Chandralekha (1948)

Emily Nisan 26, 2022

Directed by: SS Vasan

Music: S Rajeswara Rao

MD Parthasarathy

Lyrics: Papanasam Sivan

Kothamangalam Subbu

Starring: TR Rajakumari, MK Radha, Ranjan,

MS Sundaribai

I've wanted to review this film for a long time now. Like many of the movies I watched in my childhood, this too was courtesy my father. When Chandralekha was re-released in Bangalore, he wanted me to see the famous drum dance – he'd described it so often, and so vividly that I remember sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the dance.

The 'theatre' was a ramshackle tent, and the seats were not exactly comfortable. Once the film began, however, I completely forgot how uncomfortable the seat was, or how dingy the theatre.

Chandralekha was a typical raja-rani film, set in a vague historical period. It had two brothers who fought for the throne, a beautiful heroine with whom both the brothers fell in love, attempted fratricide, fabulous sets, gorgeous handwoven silk and gold costumes, political machinations, espionage, exquisitely staged battle scenes, the longest sword fight captured on film, circus animals, song and dance... the works!

So... are you ready for the magic?