Gejje Pooje
Gejje Pooje is a 1969 Indian Kannada language film directed by Puttanna Kanagal and produced by Rashi Brothers. The film stars Kalpana, Gangadhar and Leelavathi in the lead roles. Gejje means anklet and pooje means worship, but in the context of this film, it means a mock marriage. The film is based on the novel Gejje Pooje, by M. K. Indira. The film was remade in Tamil as Thaaliya Salangaiya, in Telugu as Kalyana Mandapam and in Hindi as Ahista Ahista.
| Gejje Pooje | |
|---|---|
 VCD cover | |
| Directed by | Puttanna Kanagal |
| Written by | M. K. Indira |
| Screenplay by | Puttanna Kanagal |
| Based on | Gejje Pooje by M. K. Indira |
| Produced by | Rashi Brothers |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Srikanth |
| Edited by | V. P. Krishna |
| Music by | Vijaya Bhaskar |
| Distributed by | Chithra Jyothi |
Release date | 1969 |
| Country | India |
| Language | Kannada |
Plot
This socially relevant movie explores the problem of prostitutes. It was based on the novel written by M. K. Indira. The heroine Chandra (played by Kalpana) is the daughter of a devadasi who is in love with a young man who is her neighbour. 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 makes him abandon the heroine. The girl he marries is the daughter of the heroine's father who had abandoned both her and her mother. Chandra agrees to perform gejje pooje as part of initiation into a life of prostitution, but in the end, she commits suicide by swallowing a diamond.
Cast
- Kalpana as Chandramukhi
- Gangadhar as Somu
- Leelavathi as Aparna, Chandramukhi's mother
- Aarathi as Lalita
- Shivaram
- Lokanath as Shivarudrappa
- Pandari Bai as Tangamma, Somu's mother
- K. S. Ashwath as Somu's father
- Annapoornamma as Chandra's grandmother
- Swarnamma
- M. N. Lakshmi Devi as Savitri
- Balakrishna as Savitri's husband
- B. V. Radha
- Vajramuni
Awards
- 1969–70 Karnataka State Film Awards
- First Best Film
- Best Supporting Actress – Leelavathi
- Best Screenplay — Puttanna Kanagal
- Best Dialogue — Navarathna Ram Rao
- Best Cinematographer — S. V. Srikanth
Soundtrack
The music was composed by Vijayabaskhar.
| 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 |