https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Sri_Valli_%281945_film%29Sri Valli (1945 film) - Revision history2026-08-19T08:55:00ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sri_Valli_(1945_film)&diff=537111&oldid=prevOnitaCrespo4: started new data - done2026-03-06T03:42:40Z<p>started new data - done</p>
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{{Infobox film<br />
| image = Sri Valli 1945 poster.jpg<br />
| caption = Theatrical release poster<br />
| director = [[A. V. Meiyappan]]<br />[[A. T. Krishnaswamy]]<br />
| screenplay = A. T. Krishnaswamy<br />
| story = <br />
| producer = A. V. Meiyappan<br />
| based_on = <br />
| starring = {{unbulleted list|[[T. R. Mahalingam (actor)|T. R. Mahalingam]]|[[Kumari Rukmani]]}}<br />
| music = T. M. Rajagopal Sharma<br />R. Sudarsanam<br />
| cinematography = P. V. Krishna Iyer<br />
| editing = [[M. V. Raman]]<br />M. K. Ramani<br />
| studio = [[AVM Productions|Pragathi Studios]]<br />
| released = {{film date|1945|4|13|df=y|ref1=}}<br />
| runtime = 114 minutes<br />
| country = India<br />
| language = Tamil<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''''Sri Valli''''' is a 1945 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language film co-directed by [[A. V. Meiyappan]] and produced by him under [[AVM Productions|Pragathi Studios]]. It was co-directed by [[A. T. Krishnaswamy]] who also wrote the script. The film stars [[T. R. Mahalingam (actor)|T. R. Mahalingam]] and [[Kumari Rukmani]]. <br />
<br />
''Sri Valli'' was the first Tamil film to introduce playback singing for the first time through lip synchronization, and the first film in which the dialogues were released in Gramaphone records. T. M. Rajagopal Sharma and R. Sudarsanam respectively composed the film's music and P. V. Krishna Iyer served as the cinematographer. The film was edited by the duo M. V. Raman, while V. M. Vatturkar and S. Ammaiyappan were the film's art directors.<br />
<br />
''Sri Valli'' was released on 13 April 1945 with a final reel length of {{Convert|3325|metres|feet}}. Upon release, ''Sri Valli'' received critical acclaim and went on to become a commercially successful venture at box office. It is considered to be a [[Breakthrough role|breakthrough]] film for both T. R. Mahalingam and Kumari Rukmini.<br />
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== Plot ==<br />
''Sri Valli'' is a mythological story based on the life of Valli, the consort of Lord Murugan. Valli is a tribal princess who fell in love with Lord Murugan, but due to her tribal traditions, she was arranged to marry someone else. However, Valli's devotion towards Lord Murugan helped her overcome all obstacles, and she eventually married him.<br />
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== Cast ==<br />
<!-- Cast according to the opening credits --><br />
* [[T. R. Mahalingam (actor)|T. R. Mahalingam]] as Velan, Hunter, Old Man<br />
* [[Kumari Rukmani]] as Valli<br />
* [[Kumari Kamala|Baby Kamala]] as Young Valli, Young Subramanyam<br />
* K. Mahadevan as Naradar<br />
* [[T. R. Ramachandran]] as Killi<br />
* G. Sowdamini as Melli<br />
* S. Kuppusami Iyengar as Nambirajan<br />
* K. Nagalakshmi as Mohini<br />
* [[N. S. Krishnan]] as Athan<br />
* [[T. A. Mathuram]] as Subbamma<br />
<br />
== Production ==<br />
After releasing the Tamil dubbed version of Kannada film ''[[Satya Harishchandra (1943 film)|Satya Harischandra]]'' (1943), A. V. Meiyappan decided to direct a film based on the folk tale of Valli. A. T. Krishnaswamy who co-directed the film wrote the script. Prior to the commencement of shooting, Meiyappan and his wife visited key Lord Murugan temples to seek forgiveness if by oversight makes any mistakes in any of the scenes from the film.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=60}} The film was made on a budget of {{INR}}2 lakh (worth {{INR}}15 crore in 2021 prices) and returned 900 per cent on investment for AVM.<br />
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Initially Meiyappan had Thyagaraja Bagavathar in mind for the lead role.<ref name="valli" /> T. R. Mahalingam who earlier acted as child artist in Meiyappan's ''Nandakumar'' (1938) was signed on for the lead role and also as a part of contract that he should not act in any film or play until the completion of the film.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=60}}<ref name="valli" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/adithan-kanavu1948/article3021515.ece |title=Adithan Kanavu1948 |date=22 May 2009 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=12 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125094254/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/article3021515.ece |archive-date=25 November 2016 |author-link=Randor Guy}}</ref> For the titular character, Vasundhara Devi was initially considered and she insisted on selecting the lead actor for herself. After many names were suggested, she rejected them all and opted out.<ref name="valli" /> Kumari Rukmini who earlier appeared as child artist in films like ''Balayogini'' (1937) was signed as Meiyappan felt that her eyes will be a big attraction.<ref name="valli" />{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=60}} T. R. Ramachandran, N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Mathuram were selected to appear in supporting roles.<ref name="valli" /><br />
