Saddiqa khatri at 06:27, 24 April 2026

2026-04-24T06:27:54Z

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{{short description|1970 film by K. Balachander}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2021}}
{{infobox film
| image = Kaviya Thalaivi.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[K. Balachander]]
| screenplay = K. Balachandar
| based_on = {{based on|''[[Uttar Falguni]]''|[[Nihar Ranjan Gupta]]}}
| producer = [[Sowcar Janaki]]
| starring = [[Gemini Ganesan]]<br />Sowcar Janaki
| cinematography = N. Balakrishnan
| editing = N. R. Kittu
| music = M. S. Viswanathan
| studio = Selvi Films
| distributor = Sree Balaji Movies
| released = {{film date|1970|10|29|df=y}}
| runtime = 166 minutes{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=404}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
'''''Kaviya Thalaivi''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɑː|v|i|ə|_|θ|ə|ˈ|l|aɪ|v|i}} {{translation| ''Epic Heroine'' or ''Queen of Arts''}}) is a 1970 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language film, written and directed by [[K. Balachander]] and produced by [[Sowcar Janaki]]. It is a remake of the 1963 [[Bengali language|Bengali]] film ''[[Uttar Falguni]]''. Janaki also stars alongside [[Gemini Ganesan]], [[Ravichandran (Tamil actor)|Ravichandran]] and [[M. R. R. Vasu]]. The film was released on 29 October 1970, [[Diwali]] day, and became a success. For his performance, Ganesan won the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor]].

== Plot ==
{{more plot|date=January 2022}}
Devi is in love with Suresh, a lawyer, but is forced to marry Paranthaman, an alcoholic gambler. Devi escapes from him, and obtains work as a dancer in [[Hyderabad]] where she gives birth to a daughter named Krishna. When Vasu tries to kidnap the child, she has Suresh adopt her. Later, Vasu's blackmail threatens Krishna's marriage and Devi kills him.

== Cast ==
{{Cast listing|* [[Gemini Ganesan]] as Suresh{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=404}}
* [[Sowcar Janaki]] as Devi and Krishna{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=404}}
* [[Ravichandran (Tamil actor)|Ravichandran]]<ref name="dinamalar" />
* [[M. R. R. Vasu]] as Paranthaman{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=404}}
* [[S. Varalakshmi]]<ref name="dinamalar" />
* Lakshmi Prabha<ref name="dinamalar" />
* V. Nirmala<ref name="dinamalar" />
* [[Sulakshana (actress)|Baby Dolly]]<ref name="dinamalar" />}}

== Production ==
''Kaviya Thalaivi'' is a remake of the 1963 [[Bengali language|Bengali]] film ''[[Uttar Falguni]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 November 2019 |title=Remakes of Bengali films: What's new in this trend? |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/remakes-of-bengali-films-whats-new-in-this-trend/articleshow/72241437.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901053336/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/remakes-of-bengali-films-whats-new-in-this-trend/articleshow/72241437.cms |archive-date=1 September 2020 |access-date=21 June 2020 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> and was produced by [[Sowcar Janaki]] under the banner Selvi Films; she also starred in dual roles.{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=404}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vamanan |author-link=Vamanan |date=23 April 2018 |title=Tamil cinema's Bong connection |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tamil-cinemas-bong-connection/articleshow/63873364.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510135744/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/tamil-cinemas-bong-connection/articleshow/63873364.cms |archive-date=10 May 2018 |access-date=10 May 2018 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> The screenplay for the remake was written by [[K. Balachander]], who also directed.{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=404}} Cinematography was handled by N. Balakrishnan,{{sfn|Rajadhyaksha|Willemen|1998|p=404}} and the editing by N. R. Kittu.<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Kaaviya Thalaivi |type=motion picture |language=ta |publisher=Selvi Films |year=1970 |time=0:00 to 3:44 |time-caption=Opening credits, from}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
The music was composed by [[M. S. Viswanathan]], and the lyrics were written by [[Kannadasan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kaaviya Thalaivi |url=http://www.saregama.com/album/kaaviya-thalaivi_14816/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511075909/http://www.saregama.com/album/kaaviya-thalaivi_14816 |archive-date=11 May 2017 |access-date=10 May 2018 |website=[[Saregama]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kaviya Thalaivi 1970 |url=http://mio.to/album/Kaviya+Thalaivi+(1970) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624122809/http://mio.to/album/Kaviya+Thalaivi+(1970) |archive-date=24 June 2016 |access-date=15 June 2016 |website=Music India Online}}</ref> The song "Oru Naal Iravu" is set in the [[Carnatic raga]] known as Sumanesaranjani.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 August 2015 |title=திரையிசையின் மென்முகம் |url=http://www.dinamalar.com/supplementary_detail.asp?id=26658&cat=21&Print=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510111215/http://www.dinamalar.com/supplementary_detail.asp?id=26658&cat=21&Print=1 |archive-date=10 May 2018 |access-date=10 May 2018 |work=[[Dinamalar]] |language=ta}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Song !! Singer !! Length
|-
| "Kaiyodu Kai Serkkum" || [[P. Susheela]] || 03:50
|-
| "Oru Naal Iravu" || P. Susheela || 04:24
|-
| "Nerana Nedunsalai" || [[M. S. Viswanathan]] || 03:15
|-
| "Kavithaiyil Ezhuthiya" || [[S. Varalakshmi]], P. Susheela || 02:39
|-
| "Aarambam Indre Agattum" || [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]], [[L. R. Eswari]] || 03:21
|-
| "Nalam Ketka" (Penn Partha Mappillai) || P. Susheela || 04:22
|-
| "En Vaanathil Aayiram" || P. Susheela || 05:30
|}

