Movies of 1943 ! ~ வதனமே சந்திர பிம்பமோ?

 

A movie advertisement in leading Tamil weekly Kalki in 1943 !!  - not a Tamil movie – unlikely that it would have been dubbed or had any scroll in Tamil for the Hindi dialogues .. .. “Poonji” – (which translates to "Wealth" or "Capital")

Great fan of Tamil Cinema – have the habit of quoting Cinema songs ! especially to your lover –  try singing this  !! 

வதனமே சந்திர பிம்பமோ? மலர்ந்த சரோஜமோ?

மாறன் அம்போ? நீள் விழியோ? மதுர கானமோ?  

ஐயுற வேண்டா !!  -  தமிழ் பாடலே !!  -   முகர் என்ற வினைவேர் மூக்கினால் ஒன்றினை முகர்ந்து பார்ப்பதைக் குறிக்கிறது. முகத்தை நீட்டுமாறு, அசைக்குமாறு செய்வதற்கு முகரும் வினையே காரணமாகிறது.  முகத்திற்குத் தமிழில் வழங்கப்படும் பிற சொற்கள் -  மூஞ்சி, முகரை என்பன.  மூய் என்றால், எல்லாம் முடியும் இடம். நெருங்கிச் சூழ்ந்த நிலைக்கும் மூய்தல் என்று பெயர். புலன்களின் நெருங்கிச் சூழ்ந்த இடம் என்ற பொருளில் மூய் என்ற வினையோடு 'தி' என்ற விகுதி சேர்ந்தது. மூய்தி என்ற சொல்லே மூஞ்சி ஆனது (தெலுங்கில் ముఖం).  முகத்திற்கு மற்றோரு பெயர் "வதனம்"

கவிதைக்கு பொய் அழகு !  - கவிதை என்பது ஒப்பிடல்.  பண்டை நாள் முதலே, அழகு முகத்தோடு, முக்கியமாக காதலியின் அழகு முகத்துக்கு - சந்திரனே உவமை.   இந்த பிரபல பாடல் பாபநாசம் சிவன் இயற்றியது.  1943ல் வெளிவந்த சிவகவி என்ற படத்தில் எம்.கே. தியாகராஜ பாகவதர் மத்யமாவதி, ராகத்தில், ஜி. ராமநாதன் இசைக்கு பாடி நடித்தது.  TR  ராஜகுமாரி கதாநாயகி  

Thanjavur Radhakrishnan Rajayee (1922 –1999), was famously known  by her screen name T. R. Rajakumari, actress, Carnatic singer and dancer. She  perhaps was the first dream girl from soap bubble industry.   She debuted in Kumara Kulothungan, which was produced in 1938–39 but was released in 1941 after Kacha Devayani.

The song that is spoken about in 3^rd para is from Sivakavi, released in 1943, directed, initially, by P. K. Raja Sandow and later, S. M. Sriramulu Naidu. It starred M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, S. Jayalakshmi, Serukalathur Sama, Thirupurambal, T. R. Rajakumari, N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Mathuram. The film's screenplay was written by Thirumuruga Kirupanandha Variyar. The film was shot at Central Studios and released by Pakshiraja Films in Coimbatore. The film was released on 10 April 1943.  The soundtrack of the film consisted of 29 songs were composed by Papanasam Sivan who also penned the lyrics for all songs while G. Ramanthan took care of orchestration.  Vadaname Chandra bimbamu was a great hit … .. remembered still.  

Moving away Poonji, upon searches understand to be a movie released in 1943. It  was directed by Ravindra Dave and Vishnu R. Pancholi and  starred M. Esmail, Durga Mota, Ragini in lead roles. The film storyline revolved around three sisters trying to prevent their father from remarrying.

The film was a debut for  directors Ravindra Dave and Vishnu R. Pancholi; produced by Dalsukh M. Pancholi. Dalsukh M. Pancholi (1906–1959)  is remembered for making the first Punjabi film. Considered to be a film pioneer, Pancholi's Empire Talkie Distributors based in Lahore were the biggest importer of American films in northern and western India.  Poonji was a big commercial hit.   

As the Nation was vivisected,   the film industry of the newly formed nation of West and East Pakistan   had to rebuild itself from scratch. Unlike India, which had different centres of filmmaking like Bombay, Poona, Calcutta and Madras, Pakistan had just one – Lahore. However, due to communal riots in the city, its two major studios, both owned by Hindus – Roop K. Shorey and Dalsukh Pancholi – were razed to the ground. Shorey and Pancholi were forced to leave Lahore and make India their new home. Other Hindu artists working largely in Lahore like Pran, Om Prakash and Kuldip Kaur also migrated to India. But while the film folk who moved to India were Hindus, not all Muslims from the Bombay film industry left for the new nation of Pakistan.

Even tinseldom teaches lot of history, we refuse to learn !! 

Regards – S Sampathkumar
24.5.2025