School Master is a 1958 Indian Kannada-language film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Panthulu himself in the lead role along with Dikki Madhava Rao, M. V. Rajamma, Udaykumar, Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi in key roles. This was the first Kannada film to complete a silver jubilee. The film features a children's dance drama in Gevacolor, filmed by cinematographer W. R. Subba Rao. It was later remade in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi in spite of it being dubbed in Tamil and Telugu as Engal Kudumbam Perisu () and Badi Pantulu respectively.
In 1959, ALS Productions remade it in Hindi as School Master which was also directed by Panthulu. The film was remade in Malayalam in 1964 as School Master by Puttanna Kanagal, in Telugu in 1972 as Badi Panthulu and in Tamil in 1973 as School Master.
School Master was the first Kannada film to be remade in four languages and also the first Kannada film to be remade in three other South Indian languages. The movie is based on 1937 English movie Make Way for Tomorrow which has been adapted multiple times including in Japanese as Tokyo Story (1953), in Marathi as Oon Paus (1954), in Tamil as Varavu Nalla Uravu (1990), in Urdu as Samaj (1972) and twice in Hindi as Zindagi (1976) and Baghban (2003).
Plot Ranganna is a newly appointed headmaster in a government-run village primary school, where he admits his children. Gundappa is a peon at the school. A disciplinarian, Ranganna lives with his three children and wife, Seetha. His elder son Gopi gets into fight with a troublesome student, Vasu. Although Vasu is punished, his innate goodness wins over his teacher and he is given special attention to become a better student.
Nagappa, the corrupt chairperson of the village panchayat frequently clashes with the honest Ranganna and the district authorities. Upset over Ranganna's refusal to campaign for him in the upcoming elections, Nagappa burns down Ranganna's house. However, Ranganna's young students, led by Vasu, build a house for their teacher. Ranganna's efforts to convert the primary school into a high school are temporarily stalled when Nagappa steals the funds meant for the project and blames Ranganna for the money going missing. Nagappa is eventually caught and sentenced to seven years in prison.
Years later, Vasu tops his matriculation exams. Ranganna's sons marry — Gopi to Radha, Nagappa's daughter, and Ravikumar to Geetha, much against the parents' wishes. However, the parents accept these unions. Ranganna's daughter, Gowri, marries a simple businessman, Puttanna. Upon Ranganna's retirement, his sons are reluctant to take in their parents. With no savings of his own, Ranganna must rely on them to support his retired life. Gopi and Ravikumar reluctantly agree to take in one parent each. Gopi takes his father, while Ravikumar takes their mother. As a result, Ranganna is separated from his wife.
Over time, Ranganna’s eyesight deteriorates, and he is unable to even read his wife's letters because his son refuses to provide him with spectacles. Both Ranganna and his wife are mistreated by their daughters-in-law, prompting them to leave their sons’ homes.
Meanwhile, Ranganna’s house, built by his students, is put up for auction. Vasu, now a Superintendent of Police, happens to pass by and notices the auction. In the climax, he buys the house and hands it over to Ranganna and Seetha, who have now been reunited. Ranganna is overwhelmed with emotion as he sees his once troublesome student has transformed into a role model. His journey as a teacher has come full circle, ending on a note of satisfaction.
Cast
Soundtrack The film's score was composed by T. G. Lingappa.
Kannada version Song Singers Lyrics Length (m:ss) "Ati Madhuraa Anu Raaga" A. M. Rajah & K. Jamuna Rani 03:27 "Ellaru Nammavare" A. P. Komala 03:06 "Raadhaa Maadhava Vinodha Haasa" T. G. Lingappa & P. Susheela 03:12 "Innenu Aananda" Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi 03:02 "Swami Devane Loka Paalane" T. G. Lingappa, A. P. Komala & K. Rani 02:39 "Bannirai Bannirai" A. P. Komala & K. Rani 02:58 "Naanu Neenu Jodi" Pithapuram Nageswara Rao & Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi 03:23 "Bhaameya Nodalu" Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi 03:12 "Sompaada Sanjevele" T. G. Lingappa & P. Susheela 03:27 "" A. P. Komala & K. Rani 06:48
Tamil version The Tamil version is titled Engal Kudumbam Perisu.
Song Singers Lyrics Length (m:ss) "Adhi Madhuraa Anu Raaga" A. M. Rajah & K. Jamuna Rani K. D. Santhanam 03:27 "Ellaarum Nammavare" A. P. Komala Ku. Saa. Krishnamurthi 03:06 "Raadhaa Maadhava Vinodha Raaja" T. M. Soundararajan & P. Susheela Ku. Saa. Krishnamurthi 03:12 "Ennaalum Kaanaadha Aanandhame" Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam 03:02 "Somasekara Loga Paalane" T. G. Lingappa, A. P. Komala & K. Rani K. D. Santhanam 02:39 "Varugave Varugave Guru Sevaiye" A. P. Komala & K. Rani K. D. Santhanam 02:58 "Naanum Neeyum Jodi" S. C. Krishnan & Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi K. D. Santhanam 03:23 " " Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi 03:12 "Sugamaana Andhi Velai" T. M. Soundararajan & P. Susheela Ku. Saa. Krishnamurthi 02:42 "Aahaa En Jaanakiyai" A. P. Komala & K. Rani K. D. Santhanam 06:48
Telugu version The Telugu version is titled Badi Pantulu.
Song Singers Lyrics Length "Atimadhuram Anuraagam" A. M. Rajah & K. Jamuna Rani 03:27 "Rampaana Vadenaa" A. P. Komala 03:06 "Radhaa Madhava Vinodaleela" P. B. Sreenivas & P. Susheela 03:12 "Jaagela Ananda Mandeeyaraa" Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi 03:02 "Kshemasaagaraa Lokapaalanaa" T. G. Lingappa, A. P. Komala & K. Rani 02:39 "Padamdoy Padamdoy Padamdoy" A. P. Komala & K. Rani 02:58 "Neevu Nenu Jodu Ee Eddula Sakketa Choodu" Pithapuram Nageswara Rao & Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi 03:23 "Bhaamanu Jerava Gopaalaa" Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi 03:12 "Undaali Sampaadana Jagati" P. B. Sreenivas & P. Susheela 02:42 "" A. P. Komala & K. Rani 06:48
Release and Reception
It became the first Kannada film to complete a 25-week run and celebrate a silver jubilee.
Awards National Film Awards 1959 – All India Certificate of Merit for Third Best Feature film 1959 – National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada
References
External links