Chakkaram

Chakkaram (transl. Wheel) is a 1968 Indian Tamil-language action film, written and directed by A. Kasilingam. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Vennira Aadai Nirmala and A. V. M. Rajan. It was released on 6 December 1968, and failed commercially.

Chakkaram
Poster
Directed by	A. Kasilingam
Screenplay by	A. Kasilingam
Produced by	K. R. Balan
Starring	Gemini Ganesan Vennira Aadai Nirmala A. V. M. Rajan
Cinematography	Vijayan
Music by	S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Production company	Annai Films
Release date	6 December 1968 (1968-12-06)
Running time	144 minutes[1]
Country	India
Language	Tamil

The film opens with a thief who evades arrest by living in forests. When a bounty is placed on his head, a secretary turns into a bounty hunter.

Plot

Jambu is a thief who lives in the forests avoiding the police. There is a bounty of ₹1 lakh (equivalent to ₹52 lakh or US$61,000 in 2023) on his head. Meenakshi, an estate owner under heavy debt, has a son. Her secretary Babu has a sister who is a college student. The sister falls in love with Meenakshi's son. Meenakshi stipulates that she is to be paid ₹50,000 (equivalent to ₹2.6 million or US$30,000 in 2023), otherwise the marriage between her son and Babu's sister will not take place. Babu and his friends head to the forest in search of Jambu to obtain the money he has robbed and the reward. The rest of the story deals with how the money is obtained.^[2]

Cast

Adapted from The Hindu:^[2]

• Gemini Ganesan as Babu
• Vennira Aadai Nirmala
• A. V. M. Rajan as Jambu
• Nagesh
• Manorama
• Sowcar Janaki as Meenakshi Jambu’s wife
• Vasantha
• V. S. Raghavan
• Major Sundarrajan
• O. A. K. Thevar
• M. R. R. Vasu
• C.S. Pandian
• S.S. Sivasuriyan
• Master Sekhar
• Rajakokila

Production

Chakkaram was directed by A. Kasilingam who also wrote the screenplay. The film was produced by K. R. Balan under Annai Films. Cinematography was handled by Vijayan.^[2] The final length of the film was 3,938 metres (12,920 ft).^[1]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, while the lyrics were written by Vaali.^[2][3]

Track listing

No.	Title	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Kasethan Kadavulappa"	T. M. Soundararajan	3:25
2.	"Kulikka Pora Kumaripponnu"	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela	4:20
3.	"Neeye Oru Neram Sollu"	T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela	4:35
4.	"Oru Naal Iravu Orumani"	L. R. Eswari	4:09
Total length:			16:29

Release and reception

Chakkaram was released on 6 December 1968,^[4] and failed commercially.^[2]