{ "id": "ep9v2f0arz", "slug": "alibabavum-40-thirudargalum", "title": "Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (அலிபாபாவும் நாற்பது திருடர்களும்)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000", "label": "Tamil films before 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1952-1991", "label": "Released 1952 to 1991", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1952-1991" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1952-1991", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000: Released 1952 to 1991", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1952-1991", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000", "label": "Tamil films before 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1952-1991", "label": "Released 1952 to 1991", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1952-1991" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (அலிபாபாவும் நாற்பது திருடர்களும்), aka Alibaba and the Forty Thieves, is a 1956 Tamil fantasy swashbuckler by T. R. Sundaram's Modern Theatres, starring M. G. Ramachandran and P. Bhanumathi; the first full-length Gevacolor colour film of Tamil and South Indian cinema.", "snippet": "Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (அலிபாபாவும் நாற்பது திருடர்களும்), aka Alibaba and the Forty Thieves, is a 1956 Tamil fantasy swashbuckler by T. R. Sundaram's Modern Theatres, starring M. G. Ramachandran and P. Bhanumathi; the first full-length Gevacolor colour film of Tamil and South Indian cinema.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.tamil-films-before-2000.yr-1952-1991", "markdown": "# Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (அலிபாபாவும் நாற்பது திருடர்களும்)\n\n**Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum** (அலிபாபாவும் நாற்பது திருடர்களும்; transl. Alibaba and the Forty Thieves) is a 1956 Indian Tamil-language fantasy swashbuckler film directed and produced by T. R. Sundaram under his studio Modern Theatres, starring [M. G. Ramachandran](https://www.edgepedia.org/m-g-ramachandran) and P. Bhanumathi.[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/646/1956-alibabavum-40-thirudargalum) It is based on the story of [Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves](https://www.edgepedia.org/ali-baba-and-the-forty-thieves) from *One Thousand and One Nights*, and it is notable as the first full-length color film of [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema) and of South India as a whole.[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/646/1956-alibabavum-40-thirudargalum) • [8](https://www.sahapedia.org/parameswaran-and-avm-cine-lab-parallel-lives-man-and-machines)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | 14 January 1956, during the Pongal festival[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/646/1956-alibabavum-40-thirudargalum) |\n| Director / producer | T. R. Sundaram, for Modern Theatres[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/646/1956-alibabavum-40-thirudargalum) |\n| Colour milestone | First full-length color film in Tamil and in South India, shot in Gevacolor[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/646/1956-alibabavum-40-thirudargalum) • [8](https://www.sahapedia.org/parameswaran-and-avm-cine-lab-parallel-lives-man-and-machines) |\n| Source story | Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, from *One Thousand and One Nights*; second Tamil adaptation, after the 1941 film of the same name[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/646/1956-alibabavum-40-thirudargalum) |\n| Music | Susarla Dakshinamurthi, re-using many songs from the Hindi film *Alibaba Aur 40 Chor* (1954)[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/646/1956-alibabavum-40-thirudargalum) |\n| Principal cast | M. G. Ramachandran as Alibaba, P. Bhanumathi as Marjina, with K. Sarangapani, P. S. Veerappa, K. A. Thangavelu, M. N. Rajam, and M. G. Chakrapani[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/646/1956-alibabavum-40-thirudargalum) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317069/) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Story and source\n\nThe plot follows the Ali Baba tale: Alibaba, a poor woodcutter, chances upon treasure in a cave belonging to a band of forty thieves. His brother Kasim, who envies his fortune, learns the secret code, becomes trapped inside the cave, and faces the wrath of the thieves.[3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/alibabavum_40_thirudargalum) In this version Alibaba is presented as a swashbuckling hero rather than a harmless woodcutter, and the film ends with a climactic sword fight between the hero and the villain.