MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar chintamani rathey unakku kobam

MK. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar The first superstar of tamil cinema, This picture "chintamani" is considered till this day as an all time great in south Indian films. The movie fetched the producers very big money with which they constructed a cinema theatre in their hometown Madurai and named it 'Chinthamani'.

The story is about a Sanskrit poet called Bilwamangal who hailed from Varanasi. Bilwamangal, a renowned scholar, gets attracted to Chintamani, a woman of ill fame in his town, which changes his lifestyle. He neglects his wife, Suseelai, and the dying father. But Chintamani nourishes a deep devotion to Lord Krishna in her heart and laments for what destiny had decreed on her. Soon Chintamani teaches Bilwamangal the path of devotion and he turns into a saint. He wrote the famous poem in praise of Lord Krishna called 'Krishna Karnamrutham'.

Chintamani was shot at Devadatta Studios, Calcutta. The film introduced a kannada speaking stage actress, K.Aswathamma. The pair, MKT and Aswathamma, became very popular. Aswathamma had a very short span of life as she died in 1939 due to tuberculoses. Apart from Chinthamani she acted only in one more film called 'Santa Sakkubai'.

Chinthamani was the first tamil movie to run over one year !

Y.V.Rao, who has directed the film, wanted to do Bilwamangal's role. But he had to concede to Aswathamma's demand that MKT should do the lead role. Y.V.Rao plays the role of Manoharan, the friend of Bilwamangal. MKT is tailor-made to the role of Bilwamangal and has portrayed the different facets of the role with ease. L.Narayana Rao, as Alwar chetty, has done a good job for the comedy share of the film.



The film contains some of the all time great hits such as the catchy 'Maya prapanchatil' and 'Pesum taramo kaadal','Bhajanai seyvom kannan namam', the very popular 'Radhey unakku' in Chenchuruti and 'Gnanakkan ondru' in Jonpuri. The other songs by MKT include 'Arpan unnaiye' in Mukhari, the short but classic 'Thinai pozhudu' in Saveri, 'Sakalamum avane' in Useni and 'Kasturi tilakam' in Mohanam, a slokam from Krishna Karnamrutham.

Besides these, the songs 'Naadagame ulagam' in Kamas by Serugalathur Sama and songs by Aswathamma such as 'Krishna Krishna Muraye keleer', an adaptation of the popular hindi song 'Suno Suno', 'Eena jenmam eduthen en iyyane' and 'Divya darisanam tharalaagaatha' became superhits.

The gramaphone records of 'Maya prapanchathil' and 'Bhajanai seyvom kannan namam' were given by Thurayur Rajagopala sarma and not by MKT Bhagavathar. MKT Bhagavathar rendered 'Radhey Unakku' and 'Gnanakkan ondru' on record.

This film elevated MKT to superstardom. He became the first superstar of Tamil cinema. Kalki, in his review, wrote that the film has made such an impact on the viewers that the housewife would sing Mayaprapanchattil while preparing coffee in the morning and her musical or unmusical husband would sing 'Rathey unakku kobam' to please his sweetheart!!

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• MK
• Thyagaraja
• Bhagavathar
• chintamani
• rathey
• unakku
• kobam

[SCIYER]

Hearing this song after a long long time. The last time I heard it was when my father sang this to my mom !!!...LoL

[SOMASUNDRAM100]

His songs were a hit among carnatic singers to get a quick grasp of different ragas.

[SOMASUNDRAM100]

@kvnagarajan Great befitting description for a great artist. .

[gurusarada]

MKT baghavatha - all time good he sings pure tamil prnounciation - we all miss him

[kvnagarajan]

MKT's music is quitenssentially Carnatic-oriented as you can hear in this simple-sounding song. He executes some incredible birgas and brings out the bhava of the song so well. What an artist! Thanks for the upload.

[Rprakaash]

I agree lonrav001. All time legend.

[lonrav001]

Fantastic voice that will stay eternal forever !