Vanambadi
title: "Vanambadi" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1963-indian-films", "1960s-tamil-language-films", "1963-thriller-films", "1963-films", "films-about-twin-sisters", "films-scored-by-k.-v.-mahadevan", "indian-black-and-white-films", "indian-thriller-films", "tamil-remakes-of-bengali-films", "tamil-language-indian-films", "twins-in-indian-films"] topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanambadi" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox film"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Vanambadi |
| image | Vanambadi poster.jpg |
| caption | Theatrical release poster |
| director | G. R. Nathan |
| screenplay | Valampuri Somanathan |
| based_on | |
| producer | K. Murukesan |
| Kannadasan | |
| starring | {{plainlist |
| cinematography | G. R. Nathan |
| editing | S. Surya |
| music | K. V. Mahadevan |
| studio | Kannadasan Productions |
| released | |
| runtime | 146 minutes |
| country | India |
| language | Tamil |
| :: |
| name = Vanambadi | image = Vanambadi poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = G. R. Nathan | screenplay = Valampuri Somanathan | based_on = | producer = K. Murukesan Kannadasan | starring = {{plainlist|
- S. S. Rajendran
- Devika | cinematography = G. R. Nathan | editing = S. Surya | music = K. V. Mahadevan | studio = Kannadasan Productions | distributor = | released = | runtime = 146 minutes | country = India | language = Tamil Vanambadi ( ) is a 1963 Indian Tamil-language thriller film, directed by G. R. Nathan, produced by K. Murukesan and Kannadasan, and written by Valampuri Somanathan. A remake of the 1957 Bengali film Sesh Porichoy, it stars S. S. Rajendran and Devika, with R. Muthuraman, S. V. Sahasranamam, T. R. Rajakumari, T. R. Ramachandran, R. S. Manohar, Pushpalatha, Sheela and Kamal Haasan. The film was released on 9 March 1963 and emerged a success.
Plot
Meena, a young woman, escapes from the clutches of a womanising Zamindar. She attempts suicide and is saved by an elderly couple, who adopt her. They wish her to wed their nephew Sekhar, and the wedding is arranged. But during the ceremony, another man shows up claiming Meena to be his wife. She is arrested for the attempted murder of the Zamindar. But she says she does not know him. Her adoptive brother Mohan and a friend Nithyanandham try to solve the mystery. Meena runs away from the family to relieve them of the anguish she has caused them and they later find her as a stage/playback singer calling herself Kausalya Devi. But Kausalya Devi claims she has never seen them before. How they resolve the mystery forms the rest of the story.
Cast
- S. S. Rajendran as Sekhar
- Devika as Uma/Meena/Sumathi/Kausalya Devi
- R. Muthuraman as Mohan
- S. V. Sahasranamam as Thanikachalam
- T. R. Ramachandran as Nithyanandham
- R. S. Manohar as Gopal
- Javar Seetharaman as Dr. Shivasankaran
- Kamal Haasan as Ravi
- T. R. Rajakumari as Parvathi
- Pushpalatha as Kalyani
- Sheela as Chithra
- V. S. Raghavan as Somasundaram
- O. A. K. Thevar as Zamindar Marthandam
- M. E. Madhavan as Sundaramoorthy
- Janaki
- Radhabhai
- Jyothi Lakshmi as a dancer
Production
Vanambadi is a remake of the Bengali film Sesh Porichoy. It was produced by K. Murukesan and Kannadasan, directed and photographed by G. R. Nathan, written by Valampuri Somanathan, and edited by S. Surya. It was the last film for T. R. Rajakumari as an actress.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by K. V. Mahadevan and the lyrics for all songs were written by Kannadasan. The song "Gangaikarai" is set in Abheri raga, and "Thookanna Kuruvi" is set in "Suddha Dhanyasi with Charukesi". For the song "Kadavul Manithanai", Kannadasan initially wrote the lyrics "Avan Kadhalithe Vedhanaiyil Saaga Vendum" to which singer T. M. Soundararajan objected as he was religious and would not sing lines which degrade god and suggested changing the lyrics. Kannadasan finally changed the lyrics to "Vaada Vendum". ::data[format=table]
| Songs | Singer | Length |
|---|---|---|
| "Gangai Karai Thottam" | P. Susheela | 5:46 |
| "Oomai Penn Oru" | 4:03 | |
| "Thookanna Kuruvi Kodu" | 4:21 | |
| "Aan Kaviyai Vella" | T. M. Soundararajan P. Susheela | 5:30 |
| "Kadavul Manithanai" | T. M. Soundararajan | 3:20 |
| "Yettil Ezhuthi Vaithan" | T. M. Soundararajan L. R. Eswari (Humming) | 3:24 |
| "Yaaradi Vanthaar" | L. R. Eswari | 3:49 |
| "Nil Kavani Purappadu" | A. L. Raghavan L. R. Eswari | 4:10 |
| :: |
Release and reception
Vanambadi was released on 9 March 1963. Kanthan of Kalki positively reviewed the film, saying the titular skylark was singing well. The film was commercially successful, and Devika was particularly appreciated for playing the double role.
References
Bibliography
References
- (1 November 2019). "11. உடல்மொழியால் உருட்டும் விழியால் ரசிகர்களை ஈர்த்த டி.ஆர்.ராமச்சந்திரன்". [[Dinamani]].
- Vamanan. (23 April 2018). "Tamil cinema's bong connection". [[The Times of India]].
- Vamanan. (23 April 2018). "தமிழ் சினிமாவை இணைத்த ஹவுரா பிரிட்ஜ்!". [[Dinamalar]].
- "Vanambadi".
- "Saaradha, Vaanampadi Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by KV Mahadevan".
- Mani, Charulatha. (5 August 2011). "A Raga's Journey — Aspects of Abheri". [[The Hindu]].
- Parthasarathy, Dhanya. (18 December 2004). "The walking Google of Tamil film songs". [[The Hindu]].
- (30 April 2006). "அந்த நாள் ஊஞ்சல் 2- யாழ் சுதாகர்".
- காந்தன். (24 March 1963). "வானம்பாடி".
- (3 September 2016). "தேவிகா: 3. நடிப்பு தண்ணீர் பட்ட பாடு..!".
- Guy, Randor. (17 November 1990). "T. R. Rajakumari: 'The dream girl' with many-sided talent". [[The Indian Express]].
- (9 March 1963). "Vanambadi". [[The Indian Express]].
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