Manamagan Thevai

Manamagan Thevai
Theatrical release poster
Directed byP. S. Ramakrishna Rao
Screenplay byP. S. Ramakrishna Rao
Based onThe Fabulous Senorita
Produced byP. S. Ramakrishna Rao
StarringSivaji Ganesan
Bhanumathi
Edited byM. Sundaram[1]
Music byG. Ramanathan
Production
company
Distributed bySubbu & Co.[2]
Release date
  • 17 May 1957 (1957-05-17)
CountryIndia
LanguagesTamil
Telugu

Manamagan Thevai (transl. Bridegroom Wanted) is a 1957 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film produced and directed by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Bhanumathi. Based on the American film The Fabulous Senorita (1952), it was simultaneously produced in Telugu as Varudu Kaavaali with Jaggayya replacing Ganesan. Manamagan Thevai was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.

Plot

Bhanumathi, the daughter of a wealthy man, desires to marry a shy professor named Vijayakumar instead of the wealthy suitor her father chose. To escape from trouble, she creates the fake identity of a twin sister, and in the hodgepodge that ensues, ends up in bigger trouble.

Cast

Production

Manamagan Thevai was based on the American film The Fabulous Senorita (1952).[3][4] It was produced by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao and his wife Bhanumathi under their company Bharani Pictures. Rao also served as director, while Bhanumathi played the female lead. The film was produced as a Tamil-Telugu bilingual (the Telugu version titled as Varudu Kaavaali), with Sivaji Ganesan playing the male lead in Tamil, and Jaggayya replacing him in Telugu.[5] Devika was cast on Bhanumathi's recommendation,[6] and was credited as Premila.[5]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by G. Ramanathan.[7] A carnatic Kriti composed by Ghanam Krishna Iyer in the raga Bhairavi was used in the film, sung by Bhanumathi.[8] The song "Pambara Kannale" belongs to Baila, a Sri Lankan musical genre.[9] It was later sampled in the song "En Peru Meenakumari", composed by Devi Sri Prasad for Kanthaswamy (2009).[10][11]

Song Singers Lyrics Length
"Yengo Kulukku Thalukku Thavalaiyaa" P. Bhanumathi A. Maruthakasi 02:33
"Pambara Kannaale Kaadhal Sangadhi Sonnaale" J. P. Chandrababu K. D. Santhanam 03:18
"Krishna Nee Begane Maaro.... Malaharaa Verengum Palaa" P. Bhanumathi 2:02
"Kodai Idi Kaatru" A. M. Rajah & Jikki A. Maruthakasi 03:10
"Velavare Ummai Thedi Oru Madandhai" P. Bhanumathi Ghanam Krishna Iyer 03:00
"Vennilaa Jodhiyai Veesudhe" P. Bhanumathi, Ghantasala & Pithapuram Nageswara Rao A. Maruthakasi 04:49
"Nenjinile Pugundhu" P. Bhanumathi 03:33
"Nan Thaan Un Kaadhalan" Seerkazhi Govindarajan & P. Bhanumathi 00:56
"Pottaare Oru Podudhaan" A. P. Komala, A. G. Rathnamala & K. Jamuna Rani 01:54
"Poovaamal Kaayaadhu.... Kaadhal Kalyaaname Seidha Paappaa" P. Leela Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass 04:23
"Vanthaal Varattum Podi" M. L. Vasanthakumari A. Maruthakasi 3:07

Reception

Manamagan Thevai was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.[5]

References

  1. ^ "31-40". nadigarthilagam.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  2. ^ "மனமகன் தேவை". Kalki (in Tamil). 19 May 1957. p. 2. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  3. ^ காந்தன் (9 June 1957). "மனமகன் தேவை". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 49. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  4. ^ Guy, Randor (2 October 2009). "A voice that mesmerised". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Guy, Randor (30 March 2017). "Manamagan Thevai (1957)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  6. ^ மாதவன், பிரதீப் (12 September 2014). "அன்று வந்ததும் அதே நிலா: தேவிகா - நடிப்புச் சுமைதாங்கி". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  7. ^ Neelamegam, G. (December 2014). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil) (1st ed.). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. pp. 131–132.
  8. ^ "Song: vElavarE umai tEDi". karnatik.com. Archived from the original on 1 May 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  9. ^ Vamanan (6 February 2018). "His Surangani ferried Baila tunes from Lankan shores". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Item girl turns heroine!". The Times of India. 15 December 2008. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Kanthaswamy's music is not Devi Sri Prasad's best". Rediff.com. 3 June 2009. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 26 September 2020.