Manithan (1953 film)

Manithan (transl. The Man) is a 1953 Indian Tamil-language film directed by K. Ramnoth.[1] The film stars T. K. Shanmugam, T. K. Bhagavathi and Krishnakumari. It is based on the play Manushyan.

Manithan
Directed by	K. Ramnoth
Screenplay by	Pa. Adhimoolam Na. Somasundaram
Based on	Manushyan by Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai[1]
Starring	T. K. Shanmugam T. K. Bhagavathi Krishnakumari Madhuri Devi
Music by	S. V. Venkatraman
Production company	Jupiter Pictures Lavanya Movies
Distributed by	Jupiter Pictures
Release date	17 April 1953 (1953-04-17) (India) [2]
Running time	174 mins. (15727 ft.)
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Plot

A young wife lives with her husbands joint family. Her husband is a doctor serving in the army and he is away from home. The family gives accommodation to an artist in their house. The artist seduces the young wife and she becomes pregnant. He is chased out of the home and he goes to Bombay. He becomes involved in a car accident. The young wife's husband, the army doctor, is the driver of the car. He takes the artist to a hospital. The artist tells his story to the doctor without knowing that the same doctor is the husband of the woman he molested. The doctor comes to know the truth. What happens afterwards forms the rest of the story.[3]

Cast

List adapted from the database of Film News Anandan[2] and from the Hindu review article.[3]

Male cast T. K. Shanmugam T. K. Bhagavathi S. A. Natarajan C. V. V. Panthulu M. S. Karuppaiah K. Ramasami

Female cast Krishnakumari Madhuri Devi Pandari Bai Dance Ragini Kumari Kamala

Production

Manithan is based on the play Manushyan by Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai.[1] The film adaptation was produced as a joint venture by Jupiter Pictures and Lavanya Movies owned by S. K. Sundararama Iyer and was directed by K. Ramnoth. Art direction was by A. K. Sekar. The film was shot at Neptune Studios that was leased by Jupiter Pictures.[3][2]

Soundtrack

Music was composed by S. V. Venkatraman while the lyrics were penned by Kanagasurabhi. Playback singers are S. V. Venkatraman, Thiruchi Loganathan, P. Leela, Jikki, T. V. Rathinam, M. S. Rajeswari and M. L. Vasanthakumari.[4]

No.	Song	Singer/s	Duration (m:ss)
1	Kaasirundhaal Kai Maele	P. Leela	03:19
2	Meesai Naraichavan Pendaatti .. Naanaa Kizhavan	T. V. Rathinam	03:04
3	Kuyile Unakanandha Kodi Namaskaaram	M. L. Vasanthakumari	02:53
4	Pongi Varum Muzhu Madhiyai .. Karpanai Ellaam..	Thiruchi Loganathan	02:48
5	Kaalamellaam Thanimaiyile
6	Penne Ulagin Kanne	M. S. Rajeswari	02:40
7	Ulagamellaam Nee Odi

Reception

The Hindu wrote, "The film keeps close to the stage version ... The changes makes are in consonance with the demands of the screen and are a demonstration of how film adaptation[s] should be made."[5] The film did not fare well at the box office. However, it is remembered for the performance by Shanmugam, Bhagavathi and Krishnakumari and also for the skillful direction of Ramnoth.[3]

References

1. Ashish Rajadhyaksha & Paul Willemen. Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 1998. pp. 178 & 617.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
2. Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 23 June 2017.
3. Guy, Randor (9 March 2013). "Manithan 1953". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 September 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
4. G. Neelamegam. Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil). Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108 (Ph:044 25361039). First edition December 2014. p. 58.
5. "Press acclaims!". The Indian Express. 2 May 1953. p. 1.

External links

• Manithan on IMDb