his feelings.

The manager of the estate is trying to seize Chinnadurai's wealth and property. He conspires with Perumal and the cook Samipillai, and hires a goon to kill Chinnadurai. On his deathbed, Chinnadurai tells Kalyanam he abandoned his first wife Rajalakshmi and Kalyanam's twin brother Raman in Madras, and advises him to go there to escape the malicious employees. Kalyanam reveals this plan to Samipillai, who leaks it to the manager. Samipillai tells Kalyanam he will fetch Raman and Rajalakshmi himself, and hires actors Kittu and Rangamani to pose as them.

Kalyanam overhears the gang laughing at how they duped him and runs to inform the police but the gang corner and murder him. Shenbagam watches the killing and becomes mentally unstable. The gang cuts off the other witness Kuppu's tongue, rendering him mute. The gang try to seize the property but they face difficult legal formalities from the bank. Kalyanam, who has become a ghost, travels to Madras to locate his brother and mother. He finds Raman and tells him what happened. Rajalakshmi confirms to Raman he had a twin, and he decides to take revenge.

Raman arrives at his late father's estate, and exposes Rangamani and Kittu as frauds, who now claim to be the stepmother and Kalyanam. Raman poses as Kalyanam's ghost and threatens Samipillai, who breaks down, apologises and joins Raman in his crusade. With the help of Kalyanam, Raman restores Shenbagam's sanity, teaches Kuppu to read and write so he can testify. The manager and his gang try to kidnap Rajalakshmi, who had arrived at the estate sometime before, and attack Raman. Kalyanam temporarily enters Raman's body and gives him the power to fight everyone. The manager and his gang are arrested due to Kuppu's testimony. Raman and Shenbagam marry.

Cast

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Production

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The producer-writer Panchu Arunachalam had the dates of Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth ready for a potential film but the actors did not want to appear in the same film so it was decided Arunachalam would produce one film for each actor; the Rajinikanth film became Aarilirunthu Arubathu Varai, and the Haasan film became Kalyanaraman. Arunachalam initially contemplated having S. P. Muthuraman direct both films but Haasan recommended Muthuraman's assistant G. N. Rangarajan direct Kalyanaraman, making it his directorial debut.[3][4] Kalyanaraman was written by Arunachalam and produced by his wife Meena under their banner P. A. Art Productions.[1] The concept of Kalyanaraman was based on that of the films Idhu Nijama (1948) and Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands (1976).[5][6] Javar Seetharaman who wrote dialogues for Idhu Nijama admitted this.[7]

Haasan played twin brothers Kalyanam and Raman.[8] In preparation for the role of Kalyanam, Haasan had his teeth fashioned by G. Janakiraman, a dentist.[9][10] The cinematographer was N. K. Viswanathan and the film was edited by K. R. Ramalingam.[1]

Soundtrack

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Ilaiyaraaja composed the music for Kalyanaraman and the lyrics were written by Panchu Arunachalam.[11][12] The song "Kaathal Vanthiruchu" is loosely based on "Lady in Black" by Uriah Heep.[13] "Kathal Deepam" is set in the Carnatic raga known as Natabhairavi,[14] "Ninaithaal Inikkum" is set in Suddha Dhanyasi,[15] and "Malargalil Aadum" is set in Shuddha Saveri.[16] All of the lyrics for the dubbed Telugu version Kalyana Ramudu were written by Rajasri.[17] "Kaathal Vanthiruchu" was remixed for the film Vallavan (2006), by Ilaiyaraaja's son Yuvan Shankar Raja.[18]

Tamil
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Kathal Deepam"Malaysia Vasudevan4:15
2."Ninaithaal Inikkum"S. Janaki4:48
3."Kaathal Vanthiruchu"Malaysia Vasudevan4:17
4."Malargalil Aadum"S. P. Sailaja4:39
Total length:17:59
Telugu
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Nene Neeku Pranam"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 
2."Manasunarege"P. Susheela 
3."Neeke Manasu Ichaa"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 
4."Edo Ragam"S. Janaki 

Release

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Kalyanaraman was released on 6 July 1979.[3] The film was a commercial success and ran in theatres for 140 days.[19] In April 1980, when Doordarshan Kendra Madras announced it would telecast Kalyanaraman, many people, particularly students, sent them letters asking them not to telecast the film during the examination season. One person telephoned Doordarshan Kendra and announced four bombs had been placed inside the building. The film was telecast according to schedule and the bomb threat was discovered to be a hoax.[20]

