Devta (1956 film)

Devta
Directed by	Pattana
Written by	Dialogue: Pandit Mukhram Sharma
Screenplay by	Pattana
Story by	Sadasiva Bramham
Produced by	Narayanan Iyengar
Starring	Gemini Ganeshan Anjali Devi Vyjayanthimala
Music by	C. Ramchandra
Production company	Narayanan Company Production
Distributed by	Rajshri Productions
Release date	1956 (1956)
Running time	178 min
Country	India
Language	Hindi

Devta (transl. Snake God) is a 1956 Hindi partly coloured swashbuckler film written by Sadasiva Bramham and directed by Pattana. The film stars Vyjayanthimala in the title role, along with Gemini Ganeshan and Anjali Devi in the lead, while Agha, Bipin Gupta, Krishna Kumari and M. N. Nambiar form an ensemble cast. The film was produced by Narayanan Iyengar with his production company; Narayanan Company. The music was composed by C. Ramchandra, with lyrics provided by Rajendra Krishan. The film was a remake of the 1955 Tamil film Kanavane Kankanda Deivam.[1]

Plot

This film narrated the story of a king (Bipin Gupta) who loses his sight and needs a "Nagi Jyothi" (serpent light) found in "Sarpaloka" (serpent world). A young man Vijay (Gemini Ganeshan) working in the palace and in love with the princess (Anjali Devi) undertakes the hazardous journey of going to the netherworld and getting the magic light from the hood of a snake in the custody of the serpent queen (Vyjayanthimala). The queen is attracted to the young man, who pretends to be in love with her mainly to get the light. He succeeds in getting it and the queen curses him to become an ugly man. The princess marries the prince, but they are banished and live in a hut. Soon a boy is born. The devoted wife faces many trials and tribulations before she and her son help her husband regain his original form. And they live happily thereafter.

Cast

• Gemini Ganeshan as Vijay
• Anjali Devi as Nalini
• Vyjayanthimala as Naag Rani
• Bipin Gupta as Sangram Singh
• M. N. Nambiar as Veersen
• Agha as Bahadur
• Daisy Irani as Raja
• Kumari Kamala as Naag Kanya
• Krishnakumari as Naagi
• Indira as Mallika
• Kamalkrishna as Balveer
• V. P. Balaram as The soldier
• K. Ramaswamy as The soldier

Themes and influences

Along with Shirdi Ke Sai Baba and Ajooba (1991), this film shows disabled people being cured through magic or divine intervention.[2]

Soundtrack

C. Ramchandra composed the soundtrack of the film, while the lyrics were penned by Rajendra Krishan.[3] Singers Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Talat Mahmood and Manna Dey lent their voices. It was also one of the last collaborations of C. Ramchandra and Lata Mangeshkar, they fell out in 1958 and parted their ways.[4]

Song	Singer
"Ae Chand, Kal Jo Aana"	Lata Mangeshkar
"Do Nainon Ka Bana Jhulna"	Lata Mangeshkar
"Kaise Aaun Jamuna Ke Teer"	Lata Mangeshkar
"Soona Hai Mere Dil Ka Jahan"	Lata Mangeshkar
"Zalim Tere Aankhon Ne"	Lata Mangeshkar
"Kisi Se Pyar Hai Humko, Magar Hum Na Batayenge"	Lata Mangeshkar, Talat Mahmood
"Phoolon Ke Mele"	Asha Bhosle
"Udhar Chali Ja Janki"	Manna Dey

References

1. Guy, Randor (21 December 2009). "Blast from the past: Kanavaney Kankanda Deivam". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
2. Different Bodies: Essays on Disability in Film and Television. McFarland. 4 October 2013. ISBN 978-0-7864-6535-4.
3. "Devta(1956))". Reloadlife.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
4. Karan Bali. "Lata Mangeshkar". Upperstall.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.

External links

• Devta at IMDb
• Devta profile at Upperstall.com