Parasakthi (1952 film)

Infobox_Film
name = Parasakthi


director = R. Krishnan S. Panju
writer = M. Karunanidhi
starring = Sivaji Ganesan
Pandari Bai
S. S. Rajendran
S. V. Sahasranam
Sriranjani
producer = A. V. Meiyappan,P.A.Perumal Mudaliar
distributor =
music = S.Sudarsanam
cinematography =
editing =
released = 17 October 1952
runtime =
language = Tamil
imdb_id = 0215033

"Parasakthi" was a 1952 Tamil film starring Sivaji Ganesan, Pandari Bai, S. S. Rajendran, S. V. Sahasranamam and Sriranjani. It was directed by R. Krishnan and S. Panju and produced by AVM. The dialogues for the film were penned by writer M. Karunanidhi who later became the Chief Minister of Tamil NaduCite web|url=http://www.indiafilm.com/lm.htm|title=Land Marks in Tamil cinema|accessdate=2008-04-27|publisher=indiafilm.com] .

Production

The film "Parasakthi" released on Deepavali Day, 1952 after months of shooting and preparations. Meiyappan's newly established AVM Productions which was on a roll having produced a series of hits as "Naam Iruvar" and"Vazhkai" planned to make a film in 1952 with a newcomer called Sivaji Ganesan who had earlier dubbed for a Telugu artist in a Tamil movie"Niraparadhi".

Made at an impressive budget and with dialogues penned by eminent writer M. Karunanidhi the film critcally examined the social issues at the time. By the time the film was off the theatres, it had create a revolutionCite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/bio-data/bio-sivaji.html|title=Tribute-Sivaji Ganesan|accessdate=2008-04-27|publisher=idlebrain.com|author=PSK] . Today, it forms a part of Tamil political history and comprises an unforgettable chapter in the history of the Dravidian Movement.

Plot synopsis

The story is based on the tale of three brothers, Chandrasekaran (Sahasranamam), Gnanasekaran (S. S. Rajendran) and Gunasekaran (Sivaji Ganesan) who settle down in Burma during the Second World War. The youngest Gunasekaran gets the opportunity to visit India for the marriage of their younger sister Kalyani (Sriranjani) but as fate would have it, he gets stranded at sea due to intense Japanese bombardment of Burmese portsCite web|url=http://www.teakada.com/2005/05/27/parasakthi-1952/|title=Parasakthi (1952)|accessdate=2008-04-27] .

As the Japanese shelling of Burma intensifies Chandrasekaran and Nyanasekaran decide to pack their belongings and cross over to India. But Gnanasekaran is lost and is presumed killed in Japanese bombardment.

Meanwhile, Kalyani delivers a boy. But soon after the birth of the child, her husband as well as her father die leaving her destitute. Misfortune befalls the family when Kalyani becomes the target of anti-social elements and is raped by a temple priest while Gunasekaran is robbed of his belongings on arrival in India. Swearing revenge, Gunasekaran kills the temple priest and lands up in jail. Gunasekaran fights an epic battle in court explaining the misfortunes which had befallen him and justifying his actions. Gunasekaran's valiant defence in the court filled with soul-stirring dialogues revolutionized Tamil film industry. The film, regarded as the first significant attempt by the Dravidian Movement to use media for propaganda, catapulted Sivaji Ganesan to fame overnight and evoked comparisons with the Hollywood legend Spencer Tracy.

Controversy

Right from the onset, "Parasakthi" was marred by much controversy. The film was accused of trying to portray Brahmins in poor light. Abuse of Hindu customs and religious practices evoked strong protests from the Hindu orthodoxyCite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/12/stories/2006061206151100.htm|title=Films and the politics of convenience |accessdate=2008-04-27|publisher=idlebrain.com|author=A. Srivathsan] . The then Chief Minister of Madras, Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari was unhappy with the extremely provocative nature of the film but allowed it to be screened. The State Government unsuccessfully requested the Union Government to reconsider film certification.

See also

* Sivaji Ganesan
* A. V. Meiyappan
* M. Karunanidhi

References