== Release and reception ==
''Kaviya Thalaivi'' was released on 29 October 1970, [[Diwali]] day,<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 October 1970 |title=Kaviya Thalaivi |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=vzY-6mMDyDUC&dat=19701029&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=20 January 2021 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=5 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=தீனதயாளன் |first=ப. |date=6 April 2016 |title=வைஜெயந்தி மாலா: 5. டெலிபோன் ஆபரேட்டர்! |url=https://www.dinamani.com/junction/kanavukkannigal/2016/apr/09/%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%9C%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BE-5.-%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%86%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%B0-1310572.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901053313/https://www.dinamani.com/junction/kanavukkannigal/2016/apr/09/%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%9C%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BE-5.-%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%86%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%B0-1310572.html |archive-date=1 September 2020 |access-date=18 June 2019 |work=[[Dinamani]] |language=ta}}</ref> and distributed by Sree Balaji Movies.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 November 1970 |title=Kaviya Thalaivi |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19701108&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=31 October 2020 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=5 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> ''[[The Indian Express]]'' wrote, "Sowcar Janaki in the dual role gives a sterling performance. Gemini Ganesh, after a long break, comes into his own and is highly satisfactory. K. Balachander's dialogue has flashes of brilliance."<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 October 1970 |title=Cinema |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=vzY-6mMDyDUC&dat=19701031&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=20 January 2021 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=10 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> It emerged a commercial success,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vijayakumar |first=B. |date=25 August 2013 |title=Ammaye Kanaan 1963 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/ammaye-kanaan-1963/article5058468.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827161118/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/ammaye-kanaan-1963/article5058468.ece |archive-date=27 August 2013 |access-date=10 May 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> and Ganesan won the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Anandan |first=Film News |author-link=Film News Anandan |title=Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru |publisher=Sivagami Publications |year=2004 |pages=738 |language=ta |trans-title=Tamil Film History and Its Achievements}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Dineshkumar |first=P |date=22 March 2018 |title=ஜெமினியின் வாடகை வீடு... ஜெயலலிதாவின் உத்தரவு..! - ஜெமினி கணேசனின் நினைவு தினப் பகிர்வு |url=https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/pokkisham/119900-remembering-gemini-on-his-thirteenth-year-commemoration.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508121618/https://cinema.vikatan.com/tamil-cinema/pokkisham/119900-remembering-gemini-on-his-thirteenth-year-commemoration.html |archive-date=8 May 2018 |access-date=10 May 2018 |work=[[Ananda Vikatan]] |language=ta}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
Film historian [[Mohan Raman]] described ''Kaviya Thalaivi'' as one of Janaki's "exceptional performances".<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 August 2015 |title=A Trip Down Memory Lane |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/A-Trip-Down-Memory-Lane/2015/08/20/article2982913.ece |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151116044058/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/A-Trip-Down-Memory-Lane/2015/08/20/article2982913.ece |archive-date=16 November 2015 |access-date=10 May 2018 |work=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> Janaki also named the film as among her personal favourites.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ashok Kumar |first=S. R. |date=25 December 2006 |title=Still Ready to Act Sowcar Janaki |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/still-ready-to-act-sowcar-janaki/article3038288.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510140113/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/still-ready-to-act-sowcar-janaki/article18510814.ece |archive-date=10 May 2018 |access-date=15 June 2016 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="dinamalar">{{Cite web |date=31 March 2020 |title=பொன்விழா படங்கள்: காவியத் தலைவி -பெங்காலி படத்தை ரீமேக் செய்த கே.பாலச்சந்தர் |trans-title=Golden jubilee films: Kaviya Thalaivi -K. Balachander, who remade a Bengali film |url=https://cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/86946/cinema/Kollywood/Kaviya-Thalaivi-film.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128082250/https://cinema.dinamalar.com/tamil-news/86946/cinema/Kollywood/Kaviya-Thalaivi-film.htm |archive-date=28 January 2021 |access-date=28 January 2021 |website=[[Dinamalar]] |language=ta}}</ref>
</references>

== Bibliography ==
* {{Cite book |last1=Rajadhyaksha |first1=Ashish |author-link=Ashish Rajadhyaksha |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema |last2=Willemen |first2=Paul |author-link2=Paul Willemen |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] and [[Oxford University Press]] |year=1998 |isbn=0-19-563579-5 |orig-date=1994}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb title}}
*{{Rotten Tomatoes}}

{{K. Balachander}}

[[Category:1970 films]]
[[Category:1970s feminist films]]
[[Category:1970 Indian films]]
[[Category:1970 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:Films about courtesans in India]]
[[Category:Films about women in India]]
[[Category:Films directed by K. Balachander]]
[[Category:Films scored by M. S. Viswanathan]]
[[Category:Films set in Chennai]]
[[Category:Films set in Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by K. Balachander]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Indian feminist films]]
[[Category:Tamil remakes of Bengali films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Nihar Ranjan Gupta]]

Kaviya Thalaivi - Revision history

Saddiqa khatri at 06:27, 24 April 2026