Talk:Chandralekha (1948 film)

Useful sources

 * http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/a-doyen-departs/article3894562.ece
 * http://web.archive.org/web/20120208164919/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001341/134149eo.pdf
 * http://www.hindu.com/fr/2004/11/05/stories/2004110502700400.htm
 * http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-columns/doctor-savithri-1955/article3726984.ece
 * http://www.hindu.com/cp/2008/05/16/stories/2008051650341600.htm
 * Book source
 * Distributor
 * Times crest
 * Publicity Kailash29792 (talk) 11:37, 3 October 2013 (UTC)

Tamil sources
This is the English translation of the contents from this article

To and whomsoever it may concern,

Chandralekha, made at a cost of ₹ 30 lakhs

Sixty years ago, the cost of making a Tamil film was just ₹ 3 lakhs. S. S. Vasan of Gemini Studios planned to make Chandralekha on par with Hollywood films with a budget of ₹ 30 lakhs. While the hero was M. K. Radha, Ranjan was cast in an equally important villain role.

The heroine was T.R. Rajakumari while N.S. Krishnan, T.A. Mathuram, Sundari Bai and L.Narayanarao formed the supporting cast. The story department at Gemini consisting of K.J. Mahadevan, Kottamangalam Subbu, Veppathur Kittu and Nayina worked day and night for months and came up with the story.

When Vasan expressed his desire to include circus scenes in the film, the story was modified to suit it. The officials at Gemini Studios travelled from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and finalised a circus troupe to act in the film. (The circus company was later renamed as Gemini Circus) While Papanasam Sivan and Kottamangalam Subbu wrote the songs, S. Rajeshwara Rao scored the music.

Cinematography: Kamaal Ghosh; Art: A. K. Sekar; Editing: Chathru. Acharya, who had earlier directed Mangamma Sabatham, was supposed to direct this film too. Due to creative differences with Vasan, he withdrew from the project and Vasan took over the director's mantle making it his directorial debut.

In all departments of Gemini Studios, the production work was in full swing. Since Chandralekha was a slightly modernised historical, numerous costume designers and tailors worked on the costumes through day and night. Horses, Elephants, caged Tigers and Lions filled the studio. For the grand drum dance sequence that appears at the end, numerous carpenters worked on creating the huge drums.

To cover the production costs, Vasan gathered funds by mortgaging his properties. Even after about three years of production, the film wasn't complete and Vasan kept financing the film. Vasan later revealed in an interview, "The budget required to produce the film Chandralekha overshot than what I had expected. After spending all the money I had, I mortgaged all my properties including Gemini. Still, the film could not be completed. More than the worry of the loan I took, the huge interest I paid for it shook me slightly. People including those who knew me well wrote me off saying 'This will be the end of Vasan. He can never recover from such a huge debt'. Sreenivasa Iyengar, the editor of The Hindu, came to know of this and called me one day. When I reached his residence, he asked me, 'I heard that you have taken a huge amount as a loan for your film Chandralekha. Is it true?' I answered that it was true. 'How much do you expect the film would collect?' I said it would collect ₹ 60 lakhs in TamilNadu alone and more in the Hindi market. If dubbed and released in other languages, it would gross crores. 'When you are producing a film that could earn so much, why are you worried about your debts?', he asked. I replied that I was more worried about the interest I pay and not much about the debts. After a few minutes of silence, he asked, 'If you get the huge debt you owe without having to pay any interest, can you complete the film?' I replied that I would definitely complete and release the film with more enthusiasm and vigour.

The very next moment, when I had least expected, he understood that the money was my only concern and solved my problem. I was dumbfounded. Like a devotee standing in front of the God, I stood there, eyes flooded with thanks. He then asked me, 'In exchange for my help, can you promise to do me a favour? I am providing you financial assitance only after getting to know about your brilliance, talents, capabilities, bravado, hard work and straight forwardness. If you come to know that someone who is equally talented as you but his talents doesn't help him due to lack of money, you should help him just as I helped you.' I promised that I would."

(He kept his promise later in his life when director K. S. Gopalakrishnan had a money crunch during the making of his film Pesum Deivam. Though Vasan never knew him before, he invited him and financed him with ₹ 2 lakhs. When Gopalakrishnan asked the reason for helping him, Vasan revealed the help he had got from Sreenivasa Iyengar and the promise he made to him.)

When Chandralekha was nearing completion, the film once again ran out of funds. When Vasan was home worrying, his mom came there. "What happened Seenu? Why are you are looking dull?"

"Nothing mom. I have exhausted every means in gathering money. I still need ₹ 75,000 to complete the film. Where to find that much money?"

"Oh! Is that the matter? Just wait" Saying so, she went in and came back with a plate full of jewellery that were in the house. "Whether you sell them or mortgage them, complete the film either way. You bought these with your hard work. If it doesn't help you, why should I have them?" smiled his mom, Vaalambal. He sold the jewellery and completed the film. (Later, he bought jewellery twice as his mom had, gave it to her, fell at her feet and got her blessings.) Chandralekha was first screened on 9 April 1948.

During those days, a new film will be released in only about 10 towns. After running there, the film negatives will be sent to the next few. But Chandralekha was released simulataneously in 120 towns. The film was entertaining and ran for 18,364 feet.

The swashbuckling sword fight between M.K. Radha and Ranjan at the end was as interesting as English films. The drum dance was a grand spectacle and surprised everyone. The film was a big success everywhere.

Yet, Vasan wasn't pleased. While the film was made at ten times the cost of normal films, the collections weren't tenfold. Vasan became worried that the film might not recover the cost of production.

Regards. -- Sriram speak up  09:41, 7 April 2014 (UTC)


 * Thank you Sriram. Now let me see where I can fit new content in the article. Kailash29792 (talk) 10:24, 7 April 2014 (UTC)

GOCE
Edited main body of article to change Indian/international English to standard English and some punctuation. Not clear if sources have been checked or not. I have not edited the introduction to the article, which I think should ideally be done by someone who is familiar with the film. Isthisuseful (talk) 20:13, 19 August 2014 (UTC) As far as I can see the introduction still needs to be re-written by someone with good English skills who is familiar with the film. Isthisuseful (talk) 22:15, 24 December 2014 (UTC)

All India Hit????
As per sources, it was Meera that was the first Tamil film to be released in Hindi and become a nationwide hit. The Hindi version of Meera was released on December 5, 1947 in Delhi, shortly before Chandralekha. V. Gangadhar, in M. S. Subbulakshmi: The Voice Divine writes "Meera was soon released in packed theatres all over India and broke box office records." And I believe that a book published by Rupa Books is more reliable than upperstall.com- Ravi My Tea Kadai 14:57, 13 February 2015 (UTC)


 * , I already removed the claim about Chandralekha being India's first nationwide hit. I asked you to search for more inaccurate claims in the article. Kailash29792 (talk) 16:33, 13 February 2015 (UTC)

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