Manithan Maravillai

Manithan Maravillai
Poster
Directed by Aluri Chakrapani
Produced by B. Nagireddy
Chakrapani
Based on Gundamma Katha and Mana Thumbida Hennu
Starring Gemini Ganesan
Savitri
Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Jamuna
Sundari Bai
S. V. Ranga Rao
Music by Ghantasala
Cinematography Marcus Bartley
Edited by G. Kalyana Sundaram
D. G. Jayaraman
Production
company
Distributed by Vijaya Productions
Release date
 8 June 1962[1]
Running time
 166 Mins
Country India
Language Tamil

Manithan Maravillai (English: Man has not changed) is a 1962 Tamil-language comedy-drama film written, co-produced and directed by Aluri Chakrapani and produced by B. Nagireddy under Vijaya Productions. The film's dialogues were written by Thanjai Ramaihadass and the film's music was composed by Ghantasala. The film revolves around the story of a proud mother, Subbamma, and the way she handles her two sons-in-law. The film starred Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Jamuna and Sundari Bai in lead roles along with S. V. Ranga Rao, K. Sarangapani, L. Vijayalakshmi, Lakshmi Prabha Raja and T. K. Ramachandran portraying supporting roles.[2] The film was a remake of Telugu film Gundamma Katha which itself was a remake of Kannada film Mana Thumbida Hennu.[3]

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

Crew

  • Director = Chakrapani
  • Producer = B. Nagireddy and Chakrapani
  • Script = Chakrapani and Thanjai Ramaiahdass
  • Music = Ghantasala
  • Art = Kokkale and Kaalandhar
  • Processing = N. C. Sen Gupta (Vijaya Lab)
  • Publicity = K. Nageswara Rao
  • Audiography = A. Krishnan
  • Re – recording = V. Sivaram
  • Recording = Westrex Electronic Sound System
  • Special Effects = Harbans Singh
  • Choreography = Pasumarthi Krishnamoorthy.[4]

Reception

The film Gundamma Katha is partially inspired by Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Gundamma Katha film has received the Filmfare Award for Best Film – Telugu.[5] The film was remade in same year for Tamil audiences as Manithan Maravillai. Gemini Ganesan replace N. T. Rama Rao in the Tamil version. The Producer Chakrapani credited with direction of the Tamil version of Gundamma Katha as Manithan Maravillai tasted failure unlike the stupendous success of the original Telugu version. Gundamma Katha is regarded as the last film of Vijaya Golden Age.[3]

The film Gundamma Katha was a blockbuster hit and the first to complete 100 days in Hyderabad in 1962. Gundamma Katha was N. T. Rama Rao 100th film and Akkineni Nageswara Rao's 99th film. In the same year the film remade in Tamil as Manithan Maravillai which had Gemini Ganesan and Akkineni Nageswara Rao played in lead roles and happened to be Akkineni Nageswara Rao's 100th film. A Sheer coincidence that both NTR and ANR completed their steark of 100th film with two version of the same film.[6]

Soundtrack

Manithan Maravillai
Soundtrack album by Ghantasala
Released 1962
Recorded 1962
Genre Sareegama
Length 26:31
Language Tamil
Producer Ghantasala

Music composed by Ghantasala and lyrics written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass and Kannadasan. Playback singers are Seerkazhi Govindarajan, A. L. Raghavan, Ghantasala, K. P. Udayabhanu, P. Suseela & P. Leela.[7]

NoSongSingerLyricsLength(m:ss)
1Om Sarvam Sakthi Mayam PaaruSeerkazhi GovindarajanThanjai N. Ramaiah Dass2:34
2Kanmaniye Un IdhayaK. P. Udayabhanu2:38
3Thendral PaadavumP. Suseela3:30
4Thendral Paadavum-23:10
5Podu Podu Thekka PoduSeerkazhi Govindarajan, P. Suseela,
P. Leela & Ghantasala		3:01
6Inbamaana IravidhuveA. L. Raghavan & P. Suseela3:03
7Kadhal Yathiraikku3:10
8Kaalathai MaatrinaanSeerkazhi Govindarajan & P. LeelaKannadasan2:56
9Kurumbinilum OruP. Suseela3:09

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Manithan Maravillai". The Indian Express. 8 June 1962. p. 12.
  2. ↑ "manithan maravillai". In.com India. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "manithan maravillai". filmibeat. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  5. ↑ The Times of India directory and year book including who's who. Time of India Press. 1984
  6. ↑ "Southscope July 2010 – side A". South Scope. July 2010.
  7. ↑ G. Neelamegam. Thiraikalanjiyam – Part 2 (in Tamil). Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108 (Ph:044 25361039). First edition November 2016. p. 89.
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