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{{short description|1958 film by K. Somu}}
{{for|films with similar names|Sampoorna Ramayana (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Sampoorna Ramayanam 1958.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = K. Somu
| producer = M. A. Venu
| screenplay = [[A. P. Nagarajan]]
| based_on = {{based on|''[[Ramayana]]''|[[Valmiki]]}}
| starring = [[N. T. Rama Rao]]<br />[[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]]
| music = [[K. V. Mahadevan]]
| cinematography = V. K. Gopanna
| editing = T. Vijayarangam
| studio = M. A. V. Pictures
| distributor = 
| released = {{Film date|1958|04|14|df=y}}
| runtime = 204 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
'''''Sampoorna Ramayanam''''' ({{translation|The Complete Ramayana}}) is a 1958 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil ]]-language [[Hindu mythological film]] directed by K. Somu. It is based on [[Valmiki]]'s ''[[Ramayana]]''. The film stars [[N. T. Rama Rao]] in the lead role of [[Rama]] and [[Sivaji Ganesan]] as [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharatha]]. It was released on 14 April 1958 and ran for over 264 days in theatres, thereby becoming a [[silver jubilee hit]]. The film was dubbed into [[Hindi]] as ''Ramayan'' in 1960.{{Sfn|Pauwels|2007|p=51}}

== Plot ==
The film is the complete [[Ramayana]]. It begins at [[Ayodhya (Ramayana)|Ayodhya]] on [[Solar dynasty]]’s present ruler [[Dasharatha]]. He is perturbed as childless so he conducts [[Putrakameshti]] on ordinance of Sage [[Vashishta]], with his 3 wives [[Kausalya]], [[Sumitra]] & [[Kaikeyi]]. Here, [[Vishnu]] with [[Shesha]] Shanku & Chakra incarnated as his 4 sons: [[Rama]], [[Lakshmana]], [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]], & [[Shatrughna]]. Parallelly, while tilling the ground, [[Janaka]], the king of Mithila, finds the box enclosing the baby whom he rears as [[Sita]]. Time passes, Saint [[Vishvamitra]] arrives and seeks to send Ramalakshmana for the protection of his Yaga. Soon, he endorsed them with powerful armaments, which they used to destroy [[Tataka]] & [[Maricha]] [[Subahu]] and accomplish the Yaga.

Meanwhile, Janaka announces [[Svayamvara]] to Sita when Vishvamitra moves in with the sibling. Amid, Rama transforms a stone form of [[Ahalya]] into normal. Here, the challenge is to affix the world-renowned bow of [[Shiva|Siva]]. However, [[Ravana]] lands therein without an invitation but fails and gets humiliated. All at once, Rama breaks it when enraged [[Parashurama]] confronts him but realizes he is his continuation and backs up. After the wedding of Sita & Rama, Dasharatha announces Rama's crowning ceremony, which immerses Ayodhya. Begrudged Mandhara sly maid of Kaikeyi poisons her to seek her husband, the two boons at the time of the Devasura war. Dasaratha offers to do so, and Kaikeya forces Bharata's crowning and Rama's exile for 14 years. The heartbroken Dasaratha accedes to Kaikeyi's demands. Rama also deliberately accepts his father's reluctant decree and proceeds with Sita & Lakshmana.
[[Guha (Ramayana)|Guha]] crosses them, the [[Ganges]]. After that, Dasaratha dies when Bharata backs and flares up on his mother, which makes her regret. Bharata rushes to retrieve Rama but denies obeying his father's words. So, Bharata obtains his sandals as a gesture and starts ruling Ayodhya.

After 13 years, Rama moved to Panchavati, where Ravana's sister, [[Shurpanakha]], entices him, and Lakshmana cuts off her nose & ears. Being aware of it infuriated Ravana ploys to seize Sita with the aid of the Maricha, who turns into a golden deer. Entranced by its beauty, Sita pleads with Rama to capture it when he chases it, leaving Lakshmana as a guard. Rama shoots it and mimics Rama before dying. Frightened, Sita forces Lakshmana to go, which he obeys but stipulates not to cross the chalk outline he drew. Ravana, in the guise of an ascetic, abducts Sita. [[Jatayu]] tries to arrest Ravana but loses his wings. Ramalakshmana learns about the fatality via him.

