School Master (1958 film)

School Master ಸ್ಕೂಲ್ ಮಾಸ್ಟರ್ எங்கள் குடும்பம் பெரிசு
Directed by	B. R. Panthulu
Produced by	B. R. Panthulu
Written by	Kusumagraj
Based on	Vaishnavi by Kusumagraj
Starring	Dikki Madhav Rao Udaykumar Sivaji Ganesan Gemini Ganesan B. Saroja Devi
Music by	T. G. Lingappa
Cinematography	W. R. Subba Rao Karnan
Edited by	R. Devarajan
Distributed by	Padmini Pictures
Release dates	31 January 1958
Running time	164 minutes
Country	India
Language	Kannada

School Master (Kannada: ಸ್ಕೂಲ್ ಮಾಸ್ಟರ್) is a 1958 Indian Kannada language film, which was simultaneously dubbed as Tamil language film as Engal Kudumbam Perisu (Tamil: எங்கள் குடும்பம் பெரிசு). It was released in 1958. It was later remade into various other languages including Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi. Movie is a classic film starring Dikki Madhav Rao, Udaykumar, Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi. It was the first Kannada film to complete Silver Jubilee Celebration.

B. R. Panthulu came up with film versions of this story in various languages. In 1958 School Master (Kannada) and Engal Kudumbam Perisu (Tamil) were directed by him, dubbed into Telugu as Badi Pantulu. In 1959 ALS Productions remade the story in Hindi as School Master, again directed by B. R. Panthulu.

The Malayalam version School Master was released on 3 April 1964 starring : Prem Nazir, K. Balaji, Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair, Sivaji Ganeshan, Ragini, Ambika, Sowcar Janaki, Aranmula Ponnamma, Bahadur etc. The lyrics were by Vayalar Ramavarma, music by G. Devarajan and the dialogues by - Ponkunnam Varki. The film was a super hit.

In 1972 the movie was remade in Telugu as Badi Pantulu starring NTR. In 1973 once again the same story was filmed in Tamil.

The concept of the movie is based on the 1937 movie Make Way for Tomorrow which was already adapted into Marathi in 1954 titled Oon Paoos directed by Raja Paranjpe starring himself.

Plot

The story revolves mostly around the producer director B. R. Panthulu who plays the role of School Master, and his wife. Uncommon about Balkrishna is that he plays a positive role in the film. Bustling actor Narasimharaju is also there.

Humble School Teacher with his 2 sons and a daughter arrives at a new place. He finds the school building is in bad shape and his staff are not motivated to teach. He is a strict disciplinarian, which is shown in humorous way. His elder son gets into fight with a ruffian student Vaasu. Vaasu is punished, but his innate goodness wins over his teacher. Vaasu is given special care, to become a good student. He has to fight against village politics, when he wishes to build a new building to the school. Undeterred, he motivates his students and villages to amass enough funds to build it.

However, henchmen in the village burn down his house. His pet student Vaasu gathers all his friends and builds a small house for his teacher. Years pass and Vaasu tops matriculation exams.

Teacher's sons get married much against the wishes of their parents, but teacher takes it in his stride. Their beautiful daughter is married to simpleton business man.

When Teacher retires, his sons are averse to take their parents. With no savings of his own, Teacher has to rely on his sons to lead retired life. Elder son takes his father, while younger one takes his mother. Teacher is thus separated from his wife.

Things take such a bad turn, that teacher cannot even read his wife's letter, because his sons will not provide him with spectacles.

In the climax, teacher's erstwhile house, which was painfully constructed by his students, has to be auctioned off. Vaasu Sivaji Ganeshan, now the Superintendent of Police happens to pass by in the car and notices the auction. Distraught with pain, he confides to his wife, this is the very house, he built with his fellow-students for the tecaher, who led him to the garden path. He is overcome by emotions, on seeing the auction. Vaasu's wife immediately removes all her jewellery and urges Vaasu to use them to stop the auction and pay the bank. Vaasu is filled with joy and does so.

Vaasu makes his school teacher's life with joy and Teacher is filled with happiness on seeing his once ruffian student becoming a role model. His journey of teacher has met a satisfactory end.

Film has some sentimental and emotional moments and laughable moments too. It has some classroom incidents. Film also has some village politics at the start, which continues to influence the school master character throughout the film. The Film teaches life lessons.

Soundtrack

The film's score was composed by T. G. Lingappa

Kannada film

School Master

No.	Song	Singers	Lyrics	Length (m:ss)
1	Adhi Madhuraa Anu Raaga	A. M. Rajah & K. Jamuna Rani		03:27
2	Ellaru Nammavare	A. P. Komala		03:06
3	Raadhaa Maadhava Vinodha Raadha	T. G. Lingappa & P. Suseela		03:12
4	Innenu Aananda	Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi		03:02
5	Swami Devane Loka Paalane	T. G. Lingappa, A. P. Komala & K. Rani		02:39
6	Bannirai Bannirai	A. P. Komala & K. Rani		02:58
7	Naanu Neenu Jodi	Pithapuram Nageswara Rao & Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi		03:23
8	Bhaameya Nodalu	Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi		03:12
9	Sompaada Sanjevele	T. G. Lingappa & P. Suseela		03:27

Tamil film

Engal Kudumbam Perisu Lyrics: K.D. Santhanam, Ku. Sa. Krishnamoorthy & Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam.

No.	Song	Singers	Lyrics	Length (m:ss)
1	Adhi Madhuraa Anu Raaga	A. M. Rajah & K. Jamuna Rani		03:27
2	Ellaarum Nammavare	A. P. Komala		03:06
3	Raadhaa Maadhava Vinodha Raadha	T. M. Soundararajan & P. Suseela		03:12
4	Ennaalum Kaanaadha Aanandhame	Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi		03:02
5	Somasekara Loga Paalane	T. G. Lingappa, A. P. Komala & K. Rani		02:39
6	Varugave Varugave Guru Sevaiye	A. P. Komala		02:58
7	Naanum Neeyum Jodi	S. C. Krishnan & Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi		03:23
8		Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi		03:12
9	Sugamaana Andhi Velai	T. M. Soundararajan & P. Suseela		02:42
10	Ramayana Children's Drama			06:48

Telugu film

Badi Pantulu

No.	Song	Singers	Lyrics	Length (m:ss)
1	Atimadhuram Anuraagam	A. M. Rajah & K. Jamuna Rani		03:27
2	Rampaana Vadenaa			03:06
3	Radhaa Madhava Vinodaleela	P. B. Sreenivas & P. Suseela		03:12
4	Jaagela Ananda Mandeeyaraa	Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi		03:02
5	Kshemasaagaraa Lokapaalanaa			02:39
6	Padamdoy Padamdoy Padamdoy			02:58
7	Neevu Nenu Jodu Ee Eddula Sakketa Choodu	Pithapuram Nageswara Rao & Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi		03:23
8	Bhaamanu Jerava Gopaalaa	Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi		03:12
9	Undaali Sampaadana Jagati	P. B. Sreenivas & P. Suseela		02:42

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

Trivia

Few scenes in Amitabh Bachchan starrer Baghban (film) are taken from this movie, like parents being separated by their son's, Father unable to read wife's letter, due to his spectacles being broken.

External links

• School Master on Chiloka
• School Master at IMDb
• Centanery Celebrations

Template:National Film Award Third Best Feature Film