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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name          = Ashok Kumar
| name          = Ashok Kumar
| image          = Ashok Kumar poster.jpg
| image          = Ashok Kumar film poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director      = Raja Chandrasekhar
| director      = Raja Chandrasekhar
| writer        = Ilangovan
| writer        = Ilangovan
| starring      = [[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar]]<br />[[V. Nagaiah|Chittor V. Nagaiah]]<br />[[P. Kannamba]]
| producer      =  
| producer      =  
| studio        = Murugan Talkies
| starring      = [[M. K. Thiyagaraja Bhagavathar]]&lt;br /&gt;[[V. Nagayya|Chittoor V. Nagayya]]&lt;br /&gt;[[P. Kannamba]]
| music          = Alathur V. Subramanyam
| cinematography = Jiten Banerjee
| cinematography = Jiten Banerjee
| editing        = T. R. Raghunath
| editing        = T. R. Raghunath
| music          = Alathur V. Subramaniyam
| studio        = Murugan Talkies
| released      = {{film date|1941|9|17|df=y}}
| released      = {{film date|1941|9|17|df=y}}
| runtime        = 211 minutes{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=288}}
| runtime        = 211 minutes{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=288}}
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}}
}}


'''''Ashok Kumar''''' is a 1941 [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[historical drama]] film directed by Raja Chandrasekhar. Based on a legend involving the [[Maurya Empire|Mauryan]] emperor [[Ashoka]], his son [[Kunala]] and Ashoka's second wife Thishyarakshai, it stars [[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar]], [[V. Nagaiah|Chittor V. Nagaiah]] and [[P. Kannamba]]. The film was released on 17 September 1941.
'''''Ashok Kumar''''' is a 1941 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[historical drama]] film directed by Raja Chandrasekhar. Based on a legend involving the [[Maurya Empire|Mauryan]] emperor [[Ashoka The Great]], his son [[Kunala]] and Ashoka's second wife Thishyarakshai, it stars [[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar]], [[V. Nagayya|Chittoor V. Nagayya]] and [[P. Kannamba]]. The film was released on 17 September 1941.


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
The [[Maurya Empire|Mauryan]] emperor [[Ashoka]]r's son [[Kunala]]n is courted by Ashokar's second wife Thishyarakshai. When he rejects her advances, he is falsely accused by the queen of trying to seduce her, and is thrown into prison and blinded. The story, however, comes to a happy end with his eyesight being restored by [[Gautama Buddha]] and the king acquits him of all the charges.
The [[Maurya Empire|Mauryan]] emperor [[Ashoka]]'s son [[Kunala]]n is courted by Ashoka's second wife [[Tishyaraksha]]i. When he rejects her advances, she falsely accuses him of trying to seduce her. He is thrown into prison and blinded. The story, however, comes to a happy end with his eyesight being restored by [[The Buddha|Gautama Buddha]] and the king acquits him of all the charges.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
<!--cast according to the song book and the opening credits. (as in both credits, Ranjan doesn't appear to be credited, so is written as "(uncredited)"-->
&lt;!--cast according to the song book and the opening credits. (as in both credits, Ranjan doesn't appear to be credited, so is written as "(uncredited)"--&gt;
{{Col-begin|width=70%}}
 
{{col-break|width=30%}}
;Male cast&lt;ref name="song book" /&gt;
;Male cast<ref name="song book" />
{{Cast listing|* [[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar]] as [[Kunala]]n
* [[M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar]] as [[Kunala]]n
* [[V. Nagayya|Chittoor V. Nagayya]] as Samrat [[Ashoka]]r
* [[V. Nagaiah|Chittor V. Nagaiah]] as Samrat [[Ashoka]]r
* Rangasami Iyengar as Radhaguptar
* Rangasami Iyengar as Radhaguptar
* [[N. S. Krishnan]] as Doctor Theraiyan
* [[N. S. Krishnan]] as Doctor Theraiyan
* K. Mahadeva Iyer as [[Upagupta]]r
* K. Mahadeva Iyer as [[Upagupta]]r
* [[M. G. Ramachandran|M. G. Ramchandar]] as Mahendran
* [[M. G. Ramachandran|M. G. Ramchandran]] as Mahendran
* K. V. Venkatrama Iyer as Kanjuki
* K. V. Venkatrama Iyer as Kanjuki
* Murali as Kokkaiyan
* Murali as Kokkaiyan
* [[Ranjan (actor)|R. Ranjan {{small|B. A.}}]] as [[Gautama Buddha]] (uncredited)
* [[Ranjan (actor)|R. Ranjan]] as [[The Buddha|Gautama Buddha]] (uncredited)}}
{{col-break|width=50%}}
 
