Kairasi

Kairasi
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	K. Shankar
Story by	Kothamangalam Sadanandan
Produced by	N. Vasudeva Menon
Starring	Gemini Ganesh B. Saroja Devi
Cinematography	Thambu
Edited by	K. Shankar K. Narayanan
Music by	R. Govardhanam
Production company	Vasu Films
Distributed by	Solar Film Distributors
Release date	19 October 1960 (1960-10-19)
Running time	163 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Kairasi (transl. Auspicious hands) is a 1960 Indian Tamil-language film directed by K. Shankar and produced by N. Vasudeva Menon. The film stars Gemini Ganesan (credited as Ganesh) and B. Saroja Devi. The plot revolves around a doctor whose father is wrongfully convicted.

Kairasi was released on 19 October 1960, during Diwali, and became a commercial success. It was later remade in Hindi as Jhoola (1962).[1]

Plot

Sundaram, an honest police constable, is falsely accused of murder and imprisoned. Ramanathan, a judge, adopts Sundaram's son, Mohan, who later becomes a successful doctor.

Cast

Male cast[2] Gemini Ganesh as Mohan K. A. Thangavelu as Madhu M. R. Radha as Kumar S. V. Sahasranamam as Sundaram K. D. Santhanam as Judge Ramanathan S. Rama Rao as Emperuman C. S. Pandian as Somu P. D. Sambandam as Sambandam V. P. S. Mani as Sekhar K. Natarajan as Dr. Shankar G. K. Pillai as Sub-Inspector Male supporting cast[2] Mahalingam, Karikol Rajoo, Rathnam, Balakrishnan, V. T. Kalyanam, and Maruthappa.

Female cast[2] B. Saroja Devi as Sumathi M. V. Rajamma as Lakshmi K. Malathi as Kanakam Mohana as Kokila Ramani as Susheela Chellam as Chellam Pushpamala as Angamuthu Female supporting cast[2] Seethalakshmi, Ramamani Bai, Santha Kumari, and Baby Mangalam.

Production

Kairasi was directed by K. Shankar, who also served as the editor.[3] It was produced by N. Vasudeva Menon under the banner of Vasu Films, marking his second venture as producer.[4] The story was written by Kothamangalam Sadanandan, with dialogues written by K. S. Gopalakrishnan and K. D. Santhanam. Santhanam also appeared onscreen as a judge. Cinematography was handled by Thambu, with K. Narayanan co-editeding the film, while A. Balu served as the art director.[2] The final cut of the film had a runtime of 163 minutes.[5]

Soundtrack

The music for Kairasi was composed by R. Govardhanam, with lyrics penned by Kannadasan, Kothamangalam Subbu and K. S. Gopalakrishnan.[2] Music historian Vamanan noted that Kairasi "brought out the best in Govardhanam, with its limpid melodies brimming forth sweetly with lyrical intimations of love and romance."[6]

Song	Singers	Lyrics	Length
"Anaithum Andavan Kairasi"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan	Kothamangalam Subbu	03:06
"Paalilum Thaenilum Suvaiyedhu"	P. Susheela, T. S. Bagavathi	Kannadasan	05:22
"Oorumillai Naattile"	P. Susheela	Kannadasan
"Kaadhal Enum Aatrinile"	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela	Kannadasan	02:42
"Sendaattam Chinna Ponnu"	P. Susheela, Kamala & Group	Kannadasan
"Anbulla Athaan Vanakkam"	P. Susheela	Kannadasan	03:49
"Kannum Kannum Pesiyadhum"	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela	Kannadasan	06.22
"Kaathirunden Kaathirunden"	P. Susheela	Kannadasan	03:04
"Poologam Maarinaalum"	S. C. Krishnan, L. R. Eswari	K. S. Gopalakrishnan

Release and reception

Kairasi was released on 19 October 1960,[3] coinciding with the Diwali festival.[7] It was distributed by Solar Film Distributors in Madras and other distributors across various districts in Tamil Nadu.[8] The Indian Express gave a positive review, commenting on the performances of Ganesh, Rajamma, Sahasranamam and Radha, as well as the songs written by Kannadasan and the title track written by Subbu.[9] Despite facing competition from Mannathi Mannan, Petra Manam and Paavai Vilakku, which released on the same day,[10] the film emerged as a commercial success.[4][11]

References

1. "Jhoola". The Indian Express. 8 June 1962. p. 3. Retrieved 5 July 2022 – via Google News Archive.
2. கைராசி (PDF) (song book) (in Tamil). Vasu Films. 1960. Retrieved 4 July 2022 – via Internet Archive.
3. "1960 – கைராசி – வாசு பிலிம்ஸ்" [1960 – Kairasi – Vasu Films]. Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
4. "ஆர்.கோவர்த்தனம் அன்றும் இன்றும்!" [R. Govardhanam then and now!]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). Nellai. 23 May 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
5. "Kairasi". Complete Index to World Film. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
6. Vamanan (19 September 2017). "Kollywood's unsung hero whose limpid melodies melted hearts". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
7. "சரோஜா தேவி: 4. எம்.ஜி.ஆர். சாப்பாடு...!". Dinamalar (in Tamil). 14 May 2016. Archived from the original on 14 November 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
8. "Kairasi". The Indian Express. 19 October 1960. p. 10. Retrieved 6 August 2018 – via Google News Archive.
9. "Films With A Difference: Kairasi, Mannaathi Mannan". The Indian Express. 23 October 1960. p. 3. Retrieved 7 August 2018 – via Google News Archive.
10. "தீபாவளிக்கு வெளியான தமிழ் படங்கள் - 3" [Films released during Diwali - 3]. Screen 4 Screen (in Tamil). 2 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
11. Pradeep, K. (1 July 2017). "The Inside Story". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.

External links

• Kairasi at IMDb