Manithan Maravillai
Theatrical release poster
Directed byChakrapani
Screenplay byChakrapani
Produced byNagi Reddi
Chakrapani
StarringGemini Ganesan
Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Savitri
Jamuna
CinematographyMarcus Bartley
Edited byG. Kalyana Sundaram
D. G. Jayaraman
Music byGhantasala
Production
company
Distributed byVijaya Productions
Release date
8 June 1962
Running time
166 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Manithan Maravillai (transl. Man has not changed) is a 1962 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film written, co-produced and directed by Chakrapani and produced by Nagi Reddi under Vijaya Productions. It is a remake of the Telugu film Gundamma Katha, which itself is based on the 1958 Kannada film Mane Thumbida Hennu.

The film starred Gemini Ganesan, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Savitri and Jamuna, with Sundari Bai, S. V. Ranga Rao, K. Sarangapani, L. Vijayalakshmi, Lakshmi Prabha Raja and T. K. Ramachandran in supporting roles. It revolves around the story of a proud mother, Subbamma, and the way she handles her two sons-in-law. Manithan Maravillai was released on 8 June 1962.

Plot

Subbamma (Sundari Bai) is a wealthy widow with a daughter, Saroja (Jamuna); a son, Prabhakar (Raja), and a stepdaughter, Lakshmi (Savitri). Although the girls are beautiful and intelligent, Saroja is spoiled and Lakshmi is treated like a servant. Chithambaranar (S.V. Ranga Rao), a good friend of Subbamma's late husband with two sons, is searching for suitable brides. Subbamma is interested in Chithambaranar's son for Saroja, and sends word through an intermediary. She wants to marry Lakshmi off to just anyone to avoid accusations of neglecting her stepdaughter. Kuppusamy (K. Sarangapani), Subbamma's brother, wants Saroja to marry his son Boopathy (T. K. Ramachandran)—who is in prison.

Chithambaranar and his sons, aware of Subbamma's greed and her treatment of her daughters, teach her a lesson. After deciding that Lakshmi will make a suitable match for his older son Panjacharam (Gemini Ganesan) and Saroja for his second son Raja (Akkineni Nageswara Rao), Chithambaram asks his sons to play roles. Panjacharam enters Subbamma's house as Panji, a homeless servant who wins her heart (and a job). Raja—with the aid of his cousin, Padma (L. Vijayalakshmi)—enters as Prabhakar, woos her and wins her heart. Panji, with his humility and wit, wins Lakshmi's heart and asks Subbamma for her daughter's hand in marriage. Subbamma agrees, and Panji marries Lakshmi.

Subbamma is impressed by Prabhakar for Saroja, and plans for the wedding. She receives a letter from Chithambaram that he is no longer interested in the alliance because Subbamma allegedly poisoned her husband, but Saroja wants to marry Prabhakar. Subbamma obliges, after Panji convinces her that a son-in-law in her home will be no problem and she can enjoy the company of her beloved daughter even after her marriage. After Saroja's marriage, Prabhakar (Raja) is fascinated by Padma and wants to marry her instead; Panji convinces Subbamma. Subbamma and Saroja soon realise that Prabhakar is a drunkard and a thief, and Subbamma opposes his marriage to Padma (which happens anyway).

Prabhakar intensifies his acting as a drunkard, and pretends that he is not Chithambaram's son but a vagabond who is wanted for theft. As Subbamma's problems accumulate, Padma's paternal Aunt Kaveri (Lakshmi Prabha) appears. Prabhakar leaves Saroja and writes, asking her to join him. Saroja obliges, and leaves Subbamma's house against her wishes. Kuppusamy's son Boopathy, just released from prison, torments Subbamma. Without Prabhakar, Subbamma is confined to her outhouse by Padma's boisterous aunt and Kuppusmay's prison-educated son. Panji also leaves the house with Lakshmi, installing her in Chithambaram's bungalow as mistress of the house and his daughter-in-law. Living a better life, she is still concerned about Subbamma and Saroja. Saroja is introduced as a gardener by Prabhakar, and is treated like a servant by Chithambaram. Saroja's conceit and arrogance evaporate, changing her personality, and Subbamma is humbled by the chaos. Lakshmi visits the despairing Subbamma, evicts Kaveri and Boopathy with Panji's help and brings Subbamma to Chithambaram's house. Saroja leaves Chithambaram's house and encounters Lakshmi, who tells her that they are Chithambaram's daughters-in-law; Prabhakar's drunkenness and theft were an act by his sons (now their husbands). Subbamma, happy to see them both married into a good family, continues to live with Chithambaram's family.

Cast

Production

Manithan Maravillai is a remake of the Telugu film Gundamma Katha, itself based on the Kannada film Mane Thumbida Hennu (1958).[1] The screenplay was written by Chakrapani, who also co-produced the film with Nagi Reddi under Vijaya Productions;[2] Chakrapani and Reddi also produced the Telugu original.[3] Akkineni Nageswara Rao, who appeared as one of the male leads in Gundamma Katha, reprised his role in Manithan Maravillai, which was his 100th film as an actor,[4] while Gemini Ganesan was cast as the other male lead, reprising the role originally played by N. T. Rama Rao. Cinematography was handled by Marcus Bartley.[1]

Release and reception

Manithan Maravillai was released on 8 June 1962.[2] The Indian Express lauded the film, particularly Chakrapani's screenplay and direction, and the performances of Ganesan, Nageswara Rao, Savitri and Jamuna.[5] Despite that, it failed commercially.[6]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by Ghantasala and the lyrics were written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass and Kannadasan.[7]

SongSingerLyricsLength (m:ss)
"Om Sarvam Sakthi Mayam Paaru"Seerkazhi GovindarajanThanjai N. Ramaiah Dass2:34
"Kanmaniye Un Idhaya"K. P. Udayabhanu2:38
"Thendral Paadavum"P. Susheela3:30
"Thendral Paadavum" - 23:10
"Podu Podu Thekka Podu"Seerkazhi Govindarajan, P. Susheela,
P. Leela & Ghantasala		3:01
"Inbamaana Iravidhuve"A. L. Raghavan & P. Susheela3:03
"Kadhal Yathiraikku"3:10
"Kaalathai Maatrinaan"Seerkazhi Govindarajan & P. LeelaKannadasan2:56
"Kurumbinilum Oru"P. Susheela3:09

References

  1. 1 2 Narasimham, M. L. (1 December 2016). "Gundamma Katha (1962)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Manithan Maravillai". The Indian Express. 8 June 1962. p. 12. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  3. ↑ Chakravarthy, Vattikuti (3 June 2012). యాభై వసంతాల గుండమ్మ కథ [Fifty Years of Gundamma Katha] (in Telugu). Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2018. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. ↑ "Southscope July 2010 – side A". South Scope. July 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  5. ↑ "Manithan Maravillai". The Indian Express. 15 June 1962. p. 3. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  6. ↑ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema. British Film Institute and Oxford University Press. p. 372. ISBN 019-563579-5.
  7. ↑ Neelamegam, G. (2016). Thiraikalanjiyam – Part 2 (in Tamil). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 89.
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