Jalaja or Natya Mahimai (transl. Jalaja or The Glory of Dance) is a 1938 Indian Tamil-language dance film written by Manjeri S. Isvaran, Dr. V. Raghavan and G. K. Seshagiri. The film was directed by R. R. Gautam and G. K. Seshagiri and produced by the Sagar Renaissance Theatre, a joint production by G. K. Seshagiri’s Renaissance Theatre and Sagar Movietone.[2] It stars Bhanumathi[a], Lakshmi, G. K. Seshagiri and K. S. Gopalakrishan[b] in lead roles. The film is marked as India's first dance film.[2] It is also dedicated to Bhanumathi’s cousin, Bharatanatya Art Expert Srimathi Varalakshmi, who died early on in the film’s production. No print of the film is known to survive, making it a lost film.[3]
The film was produced by the Sagar Renaissance Theatre, a joint production by G. K. Seshagiri’s Renaissance Theatre and Sagar Movietone.[2] It was directed by R. R. Gautam and G. K. Seshagiri, who was also the owner of The Renaissance Theatre.[3] Manjeri S. Isvaran and R. S. Murthi were assistant directors. The story and dialogues were written by Manjeri S. Isvaran, Dr. V. Raghavan and G. K. Seshagiri. The film was shot at Sagar Studios in Bombay and the photography was done by Rajnikant Pandya and Minoo Billimoria. The audiography was handled by V. M. Desai, Dinshaw Billimoria and Reuben Moses. Roora Mistry took care of the film’s settings while Fakir Mohammad handled the editing. The film was processed by Gangadhar Narvekar and Pranchavan Shukla.[2] While the song book only credits S. Shanmugam as the Nattuvanar in the orchestra, Film News Anandan credits him as just the dance choreographer.[4] Hari Krishnan believes that S. Shanmugam is actually Shanmugasundara Nattuvanar of Thiruppanandal, who was an associate of Vadivelu Pilai, the duo’s choreographer before he died in 1937.[3] G. K. Seshagiri played the hero, Rajagopalan, while Varalakshmi of the Varalakshmi-Bhanumathi duo was hired to play the heroine, Jalaja. Production began in 1937 in Bombay and on 3 November, Varalakshmi died suddenly.[3] Her cousin Bhanumathi, also known as Kumbakonam Bhanumathi, was asked to replace her role, which she accepted.[3][5][6] The film had a second title, Natya Mahimai, meaning the glory of dance.[2][3][6] K. S. Gopalakrishnan, a congress party worker turned film director played the Mudaliar.[2] He is often confused with another film director, K. S. Gopalakrishnan.[7]Bhudo Advani, a Bengali actor played one of the Mudaliar’s servants.[2]Kumari Rukmani played Rukmini, Jalaja’s younger sister.[2][8] Lakshmi, who played Rajagopalan’s wife, Lalitha, was introduced in this film.[3]
Soundtrackedit
The music was directed by A. N. Kalyanasundaram, who also composed almost all of the songs.[2][4] However, "Theruvil Varano" was composed by Muthu Thandavar. The song, "Aduvum Seivar", is an altered version of the padam, "Aduvum Solluval" composed by Subbarama Iyer. The song, "Innum Dayavu", originally composed by Ramalinga Swamigal has also been altered in the film.[2]
The film was distributed by the General Film Distributing Co., which was based in Madras.[2] According to Hari Krishnan, "there is no information about how Jalaja fared at the box office. Regardless, the success of the film provides us with new perspectives on thinking about the ways in which Bharatanatyam was circulating in the period [during the 1930s] immediately following the work of the [Madras] Music Academy and [Rukmini Devi] Arundale." In an August 1938 Filmindia magazine, Baburao Patel reports that, "Jalaja failed to draw and people in town think that it was due to bad direction. The story is reported to be weak and a bad selection of artistes is also given as a reason."[9] In September of the same year, Patel continues with, "the original Jalaja is now expected to be revived after a number of changes."[10] No print of the film is known to survive, making it a lost film.[3]
^ abcdefghijklmJalaja or Natya Mahimai (song book) (in Tamil). Devi Press Ltd., Madras. 1938.
^ abcdefghKrishnan, Hari (2019). Celluloid Classicism (in Tamil). Wesleyan University Press. pp. 105–116. ISBN978-0-8195-7888-4. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
^ abFilm News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [Tamil film history and its achievements] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publishers. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020.