[7](https://www.dtnext.in/city/2022/07/03/ali-baba-and-the-forty-thieves-the-first-colour-tamil-film)\n\nThe story of Ali Baba itself entered the *One Thousand and One Nights* collection in the 18th century through the French translator [Antoine Galland](https://www.edgepedia.org/antoine-galland), who heard it from a Syrian storyteller.[7](https://www.dtnext.in/city/2022/07/03/ali-baba-and-the-forty-thieves-the-first-colour-tamil-film) Tamil cinema had first filmed the tale in 1941, in a comedy version starring the comedian [N. S. Krishnan](https://www.edgepedia.org/n-s-krishnan); that film was not successful, and the alien Baghdad setting was said to have deterred other producers from returning to the story.[7](https://www.dtnext.in/city/2022/07/03/ali-baba-and-the-forty-thieves-the-first-colour-tamil-film)\n\n## Production\n\n**Origin of the remake.** After the Hindi film *Alibaba Aur 40 Chor* became a nationwide hit in the mid-1950s, T. R. Sundaram of Modern Theatres bought the Tamil rights to remake it.[7](https://www.dtnext.in/city/2022/07/03/ali-baba-and-the-forty-thieves-the-first-colour-tamil-film) Sundaram judged that the rising hero M. G. Ramachandran suited the title role; Ramachandran's brother M. G. Chakrapani played his sibling Kasim on screen.[7](https://www.dtnext.in/city/2022/07/03/ali-baba-and-the-forty-thieves-the-first-colour-tamil-film) For Ramachandran the film was the final picture of a three-film contract with Modern Theatres, following *Manthiri Kumari* (1950) and *Sarvadhikari* (1951).[6](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%8E%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D._%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BF._%E0%AE%86%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D._%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88_%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81)\n\n**Shooting in color.** Sundaram decided to shoot the film as the first full-length Tamil color feature, in Gevacolor, a color motion picture process introduced in 1947 by the Belgian company Gevaert; until then the practice in Tamil cinema had been to hand-color a song or a few sequences.[7](https://www.dtnext.in/city/2022/07/03/ali-baba-and-the-forty-thieves-the-first-colour-tamil-film) Baghdad was recreated on sets, and Arabian costumes were stitched for hundreds of extras.[7](https://www.dtnext.in/city/2022/07/03/ali-baba-and-the-forty-thieves-the-first-colour-tamil-film) The forty thieves rode horses lent by the Mysore Reserve Police; because the horses could not be moved out of the State of Mysore, two matching sets were erected, one in Mysore for the horseback shots and one in the Yercaud forests for the other scenes.[7](https://www.dtnext.in/city/2022/07/03/ali-baba-and-the-forty-thieves-the-first-colour-tamil-film)\n\n**A recorded disagreement on set.** In one dialogue Alibaba was required to swear in the name of Allah. Ramachandran, who had recently embraced the rationalist ideology of Dravidian politics, refused; Sundaram stood his ground and convinced him to deliver the lines as written.[7](https://www.dtnext.in/city/2022/07/03/ali-baba-and-the-forty-thieves-the-first-colour-tamil-film) A separate account states that Ramachandran wanted to change the film's climax but was overruled by the producer.[9](https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/106779/2/02whole.pdf)\n\n## Cast and crew\n\nM. G. Ramachandran played Alibaba and P. Bhanumathi played the slave girl Marjina (also rendered Marziana); K. Sarangapani played Dowlath, P. S. Veerappa the thief leader Abu Hussain, K. A. Thangavelu Gulam, M. G. Chakrapani Amir Kasim Khan, Vidyavathi Salima, M. N. Rajam Bulbul, and P. Sushila Ayisha.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317069/) Waheeda Rehman and the pair Sayee and Subbulakshmi appeared as dancers.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317069/) • [2](https://www.protamil.com/arts/tamil-films/1956/alibabavum-40-thirudargalum.html) Bhanumathi, then an actress of nearly two decades' standing, sang in her own voice.[7](https://www.dtnext.in/city/2022/07/03/ali-baba-and-the-forty-thieves-the-first-colour-tamil-film)\n\nBehind the camera, W. R. Subba Rao handled cinematography and L. Balu the editing, with A. Maruthakasi as lyricist.[4](https://indian-heritage.org/flmmusic/films/alibabavum40t_1956.html) The soundtrack was composed by Susarla Dakshinamurthi and re-used many songs from *Alibaba Aur 40 Chor*; singers included A. M. Raja, P. Bhanumathi, Ghantasala, S. C. Krishnan, Jikki, and K. Jamunarani.[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/646/1956-alibabavum-40-thirudargalum) • [4](https://indian-heritage.org/flmmusic/films/alibabavum40t_1956.html) Songs such as \"Maasila unmai kadhale\" remained popular, and the songs as a whole attained wide popularity after release.