;Female cast<ref name="song book" />
;Female cast&lt;ref name="song book" /&gt;
* [[P. Kannamba]] as Thishyarakshai
{{Cast listing|* [[P. Kannamba]] as [[Tishyaraksha]]i
* T. V. Kumudhini as Kanchanamala
* [[T. V. Kumuthini]] as Kanchanamala
* [[T. A. Mathuram]] as Pramila
* [[T. A. Mathuram]] as Pramila}}
{{col-end}}


== Production ==
== Production ==
''Ashok Kumar'' is based on a legend involving the [[Maurya Empire|Mauryan]] emperor [[Ashoka]], his son Kunalan and Ashoka's younger queen Thishyarakshai. It was the first Tamil film based on the legend, which was previously filmed in [[Hindi]] as ''Veer Kunal'' (1925). Telugu actress [[P. Kannamba]] played the role of Thishyarakshai. This was her second Tamil film and since she did not know the language, she was provided with a script in which Tamil words had been transliterated into Telugu. ''Ashok Kumar'' marked the debut of [[Ranjan (actor)|Ranjan]] (credited as R. Ramani),<ref name="song book" /> who portrayed [[Gautama Buddha]]. The song and dance sequence, "Unnai Kandu Mayangaatha" was shot in a single night at Newtone Studio.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/ashok-kumar-1941/article3022478.ece |title=Ashok Kumar 1941 |date=25 January 2008 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=4 February 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.is/20150318140612/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/ashok-kumar-1941/article3022478.ece |archive-date=18 March 2015 |author-link=Randor Guy}}</ref>
''Ashok Kumar'' is based on a legend involving the [[Maurya Empire|Mauryan]] emperor [[Ashoka]], his son Kunalan and Ashoka's younger queen Thishyarakshai. It was the first Tamil film based on the legend, which was previously filmed in [[Hindi]] as ''Veer Kunal'' (1925). Telugu actress [[P. Kannamba]] played the role of Thishyarakshai. This was her second Tamil film and since she did not know the language, she was provided with a script in which Tamil words had been transliterated into Telugu. ''Ashok Kumar'' marked the debut of [[Ranjan (actor)|Ranjan]] (credited as R. Ramani),&lt;ref name="song book" /&gt; who portrayed [[Gautama Buddha]]. The song and dance sequence, "Unnai Kandu Mayangaatha" was shot in a single night at Newtone Studio.&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=25 January 2008 |title=Ashok Kumar 1941 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/ashok-kumar-1941/article3022478.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=4 February 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150318140612/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/ashok-kumar-1941/article3022478.ece |archive-date=18 March 2015}}&lt;/ref&gt;


== Soundtrack ==
== Soundtrack ==
The songs were composed by Alathur V. Subramanyam and the lyrics were written by [[Papanasam Sivan]].<ref name="song book" /> Playback singers are Rama Rao and Mani of the Renuka Orchestra.<ref>{{Citation|title=Ashok Kumar Songs: Ashok Kumar MP3 Tamil Songs by M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar Online Free on Gaana.com|url=https://gaana.com/album/ashok-kumar|access-date=2020-03-20}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Hungama|title=Ashok Kumar|url=https://www.hungama.com/album/ashok-kumar/1930586/|language=en|access-date=2020-03-20}}</ref>
The songs were composed by Alathur V. Subramanyam and the lyrics were written by [[Papanasam Sivan]].&lt;ref name="song book" /&gt; Playback singers are Rama Rao and Mani of the Renuka Orchestra.&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web |title=Ashok Kumar |url=https://gaana.com/album/ashok-kumar |access-date=20 March 2020 |website=[[Gaana (music streaming service)|Gaana]] |archive-date=20 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320092630/https://gaana.com/album/ashok-kumar |url-status=live }}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web |title=Ashok Kumar |url=https://www.hungama.com/album/ashok-kumar/1930586/ |access-date=20 March 2020 |website=Hungama}}&lt;/ref&gt;


{{Track listing
{{Track listing
Line 67: Line 65:
| length1 = 2:51
| length1 = 2:51
| length5 = 2:46
| length5 = 2:46
| title5 = Bhoomiyil Maanida
| title5 = Bhoomiyil Maanida Jenmam
| length4 = 3:14
| length4 = 3:14
| title4 = Sathvaguna Bothan
| title4 = Sathvaguna Bothan
Line 73: Line 71:
| title3 = Manamae Nee
| title3 = Manamae Nee
| length2 = 3:06
| length2 = 3:06
| title2 = Dhianame Nee
| title2 = Dhyaname Enadu
| lyrics5 = Papanasam Sivan
| lyrics5 = Papanasam Sivan
}}
}}
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=== Music Credits ===
=== Music Credits ===


