Krishna Bhakthi
Krishna Bhakthi is a 1949 Tamil-language historical musical film, directed by R. S. Mani, and produced by S. N. Laxmana Chettiar. The film stars P. U. Chinnappa and T. R. Rajakumari as a hypocrite saint and chaste court dancer respectively. Inspired by Matthew Lewis' French novel The Monk, it was released on 14 January 1949.
Plot
Harikanandha Bhagavathar is a hypocrite saint who lusts after a chaste court dancer Devakumari.Cast
Male cast according to the opening credits of the film and female cast according to the song book;Male cast
- P. U. Chinnappa as Harikanandha Bhagavathar
- N. S. Krishnan as Vevukarar
- K. R. Ramasami as Shri Krishnan
- Chithambaram Jayaraman as Naradar
- Pullimoottai Ramasami as Neebhushanam, Rajaguru
- D. Balasubramaniam as Narasimhan
- Azhwar Kuppusami as Alwar
- Kulathu Mani
- V. K. Ramasamy
- C. S. Pandian
- T. V. Namasivayam
- K. R. Chellamuthu
- E. Krishnamoorthi
- S. V. S. Narayanan
- T. V. Sivanandam
- Chandrasekharan
- S. Ramanathan
- T. V. Radhakrishnan
- V. Srinivasa Rao
- C. P. Venkateswaran
- Thirupathi
- S. S. Mani
- A. K. Kaleeswaran
- T. R. Rajakumari as Devakumari, Palace Dasi
- T. A. Mathuram as Vevukarar's Wife
- S. P. L. Dhanalaskhmi as Vasumathi, Rajaguru's Wife
- P. A. Periyanayaki as Bhama
- A. R. Sakunthala as Rukmani
- C. T. Rajakantham as Ragamanjari, Old Mother
- M. L. Vasanthakumari as Singer
- Kumari N. Rajam as Mridangam Player
- C. V. Dhanalakshmi as Yazh Player
- T. D. Kusalakumari as child dancer Sarasu
- P. Padma as Women Dancer
- K. S. Lakshmi as Geetham Singer
- M. K. Saroja as Thillana Dancer
- C. R. Rajakumari as Thillana Dancer
- K. S. Rajam as Women Dancer
- K. S. Chandra as Women Dancer
- Kumari Vanaja as Women Dancer
- R. Saraswathi as Women Dancer
- S. Rajeswari as Women Dancer
- S. Padma as Women Dancer
- Kumari Seetha as Beggar Girl
Production
S. Ramanathan, an assistant of director R. S. Mani, bought a copy of the English translation of Matthew Lewis' French novel The Monk at Moore Market for one rupee. Subsequently, Mani began writing his next film Krishna Bhakthi taking inspiration from this novel. While Mani was credited for the story, the dialogues were written by S. D. S. Yogi, Shuddhananda Bharati, Ku. Pa. Sedhu Ammal and Sandilyan. Work on the script lasted more than six months, and the protagonist played by P. U. Chinnappa was based on the Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin. The film was produced by S. N. Laxmana Chettiar under Krishna Pictures. M. L. Vasanthakumari appeared onscreen as a singer, and Krishna Bhakthi was the only film she ever acted in.Soundtrack
Music was composed by S. V. Venkatraman and Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer and lyrics were written by Udumalai Narayana Kavi. The song "Saarasam Vaseegara" was composed by G. Ramanathan. Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer composed music for the song "Kannan Varuvarodi", to which dance was choreographed by Vazhuvoor B. Ramaiah Pillai. He also composed music for "Thamarai Senkann" and "Entha Vedu". The song "Entha Vedu Kontha O Raagavaa" is set in the raga Saraswathi Manohari.| Song | Singer | Length |
| "Aattam Enna Solluven" | C. S. Jayaraman | 03:20 |
| "Sarvarthana Krishna" | P. U. Chinnappa | 07:42 |
| "Marumurai Nee Indha" | P. U. Chinnappa | 07:09 |
| "Saarasam Vaseegara" | P. U. Chinnappa | 02:30 |
| "Pennulagilae" | K. R. Ramasamy | |
| "Poojithamana Meignanam" | P. A. Periyanayaki | |
| "Entha Vedu" | M. L. Vasanthakumari | 04:18 |
| "Murali Gaana Mohana" | P. U. Chinnappa & Chorus | |
| "Naan Kanavil Kanden" | P. A. Periyanayaki | |
| "Edhu Vendum" | C. S. Jayaraman | |
| "Kannan Varuvarodi" | P. A. Periyanayaki | |
| "Ellorum Nallavarae" | P. U. Chinnappa | 03:22 |
| "Kalaimagal Devakumari" | P. U. Chinnappa | |
| "Poovaiyar Karpin Perumai" | P. U. Chinnappa | |
| "Raadha Samethu" | M. L. Vasanthakumari | 03:00 |
| "Enna Vazhvu" | T. R. Rajakumari | |
| "Thamarai Senkann" |