^Ramani, V. V. (26 November 2011). "Styles, past and present: Documentary on Kumbakonam Bhanumathi". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 May 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
^ ab"Kumbakonam K. Bhanumathi". sangeetnatak.gov.in. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
^Guy, Randor (26 December 2008). "Panakkari 1953". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 July 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
^"Kumari Rukmani" (PDF). Natchathra Malai (in Tamil): 22–23. 1947.
jalaja, film, jalaja, natya, mahimai, transl, jalaja, glory, dance, 1938, indian, tamil, language, dance, film, written, manjeri, isvaran, raghavan, seshagiri, film, directed, gautam, seshagiri, produced, sagar, renaissance, theatre, joint, production, seshagi. Jalaja or Natya Mahimai transl Jalaja or The Glory of Dance is a 1938 Indian Tamil language dance film written by Manjeri S Isvaran Dr V Raghavan and G K Seshagiri The film was directed by R R Gautam and G K Seshagiri and produced by the Sagar Renaissance Theatre a joint production by G K Seshagiri s Renaissance Theatre and Sagar Movietone 2 It stars Bhanumathi a Lakshmi G K Seshagiri and K S Gopalakrishan b in lead roles The film is marked as India s first dance film 2 It is also dedicated to Bhanumathi s cousin Bharatanatya Art Expert Srimathi Varalakshmi who died early on in the film s production No print of the film is known to survive making it a lost film 3 JalajaPromotional posterOriginal titleஜலஜ அல லத ந ட ட ய மஹ ம Directed byR R GautamG K SeshagiriScreenplay byManjeri S IsvaranDr V Raghavan G K SeshagiriStory byManjeri S IsvaranDr V RaghavanG K SeshagiriProduced byG K SeshagiriStarringBhanumathiLakshmiG K SeshagiriK S GopalakrishanCinematographyRajnikant PandyaMinoo BillimoriaEdited byFakir MohammadMusic byA N KalyanasundaramProductioncompanySagar Renaissance TheatreDistributed byGeneral Film Distributing Co Release dateMay 1938 1938 May 1 CountryIndiaLanguageTamil Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Soundtrack 5 Reception 6 Notes 7 ReferencesPlot editThis article needs a plot summary Please add one in your own words July 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Cast editCast according to the song book 2 Bhanumathi a as Jalaja G K Seshagiri as Rajagopalan Lakshmi as Lalitha K S Gopalakrishan b as Mudaliar Janaki as Duraikannu V Ganesa Iyer as Priest Rukmini as Rukmini M K Venkatapathy as Azhagappan R Venkatachalamaiah as Sivarama Iyer S R Krishna Iyengar as Kittu R Ramanujachari as Agent Iyengar Bhudo Advani as Mudaliar s Servant Vaithi as Mudaliar s Servant Sadasivan as Mudaliar s Servant Pankajam as Pankajam Kokilam as Singer K S Ramamurthi as Station Master S Rajagopalan as Sundaram Sripada Shankar as Police Deputy Commissioner M Viswanathan as Police Inspector G Kalyanasundaram as Police Inspector A Sundaram as Police InspectorProduction editThe film was produced by the Sagar Renaissance Theatre a joint production by G K Seshagiri s Renaissance Theatre and Sagar Movietone 2 It was directed by R R Gautam and G K Seshagiri who was also the owner of The Renaissance Theatre 3 Manjeri S Isvaran and R S Murthi were assistant directors The story and dialogues were written by Manjeri S Isvaran Dr V Raghavan and G K Seshagiri The film was shot at Sagar Studios in Bombay and the photography was done by Rajnikant Pandya and Minoo Billimoria The audiography was handled by V M Desai Dinshaw Billimoria and Reuben Moses Roora Mistry took care of the film s settings while Fakir Mohammad handled the editing The film was processed by Gangadhar Narvekar and Pranchavan Shukla 2 While the song book only credits S Shanmugam as the Nattuvanar in the orchestra Film News Anandan credits him as just the dance choreographer 4 Hari Krishnan believes that S Shanmugam is actually Shanmugasundara Nattuvanar of Thiruppanandal who was an associate of Vadivelu Pilai the duo s choreographer before he died in 1937 3 G K Seshagiri played the hero Rajagopalan while Varalakshmi of the Varalakshmi Bhanumathi duo was hired to play the heroine Jalaja Production began in 1937 in Bombay and