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The film was shot at the Pragathi Studio and the outdoor scenes were picturised in and around Adyar, including the [[Theosophical Society Adyar|Theosophical Society]] premises.<ref name="valli" /> The four-year old elephant was brought from Trichur for one of the characters. Sami Iyer who owned the elephant refused to take any money and allowed the elephant to act in the film.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=60}} After completing the film, Meiyappan saw the first copy and was satisfied with the songs sung by Mahalingam, but was not satisfied with the singing of Rukmini in songs. Meiyappan decided to record the voice of Periyanayaki in place of Rukmini. It was recorded by sound engineer V. S. Raghavan through post synchronisation method.<ref name="valli" />{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=60}} Kumari Rukmini did not accept the voice of Periyanayaki for her as she felt that the film came out well, she insisted on cancelling the three film agreement which she had signed as part of compensation. AVM who was keen on receiving success cancelled the agreement.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=60}} The final length of the film was {{Convert|3325|metres|feet}}.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=59}}<br />
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== Themes and influences ==<br />
The original story was based on a folk tale which describes the romance between Lord Muruga and Valli, a tribal girl. Initially exhibited as stage plays, the story was developed into a silent film titled ''Valli Thirumanam'' in 1921.<ref name="Srivalli 1961" /> It was followed by another silent release, ''Sri Subramanyam'' in 1930.<ref name="Srivalli 1961" /> N. D. Sarpotdhar remade the film the same year for the "Aryan Film Company" and named it as ''Subramaniam''. Another version titled ''Valli Kalyanam'' released the same year where [[Sundar Rao Nadkarni]] enacted the lead role.<ref name="Srivalli 1961" /><br />
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The first talkie version of the story was produced by Samikannu Vincent in 1933. Named ''Valli Thirumanam'', the film was shot in [[Calcutta]] and directed by P. V. Rao.<ref name="Srivalli 1961" /> [[T. P. Rajalakshmi]] played the role of Valli in the which ultimately became a box-office success. Sixteen years later after the 1945 film, a colour [[Sri Valli (1961 film)]] based on the same story was produced by Narasu Studios. It had [[Sivaji Ganesan]] and [[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]] as the lead pair.<ref name="Srivalli 1961" /> T. R. Mahalingam who played Muruga in the previous version was given the role of [[Narada]] in this film.<ref name="Srivalli 1961" /><br />
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== Soundtrack ==<br />
The music was composed by TR Rajagopal Sharma and R Sudarsanam respectively while lyrics were written by Papanasam Sivan and Raja Gopal Iyer. All the songs well received especially "Kaayatha Kaanagathe".{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=61}} The song "Kaayatha Kaanagathe" is based on [[Bhairavi (Carnatic)|Bhairavi]] raga,<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 July 2012 |title=Bewitching Bhairavi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/bewitching-bhairavi/article3611322.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211130132/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/bewitching-bhairavi/article3611322.ece |archive-date=11 February 2025 |access-date=12 September 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> while "Ellorayum Pole" is based on [[Shuddha Saveri]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 August 2012 |title=Joyful Suddha Saveri |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/joyful-suddha-saveri/article3724702.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250211130401/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/joyful-suddha-saveri/article3724702.ece |archive-date=11 February 2025 |access-date=12 September 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><br />
{{Tracklist<br />
| headline = Track listing<br />
| title1 = Kaayatha Kaanagathe<br />
| title2 = Yaar Undhanai<br />
