Maalaiyitta Mangai (transl. The woman who garlanded) is a 1958 Indian Tamil-language film directed by G. R. Nathan and produced by Kannadasan under his own production company Kannadasan Films.[2] The film's soundtrack was composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. The film stars T. R. Mahalingam, Pandari Bai and Mynavathi, with Manorama (in her acting debut), Kaka Radhakrishnan and C. Lakshmi Rajyam in supporting roles. It is based on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's novel Chandra Nath. The film was released on 27 June 1958 and became a success.[3][4]
| Maalaiyitta Mangai | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | G. R. Nathan |
| Screenplay by | Kannadasan |
| Based on | Chandra Natha by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay |
| Produced by | Kannadasan |
| Starring | T. R. Mahalingam Pandari Bai Mynavathi |
| Cinematography | G. R. Nathan |
| Music by | Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy |
Production company | Kannadasan Films |
| Distributed by | ALS Productions[1] |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
editThis article needs an improved plot summary. (September 2022) |
Chandru studies in London and returns to Trichy. He lives with his aunt, Alankari and uncle and their daughter Kamalam. Kamalam is in love with Chandru but Chandru doesn't reciprocate it. Chandru goes to Madras to meet his friends family. There, he meets Sarasu and they fall in love. Sarasu is from a poor family. They both get married and he brings her to Trichy. Kamalam hates Sarasu in the beginning but when Sarasu is ready to give up her husband for Kamalam, she realises Sarasu's generous and gentle nature and they both become close. Sarasu gets pregnant and during the bangle ceremony, Alankari gets a picture of Sarasu's mother, Chellam and tells everyone that Chellam became pregnant after her husband went to jail and she is characterless. Chandru's mind changes and he makes Sarasu leave the house to uphold his family values. Sarasu comes to Madras and finds that her mother is dead and her father is in jail again. She finds a letter written by her mother which says she got pregnant by her father who used to escape from jail and meet her at night and that they both run away to Madras. This letter proves her mother's character. Sarasu delivers a boy and Kamalam's marriage arrangements are made with Chandru. Kamalam chastises Chandru for throwing the pregnant Sarasu out and says he will be a man only if he brings her back. Chandru realises his mistake and goes to apologise to Sarasu. He meets with an accident and Sarasu donates her blood and nurses him back to health. Sarasu becomes weak and on her death bed unites Chandru and Kamalam and dies.
Cast
edit- T. R. Mahalingam as Chandru
- Pandari Bai as Sarasu
- Mynavathi as Kamalam
- Manorama as Anjalai
- Kaka Radhakrishnan as Sudalai
- C. Lakshmi Rajyam
- Padmini Priyadarshini
- C. K. Saraswathi as Alankari
Production
editMaalaiyitta Mangai is an adaptation of the novel Chandra Nath by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay.[5] The film marked the acting debut of Manorama.[6][7] In an interview, she recalled that it was Kannadasan who insisted her to perform the comical role for the film as portraying such characters would cement her status in the industry.[8]
Soundtrack
editMusic was composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and all lyrics were written by Kannadasan.[9] According to Scroll.in writer Sruthisagar Yamunan, the song "Engal Dravida Ponnade" was a "direct challenge to the Congress party's version of nationalism".[10] Kannadasan wrote the song with Mahalingam singing, as a challenge in response to actor/politician M. G. Ramachandran's prediction that the film would fail because of his belief that Mahalingam would not be accepted as a lead actor by party cadres.[11] The song "Naan Andri Yaar Arivaar" is set to the raga Abhogi,[12] and "Sentamizh Thenmozhiyal" is set to Kapi.[13]
| Songs | Singers | Length |
|---|---|---|
| "Sendhamizh Thenmozhiyaal" | T. R. Mahalingam | 04:26 |
| "Engal Dravida Ponnade" | T. R. Mahalingam | 03:25 |
| "Naan Indri Yaar Vaaruvaar" | T. R. Mahalingam & A. P. Komala | 03:28 |
| "Sendhamizh Thenmozhiyaal" | K. Jamuna Rani | 04:48 |
| "Ammaa Unnai Kondu Vanatthile" | V. N. Sundaram | 01:05 |
| "Akkarai Cheemaikku Pona Macchaan" | Seerkazhi Govindarajan & K. Jamuna Rani | 04:10 |
| "Maalayitta Mana Mudichu" | K. Jamuna Rani | 03:28 |
| "Mazhai Kooda Oru Naalil" | M. S. Rajeswari | 03:43 |
| "Illaram Onre Nallaram" | P. Suseela | 04:11 |
| "Saattai Illaa Pambarampol" | Thiruchi Loganathan & M. S. Rajeswari dialogues by Pandari Bai |
04:06 |
| "Thingal Mudi Soodum Malai" | T. R. Mahalingam | 02:22 |
| "Inaadum Immozhiyum.... Vetri Thrunaade" | A. P. Komala | 02:26 |
| "Annaiyin Naattai Pagaivargal" | T. S. Bagavathi | 02:12 |
| "Vil Enge Kanai Enge" | Seerkazhi Govindarajan | 02:04 |
| "Annam Pola Pennirukku" | P. Suseela | 03:26 |
Reception
editThis section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (March 2024) |
References
edit- ^ "Malaiyitta Mangai". The Indian Express. 4 July 1958. p. 3. Retrieved 18 September 2022 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "1958 – மாலையிட்ட மங்கை – கண்ணதாசன் பிலிம்ஸ்" [1958 – Maalaiyitta Mangai – Kannadasan Films]. Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 7 December 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "Malaiyitta Mangai". The Indian Express. 27 June 1958. p. 3. Retrieved 10 July 2018 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ Sri Kantha, Sachi (3 November 2014). "MGR Remembered – Part 22 | Sibling Rivalry and Siblicide in DMK of 1950s". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Vamanan (23 April 2018). "Tamil cinema's bong connection". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ "50 years of Manorama". The Hindu. 30 June 2008. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Sadhanandan, Smitha (30 September 2002). "Having the last laugh". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 March 2003. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
- ^ Balachandran, Logesh (24 September 2015). "It's only because of Kalai Thaai that I'm still alive: Manorama". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 9 September 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ "Maalaiyitta Mangai (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Yamunan, Sruthisagar (10 May 2018). "Tamil Nadu minister Jayakumar's threat to the 'Kaala' soundtrack betrays his ignorance of history". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Sri Kantha, Sachi (17 October 2011). "Kannadasan's Minor Book(let) on MGR | Random Notes". Ilankai Tamil Sangam. Archived from the original on 4 January 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Mani, Charulatha (2 March 2012). "A Raga's Journey – Arresting Abhogi". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ Mani, Charulatha (7 December 2012). "Notes that intrigue". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ காந்தன் (20 July 1958). "மாலையிட்ட மங்கை". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 50–51. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2022 – via Internet Archive.
