Kairasi

1960 film by K. Shankar

  • 19 October 1960 (1960-10-19)
Running time
163 minutesCountryIndiaLanguageTamil

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. It 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 subsequently imprisoned. Ramanathan, a judge, adopts Sundaram's son, Mohan, who goes on to become 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 doubled as editor.[3] N. Vasudeva Menon produced the film under Vasu Films, and this was his second film as producer.[4] The story was written by Kothamangalam Sadanandan, while the dialogues were written by K. S. Gopalakrishnan and K. D. Santhanam, who also appeared onscreen as a judge. Cinematography was handled by Thambu, and K. Narayanan co-edited the film, while A. Balu was the art director.[2] The final cut of the film measured 163 minutes.[5]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by R. Govardhanam. The lyrics were written by Kannadasan, Kothamangalam Subbu and K. S. Gopalakrishnan.[2] Music historian Vamanan wrote 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] during Diwali.[7] It was distributed by Solar Film Distributors in Madras, and other distributors in other districts in Tamil Nadu.[8] The Indian Express positively reviewed the film, praising 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, released on the same day,[10] the film became 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. ^ a b c d e f கைராசி (PDF) (song book) (in Tamil). Vasu Films. 1960. Retrieved 4 July 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  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 Edit this at Wikidata
  • v
  • t
  • e
K. Shankar filmography
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
  • Sabarimalayil Thanka Sooryodayam (1992)
  • Saranam Saranam Manikanta (1993)
  • Manikantana Mahime (1993)
  • Swamy Ayyappa Sabarimalai (1993)
  • Nallathe Nadakkum (1993)
  • Vetri Vinayakar (1996)