Ongoing, they meet an ascetic [[Shabari]], who directs them toward [[Kishkindha]]. So, they step in and befriend [[Hanuman|Anjineeya]] & [[Sugriva]]. Rama kills his malice brother [[Vali (Ramayana)|Vaali]] and crowns him. Then, [[Vanara]] are under the hunt of Seeta. Anjineeya crosses the sea and reaches Lanka, locking Seeta in Ashoka Grove. Here, he bestows the ring and states Rama will take revenge for her insult. Plus, he takes her golden hairband, who returns by setting fire to Lanka and warning Ravana. With the aid of Vanara, Rama constructed a stone bridge over the sea and reached Lanka. [[Vibhishana]], a good Samaritan Ravana's brother, requests him to pardon Rama. As a result, he is ostracized and propitiates with Rama, who promises to bestow Lanka.

The war begins, which destroys most of the demon warriors. So, Ravana awakes his second sibling [[Kumbhakarna]], who is too slaughtered by Rama. Here, [[Indrajit]] creates an illusion of Sita's assassination when Rama faints. Now Lakshmana takes charge and collapses by Indrajit's "Nagastram." Anjineeya secures him by "[[Sanjivani (Hinduism)|Sanjeevani]]" and he kills Indrajit. Ultimately, Ravana walks to battle when Rama disarms & asks him to arrive tomorrow. The following day, Ravana confronts him with his ten heads. Rama kills Ravana by getting knowledge of his death secret from Vibhishana. Next, Rama asks Sita to undergo an "Agni Pariksha" test of fire to prove her innocence, as he wants to eliminate the rumors surrounding her. Sita plunges into the sacrificial fire, and Agni raises Seeta, unharmed, to the throne, attesting to her fidelity. At last, Rama backs Ayodhya with Sita, Lakshmana, Anjineeya, and other Vanaras. Finally, the movie ends happily with the Rama's coronation.

== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
*[[N. T. Rama Rao]] as [[Rama]]
*[[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]] as [[Sita]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 September 2006 |title=The very best of Padmini |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/sep/26sd7.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814143833/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/sep/26sd7.htm |archive-date=14 August 2018 |access-date=14 August 2018 |website=[[Rediff.com]] |at=slide 7}}</ref>
**[[Sukumari]] as Young [[Sita]]
*[[Sivaji Ganesan]] as [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharatha]]
*[[P. V. Narasimha Bharathi]] as [[Lakshmana]]<ref name="characters" />
*[[Santo Krishnan]] as [[Hanuman]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 July 2013 |title=Stunt master Santo Krishnan dies |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/stunt-master-santo-krishnan-dies/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826035135/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/stunt-master-santo-krishnan-dies/ |archive-date=26 August 2021 |access-date=27 December 2020 |work=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref>
*[[T. K. Bhagavathi]] as [[Ravana]]<ref name="RandorGuy" />
*[[V. Nagayya]] as [[Dasharatha]]<ref name="RandorGuy" />
*[[Pushpavalli]] as [[Kausalya]]<ref name="characters" />
*[[G. Varalakshmi]] as [[Kaikeyi]]<ref name="RandorGuy" />

*[[V. K. Ramasamy (actor)|V. K. Ramasamy]] as Guhan<ref name="characters" />
*[[M. N. Rajam]] as [[Shurpanakha]]<ref name="characters" />
*Sandhya as [[Mandodari]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 February 2017 |title=ஜெ.ஜெயலலிதா என்னும் நான்... - அம்மாவின் கதை! - 6 |url=https://www.vikatan.com/oddities/women/128882-jayalalitha-biography-series |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200323152919/https://www.vikatan.com/oddities/women/128882-jayalalitha-biography-series |archive-date=23 March 2020 |access-date=3 August 2019 |website=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref>
}}

== Production ==
After ''[[Town Bus]]'' (1955), its producer M. A. Venu decided that his next venture would be ''Sampoorna Ramayanam'',<ref name="தடைகளைத்" /> based on the ''[[Ramayana]]'', an Indian epic written by [[Valmiki]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 May 2014 |title=The Best Mythological Films of Tamil Cinema |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/slide-show-1-the-most-popular-mythological-films-of-tamil-cinema-south/20140522.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180119070122/http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/slide-show-1-the-most-popular-mythological-films-of-tamil-cinema-south/20140522.htm |archive-date=19 January 2018 |access-date=13 July 2018 |website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> It was directed by K. Somu and produced by Venu under M. A. V. Pictures, while [[A. P. Nagarajan]] wrote the screenplay. Cinematography was handled by V. K. Gopanna, and the editing by T. Vijayarangam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1958 – சம்பூர்ண இராமாயணம்-எம்.எ.வி. பிக்சர்ஸ் (தெ-டப்-ராமாயண் (இ-டப்) |trans-title=1958 – Sampoorna Ramayanam-M.A.V. Pictures (te-dub-Ramayanam (hi-dub) |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1958-cinedetails11.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181004084256/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1958-cinedetails11.asp |archive-date=4 October 2018 |access-date=4 October 2018 |website=[[Lakshman Sruthi]] |language=Tamil}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=41-50 |url=http://www.nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp5.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806145843/http://nadigarthilagam.com/filmographyp5.htm |archive-date=6 August 2018 |access-date=26 August 2021 |website=nadigarthilagam.com}}</ref>

