Kuravanji

{{Use Indian English|date=June 2021}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Infobox film | image = Kuravanji 1960 Film.jpg | caption = Poster | director = A. Kasilingam | writer = M. Karunanidhi | producer = M. Karunanidhi R. M. Veerappan A. Kasilingam | starring = Sivaji Ganesan Savitri | cinematography = G. Durai | editing = A. Kasilingam | music = T. R. Pappa | studio = Mekala Pictures | released = {{film date|1960|3|4|df=y|ref1=}} | country = India | language = Tamil }}

'''''Kuravanji''''' is a 1960 Indian Tamil language film directed by A. Kasilingam. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Savitri. The film, produced by M. Karunanidhi, R. M. Veerappan, and A. Kasilingam, was released on 4 March 1960,<ref>{{Cite web |title=51–60 |url=http://nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp6.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220445/http://www.nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp6.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=6 November 2014 |website=nadigarthilagam.com}}</ref> and was not a commercial success.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=5 July 2014 |title=Kuravanji (1960) |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/kuravanji-1960/article6180527.ece |url-status=live |access-date=29 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918143947/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/kuravanji-1960/article6180527.ece |archive-date=18 September 2020}}</ref>

== Plot == {{more plot|date=August 2021}} The film tells the story of Thenpandiko, the king of Inbapuri. Ellaipuram is a part of the kingdom and the king appoints his brother, Mukhari, to rule it. Mukhari has a minister, Imaya, who has evil designs. Mukhari falls prey to his evil plans, and besides taking over Ellaipuram, he plans to usurp Inbapuri from his brother. To help the suffering people enters a man named Kadhiravan, hailing from the royal family. He moves around the kingdom in the guise of a vagabond. Princess Kumari wishes to marry him, while he falls in love with Ponni, who is from the fisherfolk community. Coming to know of this, Kadhiravan's brother is furious. The princess is equally upset, but Kadhiravan is more interested in saving the people. Soon there is a protest led by him that gains momentum. What happens to it is narrated in the latter half of the film.

== Cast ==  {{Col-begin|width=60%}} {{col-break|width=50%}} ;Male cast<ref name="songbook">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/download/sok.Kuravanji_A.KasiLingam_1960/113.%20Kuravanji_A.KasiLingam_1960.pdf |title=குறவஞ்சி |publisher=Mekala Pictures |year=1960 |location=Madras |language=ta |type=song book |access-date=29 June 2022 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> * Sivaji Ganesan as Kathiravan * O. A. K. Thevar * R. Balasubramaniam * M. N. Krishnan * M. R. Santhanam as Kathiravan's Father * N. S. Natarajan * S. V. Ramadas * Karuppaiah * Senthamarai * Jayaraman * Kuladeivam Rajgopal * Wahab Kashmiri * S. R. Gopal * T. K. Sampangi * Karikol Raj * Krishnamurthi * Rajamohan * S. A. G. Sami {{col-break|width=50%}} ;Female cast * Savithri as Kuravanji, Kumari * Mynavathi as Ponni * Pandari Bai * Susheela * Radhabhai as Kathiravan's mother * C. K. Saraswathi * Vanaja (Guest Artist) * Sampathkumari * Indra ;Dance * Padmini Priyadarshini * Vijayalakshmi * Lakshmirajam {{Col-end}}

== Production == S. S. Rajendran was initially to play the lead role in ''Kuravanji''. However, due to some "friction" between him and M. Karunanidhi, the role was later offered to Sivaji Ganesan. He was hesitant to accept as he believed Rajendran would misunderstand him if he accepted, but after being reassured by Karunanidhi, Ganesan accepted the offer out of respect.{{sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|pages=116–117}} ''Kuravanji'' is Ganesan's 60th film as an actor.{{sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|p=147}} During the shoot, Ganesan chose to wear a gunny sack instead of the woollen clothes that were given to him. He wanted to "connect with the reality of the character of a tribesman".<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 October 2009 |title=Sivaji statue unveiled |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Sivaji-statue-unveiled/article16489322.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629125616/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Sivaji-statue-unveiled/article16489322.ece |archive-date=29 June 2021 |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=The Hindu}}</ref> Rajasulochana had been offered to act in the film but declined.<ref name="Maran">{{Cite magazine |last=சரவணன் |first=ஏவி.எம். |author-link=M. Saravanan (producer) |date=12 December 2004 |title=முரசொலி வந்த கதை! |url=https://archive.org/download/kalki2004-12-12/kalki2004-12-12.pdf |access-date=6 October 2024 |magazine=Kalki |pages=28–30 |language=Ta |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

== Soundtrack == The music was composed by T. R. Pappa.<ref name="songbook" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Neelamegam |first=G. |title=Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 |publisher=Manivasagar Publishers |year=2014 |location=Chennai |pages=196 |language=Tamil}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" ! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics !! Length |- | "Kaadhal Pollathadhu" || P. Susheela || Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass|| 03:06 |- | "Sengkayil Vandu Kalin" "Thannamudhudan Pirandhhai" "Sollakelaai Kuri Sollakelaai" "Irunda Megam Sutri" || C. S. Jayaraman & Ramaiya P. Leela A. P. Komala & A. G. Rathnamala C. S. Jayaraman || Thirikooda Rasappa Kavirayar || 02:20 02:21 01:05 00:48 |- | "Ennaalum Thanniyile" || A. L. Raghavan & Jikki || Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass || 03.27 |- | "Thanneril Meen Irukum.... Unakku Puriyudhu" || C. S. Jayaraman & P. Leela || Kannadasan|| 05:17 |- | "Athaachi Naazhi Pathaachi" || A. L. Raghavan & M. S. Rajeswari || Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass || |- | "Kaadhal Kadal Karaiyorame" || C. S. Jayaraman, P. Leela & P. Susheela || Kannadasan || 03:53 |- | "Paadi Azhaippen Endru" || C. S. Jayaraman || Kannadasan || 03:23 |- | "Nee Sollavidil Yaar Solluvar Nilavae" || C. S. Jayaraman || Kudanthai R. Krishnamurthi || 03:30 |- | "Alai Irukkuthu Kadalile" || K. Jamuna Rani || M. Karunanidhi|| 03:12 |- | "Alaiyitta Karumbaaka" || C. S. Jayaraman || Kannadasan || 01:07 |- | "Onne Onnu Irukku" || Jikki || || 03:16 |}

== Reception == Kanthan of ''Kalki'' noted that the film's lengthy runtime was not a detriment to it being an entertainer.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=காந்தன் |date=20 March 1960 |title=குறவஞ்சி |url=https://ibb.co/xLMWDvz |url-status=usurped |magazine=Kalki |language=ta |pages=16–17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702055014/https://ibb.co/xLMWDvz |archive-date=2 July 2022 |access-date=2 July 2022}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

== Bibliography == * {{Cite book |last1=Ganesan |first1=Sivaji |title=Autobiography of an Actor: Sivaji Ganesan, October 1928 – July 2001 |title-link=Autobiography of an Actor |last2=Narayana Swamy |first2=T. S. |publisher=Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust |year=2007 |oclc=297212002 |author-link=Sivaji Ganesan |orig-date=2002}}

== External links == * {{IMDb title}}

Category:1960 films Category:1960 Indian films Category:1960 Tamil-language films Category:Films scored by T. R. Pappa Category:Films with screenplays by M. Karunanidhi Category:Tamil-language Indian films