Kanchana is a 1952 Indian Tamil-Telugu-Malayalam drama film produced and directed by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu. The story is based on a popular Tamil novel, Kanchanayin Kanavu, authored by Lakshmi Thiripurasundari.
Plot
Pushpanathan is Zamindar of Mathur and his widowed mother is Ponnammal. He is persuaded by his college mate Manohar to start a textile mill. Manohar manages to manipulate and divert Pushpanathan's wealth. He introduces Pushpanathan to a dancer in the city, Bhanumathi. Bhanumathi, though daughter of a prostitute, leads an honorable life. Bhanumathi is in love with Pushpanathan. Neelamegham Pillai, the former accountant of the Zamindari, now lives in utter poverty. His grandchildren are Kanchana and Sabeshan. Pushpanathan comes to help his family. He becomes enamoured by Kanchana and weds her. He assures Bhanumathi that his marriage will not affect his love for her. Kanchana is ill-treated by her mother-in-law. She is heart-broken when she comes to know of her husband's relationship with Bhanumathi. The financial crisis caused by the construction of the textile mill and domestic worries disturbs Pushpanathan's peace of mind. Seetha, a young lady doctor comes to Mathur. Pushpanathan is drawn to her. But Seetha is in love with her college mate doctor Sabeshan. Kanchana burns with suspicion and jealousy. Seetha leaves Mathur to avoid Pushpanathan, who vents his anger on his wife. Kanchana leaves home and Pushpanathan does not allow Kanchana to take her son. Ponnammal gradually begins to realise the value of Kanchana. She and Bhanumati ask Pushpanathan to bring Kanchana back home. Bhanumathi dies and transfers all her wealth to Kanchana's son. The story ends with Sabeshan wedding Seetha and Pushpanathan bringing Kanchana back home.
Kanchana was the screen version of a popular Tamil novel "Kanchanayin Kanavu", authored by Tripurasundari, popularly known by her pen name "Lakshmi". The novel serially published in the Tamil weekly "Ananda Vikatan" got widespread acceptance and appreciation from the readers for the morals it conveyed. The popularity of the novel prompted Sreeramulu Naidu to produce the film based on this story.
Soundtrack
There are two Kritis composed by Muthuswami Dikshitar and sung by M. L. Vasanthakumari included in the film. The raga that is called Tharangini in Muthuswami Dikshitar school, is otherwise known as Charukesi. Music was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, while the lyrics were penned by Papanasam Sivan, V. A. Gopalakrishnan and Namakkal R. Balasubramaniam. Singer is K. R. Ramaswamy. Playback singers are P. A. Periyanayaki, M. L. Vasanthakumari and Jayalakshmi.
Trivia
Novelist Lakshmi said, while her novel was serialised in the weekly, readers asked her whether she had actresses Lalitha and Padmini in her mind when writing the novel. Therefore, she said that when Sri Ramulu Naidu bought the rights to make the novel into a film, she requested him to cast Lalitha and Padmini in the roles.
Reception
Although the performances of Ramasami, Lalitha, Padmini and Duraiswami were praised, according to Randor Guy, Kanchana was not commercially successful in either of its versions.
