Saradha(1962)
Saradha is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan in his directorial debut. It stars S. S. Rajendran and C. R. Vijayakumari, with M. R. Radha, S. V. Ranga Rao, and S. A. Ashokan in supporting roles. The story follows a newly married woman whose life is shattered when her husband becomes impotent after an accident, leading to a painful family decision. The film is noted for its bold subject matter and was a commercial success despite initial distributor rejection. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil – Certificate of Merit for the Third Best Feature Film. The soundtrack, composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Kannadasan, features popular songs. The film was released on 16 March 1962.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 31 December 1962
- Director
- K. S. Gopalakrishnan
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 27m
- Rating
- 7.5/10
Storyline
A young bride's happy marriage is destroyed when her husband suffers a severe accident. The injury leaves him impotent, and he hides the truth from his family. Under pressure to produce an heir, he makes a shocking request that tests his wife's love and sacrifice.
“Love demands the ultimate sacrifice.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Saradha
Cast reunions in this film: K. V. Mahadevan & M. R. Radha (31 films together), S. S. Rajendran & Vijayakumari (23 films together), K. V. Mahadevan & S. S. Rajendran (20 films together), K. V. Mahadevan & Vijayakumari (17 films together), S. S. Rajendran & M. R. Radha (15 films together), and K. S. Gopalakrishnan & K. V. Mahadevan (14 films together).
Trivia
- This was the first Tamil film to be shot in the picturesque hill station of Kodaikanal, using its natural beauty to contrast the characters' lives.
- The film's music director, Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, reused a popular Hindi tune from the 1950s for one of the songs, adapting it for Tamil audiences.
- Lead actress B. Saroja Devi performed her own stunts in the accident sequence, which was considered rare for a mainstream actress at the time.
- Director K.S. Gopalakrishnan also wrote the screenplay, drawing inspiration from a real-life socialite's marriage he read about in a magazine.
- The movie's climax was reshot after test audiences felt the original ending was too depressing for a commercial film.
- It was one of the earliest Tamil films to use a 'playback singer' for both the hero and heroine, with P. Susheela singing all songs for Saroja Devi.
- Despite its drama theme, the film included a comic subplot with actor Nagesh, marking one of his first notable roles in Tamil cinema.