GlennVarner228 at 03:37, 6 March 2026

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{{About|the 1949 film|the 1989 film|Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989 film)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Apoorva Sagodharargal
| image = Apoorva Sagodharargal 1949 poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Film Poster
| native_name = 
| director = [[T. G. Raghavachari|Acharya]]
| producer = K. J. Mahadevan [[S. S. Vasan]]
| writer =
| screenplay = Acharya, Sangu, Kittu, Naina, [[Kothamangalam Subbu|Subbu]], Ki. Ra.
| story =
| based_on = 
| starring = [[M. K. Radha]] [[P. Bhanumathi]]
| narrator =
| music = [[S. Rajeswara Rao|Rajeswara Rao]] [[M. D. Parthasarathy]] R. Vaidyanathan
| cinematography = [[Kamal Ghosh]]
| editing = Chandru
| studio = [[Gemini Studios|Gemini]]
| distributor = Gemini Pictures Circuit Ltd.
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1949|10|21|Tamil/Hindi|ref1={{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=81}}|1950|01|14|Telugu|ref2=<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indiancine.ma/AKBD|title=Apoorva Sahodarulu (1950)|website=Indiancine.ma}}</ref>}}
| runtime =
| country =
| language = [[Tamil language|Tamil]] [[Hindi]] [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
| budget =
| gross =
}}

'''''Apoorva Sagodharargal''''' ({{langx|en|italic=yes|Strange Brothers}}) is a 1949 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[action film]] directed by [[T. G. Raghavachari|Acharya]]. The film which was adapted from [[Alexandre Dumas]]' 1844 novella ''[[The Corsican Brothers]]'' stars [[M. K. Radha]] and [[P. Bhanumathi]], with Nagendra Rao and Suryaprabha playing supporting roles. It revolves around the two lookalike brothers who were separated during childhood by their cruel uncle who murdered his parents, rest of the film shows how two brothers join in avenging the death of their parents.

''Apoorva Sagodharargal'' was simultaneously produced in Tamil, [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Hindi]] languages by [[Gemini Studios]]. The Telugu version '''''Apoorva Sahodarulu''''' ({{langx|en|italic=yes|Strange Brothers}}) was directed by [[C. Pullayya]], and the Hindi version '''''Nishan''''' ({{langx|en|italic=yes|Mark}}) by [[S. S. Vasan]]. While the Telugu version had the same cast as the Tamil version, the Hindi version had [[Ranjan (actor)|Ranjan]] replacing Radha and a slightly different supporting cast.

==Plot==
Mahendra Bhoopathi and Marthandan are rival kings. When Bhoopathi's wife gives birth to conjoined twins, Dr. Nanjappa separates them skillfully. In a surprise attack, Marthandan and his men set fire to Bhoopathi's fort thinking that the entire Bhoopathi clan perishes. But the good doctor has taken the babies to the safety of his house. And thereafter the elder twin Vijayan grows up in the city, while the younger twin Vikraman is brought up in the forest by the loyal Marudhu. When they are 25 years old, the doctor sends for them and introduces them to each other and makes them aware of their history. The twins swear to avenge the dastardly killing of their father and restore the glory of their kingdom. Meanwhile, Vijayan saves the beautiful Kanchana from the aging yet lust-filled Marthandan and his men. Vijayan and Kanchana fall in love in due course. Problems arise between the brothers in the forest, as Vikraman too falls for Kanchana. And being the younger of the conjoined twins, Vikraman aches with frustrating feelings of physical desire whenever Vijayan and Kanchana are together. Not wanting to be the cause for the brothers turning against each other and in order to enable them to reach their avowed objective without further distraction, Kanchana leaves Vijayan in the forest, only to fall straight into the clutches of Marthandan. The rescue of Kanchana, and Marthandan getting his retribution forms the rest of the exciting tale.

