Kubera Kusela is a 1943 Indian Tamil-languageHindu mythological film directed by R. S. Mani and written by B. S. Ramaiah. The soundtrack was by Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer and background music by S. V. Venkat Raman. The film stars P. U. Chinnappa T. R. Rajakumari, D. Balasubramaniam and P. S. Govindan in the lead roles, with R. Balasubramaniam, S. R. Jankai, N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Mathuram and T. S. Durairaj providing comic relief.
Plot
Kuchela, Lord Krishna's boyhood friend acquires wealth, which goes to his head. Driven by greed and ambition. Kuchela transforms himself into Kubera. In the film, there are three Kuberas – Kubera, the lord of wealth, Kuchela, who transformed himself into Kubera and the third one, a demon transformed into Kubera. Meanwhile, Lord Krishna creates a lovely woman out of a flower. Complications ensue with more than one Kubera falling in love with her. The "original" Kubera steps in to establish his supremacy and more complications arise. However, Lord Krishna has his own bag of tricks and settles the confusion by bringing the lovers together. The comic relief was provided as usual by N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Mathuram and T. S. Durairaj. In one comic song, N. S. Krishnan plays a female role, while Mathuram plays Krishnan.
A little fact about the history of MadrasCity – The film was released during the height of the Second World War, when soldiers were milling around the city on motor bikes, heavy army trucks and cars. To attract them, the producers came up with an innovative posters, A first of its kind a horizontal strip which contained the lines only in English – Who is Rich? Kubera or Kuchela? watch the movie.
Soundtrack
Music composed by Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer and S. V. Venkatraman composed background music. The lyrics were written by Papanasam Sivan and Udumalai Narayana Kavi. The film had 17 song tracks including a comic one. Nadaiyalangaram Kanden... composed in raga Karaharapriya, become a super hit. The other song that become popular were Maalai Chooda Vandhen Mallika.. composed in raga Khamass and Ennai Vittu Engey Sentreer and composed in raga Harikambothi. Papanasam Sivan composed as Kuchela sang a song which he composed himself Kanna Kanna Kanna in raga Kappi. But no gramophone disc of this rare song by the icon was recorded. The dances were choreographed by the Bharathanatyam Guru Vazhuvoor B. Ramaiah Pillai.
