Surya Puthri

1941 film by Ellis R. Dungan

  • 25 January 1941 (1941-01-25)
CountryIndiaLanguageTamil

Surya Puthri (transl. Daughter of the Sun) is a 1941 Indian Hindu mythological film, directed by Ellis R. Dungan and associate J. Moylan. The film stars Kothamangalam Subbu, Kothamangalam Seenu and K. R. Chellam. Co-starring were T. R. Rajakumari, M. S. Sundari Bai and S. R. Janaki.

Plot

On a festival day, Sage Narada (Master Rajagopal) meets the Sun God, also known as Surya, (Kothamangalam Subbu) and sings praises of him. He is accosted by Thailakethu, The king of Yakshas (K. S. Gopalakrishnan), who does not like Narada praising the Sun God. He is upset and decides to teach Narada a lesson. Thapathi (K. R. Chellam) is the daughter of the Sun God, and she falls in love with King Samvaran (Kothamangalam Seenu), even without meeting him. The Yakshas King is in love with her. So, he tries to blackmail her into giving up the king. The King's first wife Sulochanan (T. R. Rajakumari) undertakes several sacrifices to save her husband. She also prays to the Sun God, and after being helped by Narada, the evil designs of the Yakshas King are destroyed. The King marries Thapathi and they all live happily thereafter.[1]

Cast

The list is adapted from the film's review article in The Hindu.[1]

Male cast
  • Kothamangalam Subbu as Sun God
  • Master Rajagopal as Sage Narada
  • K. S. Gopalakrishnan[a] as Thailakethu King of Yakshas
  • Kothamangalam Seenu as King Samvaran
  • Papanasam Rajagopala Iyer
Female cast
  • K. R. Chellam as River Thapathi
  • T. R. Rajakumari as Queen Sulochana
  • S. R. Janaki
  • M. S. Sundari Bai
  • V. Subbulakshmi

Production

The script was written by K. S. Gopalakrishnan[a] and the dialogues were penned by Kothamangalam Subbu. Sailen Bose and Kamal Ghose handled the Camera. The film was made at MPPC Studios that was owned by K. Subramanyam. (Later, S. S. Vasan bought this studio and renamed it as Gemini Studios).[1]

Soundtrack

Music was composed by V. S. Parthasarathi Ayyangar while the lyrics were written by the Papanasam brothers – Papanasam Sivan and Papanasam Rajagopala Iyer.[1]

Reception

Despite director Ellis R. Dungan's impressive camera work, the film did not do well at the box office. Film historian Randor Guy, writing in 2013, said the film is "Remembered for the deft direction of Dungan, and the impressive lens work of Sailen Bose and Kamal Ghosh...[1]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Not K. S. Gopalakrishnan

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Guy, Randor (16 November 2013). "Suryaputhri (1941)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  2. ^ Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016.
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Films directed by Ellis R. Dungan