MaryellenBuckman at 05:13, 4 March 2026

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{{short description|1964 film directed by C. V. Sridhar}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Kalai Kovil
| image = Kalai Kovil.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[C. V. Sridhar]]
| producer = [[M. S. Viswanathan|Visu]] Ganga
| writer = C. V. Sridhar
| starring = [[S. V. Subbaiah]] Chandrakantha [[R. Muthuraman]] [[Rajasree]]
| music = [[Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]]
| cinematography = Balu
| editing = N. M. Shankar
| studio = Bhagyalakshmi Productions
| distributor = 
| released = {{Film date|1964|09|25|df=y}}
| runtime = 133 minutes<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kalai Kovil |url=http://citwf.com/film179853.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181206161357/http://citwf.com/film179853.htm |archive-date=6 December 2018 |access-date=6 December 2018 |website=[[Complete Index to World Film]]}}</ref>
| country = India
| language = Tamil
| budget = 
| gross = 
}}

'''''Kalai Kovil''''' ({{translation|Temple of art}}) is a 1964 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[musical film]] written and directed by [[C. V. Sridhar]]. The film stars [[S. V. Subbaiah]], [[R. Muthuraman]], Chandrakantha and [[Rajasree]], with [[Nagesh]], [[V. Gopalakrishnan (actor)|V. Gopalakrishnan]], [[V. S. Raghavan]], [[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]] and [[S. N. Lakshmi]] in supporting roles. It focuses on the [[rags to riches]] story of a [[veena]] [[vidwan]], whose success is almost derailed when he takes to liquor abuse.

''Kalai Kovil'' was produced under the banner Bhagyalakshmi Productions by [[M. S. Viswanathan]] (using the name Visu) and Ganga. Viswanathan also composed the film's soundtrack with [[T. K. Ramamoorthy]] under the name [[Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]], and Ganga also served as the art director. Sridhar's frequent collaborator [[Chithralaya Gopu]] served as the film's assistant dialogue writer.

''Kalai Kovil'' was released on 25 September 1964 and received positive reviews from critics for its music, cast performances, writing and direction by Sridhar. It was not commercially successful, but the song "Thangaratham Vanthathu", performed by [[P. Susheela]] and [[M. Balamuralikrishna]], attained popularity.

== Plot ==
{{more plot|date=April 2021}}
An impoverished man rises from [[rags to riches]] by becoming a [[veena]] [[vidwan]], but almost loses it in the lap of a danseuse and the lavishness of liquor.


== Cast ==
{{Col-begin|width=30%}}
{{col-break|width=30%}}
;Male cast<ref name="movie" />
*[[S. V. Subbaiah]]
*[[R. Muthuraman]]
*[[Nagesh]]
*[[V. Gopalakrishnan (actor)|V. Gopalakrishnan]]
*[[V. S. Raghavan]]
{{col-break|width=30%}}
;Female cast<ref name="movie" />
*Chandrakantha
*[[Rajasree]]
*[[Jayanthi (actress)|Jayanthi]]
*[[S. N. Lakshmi]]
{{Col-end}}

