Guna Sundari
| Guna Sundari | |
|---|---|
| குணசுந்தரி | |
| Directed by | K. Kameswara Rao |
| Produced by | Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani |
| Screenplay by | Thanjai N. Ramaiah Doss |
| Story by | Pingali Nagendra Rao |
| Starring |
Gemini Ganeshan Savithri S. V. Ranga Rao M. N. Nambiar A. Karunanithi Rushyendramani and others |
| Cinematography | Marcus Bartley |
| Edited by |
C. P. Jambulingam & G. Kalyanasundaram |
Production company | |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 15370 ft |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Guna Sundari or Gunasundari is a Tamil film released in 1955 with Gemini Ganesan and Savithri in the lead roles.[1]
Production
Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani produced the film under the banner Vijaya Productions. The film was made in Telugu with the title Gunasundari Katha[1] with Sriranjani and Kasturi Siva Rao in the lead roles. The Telugu film was released in 1949.[2]
Plot
UgraSena is the king of Dhara Nagaram. He has three daughters, Rupasundari, Hemasundari and Gunasundari.
Gunasundari is the youngest. Their mother died when Gunasundari was born. UgraSena brings up the 3 girls with utmost care. After the girls have grown up, during a chat between father and daughters, the elder two daughters say father is the most important person in a girl's life. However, Gunasundari differs from them and says the husband is the most important person in a girl's life. Father Ugrasena gets angry with her. He marries the two elder daughters to their cousins. But, in order to teach Gunasundari a lesson, he marries her to an aged pauper who is also a deformed person.
After marriage, the king learns that the pauper is actually a young prince but suffers due to a curse. The king orders Gunasundari and her husband to go away from his kingdom. They go away and live in a hut outside the kingdom.
The king become ill. The native physicians says his illness can be cured only with a rare gem called Mahendra Mani. Gunasundari's husband goes in search and succeeds in finding it. He is turned into a bear due to a curse. But the two elder sons-in-law robbed the gem from him and give it to the king who then gets cured.
Gunasundari prays Lord Shiva and Parvati regularly. The Lord is pleased with her devotion and bless her and her husband. He is relieved from the curse and becomes a beautiful prince again.
The king comes to know the whole truth. He calls back Gunasundari and her husband back to the kingdom and makes them King and Queen. Thus, Gunasundari stands tall above all others.[3]
Cast
Gemini Ganeshan as prince
Savithri as Gunasundari
M. E. Madhavan as deformed prince
S. V. Ranga Rao as King Ugra Senan
Lakshmi Prabha as Rupasundari
Muthulakshmi as Hemasundari
A. Karunanithi as Eldest son-in-law
M. N. Nambiar as second son-in-law
Doraisamy
V. M. Ezhumalai
R. Nageswara Rao
C. V. V. Pandulu
R. S. Ramaswamy
Sahadevan
Balakrishna
A. Kamala Chandrababu
T. N. Meenakshi
Rushyendramani
Seetha
Rajani
Thanam
Kumari Thulasi
Baby Saratha
Baby Jaya & Nirmala
Baby Uma & Komala[3]
Crew
Producer: Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani
Director: K. Kameswara Rao
Dialogues: Thanjai N. Ramiah Doss
Lyrics: Thanjai N. Ramiah Doss
Cinematography: Marcus Bartley
Audiography: A. Krishnan B.A.
Processing: N. C. Sen Gupta B.Sc.
Special Effects: Harban Singh
Editing: C. P. Jambulingam & G. Kalyanasundaram
Art: Kaladhar
Studio: Vauhini Studios[3]
Sound Track
Music was composed by Ghantasala and lyrics for all songs were penned by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. Playback singers are Ghantasala, A. M. Rajah, S. C. Krishnan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, P. Leela, Jikki, K. Rani & Kamala.
Box Office
This Tamil version Gunasundari was a flop. However, the Telugu version Gunasundari Katha was a success and remained a faourite of producer B. Nagi Reddy.[2]