K. V. Srinivasan dubbed the voice of [[N. T. Rama Rao]],<ref name="RandorGuy" /> who played [[Rama]].{{sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|p=117}} [[S. S. Rajendran]] was initially offered to play [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]] but declined due to his aversion to act in films based on mythology; [[Sivaji Ganesan]] was later cast in that role.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 October 2014 |title='Latchiya Nadigar' SSR No More |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/%E2%80%98Latchiya-Nadigar%E2%80%99-SSR-No-More/2014/10/25/article2492415.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816063314/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/%E2%80%98Latchiya-Nadigar%E2%80%99-SSR-No-More/2014/10/25/article2492415.ece |archive-date=16 August 2016 |access-date=26 July 2016 |work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Kannan |first=R. |title=MGR: A Life |publisher=[[Penguin Random House]] |year=2017 |isbn=978-0-14-342934-0 |location=India |pages=71}}</ref> This marked Ganesan's first mythological film.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |title=Starlight, Starbright: The Early Tamil Cinema |publisher=Amra Publishers |year=1997 |location=Chennai |pages=281 |oclc=52794531}}</ref> 

== Soundtrack ==
The music composed by [[K. V. Mahadevan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sampoorna Ramayanam (1958) |url=http://play.raaga.com/tamil/album/sampoorna-ramayanam-t0001808 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009110256/http://play.raaga.com/tamil/album/Sampoorna-Ramayanam-T0001808 |archive-date=9 October 2014 |access-date=25 September 2014 |website=[[Raaga.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sampoorna Ramayanam Tml |url=http://gaana.com/album/sampoorna-ramayanam-tml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719201059/http://gaana.com/album/sampoorna-ramayanam-tml |archive-date=19 July 2014 |access-date=25 September 2014 |website=[[Gaana (music streaming service)|Gaana]]}}</ref> All lyrics were penned by [[A. Maruthakasi]]. Unlike most Tamil films of that era, the songs were composed to form a part of the narrative, as opposed to being standalone segments.{{sfn|Baskaran|1996|p=56}} [[Madurai S. Somasundaram]] was originally hired to sing a few songs, including "Veenai Kodiyudaiya" which was picturised on Ravana. As Bhagavati's lip synching could not match Somasundaram's fast singing, the singer was replaced with [[C. S. Jayaraman]]. Offended, Somasundaram left the film and at his request the songs he sang were dropped.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Venkatraman |first=Shankar |date=11 July 2019 |title=The incomparable genius of Madurai Somu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/the-incomparable-genius-of-madurai-somu/article28376662.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20191108113504/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/the-incomparable-genius-of-madurai-somu/article28376662.ece |archive-date=8 November 2019 |access-date=8 November 2019 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! Song !! Singers !! Length
|-
| "Annaiyum Pithavumaagi...Yen Pirintheer" || [[T. M. Soundararajan]], Thangappan || 02:31
|-
| "Indru Poi Naalai Vaaraai" || [[C. S. Jayaraman]] || 02:52
|-
| "Neethi Thavarathu" || [[Sirkazhi Govindarajan]] || 01:03
|-
| "Pathugaiye Thunaiyaagum" || T. M. Soundararajan & Sirkazhi Govindarajan || 02:49
|-
| "Sabarikku Raamanum" || Sirkazhi Govindarajan || 06:08
|-
| "Sangeetha Sowbagyame" || C. S. Jayaraman || 04:24
|-
| "Sree Raamachandhran Magudaabishega" || Sirkazhi Govindarajan & S. C. Krishnan || 00:45
|-
| "Ellorum Kondaadum Raamaraajyame" || [[A. P. Komala]], A. G. Rathnamala, [[K. Rani (singer)|K. Rani]], Sarojini & Udutha || 00:49
|-
| "Thennaadudaiya Sivane...Kannpaarum Enaiyaalum" || C. S. Jayaraman || 02:31
|-
| "Paakraan Sumaa Paakraan" || [[M. S. Rajeswari]] || 01:02
|-
| "Thavamuni Viswamithiran.... Panjanai Meedhu" || C. S. Jayaraman || 06:00
|-
| "Veenai Kodiyudaiya" || [[Thiruchi Loganathan]], C. S. Jayaraman || 01:45
|-
| "Mannellaam Ponnaagum Raaman Varavaaley" || [[A. P. Komala]], A. G. Rathnamala, S. C. Krishnan, [[K. Rani (singer)|K. Rani]], Sarojini & Pathma || 01:45
|-
| "Vaazhiya Ulagam... Makkal Pirandhadhai Enni Enniye" || T. M. Soundararajan || 04:28
|-
| "Araneri Marandha Thamayanai" || Sirkazhi Govindarajan || 01:40
|-
| "Pogadhe Atthaan Pogadhe" || M. S. Rajeswari || 01:02
|-
| "Azhagiya Ilangaa Nagarai" || Sirkazhi Govindarajan || 01:02
|-
| "Utthaman Pogindraane... Utthaman Raaman Pogindraan" || [[Ghantasala (musician)|Ghantasala]] || 02:30
|-
| "Atthiri Munivar Raaman Latchmananai" || Sirkazhi Govindarajan || 02:37
|}

