Parasakthi (1952 Film) - Production

Production

Parasakthi was a popular Tamil play written by Pavalar Balasundaram, a Tamil scholar. Around the same time, En Thangai (My Sister), written by T. S. Natarajan, became popular. Sivaji Ganesan, at that time a struggling stage actor, acted in En Thangai as "a brother sacrificing his love for the sake of his sightless kid sister." The pre-production crew at Central Studio, Coimbatore, initially planned to merge these two plays to make a film. However, Natarajan, the author of En Thangai disagreed to the idea, and indeed sold the rights of the play to another producer. The shooting of the film En Thangai began with Tiruchi Loganathan, then a popular playback artist, playing the lead role of the sacrificing brother. However, he was eventually replaced by actor M. G. Ramachandran. Meanwhile, film distributor P. A. Perumal of National Pictures, with the patronage of A. V. Meiyappan of AVM Productions, bought film rights of Parasakthi. M. Karunanidhi was signed to write the script. Sivaji Ganesan, the stage actor of En Thangai was chosen to play the hero, making his acting debut in film. Ganesan had simultaneously shot for the film Poongothai, which was supposed to be his actual film to release first, but released much later. He had earlier dubbed for Telugu actor Mukkamala Krishnamurthi in the 1951 Tamil film Niraparadhi.

Parasakthi did not begin well for Ganesan. After 3000 feet of the film was shot, Meiyappan was dissatisfied with Ganesan's performance and suggested that he be replaced by K. R. Ramasami, then a popular actor and singer. Producer Perumal refused to have Ganesan replaced, and even considered taking the production house elsewhere. He later approached political leader C. N. Annadurai, who convinced Meiyappan to retain Ganesan in the film. Ganesan was paid a monthly salary of 250, which is equal to 11577.45 (US$210) when adjusted for inflation. S. S. Rajendran, who was also a successful stage artist, debuted in Parasakthi after the advice of C. N. Annadurai. Actress Raja Sulochana was initially cast as the female lead, but opted out due to her pregnancy, and was eventually replaced by Telugu actress Sriranjani Jr. Pandari Bai was also signed to play an important role, after Meiyappan was impressed with her performance in Raja Vikrama (1950). Poet Kannadasan declined the offer to be one of the film's lyricists, and instead acted in a minor role as a court judge, as he was "determined to take part in the Parasakthi movie". The cinematography was handled by S. Maruti Rao, while the songs were choreographed by Heeralal.

The dialogues of the film, written by Karunanidhi, critically examined the social issues of the time and holds an important part in the Dravidian Movement. The poem featured at the beginning of the film and written by Bharathidasan, in keeping with the early DMK's demands of seeing a sovereign Dravidian nation, was meant to celebrate the greatness of the Dravidian nation by speaking of its Utopian nature, followed by a long monologue that laments and grieves at the nation's despairing reality. The film's climax song Ellorum Vazha Vendum was used as stock footage of the political leaders Rajaji, Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, Bhakthavatchalam, Annadurai, and Karunanidhi.