[4](https://indian-heritage.org/flmmusic/films/alibabavum40t_1956.html) • [1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/646/1956-alibabavum-40-thirudargalum)\n\n## Release and reception\n\nThe film was released on 14 January 1956, during Pongal, after a delay from a planned 12 January release.[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/646/1956-alibabavum-40-thirudargalum) It ran in theaters for more than 100 days and was a commercial success, a result attributed in large part to its status as the first full-length color film in [South India](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-india).[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/646/1956-alibabavum-40-thirudargalum)\n\nReported running times differ across databases: IMDb lists 160 minutes, Rotten Tomatoes 2 hours 26 minutes, and one film reference gives a range of 149 to 160 minutes.[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317069/) • [3](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/alibabavum_40_thirudargalum)\n\n## Later history and legacy\n\nThe film was later dubbed in Telugu as *Ali Baba 40 Dongalu*.[1](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/646/1956-alibabavum-40-thirudargalum)\n\nAs a technological marker, the film's release is cited as the point from which color films began to enter the Tamil market, with advertisements for [Technicolor](https://www.edgepedia.org/technicolor) and Eastmancolor productions appearing in film magazines thereafter.[10](https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstreams/4bbb430f-4b0b-41e2-b17c-5826b4236d3a/download) Gevacolor itself did not take over the South Indian market substantially; it was used mainly for partially colored sequences at Madras studios in the late 1950s and early 1960s, before Eastmancolor arrived in the early 1960s.[8](https://www.sahapedia.org/parameswaran-and-avm-cine-lab-parallel-lives-man-and-machines)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (1956), TamilMDb](https://www.tamilmdb.com/movie/646/1956-alibabavum-40-thirudargalum)\n2. [Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum, 1956 Year Tamil Films, ProTamil](https://www.protamil.com/arts/tamil-films/1956/alibabavum-40-thirudargalum.html)\n3. [Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/alibabavum_40_thirudargalum)\n4. [Old Thamizh film songs: Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (1956), Indian Heritage](https://indian-heritage.org/flmmusic/films/alibabavum40t_1956.html)\n5. [Alibabhavum Narpathu Thirudargalum (1956), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317069/)\n6. [எம். ஜி. ஆர். திரை வரலாறு, தமிழர்விக்கி](https://tamilar.wiki/w/%E0%AE%8E%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D._%E0%AE%9C%E0%AE%BF._%E0%AE%86%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D._%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%88_%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81)\n7. [Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves: The first colour Tamil film, DT Next (3 July 2022)](https://www.dtnext.in/city/2022/07/03/ali-baba-and-the-forty-thieves-the-first-colour-tamil-film)\n8. [Parameswaran and the AVM Cine Lab, Sahapedia](https://www.sahapedia.org/parameswaran-and-avm-cine-lab-parallel-lives-man-and-machines)\n9. [Cinematic Charisma as a Political Gateway in South India, University of Adelaide thesis](https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/106779/2/02whole.pdf)\n10. [Harvard DASH thesis on Tamil film fandom and colour cinema](https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstreams/4bbb430f-4b0b-41e2-b17c-5826b4236d3a/download)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Tamil films before 2000 › Released 1952 to 1991*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/alibabavum-40-thirudargalum", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/alibabavum-40-thirudargalum.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (அலிபாபாவும் நாற்பது திருடர்களும்)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/alibabavum-40-thirudargalum. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (அலிபாபாவும் நாற்பது திருடர்களும்)](https://www.edgepedia.org/alibabavum-40-thirudargalum)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/alibabavum-40-thirudargalum](https://www.edgepedia.org/alibabavum-40-thirudargalum). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (அலிபாபாவும் நாற்பது திருடர்களும்)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/alibabavum-40-thirudargalum. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum, aka Alibaba and the Forty Thieves, is a 1956 Tamil fantasy swashbuckler by T. R. Sundaram's Modern Theatres, starring M. G. Ramachandran and P." }