Avan Amaran

Avan Amaran is a 1958 Indian Tamil language film produced and written by Nagercoil S. Nagarajan, and directed by S. Balachander. The film stars K. R. Ramasamy, P. Kannamba, Rajasulochana and T. S. Balaiah. It was released on 23 May 1958.

Cast
The cast is listed below:

Production
Avan Amaran was produced and written by Nagercoil S. Nagarajan under People's Films, and directed by S. Balachander shot at the Newtone, Paramount, and Revathi studios in Chennai. The scene where labourers protest on a bridge was shot at a bridge near Fort St. George, Madras (now Chennai). Cinematography was handled by Nemai Ghosh.

Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by T. M. Ibrahim. The lyrics were by A. Maruthakasi, Ku. Sa. Krishnamurthi, Kambadasan, Surabhi, Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam and Kuyilan. The song "Kaalanaa Minjaadhaiyaa" is based on "Ramayya Vastavayya" from the Hindi film Shree 420 (1955), and "Vaanmadhi Nee Arivaai" is based on "Jaye To Jaye Kahaan" from another Hindi film, Taxi Driver (1954).

Release and reception
Avan Amaran was released on 23 May 1958. As it was a leftist-oriented film there were more than 72 cuts ordered by the censor board and on appeal it was reduced to 52 and after screening it to the then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Finally 35 cuts were approved and censor board certification was given. In this dragging background the film's release was delayed by more than six months. When released there was a severe power cut at Tamil Nadu, then Madras state, and theaters were allowed to run only one show. This toppled the film's success and so it become a failure at the box office.