Ratnakumar
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Rathnakumar
| image = Ratnakumar poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| native_name =
| director = Krishnan–Panju
| producer =
| writer =
| screenplay = P. P. Velayutham
| story = B. S. Ramiah
| based_on =
| starring = P. U. Chinnappa
P. Bhanumathi
| narrator =
| music = G. Ramanathan
C. R. Subbaraman
| cinematography = P. S. Selvaraj
| editing = S. Panju
| studio = Murugan Talkies
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1949|12|15}}
| runtime = 145 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget =
| gross =
}}
Ratnakumar is a 1949 Indian Tamil-language film starring P. U. Chinnappa and P. Bhanumathi. M. G. Ramachandran did a supporting role. The film was released on 15 December 1949.{{Cite web |last=Sri Kantha |first=Sachi |author-link=Sachi Sri Kantha |date=11 August 2013 |title=MGR Remembered – Part 10 {{!}} Budding hero between 1947 and 1949 |url=https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-10/ |access-date=16 March 2021 |website=Ilankai Tamil Sangam |archive-date=11 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711060203/http://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-10/ |url-status=live}}
Plot
Despite his poverty, the protagonist Rathnakumar woos and wins the hand of Bhanumati. At the bidding of the hero, a skeleton hurls a giant rock on the ground, and diamonds, rubies and emeralds pop out. Falling into evil company, he becomes addicted to vices that make him ill-treat his wife and then desert her without any qualms. He proceeds to fall for a beautiful princess and impresses her under false pretences. However, he eventually receives his comeuppance as his dubious past is revealed and he is imprisoned. Thereupon his conscience awakes and he is filled with remorse at the thought of his patient wife. Rathnakumar is an ordinary man of shifting loyalties, greed, lust, deceit and ultimately penitence.
Cast
{{Col-begin|width=60%}}
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Male cast
- P. U. Chinnappa as Rathnakumar
- M. G. Ramachandran as Balathevan
- {{small|Nagarcoil}} Mahadevan
- D. Balasubramanyam
- N. S. Krishnan as Begger
- T. S. Durairaj
- K. Radhakrishnan as Kingdom's guard
- K. P. Kesavan
- T. P. Ponnusami Pillai
- C. S. Pandian
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Female cast
- P. Bhanumathi as Malathi
- T. A. Mathuram as Nandini
- K. Malathi
- Parvathi
{{col-end}}
Soundtrack
The music was composed by G. Ramanathan and C. R. Subbaraman. The lyrics were written by Papanasam Sivan and Surabhi. C. R. Subburaman made K. Malathi to sing a solo and a duet with PUC in this film. Although she is a talented singer, this is the only film in which she sang.
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics !! Length (m:ss) | |||
| "Aahaa Adhisayam Idhaame Iraivane Unadhu Leelaiyin" | P. U. Chinnappa | ||
| "Nin Paaadham Varave Thaaye Nee Dhayai Purivaaiye" | P. Bhanumathi | ||
| "Ganavaangale Vaango" | P. U. Chinnappa & P. Bhanumathi | ||
| "Unnarulaal Indha Udal Valarum" | N. S. Krishnan | ||
| "Mahaaraajargale Maharaasigale" | P. U. Chinnappa | ||
| "Nam Vaazhvenum Solaiyil" | P. U. Chinnappa & P. A. Periyanayagi | 04:38 | |
| "Varattum Vandhaal Vazhi Solven" | P. Bhanumathi | ||
| "Keli MigacheivaaL Kettadhellaam Thaan Tharuvaal" | P. U. Chinnappa | ||
| "Thevaikku Mel Serppavan" | N. S. Krishnan | ||
| "Vizhudhu Vittu Thazhaithongi" | P. Bhanumathi | ||
| "Andhi Nerame Inbame" | P. U. Chinnappa & P. Bhanumathi | ||
| "Aaha Enadi Kiliye" | K. Malathi | ||
| "Sollarum Aanandham Enadhu Vaazhvil Indre Dhuraiye" | P. U. Chinnappa & P. Bhanumathi | ||
| "Muzhuthunnai Nambinen" | P. Bhanumathi | ||
| "Andru Thalaiyil Avan" | |||
| "Aanandha Velaam" | P. U. Chinnappa & P. Bhanumathi | ||
| "Aadavar Kaadhal Idhudhaano" | P. Bhanumathi |
Reception
The film did poorly at the box office.{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=25 February 2010 |title=Blast from the Past — Ratnakumar 1949 |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/blast-from-the-past-ratnakumar-1949/article113316.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=2017-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170115084528/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/Blast-from-the-Past-mdash-Ratnakumar-1949/article16816901.ece |archive-date=15 January 2017}}
References
{{reflist}}