View source for Kuchela 1936 film

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Kuchela
| image          = Kuchela 1936.jpg
| alt            =
| caption        = Poster
| director       = [[K. Subramaniam]]
| producer       = Krishnaswamy
| writer         =
| narrator       =
| starring       = [[Papanasam Sivan]]<br />[[S. D. Subbulakshmi]]
| music          =
| cinematography =
| editing        =
| studio         =
| distributor    =
| released       = {{Film date|1936|04|10|df=y}}
| runtime        =
| country        = India
| language       = Tamil
| budget         =
| gross          =
}}

'''''Kuchela''''' ({{translation}} ''Devotee Kuchela'') is a 1936 Indian devotional film in [[Tamil language]] directed and produced by lawyer turned filmmaker [[K. Subramaniam]].<ref>{{cite book|authors=Ashish Rajadhyaksha & Paul Willemen|title=Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema|publisher=Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 1998|pages=581|url=https://indiancine.ma/texts/indiancine.ma%3AEncyclopedia_of_Indian_Cinema/text.pdf}} Listed as Bhakta Kuchela</ref> The film featured [[Papanasam Sivan]] as Kuchela and [[S. D. Subbulakshmi]] in dual roles as Lord Krishna and Kuchela's wife Susheela.<ref name=anandan>{{cite book|url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1936-cinedetails8.asp|title=Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru|trans-title=History of Landmark Tamil Films|publisher=Sivakami Publishers|author=Film News Anandan|authorlink=Film News Anandan|date=23 October 2004|location=Chennai|language=Tamil|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20181129045056/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1936-cinedetails8.asp|archivedate=29 November 2018|access-date=29 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=hindu>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/Bhaktha-Kuchela-1936/article16836377.ece|title=Bhaktha Kuchela (1936)|last=Guy|first=Randor|authorlink=Randor Guy|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=7 January 2010|accessdate=29 November 2018|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130204133027/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article77029.ece|archivedate=4 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Plot ==
The film depicted the tale of friendship between the poor Brahmin [[Sudama|Kuchela]] who had 27 children and [[Krishna|Lord Krishna]].

== Cast ==
The following list was adapted from [[The Hindu]] review article by [[Randor Guy]]<ref name=hindu /> and from the film's song book.
{{Col-begin|width=60%}}
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Male cast
*[[Papanasam Sivan]] as Kuchela
*Vidwan Shankaralingam as Balaraman
*[[S. S. Mani Bhagavathar]] as Saandheepa Muni
*Jolly Kittu as Dwarapaalakar
*G. Pattu Iyer as Samba Moorthi
*Kunjithapatham Pillai as Vevukaar
*Salem Sundaram as Rich Mirasudar
{{col-break|width=50%}}
;Female cast
*[[S. D. Subbulakshmi]] as Lord Krishna and Suseelai
*K. K. Parvathi as Rukmini
*Poornima as Sathyabhama
*[[Raavu Balasaraswathi|Bala Saraswathi]] as Young Krishnan
*Neelambal as Young Kuchela
{{Col-end}}

== Production ==
Subramanyam cast Subbulakshmi in a double role as a male (Lord Krishna) and a female (Susheela, Kuchela's wife). Such casting was the first of its kind in Tamil film history and even Indian cinema.<ref name=hindu /> Cinematography was handled by Sailen Bose<ref name=anandan /> and the continuity (Editing) was supervised by G. Pattu Iyer.

=== Title ===
The Encyclopedia of Indian cinema and The Hindu review article gives the title of the film as Bhaktha Kuchela. Whereas, [[Film News Anandan]]'s database and the Song Book gives the title as Kuchela.

== Soundtrack ==
The music was composed by [[Papanasam Sivan]] who also penned the lyrics.<ref name=anandan /> There were more than 30 songs in the film.<ref name=hindu /> The song book gave the details of orchestra.
*Parthasarathy Naidu – Harmonium
*[[S. Rajam|Rajam Iyer]] – Fiddle (Violin)
*Ekambara Achari – Mridangam

== Reception ==
Writing in 2010, Randor Guy said the film was a success. He said the film is "Remembered for the innovative casting, pleasing music and Subbulakshmi's performance."<ref name=hindu />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{youTube|gFQYbELO18s|Thaal Vananguvorkku}} - A rare duet by [[Papanasam Sivan]] and [[S. D. Subbulakshmi]] from this film.
*{{youTube|hy5c9K1yoN4|A Viruttam sung by Papanasam sivan}}

[[Category:1936 films]]
[[Category:1930s Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Hindu devotional films]]
[[Category:Hindu mythological films]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Films directed by K. Subramanyam]]
[[Category:Films scored by Papanasam Sivan]]