Annai Velankanni

Annai Velankanni
Annai Velankanni
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	K. Thangappan
Written by	Sham De Thomson
Produced by	K. Thangappan
Starring	Srividya; Sivakumar; Jayalalithaa; Gemini Ganesan; Padmini;
Cinematography	G. K. Ramu
Edited by	N. M. Sankar
Music by	G. Devarajan
Production; company	Giri Movies
Release date	15 August 1971;
Running time	148 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Annai Velankanni (transl. Mother Velankanni) is a 1971 Indian Tamil-language film directed by K. Thangappan. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Jayalalithaa, Padmini, and K. R. Vijaya. Kamal Haasan briefly appears in an uncredited role as Jesus Christ. It comprises three stories pertaining to Catholic beliefs.

Premise

Velankanni, where the film is set, is a town in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus.

Plot

Mary is a nurse in a hospital at Nagapattinam and is a devotee of Mother Mary of Velankanni. While Mary is away from the hospital meeting her love interest Susainathan, the Deity attends to Mary's duties, assuming her form.

Cast

Srividya as Chellayee
Sivakumar as Rangaiah
Jayalalithaa as Nurse Mary
Gemini Ganesan as Susai Nathan
Padmini as Swarnam
Master Sekhar as Raasa, Swarnam's Son
Major Sundarrajan as Sudararajan, Head Doctor
K. R. Vijaya as Kamkshi
R. Muthuraman as landlord
Devika as Kannamma, landlord's Wife
Sachu as candle-selling woman
Manorama as doll-selling Burmese woman
S. V. Subbaiah as Father Francis
Nagesh as Kannaiah
Thengai Srinivasan
Srikanth as Doctor Antony

Cameo appearances

Kamal Haasan as Jesus
Baby Sumathi as patient
S. Ramadoss as Karuppaiah, Chellayee's father
Janaki as Velayee, Kamakshi's Neighbour
I. S. R. as Thangaiah
Gemini Balu as Mayandi
Siva Sooriyan as villager
A. Veerappan as villager
Karikol Raju as villager
G. Sakunthala as Annam
S. Rama Rao as Sundaram
V. R. Thilagam as Sundaram's wife
Pushpamala in Cameo Appearance
Master Prabhakar as Ayyakannu
Suruli Rajan as Arunachalam, Village President
Lakshmi Prabha as Susainathan's mother

Production

Annai Velankanni was produced and directed by K. Thangappan under the company Giri Movies. The film dialogues were written by Sham De Thomson.^[1] Kamal Haasan worked as the assistant director of the film and appeared in a cameo as Jesus Christ in the film.^[1]^[2] Srividya and Sivakumar paired first time in this movie.^[3]

Release and reception

Annai Velankanni was released on 15 August 1971.^[4] The film was dubbed Telugu-language as Mary Matha and released on 25 December 1971.^[5] The film was later dubbed into Malayalam-language as Velankanni Mathavu released on 27 May 1977.^[1] Historian B. Vijayakumar Stated in an article that the Tamil and Malayalam-dubbed versions were box office hits. Both versions were box office hits in Kerala.^[1]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by G. Devarajan, while the lyrics were written by Kannadasan, Vaali and Ayyasamy.^[6]

Song	Singers	Length
"Devamaindhan Pogindran"	T. M. Soundararajan	03:23
"Kadal Alai Thaalaattum"	P. Madhuri	04:01
"Karunai Kadale"	P. Susheela	03:40
"Karunai Mazhaiyae"	P. Susheela	03:39
"Neelakkadalin Oratthil"	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Madhuri	03:22
"Pera Orani"	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Madhuri	06:39
"Thandhana Thaana"	K. J. Yesudas, P. Madhuri	06:01
"Vaanamennum Veedhiyile"	K. J. Yesudas, P. Madhuri	03:12

Accolades

Annai Velankanni won the Chennai Film Fans' Association Award for Best Popular Film and Sekar won for Best Child Star.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Vijayakumar, B. (20 December 2015). "Old is Gold - Velankanni Mathavu 1977". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
^ "ஜெமினிகணேசன் உதவியால் எனக்கு வாய்ப்பு கிடைத்தது - கமலஹாசன் வெளியிட்ட தகவல்". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 29 January 2021. Archived from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
^ Rangarajan, Malathi (27 October 2006). "Subtle portraits, eloquent eyes". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
^ "ஜெயலலிதா நடித்த திரைப்படங்களின் பட்டியல்". Dinamani (in Tamil). 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
^ "Mary Matha". Andhra Patrika (in Telugu). 25 December 1971. p. 6. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.
^ "Annai Velankanni (1971)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 16 August 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
^ "அன்றிலிருந்து இன்றுவரை சினிமா" (PDF). Vlambaram (in Tamil). 15 January 2000. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.

External links

Annai Velankanni at IMDb

[thehindu-1] Vijayakumar, B. (20 December 2015). "Old is Gold - Velankanni Mathavu 1977". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2016.

[2] "ஜெமினிகணேசன் உதவியால் எனக்கு வாய்ப்பு கிடைத்தது - கமலஹாசன் வெளியிட்ட தகவல்". Maalai Malar (in Tamil). 29 January 2021. Archived from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.

[3] Rangarajan, Malathi (27 October 2006). "Subtle portraits, eloquent eyes". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2014.

[4] "ஜெயலலிதா நடித்த திரைப்படங்களின் பட்டியல்". Dinamani (in Tamil). 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.

[5] "Mary Matha". Andhra Patrika (in Telugu). 25 December 1971. p. 6. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024 – via Internet Archive.

[6] "Annai Velankanni (1971)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 16 August 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.

[7] "அன்றிலிருந்து இன்றுவரை சினிமா" (PDF). Vlambaram (in Tamil). 15 January 2000. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.

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