Gejje Pooje

Gejje Pooje is a 1969 Indian Kannada-language film directed by Puttanna Kanagal and produced by Rashi Brothers. The film stars Kalpana, Gangadhar and Leelavathi. Actress Aarathi made her first screen appearance in this film. It is based on the novel of the same name by M. K. Indira. The film was remade in Tamil as Thaaliya Salangaiya, in Telugu as Kalyana Mandapam, and in Hindi as Ahista Ahista.

Plot
This socially relevant film explores the problem of prostitutes. It was based on the novel written by M. K. Indira. The heroine Chandramukhi (played by Kalpana) is the daughter of a devadasi who falls in love with a young man who is her neighbour, as they grew up together. The young girl understands the value of education and with the support of her mother intends to reject the life of prostitution. Circumstances and the young man's suspicion make him abandon the heroine. The girl he then goes on to marry is actually her half-sister, the daughter of the heroine's father from his marriage with another woman. He had abandoned both Chandra and her mother. Chandra agrees to perform 'gejje pooje' (literally marrying ankle bracelets) as part of initiation into a life of prostitution, but in the end, she kills herself by crushing and swallowing the diamond (from the ring that was gifted to her by her biological father in his memory).

Awards

 * 17th National Film Awards
 * Best Kannada Film
 * Best Screenplay — Puttanna Kanagal


 * 1969–70 Karnataka State Film Awards
 * First Best Film
 * Best Supporting Actress – Leelavathi
 * Best Screenplay — Puttanna Kanagal
 * Best Dialogue — Navarathna Ram Rao
 * Best Cinematographer — S. V. Srikanth

Soundtrack
The music was composed by Vijaya Bhaskar.