Velaikaari

Velaikaari வேலைக்காரி
Theatrical Release Poster
Directed by	A. S. A. Sami
Produced by	M. Somasundaram
Written by	C. N. Annadurai
Starring	K. R. Ramasamy T. S. Balaiya Janaki Ramachandran M. N. Nambiar S. A. Natarajan M. V. Rajamma
Music by	C. R. Subburaman S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Cinematography	Masthan
Edited by	D. Durairaj
Production company	Jupiter Pictures
Distributed by	Jupiter Pictures
Release date	25 February 1949
Running time	180 min. (16,744 Feet)
Language	Tamil

Velaikaari (தமிழ்: வேலைக்காரி, English: The Maid) is a 1949 Indian Tamil drama film was directed by A. S. A. Sami and produced by M. Somasundaram under his production Jupiter Pictures. It was based on the play of the same name written by C. N. Annadurai (later chief minister of Tamil Nadu). This was the second film to be based on Annadurai's plays. The film script were written by C. N. Annadurai. Music by C. R. Subburaman and S. M. Subbaiah Naidu assets to the film. It stars K. R. Ramasamy, M. N. Nambiar V. N. Janaki and M. V. Rajamma played lead with D. Balasubramaniam and T. S. Balaiah played pivotal role.

Velaikaari was a socially themed story based on class conflicts and a critique of existing social customs. The hero's (K. R. Ramasamy) father commits suicide unable to repay his debts to the local landlord. The hero swears revenge. After earning wealth, he returns to avenge his father's death. He finds a dead body which looks like him in the woods and impersonates the dead man. He marries the landlord's daughter and ill treats her. He forces the landlord to realise his mistakes and repent.

Velaikkaari a trend setter in Tamil Cinema and a watershed film in its history, not only created a sensation, but also changed the course of Tamil cinema, laying the pathway for many consequences which affected the political history of Tamil Nadu. The phenomenal success of this film gave birth to a new concept, the emergence of the writer as the star of the movie, 'the name above the title', a distinctive and special feature of Tamil Cinema not seen elsewhere in the world. Velaikkaari was a stage play written by C. N. Annadurai for his friends K. R. Ramasamy and S. V. Sahasranamam. Due to differences with Sahasranamam, Ramasamy formed his own troupe, Krishna Nadaga Sabha. Anna gave this script to Ramasamy, who was closer to him. The play was a huge success and Jupiter Pictures Somasundaram acquired the rights to make it as a film. He engaged Anna to write the film script. The producer went with Anna's choice of A. S. A. Sami who had directed hits like Rajakumaari (1947) as director and also offered the lead role to K. R. Ramasamy.