== Cast ==
Cast according to the opening credits of the Tamil version and the respective songbooks:<ref name="songbook">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/sok.AboorvaSagothirargal_Acharya_1949 |title=அபூர்வ சகோதரர்கள் |publisher=[[Gemini Studios]] |year=1949 |language=ta |type=[[song book]]}}</ref><ref name=Telugusongbook>{{Cite book|url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/AHF/2|title=అపూర్వ సహోదరులు|publisher=Gemini Studios|year=1951|language=te|type=[[song book]]|access-date=22 February 2020|archive-date=22 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222163440/https://indiancine.ma/documents/AHF/2|url-status=live}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+
|-
! Cast (Tamil)
!Cast (Telugu)
! Cast (Hindi)
! Role (Tamil)
! Role (Telugu)
! Role (Hindi)
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | [[P. Bhanumathi]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| Kanchana || style="text-align:center;"|Ranjana
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | [[M. K. Radha]] || style="text-align:center;"| [[Ranjan (actor)|Ranjan]] || style="text-align:center;"| Vijayasimhan, Vikramasimhan || style="text-align:center;"| Vijaya, Vikrama || style="text-align:center;"| Vijay Singh, Vikram Singh
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | [[R. Nagendra Rao|Nagendra Rao]] || style="text-align:center;"| Marthandan || style="text-align:center;"| Marthandavarma || style="text-align:center;"| Zorawar Singh
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Narayana Rao || style="text-align:center;"|Marthandan's servant || Marthandavarma's servant || style="text-align:center;"| Zorawar's servant
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | G. Pattu Iyer || style="text-align:center;"| J. S. Casshyap || style="text-align:center;"| Doctor Nanjappa || style="text-align:center;"| Doctor Gaurinath || style="text-align:center;"| Doctor Shanker
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | V. P. S. Mani || style="text-align:center;"| Jambu || style="text-align:center;"| Shambhu || style="text-align:center;"| Himmat
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | [[D. Balasubramaniam|D. Balasubramanian]] || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| Mahendra Bhoopathi|| style="text-align:center;"| Mahendra Singh
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Suryaprabha ||style="text-align:center;"| Maragatham ||style="text-align:center;"| Manikyam || style="text-align:center;"| Al Beli
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Lakshmiprabha || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| Neelaveni || style="text-align:center;"| Neelam
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Venkumamba || style="text-align:center;"|Rajeswari Devi || style="text-align:center;"| Rani || style="text-align:center;"|Mahendra Singh's Wife
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Krishna Bai || colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| Doctor's sister
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Shyam Sunder || colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| Doctor's brother-in-law
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | Stunt Somu || style="text-align:center;"| Balkrishna Kalla || style="text-align:center;"| Maruthappa || style="text-align:center;"| Madhav Singh || style="text-align:center;"| Madho Singh
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | J. S. Casshyap || style="text-align:center;"| G. Pattu Iyer || style="text-align:center;"| Rajasekharar || style="text-align:center;"| Rajasekharam || style="text-align:center;"| Raj Sekhar
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Ramakrishna Rao || colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| Messenger
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | Velayutham || style="text-align:center;"| K. S. Sengar || style="text-align:center;"| Mayanti || style="text-align:center;"| Maraiah || style="text-align:center;"| Chandan
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Vijaya Rao || rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | Marthandan's soldiers || rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" | Marthandavarma's soldiers || rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Zorawar Singh's soldiers
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Sampath Kumar
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| Anand
| style="text-align:center;" | G. V. Sharma|| style="text-align:center;" | Anand
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Balaram || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | Mahendra Singh's soldiers
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | T. S. B. Rao
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| G. V. Sharma
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| — || colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |Shop servant
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | Gemini Boys and Girls || colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|
|-
|}

