CID (1955)
CID
Release date : 27 August 1955
CID marked the debut of one the most commercially successful south Indian directors ever – M Krishnan Nair. The first-of-its-kind in this genre of ‘investigation crime thrillers’, it also laid the successful template that most were to follow in the later years. It was a smash-hit at the box-office. Miss Kumari was Vasanthi, the city-bred, rich girl whose millionaire father is murdered, and a CID is assigned to the case. Vasanthi falls in love with the CID, and after a series of now-familiar ‘car chases, dances in the villain’s lair, CIDs in disguise in the lair’ and other tropes, all ends well. 1955 proved to be the busiest year for Miss Kumari with 5 releases, roughly one film every 2 months !
Movie Handbill
Publicity Still from CID (1955)
More about the Movie
| Miss Kumari | Prem Nazir |
| Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair | Muttathara Soman |
| Sreekantan Nair | TS Muthaiah |
| Jose Prakash | Adoor Pankajam |
| Kumari Thankam | Thiruvananthapuram Kuttan Pillai |
| SP Pillai |
| Director | M Krishnan Nair |
| Producer | P Subramaniam |
| Banner | Neela Productions |
| Screenplay | TN Gopinathan Nair |
| Dialogues | TN Gopinathan Nair |
| Lyrics | Thirunainarkurichi Madhavan Nair |
| Music | Br Lakshman |
| Playback Singers | P Leela, PB Sreenivas, Kamukara, M Sarojini, NL Ganasaraswathy, VN Sundaram |
| Cinematography | NS Mani |
| Editing | KD George |
| Distribution | Kumaraswamy & Co |
Copyrights & Courtesy : The Hindu (B Vijayakumar’s MetroPlus Kochi Column)
Sudhakaran Nair (Prem Nazir), a CID officer is assigned with the tough and adventurous task of suppressing a gang of thieves. Rudrapalan (Muttathara Soman) is the chief of the gang and he gets support from Vallabhan (Kottarakkara). Vallabhan is the estate manager of Mukunda Menon, a rich planter (Jose Prakash). Vallabhan’s wicked eye is on the wealth of Menon and his only daughter Vasanthi (Miss Kumari), a college student in a faraway town. Vallabhan kills Mukunda Menon and the crime is falsely framed on the gang of thieves.
On her train journey back home Vasanthi meets Sudhakaran and falls in love with him. Vallabhan influences Pankajam (Adoor Pankajam), the servant of Menon and makes her tell Vasanthi that her father wanted her to marry Vallabhan. Vasanthi decides to sacrifice her love for Sudhakaran and fulfil her father’s last wish.
The investigation of Menon’s murder is assigned to Sudhakaran. Rudrapalan’s adopted daughter Valsala (Kumari Thankam) and her aide Pichu (S. P. Pillai) are arrested by the police while attempting to cheat people. Rudrapalan’s men decide to target Sudhakaran and reach Vasanthi’s house in search of him. Vasanthi, who runs away at the sight of the thieves reaches Vallabhan’s house. Here she is shocked to see her faithful servant Pankajam. Vasanthi realises the true character of Vallabhan.
Vallabhan attempts to kill Pankajam, but she escapes. She informs Sudhakaran about the murder of Menon. In the meanwhile, Valsala and Pichu escape from the police custody with the support of Vallabhan and his men. Valsala falls in love with Vallabhan.
Vasanthi is kidnapped and brought to Rudrapalan’s camp. Sudhakaran follows them. ‘Orderly Vava’ (S. P. Pillai, in his second role), assistant to Sudhakaran, enters the secret camp in the guise of Pichu. Vallabhan kills Valsala and Rudrapalan when he comes to know that they are plotting against him. Vallabhan and the thieves are arrested. Vasanthi marries Sudhakaran.
Songs from the Movie
CID was a great success, thanks to the ‘fight’ sequences between Prem Nazir & Kottarakkara, and ofcourse the ‘double role’ of SP Pillai !
Songbook Cover