| title3 = Konjum Kili<br />
| title4 = Mayile Thoodhu<br />
| title5 = Singaravela<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Release ==<br />
The film was released on 13 April 1945.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=59}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 April 1945 |title=Sri Valli |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qrQ-AAAAIBAJ&pg=4079%2C2983306 |access-date=14 March 2020 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=8 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref> During the re-release of the film, Meiyappan replaced the vocals of Periyanayaki in place of Rukmini and included it in new set of prints.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Muthiah |first=S. |url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2001/12/03/stories/2001120300130300.htm |title=Banners on screen and stage again |date=3 December 2001 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=12 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041123025831/http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2001/12/03/stories/2001120300130300.htm |archive-date=23 November 2004 |author-link=S. Muthiah}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=28 July 2006 |title=AVM, the adventurer |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/avm-the-adventurer/article3218945.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404043805/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/avm-the-adventurer/article3218945.ece |archive-date=4 April 2017 |access-date=12 September 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> The film ran for 55 weeks in Central Theatre, Madurai.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=61}} In his book ''[[Pride of Tamil Cinema]]'', [[G. Dhananjayan]] stated that the film's success was "largely boosted by TR Mahalingam and Periyanayaki's excellent songs".{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=61}} [[Randor Guy]] wrote for ''[[The Hindu]]'' that the film was remembered for "the melodious music and hit songs of Mahalingam and Periyanayaki".<ref name="valli" /><!-- https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19450428&printsec=frontpage&hl=en page 6 --><br />
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== Legacy ==<br />
''Sri Valli'' is remembered for the first Tamil film to use playback singing through post synchronisation as the original audio of the songs erased and being replaced with different audio. It also became the first Tamil film for which the dialogues of the film being released in Gramaphone records.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=61}} The film became a breakthrough for the lead pair Mahalingam and Rukmini and playback singer Periyanayaki.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=59}}<br />
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== References ==<br />
<references><br />
<ref name="valli">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/sri-valli-1945/article3024163.ece |title=Sri Valli -- 1945 |date=28 December 2007 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=3 July 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807015526/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/sri-valli-1945/article3024163.ece |archive-date=7 August 2016 |author-link=Randor Guy}}</ref><br />
<ref name="Srivalli 1961">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/blast-from-the-past-srivalli-1961/article1492678.ece |title=Blast from the past: Srivalli 1961 |date=26 February 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=27 July 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314035235/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Blast-from-the-past-Srivalli-1961/article15459707.ece |archive-date=14 March 2020 |author-link=Randor Guy}}</ref><br />
</references><br />
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== Bibliography ==<br />
* {{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |title=Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931–2013 |title-link=Pride of Tamil Cinema |publisher=Blue Ocean Publishers |year=2014 |oclc=898765509 |author-link=G. Dhananjayan}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
* {{IMDb title}}<br />
<br />
{{AVM Productions}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:1945 Tamil-language films]]<br />
[[Category:1945 films]]<br />
[[Category:1945 Indian films]]<br />
[[Category:AVM Productions films]]<br />
[[Category:Films scored by R. Sudarsanam]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu devotional films]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu mythological films]]<br />
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]<br />
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]</div>OnitaCrespo4