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{{short description|1940 film by K. Subramanyam}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Bhaktha Chetha
| image = Bhaktha Chetha 1940 poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| director = [[K. Subrahmanyam]]
| producer = K. Subrahmanyam
| writer = K. Subrahmanyam (dialogues)
| screenplay =
| story =
| based_on =
| starring = [[Papanasam Sivan]] G. Subbulakshmi [[Kothamangalam Subbu]] S. R. Janaki Master R. Thirumalai
| narrator =
| music = V. S. Parthasarathy Iyengar<ref name="anandan">{{Cite book |last=Film News Anandan |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1940-cinedetails19.asp |title=Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru |date=23 October 2004 |publisher=Sivakami Publishers |location=Chennai |language=Tamil |trans-title=History of Landmark Tamil Films |url-status=usurped |df=dmy-all |author-link=Film News Anandan |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170529102319/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1940-cinedetails19.asp |archive-date=29 May 2017}}</ref>
| cinematography = [[Kamal Ghosh]]
| editing = R. Rajagopal
| studio = Madras United Artistes Corporation
| distributor =
| released = {{film date|df=yes|1940|01|14}}<ref name=anandan />
| runtime =
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget =
| gross =
}}
{{confused|text=the 1961 Indian Kannada-language film [[Bhakta Chetha]]}}
'''''Bhaktha Chetha''''' ({{translation|Devotee Chetha}}) is a 1940 [[Tamil language]] film directed and produced by [[K. Subrahmanyam]]. The film featured [[Papanasam Sivan]] as the titular character with G. Subbulakshmi, [[Kothamangalam Subbu]], S. R. Janaki and Master R. Thirumalai playing supporting roles.<ref name="BFTPhindu">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |date=26 June 2010 |title=Bhaktha Chetha (1940) |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/Bhaktha-Chetha-1940/article16267877.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=29 May 2017 |author-link=Randor Guy |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170529102159/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/Bhaktha-Chetha-1940/article16267877.ece |archive-date=29 May 2017}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Chetha (Papanasam Sivan) is a cobbler of a lower caste and a devotee of [[Vishnu]] living in a slum situated near [[Hastinapura]]. [[Drona]] (Kothamangalam Subbu) believes that people like Chetha do not possess any right to worship God and treats Chetha in an inferior way. An unexpected turn of events occur when Chetha's son, Seva (Master R. Thirumalai), falls in love with Drona's daughter, Shantha (G. Subbulakshmi), who reciprocates his feelings. Chetha is shocked to learn of their love, but accepts it when he realises that God does not consider any distinction between caste and creed. However, Drona, on learning of Seva's love, becomes livid and immediately orders Chetha to make one thousand pairs of [[Sandal]]s before daybreak, and that he will be beheaded in public if he fails to accomplish the task. Chetha starts making the sandals. After a point, he becomes completely exhausted and closes his eyes to rest. When he opens them however, he is surprised to find out that the one thousand pairs are ready. He realises that it is God's work. Seeing the task completed, Drona too realises the devotion of Chetha to Vishnu and happily accepts the marriage of Seva and Shantha.<ref name=BFTPhindu />

== Cast ==
Adapted from ''[[The Hindu]]''<ref name=BFTPhindu />
*[[Papanasam Sivan]] as Chetha
*G. Subbulakshmi as Shantha
*[[Kothamangalam Subbu]] as [[Drona]]
*S. R. Janaki
*Master R. Thirumalai as Seva

== Production ==
''Bhaktha Chetha'' marked the acting debut of G. Subbulakshmi & Master R. Thirumalai (the one and only film he did). [[K. Subrahmanyam]] directed and produced the film under his own banner Madras United Artistes Corporation.<ref name=anandan /> The dialogues were written by Subrahmanyam himself.<ref name=anandan /><ref name=BFTPhindu /> For the film, a life-size cut-out of Subbulakshmi dressed in an expensive silk sari was installed in a hoarding site opposite [[Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College, Chennai]]. The saris were changed every week. According to film critic and historian [[Randor Guy]], this was the first and last time such a promotional technique had been done for a Tamil film in Chennai.<ref name=BFTPhindu />

== Soundtrack ==
V. S. Parthasarathy Iyengar composed the film's music and score while [[Papanasam Sivan]] wrote the lyrics for the songs. One of the songs sung by Subbulakshmi, "Kanden Kanden" became popular.<ref name=BFTPhindu />

== Reception ==
''Bhaktha Chetha'' was a success at the box office. Guy notes that the film is "remembered for the new heroine Subbulakshmi and the daring theme."<ref name=BFTPhindu /> The film was remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''[[Jeevana Mukthi]]'' (1942). The remake was a flop.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Narasimham |first=M. L. |date=13 November 2011 |title=Jeevanmukthi (1942) |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/jeevanmukthi-1942/article2622692.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=29 May 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170529102443/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/jeevanmukthi-1942/article2622692.ece |archive-date=29 May 2017}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:1940 films]]
[[Category:1940 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1940 Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian drama films]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Films directed by K. Subramanyam]]
[[Category:1940 drama films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Bhaktha Chetha - Revision history

AtenaLabsCBDReviews at 03:39, 6 March 2026