;Sharma Brothers Orchestra<ref name="credits" />
;Sharma Brothers Orchestra&lt;ref name="credits" /&gt;
* R. N. Thambi – Veena
* R. N. Thambi&amp;nbsp;– Veena
* V. Govindasami – Fiddle
* V. Govindasami&amp;nbsp;– Fiddle
* N. L. Ramalingam – Harmonium
* N. L. Ramalingam&amp;nbsp;– Harmonium
* R. V. Parikshithu – Mridangam
* R. V. Parikshithu&amp;nbsp;– Mridangam


== Release and reception ==
== Release and reception ==
''Ashok Kumar'' was released on 17 September 1941.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19410917&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Asok-Kumar |date=17 September 1941 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url-status=live |page=5}}</ref> Kay Yess Enn of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' praised the film for Kannamba's performance.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kay Yess Enn |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SgFFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3982%2C8216061 |title=Asok-Kumar |date=20 September 1941 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |page=3}}</ref>
''Ashok Kumar'' was released on 17 September 1941.&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite news |date=17 September 1941 |title=Asok-Kumar |pages=5 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&amp;dat=19410917&amp;printsec=frontpage&amp;hl=en |access-date=4 February 2020}}{{cbignore}}&lt;/ref&gt; Kay Yess Enn of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' praised the film for Kannamba's performance.&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite news |last=Kay Yess Enn |date=20 September 1941 |title=Asok-Kumar |pages=3 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SgFFAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=3982%2C8216061 |access-date=3 September 2021}}{{cbignore}}&lt;/ref&gt;


== In other media ==
== In other media ==
Portions of "Bhoomiyil Maanida" were used in "Theepidikka", a song in ''[[Arinthum Ariyamalum]]'' (2005).<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/34669 |title=சாதனை புரிந்த தமிழ் படங்கள் – 312– எஸ்.கணேஷ் |date=12 September 2017 |work=[[Dinamalar]] |access-date=29 March 2018 |url-status=live |location=Nellai |language=ta}}</ref>
Portions of "Bhoomiyil Maanida" were used in "Theepidikka", a song in ''[[Arinthum Ariyamalum]]'' (2005).&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite news |date=12 September 2017 |title=சாதனை புரிந்த தமிழ் படங்கள்&amp;nbsp;– 312– எஸ்.கணேஷ் |language=ta |work=[[Dinamalar]] |location=Nellai |url=http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/34669 |url-status=usurped |access-date=29 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329113248/http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/34669 |archive-date=29 March 2018}}&lt;/ref&gt;


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
&lt;references&gt;
<ref name="song book">{{Cite book |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7JevgDCLbuNYW50WFRYVzNvOW8/view?usp=embed_facebook |title=அசோக் குமார் |publisher=Murugan Talkies |year=1941 |type=[[song book]] |language=ta}}</ref>


<ref name="credits">{{Cite AV media |title=Ashok Kumar |type=motion picture |language=ta |publisher=Murugan Talkies |year=1941 |time=0:00 to 1:30 |time-caption=Opening credits, from}}</ref>
&lt;ref name="song book"&gt;{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/download/sok.AshokKumar_RajaChandrashekar_1941/34.%20AshokKumar_RajaChandrashekar_1941.pdf |title=அசோக் குமார் |publisher=Murugan Talkies |year=1941 |language=ta |type=[[song book]] |access-date=2 June 2022}}&lt;/ref&gt;
}}
 
&lt;ref name="credits"&gt;{{Cite AV media |title=Ashok Kumar |type=motion picture |language=ta |publisher=Murugan Talkies |year=1941 |time=0:00 to 1:30 |time-caption=Opening credits, from}}&lt;/ref&gt;
 
&lt;/references&gt;


== Bibliography ==
== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |url=https://indiancine.ma/texts/indiancine.ma%3AEncyclopedia_of_Indian_Cinema/text.pdf |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=1998 |isbn=0-19-563579-5 |editor-last=Rajadhyaksha |editor-first=Ashish |orig-year=1994 |editor-last2=Willemen |editor-first2=Paul}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Rajadhyaksha |first1=Ashish |url=https://indiancine.ma/texts/indiancine.ma%3AEncyclopedia_of_Indian_Cinema/text.pdf |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema |last2=Willemen |first2=Paul |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] and [[Oxford University Press]] |year=1998 |isbn=0-19-563579-5 |author-link=Ashish Rajadhyaksha |author-link2=Paul Willemen |orig-date=1994}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0157332}}
* {{IMDb title|0157332}}
* {{CITWF title|21511}}