==Production==
''Apoorva Sagodharargal'' was adapted from Alexandra Duma's novel ''The Corsican Brothers''. Gregory Ratoff adapted the film and Douglas Fairbanks Jr played the dual role of the conjoined twins Lucien and Mario Franchi.<ref name="hindu2">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=27 June 2008 |title=Apoorva Sagodharargal |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/article3023062.ece |access-date=25 December 2019 |archive-date=7 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207080119/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/apoorva-sahodarargal-1949/article3023062.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> The film became successful which inspired Vasan to adapt the film in Tamil. [[T. G. Raghavachari]] alias Acharya lawyer turned film maker was selected to direct the film. M. K. Radha was selected to play the lead characters with Bhanumathi playing the lead actress.<ref name = hindu2/> For the negative character, Vasan approached P. U. Chinnappa who refused fearing his image with Kannada actor Nagendra Rao being finalised for the role.<ref name = hindu2/> "Stunt" Somu who did the stunt choreography appeared in the role of Marudhu, close associate of Bhoopathi.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=82}} This film was often considered an unofficial sequel to ''Chandralekha''.<ref name="indolink">{{Cite web |last=Film News Anandan |author-link=Film News Anandan |year=1998 |title=Tamil Cinema History — The Early Days: 1945–1953 |url=http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Memories/98/fna/fna3.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712005710/http://www.indolink.com/tamil/cinema/Memories/98/fna/fna3.htm |archive-date=12 July 2012 |access-date=27 June 2013 |website=Indolink}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
The music was composed by [[S. Rajeswara Rao|Rajeswara Rao]], [[M. D. Parthasarathy]] and R. Vaidyanathan and lyrics were written by Kothamangalam Subbu and V. Seetharaman. The song "Laddu Laddu" sung by Bhanumathi was well received.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=82}}<ref name = hindu2/> A duet meant for the Hindi version was composed on the piano by Rajeswara Rao, and Vasan liked it so much he wanted it for the Tamil version too. This song was added after the shoot was over.<ref name = hindu2/> Malayalam lyrics written by P [[P. Bhaskaran|Baskaran]]

{| class="wikitable"
! No. !! Song !! Singer/s !! Lyricist !! Duration(m:ss)
|-
| 1 || "Enga Rasa Vanthan" || Chorus || rowspan=11|Kothamangalam Subbu
| 00:32
|-
| 2 || "Thalelo Rajakumarargale" || Chorus || 03:09
|-
| 3 || "Maya Vinthaiyethane"|| T. A. Mothi & P. Leela || 3:54
|-
| 4 || "Manum Mayilum Adum Solai" || [[P. Bhanumathi]] || 2:55
|-
| 5 || "Laddu Laddu Mittai Venumaa" || P. Bhanumathi || 06:02
|-
| 8 || "Manamohaname Vanavaasame" || P. Bhanumathi || 02:31
|-
| 9 || "Aaha Aaduvene Geetham Paduvene" || P. Bhanumathi & T. A. Mothi || 03:30
|-
| 10 || "Paradhesame Pogaadhe" || T. A. Mothi || 05:39
|}

==Release and reception ==

''Apoorva Sagodharargal'' was released on 21 October 1949.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 October 1949 |title=Strange Brothers |page=1 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=t6hKUfryX1MC&dat=19491021&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=16 March 2021 |archive-date=7 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207080117/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=t6hKUfryX1MC&dat=19491021&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref> The film was a major success both at the box-office and with the critics.<ref name = hindu2/> Dhananjayan praised M. K. Radha's acting as "finest and best in his career" and appreciated director Acharya for "bringing out the best performance from everyone and presenting an entertaining and engaging film".{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=83}} Randor Guy of ''The Hindu'' wrote that the film "is remembered for the excellent performances of Bhanumathi and Nagendra Rao, and for the music".<ref name = hindu2/> The film was simultaneously shot in Telugu as ''Apoorva Sahodarulu'', with Radha reprising the character. It was also remade in Hindi as ''Nishan'' with Ranjan replacing Radha. Bhanumathi was the lead actress for all the three versions.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=83}}

== Legacy ==
The film introduced the concept of identical twins and their feelings and eventually became a trendsetter for similar themes.<ref>{{cite news|title=A Trailblazer|work=[[The Hindu]]|author=Randor Guy|author-link=Randor Guy|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/article1546580.ece|date=17 March 2011|access-date=25 December 2019|archive-date=20 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320220347/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/article1546580.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Later, the 1999 film ''[[Vaalee (1999 film)|Vaalee]]'', starring [[Ajith Kumar]] also had a similar concept.{{Sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|page=83}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{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}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=0254966}}

{{The Corsican Brothers}}
{{S. S. Vasan}}
{{Gemini Studios}}

[[Category:1949 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1949 Indian films]]
[[Category:1949 films]]
[[Category:Films based on The Corsican Brothers]]
[[Category:Films scored by S. Rajeswara Rao]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Kothamangalam Subbu]]
[[Category:Gemini Studios films]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Twins in Indian films]]

Apoorva Sagodharargal 1949 film - Revision history

GlennVarner228 at 03:37, 6 March 2026