Avvaiyar (film)

Avvaiyar is a 1953 Indian Tamil historical fiction film directed by Kothamangalam Subbu, and produced by S. S. Vasan. The film features K. B. Sundarambal and M. K. Radha in the lead roles.

The music composed by M. D. Parthasarathy, Anandaraman and Mayavaram Venu, while lyrics written by Avvaiyar, Papanasam Sivan amp Kothamangalam Subbu.The film received positive reviews. Professor J. E. de La Harpe of the University of California wrote to Vasan, Although I dont know one word of Tamil, I enjoyed the film immensely, being able to guess more or less the story from the scenes as it is acted out. This letter is not only to congratulate you on such a remarkable picture the nature shots are particularly good, but to urge you to export it. Nothing could make India at least Southern India better understood abroad and liked than Avvaiyar with its rural scenes, temple processions, religious incidents, and scenes such as the one of elephants storming a city. These will send foreign audiences wild, in addition to the very interesting musical aspect your actress has a lovely voice. Although a Frenchman, I have been living in America foryears. As I know the Americans, they would simply love such a picture, so different from the stuff usually fed to the public here by Hollywood. I am sure you could make a smashing success with Avvaiyar. Only be sure to leave it just as it is, do not add a love story such as Hollywood thinks is indispensable, and do not change the typical Indian scenes. English subtitles will be quite sufficient to make the whole story understandable. I hope I shall be able to see Avvaiyar in the U.S.A. with English titles before too long. K. Venkataswami Naidu, the Minister for Religious Endowments and Registration said, I have seen both the Telugu and Tamil versions of Avvaiyar. When some of us were feeling that standards are going down in film production, this movie has come as a great relief. It is a perfect picture, carrying great moral and historical value. I need not speak of technical perfection for a Gemini production. ........

Source: Wikipedia