[[Category:1940s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1941 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1941 Indian films]]
[[Category:1941 films]]
[[Category:1941 films]]
[[Category:Films set in ancient India]]
[[Category:Films set in ancient India]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian historical drama films]]
[[Category:Indian historical drama films]]
[[Category:Memorials to Ashoka]]
[[Category:Memorials to Ashoka]]
[[Category:Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Works about Ashoka]]
[[Category:Works about the Maurya Empire]]
[[Category:Films scored by Alathur V. Subramanyam]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Ashoka]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Gautama Buddha]]
[[Category:Films set in the Maurya Empire]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Revision as of 09:10, 6 March 2026

Ashok Kumar
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRaja Chandrasekhar
Written byIlangovan
StarringM. K. Thiyagaraja Bhagavathar<br />Chittoor V. Nagayya<br />P. Kannamba
Music byAlathur V. Subramaniyam
CinematographyJiten Banerjee
Edited byT. R. Raghunath
Production
company
Murugan Talkies
Release date
  • 17 September 1941 (1941-09-17)
Running time
211 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Ashok Kumar is a 1941 Indian Tamil-language historical drama film directed by Raja Chandrasekhar. Based on a legend involving the Mauryan emperor Ashoka The Great, his son Kunala and Ashoka's second wife Thishyarakshai, it stars M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, Chittoor V. Nagayya and P. Kannamba. The film was released on 17 September 1941.

Plot

The Mauryan emperor Ashoka's son Kunalan is courted by Ashoka's second wife Tishyarakshai. When he rejects her advances, she falsely accuses him of trying to seduce her. He is thrown into prison and blinded. The story, however, comes to a happy end with his eyesight being restored by Gautama Buddha and the king acquits him of all the charges.

Cast

<!--cast according to the song book and the opening credits. (as in both credits, Ranjan doesn't appear to be credited, so is written as "(uncredited)"-->

Male cast<ref name="song book" />
Female cast<ref name="song book" />

Production

Ashok Kumar is based on a legend involving the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, his son Kunalan and Ashoka's younger queen Thishyarakshai. It was the first Tamil film based on the legend, which was previously filmed in Hindi as Veer Kunal (1925). Telugu actress P. Kannamba played the role of Thishyarakshai. This was her second Tamil film and since she did not know the language, she was provided with a script in which Tamil words had been transliterated into Telugu. Ashok Kumar marked the debut of Ranjan (credited as R. Ramani),<ref name="song book" /> who portrayed Gautama Buddha. The song and dance sequence, "Unnai Kandu Mayangaatha" was shot in a single night at Newtone Studio.<ref>Guy, Randor (25 January 2008). "Ashok Kumar 1941". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 February 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)</ref>

Soundtrack

The songs were composed by Alathur V. Subramanyam and the lyrics were written by Papanasam Sivan.<ref name="song book" /> Playback singers are Rama Rao and Mani of the Renuka Orchestra.<ref>"Ashok Kumar". Gaana. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.</ref><ref>"Ashok Kumar". Hungama. Retrieved 20 March 2020.</ref>

No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Unnai Kandu"Papanasam SivanM. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar2:51
2."Dhyaname Enadu"Papanasam SivanM. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar3:06
3."Manamae Nee"Papanasam SivanM. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar3:19
4."Sathvaguna Bothan"Papanasam SivanM. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar3:14
5."Bhoomiyil Maanida Jenmam"Papanasam SivanM. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar2:46
Total length:15:16

Music Credits

Sharma Brothers Orchestra<ref name="credits" />
  • R. N. Thambi&nbsp;– Veena
  • V. Govindasami&nbsp;– Fiddle
  • N. L. Ramalingam&nbsp;– Harmonium
  • R. V. Parikshithu&nbsp;– Mridangam

Release and reception

Ashok Kumar was released on 17 September 1941.<ref>"Asok-Kumar". The Indian Express. 17 September 1941. p. 5. Retrieved 4 February 2020.</ref> Kay Yess Enn of The Indian Express praised the film for Kannamba's performance.<ref>Kay Yess Enn (20 September 1941). "Asok-Kumar". The Indian Express. p. 3. Retrieved 3 September 2021.</ref>

In other media

Portions of "Bhoomiyil Maanida" were used in "Theepidikka", a song in Arinthum Ariyamalum (2005).<ref>"சாதனை புரிந்த தமிழ் படங்கள்&nbsp;– 312– எஸ்.கணேஷ்". Dinamalar (in தமிழ்). Nellai. 12 September 2017. Archived from the original on 29 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.</ref>

References

<references>

<ref name="song book">அசோக் குமார் (PDF) (song book) (in தமிழ்). Murugan Talkies. 1941. Retrieved 2 June 2022.</ref>

<ref name="credits">Ashok Kumar (motion picture) (in தமிழ்). Murugan Talkies. 1941. Opening credits, from 0:00 to 1:30.</ref>

</references>

Bibliography

External links