Ponvayal

Ponvayal (transl. Golden Farm) is a 1954 Indian Tamil-language film written and directed by A. T. Krishnaswamy, and produced by T. R. Ramachandran. It is based on the story Poimaan Karadu by Kalki Krishnamurthy that was serialised in the weekly magazine Kalki. The film stars T. R. Ramachandran and Anjali Devi. It was released on 12 February 1954 and failed commercially. The film is lost.

Ponvayal
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	A. T. Krishnaswamy
Screenplay by	A. T. Krishnaswamy
Based on	Poimaan Karadu by Kalki Krishnamurthy
Produced by	T. R. Ramachandran
Starring	T. R. Ramachandran Anjali Devi
Cinematography	Nemai Ghosh
Edited by	M. K. Mani
Music by	Thurayur Rajgopal Sarma R. Rajagopal
Production company	Jayanthi Pictures
Distributed by	Madras Pictures
Release date	12 February 1954 (1954-02-12)
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Plot

Sengodan owns 10 acres of land, known as "Ponvayal" (Golden Farm). It is rumoured that fortune in gold is buried in Ponvayal. Sengodan loves his cousin Semba. Esraj, a counterfeiter, plans to obtain the fortune. He seeks the help of a graduate Bangaru and his lover. Unknown to Esraj, a policeman and an actress work against him and the crafty couple succeed in foiling the plans of Esraj. Sengodan is later arrested on a charge of attempting to murder Bangaru, but the policeman, with help from his girlfriend, discovers the truth and Sengodan is exonerated.^[1]

Cast

• T. R. Ramachandran as Sengodan^[1]
• Anjali Devi as Semba^[1]
• Manohar as Bangaru^[1]
• Mynavathi as Bangaru's lover^[1]
• K. Sarangapani as the policeman^[1]
• K. A. Thangavelu as Esraj^[1]

Production

Poimaan Karadu was a novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy and serialised in his own magazine Kalki. When the film rights to this story were bought, the film adaptation was titled Ponvayal. It was directed and written by A. T. Krishnaswamy, and produced by T. R. Ramachandran (who also played the male lead) under Jayanthi Pictures.^[1][2] It is the company's first production.^[3]

Soundtrack

The music of the film was composed by Thuraiyur Rajagopal Sarma and R. Rajagopal, under the supervision of N. P. Abdul Khader. The lyrics were written by Yogi Suddhanantha Bharathiyar and Sundara Vathiyar.^[1][4]

Song	Singer/s	Lyricist	Duration
"Maathamum Maari"	Group song
"Pongalo Pongal Pongalo"	N. L. Ganasaraswathi	Suddhanantha Bharathiyar	03:20
"Polladha Paavigal Ellaam"
"Maadugalaa Kaalai Maadugalaa"	Sirkazhi Govindarajan
"Siripputhaan Varuguthaiyaa"			05:53
"Onghi Valarndha Payir"
"Namma Kalyaanam Romba Nalla"	T. R. Ramachandran & N. L. Ganasaraswathi		02:47
"Enna Vinodham Paaru"	K. Sarangkapani
"Vaazhvinile Naame Jaaliyaaka Povom"
"Koodayirundhu Kudiyai Keduththida"
"Azhaiyaadha Veettil Nuzhayaadha Seemaan"	Jikki		02:57
"Vaanga Vaanga Maappillai"	A. Andal
"Azhaiyaadha Veettil"

Release and reception

Ponvayal was released on 12 February 1954,^[2][5] and distributed by Madras Pictures.^[6] The critic from The Indian Express positively reviewed the film for Krishnaswamy's writing and direction, along with the performances of Ramachandran, Anjali Devi and Muthulakshmi.^[7] Despite this, it failed at the box office. No print of the film is known to survive, making it a lost film.^[1]