A rare and significant Tamil film Ratha Kanneer of 1954, was added to the collection of National Film Archive of India (NFAI). Directed by Krishnan-Panju and written by Thiruvarur Thangarasu, the film became a powerful source of progressive thought in India in the 1950s. Aparna Subramaniam, Film Research Officer at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), today donated a copy of film material, including 8 jumbo reels in 35mm format from her personal collection, to Prakash Magdum, the Managing Director of National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), in Pune.

The film, featuring MR Radha in the lead role, was pathbreaking for its time and presented radical perspectives on issues such as caste discrimination, blind faith, and ritualistic practices. It also addressed social stigma around leprosy, depicting the protagonist's transformation from a wealthy, westernized philanderer to a leprosy patient abandoned by society. This humanized a disease that was deeply stigmatized in 1950s India.

MR Radha was a theatre legend who brought immense versatility to the role. His performance in the first half, as the sarcastic, westernized rich man is both funny and chilling, while his transformation into a leper in the second half is described as "meticulous and complete. His bent posture, unsynchronized body movements, and distinctive dialogue delivery became legendary.

This film promotes a revolutionary perspective on widow remarriage. In the film's climax, the hero, before his death, asks his wife if she would like to remarry his friend. Madras Rajagopalan Radhakrishnan (MR Radha) delivered what many consider his greatest performance in Ratha Kanneer.

NFDC Managing Director Prakash Magdum said that despite its immense cultural and historical significance, no film archive in India or internationally possesses a print or original negative of this historic 1954 film. The only versions available today are low-resolution copies circulating on online platforms. Therefore, acquiring this film is crucial for its long-term preservation and accessibility to the public. He appealed to film enthusiasts to come forward and donate films and other memorabilia for preservation at the NFAI.

Aparna Subramaniam expressed her delight at donating a print of the film to the NFAI. She said that it truly belongs at the NFAI for preservation, archiving, and future restoration. She explained that she acquired the film from her old circle of film collectors and distributors in South India.

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Nitin Fulluke/Parshuram Kor

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