Andhaman Kaidhi

In the opening sequence, jailed former labour leader Nataraj is telling his cellmates about the suffering his family endured as a result of his uncle Ponnambalam betraying his fellow Indians in order to help the . Nataraj tells of how Ponnambalam murdered his father, swindled his mother of her meager savings and forced her sister Leela into marriage. Nataraj hunts down and kills his uncle, which lands him in jail to tell his story. Circa 1947. Ponnambalam helps himself to the properties and riches of his brother-in-law Chidambaram Pillai, who is settled in faraway Karachi. Ponnambalam is aided by his sidekick Jambu and the court clerk Muniyandi. When Chidambaram Pillai returns home and starts questioning Ponnambalam, he is killed. In the aftermath of , Chidambaram Pillai’s family manages to escape from the strife torn Karachi. His wife, son Natarajan, and daughter Leela reach their hometown, only to find Chidambaram Pillai dead. They are driven away by the heartless Ponnambalam. An honest youth Balu, who is moved by their plight and offers them shelter in his house and falls in love with Leela. Natarajan who took pity for Vallikannu, who had been a victim of Ponnambalam’s lust, soon turns to love. Jambu gets Natarajan arrested on trumped up charges, and succeeds in getting Leela married to Ponnambalam. Leela pretends to be haunted by a ghost, and manages to postpone consummating the coerced marriage. But Jambu sees through her pretenses and makes bold to molest her. Balu rushes to save Leela from her ordeal, but when he reaches her house, he finds Leela torn and bruised, and Ponnambalam is lying dead. Balu is charged with the murder and arrested. was a play written by , first staged in 1938. When it was adapted into a film produced by Radhakrishna Films, Krishnamurthy was retained as screenwriter. The film was originally directed by who left, resulting in cinematographer V. Krishnan taking over direction. Newsreel footage of celebrations was added to the beginning of the film. was credited by his real name, rather than “Ramchandar” that was prevailing in many of his previous films in the late 1940s. The music was composed by . All the lyrics were by Ku. Sa. Krishnamurthy except the song “Kaani Nilam Vendum Paraasakthi”, based on a song written by poet . The song “Anju Rooba Nottai Konjam Munne Maatthi”, sung by , revolves around the poor masses who suffer from economic disparity. was released on 14 March 1952. According to historian , the film was not a major success but helped Ramachandran “move up the ladder of success”.