Chandrodayam

{{Infobox film

| name = Chandrodayam

| image = Chandrodayam poster.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = K. Shankar

| based_on = {{based on|It Happened One Night}}

| producer = G. N. Velumani

| starring = M. G. Ramachandran
J. Jayalalithaa

| cinematography = Thambu

| editing = K. Narayanan

| music = M. S. Viswanathan

| studio = Saravana Films

| released = {{film date|1966|5|27|df=y}}

| country = India

| language = Tamil

}}

Chandrodayam ({{Translation|Moonrise}}) is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed by K. Shankar. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa, with M. N. Nambiar and Nagesh in supporting roles. It was inspired by the 1934 American film It Happened One Night, and released on 27 May 1966.

Plot

Devi, an innocent heiress, runs away from her home, the Selvamani Estate, the day before her engagement, thereby creating a scandal within her family, in particular, for her father, Zamindar Ponnambalam. Being away, abandoned to herself, Devi is saved at the last minute by a reporter, Chandran, who decides to accommodate her at his home until he is able to find her a new home.

Chandran is the news reporter for the newspaper named Dinakkavartchi. Duriothanan, the editor of the newspaper, is an unscrupulous man with no regard for genuine news presentation, and is always in favour for sensationalising news, even if it means concealing the truth. The two very often disagree. Chandran is helped in his quest by his friend, the newspaper's photographer, Alwar.

Chandran wants at all costs to help another young woman, Kamala, wounded cruelly by life since her birth. She had previously been a victim of a predator, the rich Paranthaman. Chandran puts everything in its place by uniting Kamala with Paranthaman and he himself marrying Devi, with the blessings of the elders from both the families. Duriothanan regrets his misdeeds and asks Chandran to start a new newspaper and name it as he wants. The newspaper is named Chandrodayam, the first issue carrying the wedding news of Chandran and Devi.

Cast

{{cast listing|

M. G. Ramachandran as Chandran
J. Jayalalithaa as Devi
M. R. Radha as Duriothanan
M. N. Nambiar as Paranthaman
Pandari Bai as Lakshmi
S. A. Ashokan as Ponnambalam
C. K. Nagesh as Alwar
C. R. Manorama as Ahalya
Bharathi as Kamala
S. N. Lakshmi as Maheshwari
Kuladeivam Rajagopal as Ekambaram

}}

Production

Chandrodayam was inspired by the 1934 American film It Happened One Night. It was produced by G. N. Velumani of Saravana Films, directed by K. Shankar, photographed by Thambu and edited by K. Narayanan. The climax fight sequence between M. N. Nambiar and M. G. Ramachandran was shot with the use of only one light source: a rolling, broken small table lamp.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack is composed by M. S. Viswanathan.{{Cite web |title=Chandhrodhayam (1966) |url=http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/movie/T0001268.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912032202/http://www.raaga.com/channels/tamil/movie/T0001268.html |archive-date=12 September 2012 |access-date=11 March 2012 |website=Raaga.com}} The songs "Chandrodayam Oru Pennanatho", "Buddhan Yesu" and "Kaasikum Pogum Sanyasi" were well received. The song "Kaasikum Pogum Sanyasi" is based on Yadhukulakambhoji raga,{{sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=137}} and "Chandrodayam Oru Pennanatho" is based on Hamir Kalyani.{{sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=126}}

{{tracklist

| headline = Track listing

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| total_length =

| title1 = Pudhiyadhor Ulagam Seivom

| extra1 = Sirkazhi Govindarajan, chorus

| lyrics1 = Bharathidasan

| length1 = 3.16

| title2 = Buddhan Yesu Gandhi

| extra2 = T. M. Soundararajan

| lyrics2 = Vaali

| length2 = 5.19

| title3 = Kettimelam Kottura Kalyanam...

| extra3 = P. Susheela

| lyrics3 = Vaali

| length3 = 4.01

| title4 = Kaasikku Pogum Sanyasi...

| extra4 = T. M. Soundararajan, Sirkazhi Govindarajan

| lyrics4 = Vaali

| length4 = 5.23

| title5 = Engiruntho Aasaikal...

| extra5 = T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela

| lyrics5 = Vaali

| length5 = 3.49

| title6 = Chandrodayam Oru Pennanatho...

| extra6 = T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela

| lyrics6 = Vaali

| length6 = 5.46

| title7 = Pudhiyadhor Ulagam Seivom...

| note7 = Reprise

| extra7 = Sirkazhi Govindarajan, chorus

| lyrics7 = Bharathidasan

| length7 = 0.19

}}

Release and reception

Chandrodayam was released on 27 May 1966.{{Cite web |date=2 April 2011 |title=எம்.ஜி.ஆர். நடித்த படங்களின் பட்டியல் |url=http://www.ithayakkani.com/jsp/Content/MGR_Cinema.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181114041813/http://www.ithayakkani.com/jsp/Content/MGR_Cinema.jsp |archive-date=14 November 2018 |access-date=29 January 2019 |website=Ithayakkani |language=ta}} Jayalalithaa won the Tamil Nadu Cinema Fan Award for Best Actress.{{Cite news |last=Jha |first=Lata |date=6 December 2016 |title=Ten films to remember Jayalalithaa by |url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/HBRowwXn0V9dbNFA10vNfL/Ten-films-to-remember-Jayalalithaa-by.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911045023/https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/HBRowwXn0V9dbNFA10vNfL/Ten-films-to-remember-Jayalalithaa-by.html |archive-date=11 September 2018 |access-date=5 October 2020 |work=Mint}}

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{Cite web |last=Sri Kantha |first=Sachi |author-link=Sachi Sri Kantha |date=16 March 2016 |title=MGR Remembered – Part 34 {{!}} 1966 and Prelude to the M.R. Radha shooting incident |url=https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-34/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160525154632/http://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-34/ |archive-date=25 May 2016 |access-date=16 April 2021 |website=Ilankai Tamil Sangam}}

{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=9 January 2016 |title=Blast from the past: Chandhrodhayam (1966) |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/mgr-in-chandhrodhayam-1966/article8085567.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110150349/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/mgr-in-chandhrodhayam-1966/article8085567.ece |archive-date=10 November 2016 |access-date=10 January 2016 |work=The Hindu}}

}}

Bibliography

{{Cite book |last=Sundararaman |title=Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music |publisher=Pichhamal Chintamani |year=2007 |edition=2nd |oclc=295034757 |orig-date=2005}}