Ponvayal

Ponvayal
Theatrical release poster
Directed byA. T. Krishnaswamy
Screenplay byA. T. Krishnaswamy
Based onPoimaan Karadu
by Kalki Krishnamurthy
Produced byT. R. Ramachandran
Starring
CinematographyNemai Ghosh
Edited byM. K. Mani
Music byThurayur Rajgopal Sarma
R. Rajagopal
Production
company
Jayanthi Pictures
Distributed byMadras Pictures
Release date
  • 12 February 1954 (1954-02-12)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Ponvayal (transl. Golden Farm) is a 1954 Indian Tamil-language film written and directed by A. T. Krishnaswamy, and produced by T. R. Ramachandran. It is based on the story Poimaan Karadu by Kalki Krishnamurthy that was serialised in the weekly magazine Kalki. The film stars T. R. Ramachandran and Anjali Devi. It was released on 12 February 1954 and failed commercially. The film is lost.

Plot

Sengodan owns 10 acres of land, known as "Ponvayal" (Golden Farm). It is rumoured that fortune in gold is buried in Ponvayal. Sengodan loves his cousin Semba. Esraj, a counterfeiter, plans to obtain the fortune. He seeks the help of a graduate Bangaru and his lover. Unknown to Esraj, a policeman and an actress work against him and the crafty couple succeed in foiling the plans of Esraj. Sengodan is later arrested on a charge of attempting to murder Bangaru, but the policeman, with help from his girlfriend, discovers the truth and Sengodan is exonerated.[1]

Cast

Production

Poimaan Karadu was a novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy and serialised in his own magazine Kalki. When the film rights to this story were bought, the film adaptation was titled Ponvayal. It was directed and written by A. T. Krishnaswamy, and produced by T. R. Ramachandran (who also played the male lead) under Jayanthi Pictures.[1][2] It is the company's first production.[3]

Soundtrack

The music of the film was composed by Thuraiyur Rajagopal Sarma and R. Rajagopal, under the supervision of N. P. Abdul Khader. The lyrics were written by Yogi Suddhanantha Bharathiyar and Sundara Vathiyar.[1][4]

Song Singer/s Lyricist Duration
"Maathamum Maari" Group song
"Pongalo Pongal Pongalo" N. L. Ganasaraswathi Suddhanantha Bharathiyar 03:20
"Polladha Paavigal Ellaam"
"Maadugalaa Kaalai Maadugalaa" Sirkazhi Govindarajan
"Siripputhaan Varuguthaiyaa" 05:53
"Onghi Valarndha Payir"
"Namma Kalyaanam Romba Nalla" T. R. Ramachandran & N. L. Ganasaraswathi 02:47
"Enna Vinodham Paaru" K. Sarangkapani
"Vaazhvinile Naame Jaaliyaaka Povom"
"Koodayirundhu Kudiyai Keduththida"
"Azhaiyaadha Veettil Nuzhayaadha Seemaan" Jikki 02:57
"Vaanga Vaanga Maappillai" A. Andal
"Azhaiyaadha Veettil"

Release and reception

Ponvayal was released on 12 February 1954,[2][5] and distributed by Madras Pictures.[6] The critic from The Indian Express positively reviewed the film for Krishnaswamy's writing and direction, along with the performances of Ramachandran, Anjali Devi and Muthulakshmi.[7] Despite this, it failed at the box office. No print of the film is known to survive, making it a lost film.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Guy, Randor (14 January 2012). "Ponvayal 1954". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b "1954 – பொன்வயல்- ஜெயந்தி புரொடக்சன்ஸ்" [1954 – Ponvayal- Jayanthi Pictures]. Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  3. ^ "பொன்வயல்". Deepavali Malar (in Tamil). Kalki. 1952. p. 3. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  4. ^ Neelamegam, G. (2014). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 77.
  5. ^ "Ponvayal". The Indian Express. 12 February 1954. p. 3. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  6. ^ "பொன் வயல்". Kalki (in Tamil). 31 January 1954. p. 21. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Ponvayal". The Indian Express. 13 February 1954. p. 3. Retrieved 29 January 2019.