Gumastha (film)

Gumastha
Gumastha
	Film poster
Directed by	R. M. Krishnasami
Written by	A. T. Krishnasami (dialogues)
Screenplay by	Acharya Aatreya
Story by	Acharya Aatreya
Produced by	V. C. Subburaman
Starring	V. Nagayya; Pandari Bai; B. Jayamma; P. V. Narasimha Bharathi
Cinematography	R. M. Krishnasami
Edited by	P. V. Manikkam; Bal G. Yadhav
Music by	C. N. Pandurangam; G. Ramanathan; Nagayya
Production; company	Aruna Films
Distributed by	Film Center Limited
Release date	3 April 1953;
Running time	184 minutes (Tamil); 187 minutes (Telugu)
Country	India
Languages	Tamil; Telugu

Gumastha (transl. Clerk) is a 1953 Indian film starring V. Nagayya, R. S. Manohar and Pandari Bai. The film was produced in Tamil and Telugu languages under the same title. It is based on the play NGO (Non-Gazetted Officer) by Acharya Aatreya.^[2]^[1] The film was released on 3 April 1953.^[3]

Plot

Ranganathan is a government clerk struggling in life with a low salary and a big family. He has to support his aged father, his wife, two children, his brother Gopu and an unmarried sister, Susheela.

Though Gopu is a smart young man, he couldn't continue with his college education due to the financial situation in the family. In the meantime, a rich man's son, Ravi meets Susheela and is attracted to her. Eventually, they both become lovers. Ravi has a medical problem in the heart. The doctor advises him against marriage. But he dismisses it and marries Susheela. She learns of Ravi's medical condition and refuses to be intimate with him. However, one day Ravi forces and make love to her due to which she becomes pregnant.

People, who know about Ravi's medical condition, suspects Susheela as carrying someone else's child. She becomes distressed. Her old father, learning about her plight, dies of shock.

How the government clerk Ranganathan, her brother, solves the problems forms the rest of the story.^[2]

Cast

Cast adapted from the songbook^[4]

Male Cast

V. Nagayya as Clerk Ranganathan
Manohar as Brother Gopu
P. V. Narasimha Bharathi as Ravi
Friend Ramasami as Ravi's Friend
T. N. Sivathanu as Ravi's Father
M. L. N. Kaushik as Shankar
C. V. V. Panthulu as Shankar's Father
T. V. Sethuraman as Friend's Father
V. K. Karthikeyan as Harmonium Player
Karuppaiah as Astrologer
P. Sundarabashyam Naidu as Ranganathan's Father
Balan as Gupta
V. T. Kalyanam as Homeowners's Clerk
Bhairavan as Ranganathan's Son (Adult)
P. Kalyanam as Ranganathan's Son's Friend
Anil Kumar as Ranganathan's Son (Child)

Female Cast

Pandari Bai as Ranganathan's Sister, Susheela
B. Jayamma as Seetha
C. K. Saraswathi as Ravi's Mother
M. Saroja as Pappi
Menaka as Rani
Angamuthu as Milkmaid
Venu Bai as Shankar's Mother
Baby Uma as Ranganathan's Daughter

Production

The film was produced by V. C. Subburaman under the banner Aruna Films and was shot at Film Centre, Madras.^[2]

Soundtrack

Music was scored by C. N. Pandurangam, G. Ramanathan, Nagayya and while the lyrics were penned by A. Maruthakasi and S. D. S. Yogiar.^[2]^[4]

Song	Singer(s)	Lyricist	Composer
"Aadhari Jegadheeswari Amba"	B. Jayamma	Maruthakasi	C. N. Pandurangam
"Aiyavin Penndattikku"	M. L. Vasanthakumari, K. R. Chellamuthu	S. D. S. Yogi	C. N. Pandurangam
"Aasaiye Veen Aanadhe!"	P. Leela	Maruthakasi	Pandurangam
"Sopalangi Mappillaikku"	Rani, G. Kasthoori & Party	Maruthakasi	G. Ramanathan
"Inbamo! Thunbamo! Edhuvume Nilladhe!"	Raja	Maruthakasi	Pandurangam
"Theeradha Varumaiyudan"	B. Jayamma	Maruthakasi
"Hey Manidha! Enge Odugirai?"	Nagayya	Nagayya
"Dance Baby Dance!"	M. L. Vasanthakumari	Maruthakasi

Reception

According to historian Randor Guy, the film performed average at the box office due its "predictable storyline".^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema. British Film Institute and Oxford University Press. p. 332. ISBN 0-19-563579-5.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Guy, Randor (24 October 2015). "Gumastha 1953". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 January 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
^ "1953 – குமாஸ்தா –அருணா பிலிம்ஸ் (த-தெ)". Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
^ ^a ^b குமாஸ்தா (PDF) (song book) (in Tamil). 1953. Retrieved 2 September 2024 – via Internet Archive.

External links

Gumastha at IMDb

[Encyclopaedia-1] Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema. British Film Institute and Oxford University Press. p. 332. ISBN 0-19-563579-5.

[hindu-2] Guy, Randor (24 October 2015). "Gumastha 1953". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 January 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2018.

[3] "1953 – குமாஸ்தா –அருணா பிலிம்ஸ் (த-தெ)". Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2024.

[songbook-4] குமாஸ்தா (PDF) (song book) (in Tamil). 1953. Retrieved 2 September 2024 – via Internet Archive.

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