'Haridas' - 80th Anniversary
MK Thyagaraja Bhagavathar was the first superstar of South Indian Cinema with an incredible fan following. He was perhaps the first actor of the region to achieve such popularity with a fistful of films, and was the most sought after personality between 1934 and 1944. His films usually ran for months and ‘Haridas' (16 October 1944) , set a stunning record by running uninterrupted for 114 weeks at Broadway Cinema, Madras. It even witnessed three Deepavali festivals of 1944, 1945 and 1946! Directed by Sundar Rao Nadkarni, it also starred TR Rajakumari and NC Vasanthakokilam . With music by Papanasam Sivan and G Ramanathan , the score is replete with raga-based melodies. Raga-based songs of 'Haridas': The song that probably tops every playlist in Charukesi ragam would be ‘ Manmadha Leelaiyai '. This song was one of the earliest appearances of Charukesi on the silver screen, and till today, remains one of the best. In the sonorous voice of M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavatar an