It was staged all over the Tamil-speaking areas of the Madras Presidency and also in neighbouring countries like Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Malaya (now Singapore and Malaysia) and Burma (now Myanmar).

The play's title was an allegorical reference to the Indian freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai, who was popularly known as Punjab Kesari (lit.

[3] The film's opening song was the Bankim Chandra Chatterjee-written "Vande Mataram", which urged Tamil people to participate in the Indian independence movement.

Another song used in the film was the Tyagaraja composition "Tholi Nenu Chesina Pooja Palamu", with vocals the by lead actress A. K.

[1] Film historian Randor Guy praised the performances of the cast and the storyline, though he felt it was "somewhat predictable".