== Release and reception ==

''Sampoorna Ramayanam'' was released on 14 April 1958, during [[Puthandu]].<ref name="தடைகளைத்" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=14 April 1958 |title=Sampurna Ramayanam |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19580414&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=21 June 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=1 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Politician [[C. Rajagopalachari]], who wrote the Ramayana as a serialised story in ''[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]]'' which was later published as a book, watched this film and appreciated it, particularly Ganesan's performance as Bharata. Usually he was a critic of cinema in general and did not think much about films.<ref name="RandorGuy" />{{sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|pp=117-118}} In a review dated 27 April 1958, the magazine ''[[Ananda Vikatan]]'' lauded Ganesan's performance, felt T. K. Bhagavathi was perfect for the role of Ravana, and called the film a must-watch.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=27 April 1958 |title=சம்பூர்ண ராமாயணம் |magazine=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref> The film was a major commercial success and ran for over 264 days in theatres,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Selvaraj |first=N. |date=20 March 2017 |title=வெள்ளி விழா கண்ட தமிழ் திரைப்படங்கள் |trans-title=Tamil films that completed silver jubilees |url=http://puthu.thinnai.com/?p=34587 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170329085911/http://puthu.thinnai.com/?p=34587 |archive-date=29 March 2017 |access-date=2 August 2018 |website=Thinnai |language=Tamil}}</ref> thereby becoming a [[silver jubilee film]],{{sfn|Ganesan|Narayana Swamy|2007|p=241}} and also being responsible for a renewed interest in mythological films in Tamil cinema.{{sfn|Baskaran|1996|p=185}}

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="characters">{{Cite news |last=Vamanan |author-link=Vamanan |date=4 November 2018 |title=பரதனுக்கு தோதான பாடல் வரிசை! |url=http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/59702 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190402113013/http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/59702 |archive-date=2 April 2019 |access-date=2 April 2019 |work=[[Dinamalar]] |location=Nellai |language=ta}}</ref>
<ref name="RandorGuy">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=30 June 2012 |title=Sampoorna Ramayanam 1956 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-columns/sampoorna-ramayanam-1956/article3588925.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123083806/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-columns/sampoorna-ramayanam-1956/article3588925.ece |archive-date=23 November 2017 |access-date=20 November 2017 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>
<ref name="தடைகளைத்">{{Cite news |last=Vamanan |author-link=Vamanan |date=3 May 2016 |title=தடைகளைத் தாண்டி வந்த சம்பூர்ண ராமாயணம்! |url=http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/7276 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713110719/http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/7276 |archive-date=13 July 2018 |access-date=13 July 2018 |work=[[Dinamalar]] |language=ta}}</ref>

</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Baskaran |first=S. Theodore |author-link=S. Theodore Baskaran |title=The eye of the serpent: an introduction to Tamil cinema |publisher=East West Books |year=1996 |location=Chennai |oclc=645890539}}
* {{Cite book |last=Ganesan |first=Sivaji |author-link=Sivaji Ganesan |title=Autobiography of an Actor: Sivaji Ganesan, October 1928 – July 2001 |title-link=Autobiography of an Actor |last2=Narayana Swamy |first2=T. S. |publisher=Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust |year=2007 |oclc=297212002 |orig-date=2002}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OAI0scTDAjIC |title=Indian Literature and Popular Cinema: Recasting Classics |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-134-06255-3 |editor-last=Pauwels |editor-first=Heidi R.M.}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb title}}
{{A. P. Nagarajan}}

[[Category:1958 Indian films]]
[[Category:1958 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1958 films]]
[[Category:Films based on the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Films scored by K. V. Mahadevan]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by A. P. Nagarajan]]
[[Category:Hindu mythological films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]

Sampoorna Ramayanam (1958 film) - Revision history

Drsandeepjhaliver: put up details!