Jeevitha Nouka

Jeevitha Nouka
Advertisement of the Malayalam version
Directed byK. Vembu
Written byMuthukulam Raghavan Pillai
Story byK&K Productions
Produced byK. V. Koshi
Kunchako
StarringThikkurissy Sukumaran Nair
B. S. Saroja
Adhimoolam
Pankajavalli
S.P.Pillai
Nanukuttan
CinematographyP. B. Mani
Edited byS. Williams
Music byV. Dakshinamoorthy
Production
company
Release date
  • 15 March 1951 (1951-03-15)
Running time
170 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam
Budget 20,000 (approx:₹704447.82)

Jeevitha Nouka (transl.The Lifeboat) is a 1951 Indian Malayalam-language film directed by K. Vembu and jointly produced by K. V. Koshi and Kunchako. It was the first "blockbuster cinema" in Malayalam cinema, with a theatrical run of 284 days. Made at a budget of 20,000, it was a commercial success at the box office, such that very few cinemas could surpass it later. It was simultaneously shot in Tamil and Telugu, and was dubbed and released in Hindi. This cinema portrayed the life of simple folk in a small village in Kerala. It stars Thikkurissy Sukumaran Nair and B. S. Saroja, with the latter making her debut and the former in his first major role. Its music is composed by V. Dakshinamoorthy and popular playback singer Mehboob debuted through this cinema. It is a remake of the Hindi cinema Jeevan Naiya with revised screenplay.

The Tamil version, titled Pichaikkaari (transl.The Lady Beggar), was released on 18 May 1951. Vidwan P. Adhimoolan wrote the dialogues and lyrics. The song "Vanaraniye enthan manaraniye", sung by Thiruchi Loganathan and P. Leela, was popular.