https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Kuchela_filmKuchela film - Revision history2026-08-01T00:58:23ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Kuchela_film&diff=510938&oldid=prevBaileyMetzler at 00:32, 10 January 20262026-01-10T00:32:20Z<p></p>
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{{Infobox film<br />
| name = Kuchela<br />
| image = Kuchela 1936.jpg<br />
| alt =<br />
| caption = Poster<br />
| director = [[K. Subramaniam]]<br />
| producer = Krishnaswamy<br />
| writer =<br />
| narrator =<br />
| starring = [[Papanasam Sivan]]<br />[[S. D. Subbulakshmi]]<br />
| music =<br />
| cinematography =<br />
| editing =<br />
| studio =<br />
| distributor =<br />
| released = {{Film date|1936|04|10|df=y}}<br />
| runtime =<br />
| country = India<br />
| language = Tamil<br />
| budget =<br />
| gross =<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''''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|author1=Ashish Rajadhyaksha |author2=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 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|author-link=Film News Anandan|date=23 October 2004|location=Chennai|language=Tamil|archive-url=https://archive.today/20181129045056/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1936-cinedetails8.asp|archive-date=29 November 2018|access-date=29 November 2018|url-status=usurped}}</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|author-link=Randor Guy|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=7 January 2010|access-date=29 November 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204133027/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article77029.ece|archive-date=4 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
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== Plot ==<br />
The film depicted the tale of friendship between the poor Brahmin [[Sudama|Kuchela]] who had 27 children and [[Krishna]], a major Hinduism god.<br />
<br />
== Cast ==<br />
The following list was adapted from [[The Hindu]] review article by [[Randor Guy]]<ref name=hindu /> and from the film's song book.<br />
{{Col-begin|width=60%}}<br />
{{col-break|width=50%}}<br />
;Male cast<br />
*[[Papanasam Sivan]] as Kuchela<br />
*Vidwan Shankaralingam as Balaraman<br />
*[[S. S. Mani Bhagavathar]] as Saandheepa Muni<br />
*Jolly Kittu as Dwarapaalakar<br />
*G. Pattu Iyer as Samba Moorthi<br />
*Kunjithapatham Pillai as Vevukaar<br />
*Salem Sundaram as Rich Mirasudar<br />
{{col-break|width=50%}}<br />
;Female cast<br />
*[[S. D. Subbulakshmi]] as Lord Krishna and Suseelai<br />
*K. K. Parvathi as Rukmini<br />
*Poornima as Sathyabhama<br />
*[[R. Balasaraswathi Devi|Bala Saraswathi]] as Young Krishnan<br />
*Neelambal as Young Kuchela<br />
{{Col-end}}<br />
<br />
== Production ==<br />
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.<br />
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=== Title ===<br />
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.<br />
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== Soundtrack ==<br />
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.<br />
*Parthasarathy Naidu – Harmonium<br />
*[[S. Rajam|Rajam Iyer]] – Fiddle (Violin)<br />
*Ekambara Achari – Mridangam<br />
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== Reception ==<br />
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 /><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
*{{youTube|gFQYbELO18s|Thaal Vananguvorkku}} - A rare duet by [[Papanasam Sivan]] and [[S. D. Subbulakshmi]] from this film.<br />
*{{youTube|hy5c9K1yoN4|A Viruttam sung by Papanasam sivan}}<br />
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[[Category:1936 films]]<br />
[[Category:1930s Tamil-language films]]<br />
[[Category:1936 Indian films]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu devotional films]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu mythological films]]<br />
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]<br />
[[Category:Films directed by K. Subramanyam]]<br />
[[Category:Films scored by Papanasam Sivan]]<br />
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]</div>BaileyMetzler