== Production ==
After the success of ''[[Kadhalikka Neramillai]]'' (1964), its producer and director [[C. V. Sridhar]] decided to make his next directorial venture based on the life of a musician. His frequent collaborator, writer [[Chithralaya Gopu]] met up with him at [[Marina Beach]] to discuss their next project which he wanted to be a comedy, but Sridhar told him to listen to the story he already finished writing, the story that became the film ''Kalai Kovil''. Gopu was assigned as the film's assistant dialogue writer. After listening to the story, composer [[M. S. Viswanathan]] decided to produce the film along with Ganga under the banner Bhagyalakshmi Productions.<ref name="Sirithralaya" /> Ganga also worked as the art director, while Viswanathan was credited as "Visu" for his role as producer in the posters and opening credits. Cinematography was handled by Balu, and editing by N. M. Shankar.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 September 1964 |title=Kalai Kovil |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19640919&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=5 December 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=12 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=15 August 1964 |title=Kalai Kovil |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19640815&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=5 December 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=13 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Chitti Babu (musician)|Chitti Babu]] played the [[veena]] offscreen for Muthuraman.<ref name="Sirithralaya" /><ref name="kalki">{{Cite magazine |last=ஸ்ரீதர் |first=டைரக்டர் |author-link=C. V. Sridhar |date=12 April 1992 |title=கலை கோவில்: ஒரு 'கிளாசிக்'! |trans-title=Kalai Kovil: A Classic |url=https://archive.org/download/kalki1992-04-12/kalki1992-04-12.pdf |access-date=29 March 2024 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=53–54 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> [[S. V. Ranga Rao]] was Sridhar's initial choice for the lead role; since he did not turn up on the sets on the first day of the shoot, he was replaced with [[S. V. Subbaiah]] who initially refused to play the role as he was asked to sport a fake beard which he was not comfortable with but later relented.<ref name="kalki" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=ஸ்ரீதர் |first=டைரக்டர் |author-link=C. V. Sridhar |date=5 April 1992 |title=ரங்காராவ் அளித்த ஏமாற்றம்! |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1992-04-05/page/n61/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240329103811/https://archive.org/details/kalki1992-04-05/page/n61/mode/2up |archive-date=29 March 2024 |access-date=13 December 2022 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=60–61 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==

The soundtrack was composed by [[Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]] (a duo consisting of M. S. Viswanathan and [[T. K. Ramamoorthy]]) and the lyrics were penned by [[Kannadasan]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy |author-link=Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy |year=1964 |title=Kalaikkoil (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – EP |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/kalaikkoil-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-ep/1282576865 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181205163353/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/kalaikkoil-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-ep/1282576865 |archive-date=5 December 2018 |access-date=5 December 2018 |website=[[Apple Music]]}}</ref> The song "Deviyar Iruvar" is set in the [[Carnatic raga]] known as [[Shree (Carnatic raga)|Shree]],{{sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=127}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=19 July 2013 |title=Auspicious Sri |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/auspicious-sri/article4931610.ece |url-status=live |access-date=5 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206135808/http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/auspicious-sri/article4931610.ece |archive-date=6 December 2017}}</ref> while "Thangaratham Vanthathu" is set in [[Abhogi]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=2 March 2012 |title=A Raga's Journey – Arresting Abhogi |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/a-ragas-journey-arresting-abhogi/article2954010.ece |url-status=live |access-date=5 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006235026/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/a-ragas-journey-arresting-abhogi/article2954010.ece |archive-date=6 October 2018}}</ref>{{sfn|Sundararaman|2007|p=160}} [[Shyam (composer)|Shyam]] was the violinist of the latter song,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pradeep |first=K. |date=17 March 2017 |title=The Shyam effect |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/the-shyam-effect/article17494751.ece |url-status=live |access-date=5 December 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181205170019/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/the-shyam-effect/article17494751.ece |archive-date=5 December 2018}}</ref> which attained popularity.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 November 2016 |title=எளிமைக்கு உதாரணமான இசைமேதை |language=ta |work=[[Thinakaran]] |url=http://www.thinakaran.lk/node/14822 |url-status=live |access-date=5 December 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181205162904/http://www.thinakaran.lk/node/14822 |archive-date=5 December 2018}}</ref> He felt diffident in playing the classical-themed song as he was then more comfortable with westernised songs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Unni |first=Prakasam K. |date=3 November 2003 |title=Play it again, Shyam |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/11/03/stories/2003110300710200.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=18 March 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181206173201/https://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/11/03/stories/2003110300710200.htm |archive-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> 
R. Muthuraman was featured as a [[Veena]] artiste. Hence, some of the songs had Veena for background music. The Veena was played by [[Chitti Babu (musician)]].

