Gejje Pooje (transl. Mock marriage)[a] is a 1969 Indian Kannada-language film directed by Puttanna Kanagal and produced by Rashi Brothers. The film stars Kalpana, Gangadhar and Leelavathi. Actress Aarathi made her first screen appearance in this film. It is based on the novel of the same name by M. K. Indira. The film was remade in Tamil as Thaaliya Salangaiya,[2] in Telugu as Kalyana Mandapam,[3] and in Hindi as Ahista Ahista.[4]

Gejje Pooje
VCD cover
Directed byPuttanna Kanagal
Screenplay byPuttanna Kanagal
Based onGejje Pooje
by M. K. Indira
Produced byRashi Brothers
Starring
CinematographySrikanth
Edited byV. P. Krishna
Music byVijaya Bhaskar
Production
company
Chithra Jyothi
Release date
  • 1969 (1969)
Running time
154 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageKannada

Plot

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This socially relevant film explores the problem of prostitutes. It was based on the novel written by M. K. Indira. The heroine Chandramukhi (played by Kalpana) is the daughter of a devadasi who falls in love with a young man who is her neighbour, as they grew up together. The young girl understands the value of education and with the support of her mother intends to reject the life of prostitution. Circumstances and the young man's suspicion make him abandon the heroine. The girl he then goes on to marry is actually her half-sister, the daughter of the heroine's father from his marriage with another woman. He had abandoned both Chandra and her mother. Chandra agrees to perform 'gejje pooje' (literally marrying ankle bracelets) as part of initiation into a life of prostitution, but in the end, she kills herself by crushing and swallowing the diamond (from the ring that was gifted to her by her biological father in his memory).

Cast

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Awards

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17th National Film Awards[6]
1969–70 Karnataka State Film Awards

Soundtrack

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The music was composed by Vijaya Bhaskar.[7]

Title Singers Lyrics
"Gaganavo Ello" S. Janaki R. N. Jayagopal
"Hejje Hejjegu Honne Suriyali" S. Janaki Chi. Udaya Shankar
"Maguve Ninna Hoonagu" S. Janaki Vijaya Narasimha
"Ondhu Dhina Raathriyali" B. K. Sumitra R. N. Jayagopal
"Panchama Vedha, Premadha Naadha" P. B. Sreenivas Vijaya Narasimha
"Panchama Vedha, Premadha Naadha" S. Janaki Vijaya Narasimha

Notes

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  1. ^ Gejje means anklet and pooje means worship, but in the context of this film, it means a mock marriage.

References

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  1. ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 403.
  2. ^ "'திரை இசைத் திலகம் கேவி மகாதேவன் -40- பிஜிஎஸ் மணியன் எழுதும் தொடர்". Andhimazhai (in Tamil). 26 January 2015. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  3. ^ Narasimham, M. L. (30 November 2019). "A tribute to VMR's 1971 Telugu superhit 'Kalyana Mantapam'". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Eight Sandalwood films that have been remade in other languages". The News Minute. 26 May 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  5. ^ a b Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 404.
  6. ^ "Seventeenth National Awards for Films" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. 21 November 1970. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Gejje Pooje Kannada Film EP Vinyl Record by Vijayabhaskar". Mossymart. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.

Bibliography

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