Reception

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Ananda Vikatan rated the film 57 out of 100, and in particular praised Haasan's performance.[21] Piousji, writing for the magazine Sunday, said; "As the dim-wit Kalyanam, [Kamal Haasan] was superb".[20] Kaushikan, writing for Kalki, appreciated the film for its story and the cast performances.[22] Anna appreciated Rangarajan's direction and said Haasan was well utilised, calling Kalyanaraman a worthy entertainer.[23]

Legacy

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Following the success of Kalyanaraman, Rangarajan directed Haasan in four more films; Meendum Kokila (1981), Kadal Meengal (1981), Ellam Inba Mayyam (1981) and Maharasan (1992).[24] According to film historian G. Dhananjayan, Kalyanaraman established the comedy horror genre in Tamil cinema.[25] In 1982, the film was remade in Hindi as Ghazab,[26] and in 1992 in Kannada as Sriramachandra.[27] Six years after the release of Kalyanaraman, a sequel titled Japanil Kalyanaraman was made in 1985; it was the first sequel in Tamil cinema.[28][29]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Dhananjayan 2011, p. 30.
  2. ^ Aravamudan, Gita (27 February 2018). "In her South Indian films, Sridevi often out-performed veteran male co-stars like Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b c ராம்ஜி, வி. (7 July 2020). "'ஆஹா வந்துருச்சு ஆசையில் ஓடிவந்தேன்' ; - 'கல்யாண ராமன்' வெளியாகி 41 ஆண்டுகள்" ['I fell in love and came running in ecstasy' ;- 41 years since Kalyanaraman's release]. Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  4. ^ ராம்ஜி, வி. (17 September 2019). "கமலுக்கு ஒரு படம்; ரஜினிக்கு ஒரு படம் - ஒரே கல்லில் இரண்டு மாங்காய்!" [One film for Kamal; one film for Rajini – One stone, two mangoes!]. Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  5. ^ Guy, Randor (4 July 2008). "Idhu Nijama 1948". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  6. ^ Piousji (16 September 1979). "Khaas Baat". Sunday. Vol. 7, no. 17. p. 57. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  7. ^ "சினி மசாலா". Kalki (in Tamil). 28 October 1979. p. 7. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  8. ^ "கமலும், கதாபாத்திரங்களும் – பிறந்தநாள் ஸ்பெஷல்!" [Kamal and his characters – Birthday Special!]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 7 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  9. ^ Haasan, Kamal (20 October 2012). "'Of course Velu Nayakan doesn't dance'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  10. ^ Ashok Kumar, S. R. (14 April 2006). "Rotary 'vocational excellence' award for 'film star' doctor". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Kalyanaraman (1979)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  12. ^ "Kalyanaraman Tamil film EP Vinyl Record by Ilayaraja". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  13. ^ S, Karthik. "Ilayaraja [Tamil]". ItwoFS. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  14. ^ Sundararaman 2007, p. 134.
  15. ^ Sundararaman 2007, p. 149.
  16. ^ Sundararaman 2007, p. 141.
  17. ^ "Kalyana Ramudu Telugu FIlm EP Vinyl Record by Ilayaraja". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  18. ^ Karthik (3 June 2006). "Vallavan". Milliblog. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  19. ^ Dhananjayan 2011, p. 31.
  20. ^ a b Piousji (20 April 1980). "Khaas Baat". Sunday. Vol. 7, no. 42. p. 47. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  21. ^ "சினிமா விமர்சனம்: கல்யாணராமன்" [Movie Review: Kalyanaraman]. Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 29 July 1979. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  22. ^ கௌசிகன் (29 July 1979). "கல்யாணராமன்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 61. Archived from the original on 28 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  23. ^ "கல்யாண ராமன்". Anna (in Tamil). 15 July 1979. p. 3. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024 – via Endangered Archives Programme.
  24. ^ "Kamal Haasan mourns the death of Tamil filmmaker GN Rangarajan: I have lost a brother". The Indian Express. 4 June 2021. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  25. ^ Dhananjayan, G. (19 July 2016). "Success formula: LOL with fear". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  26. ^ "Kamal Haasan Birthday Special: 7 Awesome Films Where the Ulaganayagan Entertained Us in Multiple Avatars". ZEE5. 7 November 2020. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  27. ^ "5 Times Kamal Classics Remade In Kannada Cinema". The Times of India. 7 November 2022. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  28. ^ "Kollywood's franchise factory opens". Sify. 25 May 2012. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  29. ^ Ramanujam, Srinivasa (12 May 2017). "Buying a pirated CD is anti-national: Kamal Haasan". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2019.

Bibliography

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  • Dhananjayan, G. (2011). The Best of Tamil Cinema, 1931 to 2010: 1977–2010. Galatta Media. ISBN 978-81-921043-0-0.
  • Sundararaman (2007) [2005]. Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music (2nd ed.). Chennai: Pichhamal Chintamani. OCLC 295034757.
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