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Karaikkal Ammaiyar (1943 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Karaikkal Ammaiyar' is a 1943 Indian Tamil language film based on the life of a Hindu woman saint of the same name, who lived around the 6th century C.E. The film was produced and directed by C. V. Raman. The film featured V. A. Chellappa, B. Saraswathi, K. Sarangapani, K. R. Chellam, Kali N. Rathnam and T. S. Jaya in the lead roles.
Plot
Karaikkal Ammaiyar was a real person who born and lived in Karaikkal during the Chola period. Her birth name was Punithavathi. She was a devotee of Lord Shiva from her childhood and was always chanting "NamasShivaya', mantra of Shiva. She was married to a wealthy merchant. An incident in the family makes the husband to realise that his wife is a divinely person and calls her "Ammaiyar' that means mother. He left her and married another woman. Punithavathi begged Lord Shiva to give her a different form so that no man will seek her with passion. He grants her wish and she became a form of fiery Kali. Lord Shiva asks her to come to his abode, Mt. Kailash. She goes there walking all the way with her hands.
Cast
Adapted from the list appearing in The Hindu review article.
;Male cast
*V. A. Chellappa
*K. Sarangapani
*Kali N. Rathnam
*T. S. Durairaj
*Kolathu Mani
;Male cast (Contd.)
*M. E. Madhavan
*P. Ramaiah Sastri
*Kunchithapaadham Pillai
;Female cast
*B. Saraswathi
*K. R. Chellam
*T. S. Jaya
*'Baby' Kalyani
*Shantha Devi
;Dance
*S. Nataraj
*A. R. Sakunthala
Production
The film was produced, in association with Kandhan Company, by C. V. Raman who also directed it and was shot at Kandhan Studios in Coimbatore.
A dance drama 'Shiva Thandavam' was performed by S. Natraj and A. R. Sakunthala who were a famous pair those days.
Soundtrack
Papanasam Sivan composed the music for the film. Saint Karaikkal Ammaiyar's composition hymns were used in the film.
Release
The film did not do well at box-office, however A. P. Nagarajan made a film on Ammaiyar again in 1973.
Randor Guy of 'The Hindu' wrote "Remembered For The familiar tale, impressive performances of Chellappa, Saraswathi, and the dance drama by Nataraj-Sakunthala".
References
Category:1943 films
Category:1940s Tamil-language films
Category:Indian biographical films
Category:Indian black-and-white films
Category:1940s biographical films
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