{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| title1 = Naan Unnai Serndha
| extra1 = [[P. Susheela]], [[P. B. Sreenivas]]
| length1 = 3:41
| title2 = Thangaratham Vanthathu
| extra2 = P. Susheela, [[M. Balamuralikrishna]]
| length2 = 3:31
| title3 = Mullil Roja
| extra3 = [[L. R. Eswari]], P. B. Sreenivas
| length3 = 5:47
| title4 = Varavendum
| extra4 = L. R. Eswari
| length4 = 3:45
| title5 = Deviyar Iruvar
| extra5 = P. Susheela
| length5 = 3:47
| total_length = 20:31
}}

== Release and reception ==
''Kalai Kovil'' was released on 25 September 1964.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1964 – கலைக்கோவில் – பாக்யலஷ்மி புரொடக். |trans-title=1964 – Kalai Kovil – Bhagyalakshmi Produc. |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1964-cinedetails9.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171002161435/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1964-cinedetails9.asp |archive-date=2 October 2017 |access-date=2 October 2017 |website=[[Lakshman Sruthi]] |language=Tamil}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=26 September 1964 |title=Many choices for Tamil film fans |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cH9lAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v50NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1184%2C2909957 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709133832/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cH9lAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v50NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1184%2C2909957 |archive-date=9 July 2024 |access-date=18 March 2022 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=3 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref> The film received positive reviews from critics who praised the music, performances of the cast, the screenplay, dialogues and direction by Sridhar.<ref name="dinamalarnellai" /> On 2 October 1964, ''[[The Indian Express]]'' praised the first half, but criticised the second half, saying the film maintained a "richly musical and at times absorbing" tone till the second half, when "scripter-director Sridhar's hands, like that of the hero in the movie, begin to slip". The reviewer called the songs composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy "a delight to the ears", but felt they did not exploit the veena, "the very soul of the film", fully. They also lauded Balu's cinematography, Ganga's art direction and the performances of Subbaiah and Nagesh, saying they "try to salvage the film, but in vain".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 October 1964 |title=Kalai Kovil |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19641002&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=5 December 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=3 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The film was commercially unsuccessful.<ref name=kalki /><ref name="dinamalarnellai" />

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="movie">{{Cite AV media |title=Kalai Kovil |type=motion picture |language=ta |publisher=Bhagyalakshmi Productions |year=1964 |time=0:00 to 2:03 |time-caption=Opening credits, from}}</ref>
<ref name="Sirithralaya">{{Cite news |last=நரசிம்மன் |first=டி.ஏ. |date=29 June 2018 |title=சி(ரி)த்ராலயா 24: ஸ்ரீதருக்கு அடி சறுக்கியதா? |url=https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/130957-24.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211035755/https://www.hindutamil.in/news/supplements/hindu-talkies/130957-24.html |archive-date=11 February 2021 |access-date=11 February 2021 |work=[[Hindu Tamil Thisai]] |language=ta}}</ref>
<ref name="dinamalarnellai">{{Cite news |date=30 September 2018 |title=பத்திரிகையாளர் சுதாங்கனின் 'நெஞ்சம் மறப்பதில்லை!' – 54 |url=http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/57480 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181206090307/http://www.dinamalarnellai.com/web/news/57480 |archive-date=6 December 2018 |access-date=6 December 2018 |work=[[Dinamalar]] |location=Nellai |language=ta}}</ref>

</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last=Sundararaman |title=Raga Chintamani: A Guide to Carnatic Ragas Through Tamil Film Music |publisher=Pichhamal Chintamani |year=2007 |edition=2nd |oclc=295034757 |orig-date=2005}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}
{{C. V. Sridhar}}
[[Category:1964 Indian films]]
[[Category:1964 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1964 films]]
[[Category:1964 musical films]]
[[Category:Films about alcoholism]]
[[Category:Films about music and musicians]]
[[Category:Films directed by C. V. Sridhar]]
[[Category:Films scored by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by C. V. Sridhar]]
[[Category:Indian musical films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Kalai Kovil - Revision history

MaryellenBuckman at 05:13, 4 March 2026