on 3 November Varalakshmi died suddenly 3 Her cousin Bhanumathi also known as Kumbakonam Bhanumathi was asked to replace her role which she accepted 3 5 6 The film had a second title Natya Mahimai meaning the glory of dance 2 3 6 K S Gopalakrishnan a congress party worker turned film director played the Mudaliar 2 He is often confused with another film director K S Gopalakrishnan 7 Bhudo Advani a Bengali actor played one of the Mudaliar s servants 2 Kumari Rukmani played Rukmini Jalaja s younger sister 2 8 Lakshmi who played Rajagopalan s wife Lalitha was introduced in this film 3 Soundtrack editThe music was directed by A N Kalyanasundaram who also composed almost all of the songs 2 4 However Theruvil Varano was composed by Muthu Thandavar The song Aduvum Seivar is an altered version of the padam Aduvum Solluval composed by Subbarama Iyer The song Innum Dayavu originally composed by Ramalinga Swamigal has also been altered in the film 2 A N K s Orchestra 2 Parur S Anantharaman Conductor Fiddle V Natarajan Fiddle M R Jayarama Sarma Flute Harmonium M Balusami Dikshithar Veenai Ponnusami Mudaliar Gottuvadhyam S Radhakrishnan Organ Piano Xylophone M K Venkatapathy Mridangam C V Mani Mridangam Tabla Dholak S Shanmugam as NattuvanarNo Song Singer s Ragam Composer Length1 Inneramagilum Gramophone Plate Kokilam Begada A N Kalyanasundaram2 Kanne Varai Pankajam Sindhu Bhairavi3 Innum Dayavu Lakshmi Bhanumathi Khamas4 Ananda Natesa Bhanumathi5 Samanam Evarum Bhanumathi K S Gopalakrishnan6 Adum Arase Kokilam7 Kadhalai Arindor Bhanumathi Hamir Kalyani8 Aduvum Seivar Kokila Saurashtram9 Theruvil Varano Rukmini Khamas Muthu Thandavar10 Kadhal Kaniyai K S Gopalakrishnan A N KalyanasundaramReception editThe film was distributed by the General Film Distributing Co which was based in Madras 2 According to Hari Krishnan there is no information about how Jalaja fared at the box office Regardless the success of the film provides us with new perspectives on thinking about the ways in which Bharatanatyam was circulating in the period during the 1930s immediately following the work of the Madras Music Academy and Rukmini Devi Arundale In an August 1938 Filmindia magazine Baburao Patel reports that Jalaja failed to draw and people in town think that it was due to bad direction The story is reported to be weak and a bad selection of artistes is also given as a reason 9 In September of the same year Patel continues with the original Jalaja is now expected to be revived after a number of changes 10 No print of the film is known to survive making it a lost film 3 Notes edit a b Not P Bhanumathi a b Not K S GopalakrishnanReferences edit Patel Baburao May 1938 Filmindia Vol 4 no 1 p 67 Retrieved 20 August 2022 a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a Cite magazine requires magazine help a b c d e f g h i j k l m Jalaja or Natya Mahimai song book in Tamil Devi Press Ltd Madras 1938 a b c d e f g h Krishnan Hari 2019 Celluloid Classicism in Tamil Wesleyan University Press pp 105 116 ISBN 978 0 8195 7888 4 Retrieved 20 May 2020 a b Film News Anandan 2004 Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru Tamil film history and its achievements in Tamil Chennai Sivagami Publishers Archived from the original on 25 June 2020 Ramani V V 26 November 2011 Styles past and present Documentary on Kumbakonam Bhanumathi The Hindu Archived from the original on 21 May 2020 Retrieved 26 September 2017 a b Kumbakonam K Bhanumathi sangeetnatak gov in Retrieved 23 May 2020 Guy Randor 26 December 2008 Panakkari 1953 The Hindu Archived from the original on 25 July 2017 Retrieved 20 May 2020 Kumari Rukmani PDF Natchathra Malai in Tamil 22 23 1947 Patel Baburao August 1938 Filmindia Vol 4 no 1 p 126 Retrieved 6 June 2020 a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a Cite magazine requires magazine help Patel Baburao August 1938 Filmindia Vol 4 no 1 p 195 Retrieved 6 June 2020 a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a Cite magazine requires magazine help Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jalaja film amp oldid 1175613068, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
