Sati Sulochana
First Kannada talkie, based on the Ramayana.
Sati Sulochana is a 1934 Indian Kannada-language film directed by Y. V. Rao. Released on 3 March 1934, it is the first talkie film in Kannada and the first film screened in the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom. The film is now considered lost, though a gramophone record jacket later revealed it contained 30 songs, contrary to earlier beliefs of 18.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Yaragudipati Varada Rao
- Producer
- Chamanlal Doongaji; Shah Bhurmal Chamanlalji
- Screenplay
- Bellave Narahari Shastri
- Based on
- Ramayana, Valmiki
- Starring
- Subbaiah Naidu
- Tripuramba
- R. Nagendra Rao
- D. N. Murthy Rao
- Y. V. Rao
- C. T. Sheshachalam
- Music
- R. Nagendra Rao; H. R. Padmanabha Sastry
- Studio
- Prabhat Studio
- Released
- 3 March 1934
Facts from the source article.
Plot
The film centers on Sulochana, wife of Indrajit and daughter-in-law of Ravana. It depicts the war between Rama and Ravana from her perspective. Ravana abducts Sita, leading to war. Lakshmana is knocked unconscious by Indrajit but revived by the Sanjeevani herb. Lakshmana then kills Indrajit, making Sulochana a widow. Unable to bear her husband's death, she commits sati.
Background
The producer was Shah Chamanlal Doongaji, a Marwari businessman from Bangalore (native of Ahore, Jalore District, Rajasthan). He started South India Movietone in 1932 and decided to make a mythological movie involving Ramayana characters. He engaged Y. V. Rao to direct and play Lakshmana, Bellave Narahari Shastri for screenplay, dialogues and lyrics, Nagendra Rao as Ravana and production manager, M. V. Subbaiah Naidu as Indrajit, and Lakshmi Bai and Tripuramba as Mandodari and Sulochana.
Production
Sachin Nayaka chose to shoot at Chatrapathi Studio in Kolhapur. Production began in December 1933 and took two months. Shooting used natural sunlight and man-made reflectors; camera assistants carried mirrors on their shoulders to project light onto the set. Sets had no ceilings, only white cloth. No glycerine was available; water drops were sprayed near actresses' eyes for tears. The budget was 40,000. War scenes used two cameras. The film released on 3 March 1934 at Paramount cinema theatre (later Parimala talkies) near City Market, Bangalore, and ran house-full for six weeks.
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