Mathar Kula Manikkam

Mathar Kula Manikkam (transl. A gem among women) is a 1956 Tamil-language Indian drama film, produced by A. Sankar Reddy under the Lalitha Films banner and directed by T. Prakash Rao. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi and Savitri in the lead roles, with music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. It is based on Rabindranath Tagore's 1906 novel Noukadubi. The screenplay and dialogue were written by V. Sadha Sivabrahmmam and C. V. Sridhar, respectively. The film was simultaneously made in Telugu under the title Charana Daasi, both versions were critical and commercial successes.

Mathar Kula Manikkam
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	T. Prakash Rao
Produced by	A. Shankar Reddy
Screenplay by	Vempati Sadasivabrahmam
Based on	Noukadubi by Rabindranath Tagore
Starring	Gemini Ganesan Anjali Devi Akkineni Nageswara Rao Savitri
Music by	S. Rajeswara Rao
Cinematography	P. L. Roy
Edited by	N. M. Shankar
Production company	Lalitha Films[1]
Distributed by	Vahini Studios
Release date	20 December 1956 (1956-12-20) [2]
Running time	197 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Plot

The film is based on two couples – where the first couple Dr. Chandra Shekar (Gemini Ganesan) & Parvathi (Anjali Devi) and the second couple is Ravi (A. Nageswara Rao) & Lakshmi (Savitri). Ravi & Lakshmi are happy lovers. Ravi is summoned and asked to marry another girl forcibly. Since his father's life and honor are at stake, Ravi agrees to the marriage. Simultaneously, another marriage takes place in the same village; Dr. Chandra Shekar visits his best friend's sister marriage, but the marriage cancels in the last moment due to dowry problems. To keep up his friend's prestige, Shekar marries his sister, Parvathi. Due to the sudden marriage, the couple hasn't seen each other. Thereby because marriage is happening without his wish, Ravi has also not seen the bride's face. Both the bridal parties are traveling on the same train, which meets with a disastrous accident. In the accident, Ravi's parents and wife are killed. Parvathi was lying unconscious in bridal dress and Ravi mistakes her as his wife and takes her to home. Shekar thinks that both his friend & wife are dead.

Before it is too late, Ravi realizes his terrible mistake. He keeps it secret from Parvathi and engaged himself in the relentless task of finding Parvathi's husband and restoring them. Before he could succeed, there arise clashes between him & Lakshmi because she mistakes Parvathi as Ravi's wife. Parvathi also comes to know the truth and fled from Ravi's house with shame and agony, She fells into a river and fate again intervened to be saved by her own mother-in-law and lands in her husband Shekar's house. Living in her in-law's she is not able to reveal her identity because of a hesitation that Shekar may doubt her virginity. Meanwhile, fate again struck; Lakshmi gets mentally sick because of the cheating done by Ravi and she is admitted in Shekar's hospital; only during the time of treatment Lakshmi, Shekar, and their families come closer. Their parents want to make the marriage. Parvathi also happily agrees to make remarriage to her husband. During the time of the engagement, Ravi arrives and reveals the entire truth. Shekar also accepts Parvathi wholeheartedly and both of them thank Ravi. Lakshmi also says sorry to him. Finally, the movie ends on a happy note with the marriage of Ravi & Lakshmi.

Cast

Cast according to the opening credit of the film

Male cast Gemini Ganesan as Chandrasekar A. Nageswara Rao as Ravi S. V. Ranga Rao K. A. Thangavelu D. Balasubramaniam K. Sarangapani Kaka Radhakrishnan Friend Ramasami Balaji C. V. V. Panthulu M. A. Ganapathi Bhat M. S. Natarajan K. M. S. Mani

Female cast Anjali Devi as Parvathi Savithri as Lakshmi P. Kannamba M. N. Rajam K. R. Chellam S. D. Subbulakshmi Dance Kamala Lakshmanan Ragini Rita

Production

The film is based on Rabindranath Tagore's novel, The Wreck. The director T. Prakash Rao chose to replace the boat crash sequence in the novel with a train accident in the film, inspired by a real event that took place near Ariyalur.[3] C. V. Sridhar, then an up-and-coming writer, was recruited as the dialogue writer.[1] The film was shot simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu languages, with the Telugu version titled Charana Daasi.[3] Mathar Kula Manikkam remained the only Tamil film in which Anjali Devi and Savitri co-starred.[4]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by S. Rajeswara Rao and lyrics were written by Udumalai Narayana Kavi, Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass and A. Maruthakasi. Playback singers are Ghantasala, T. M. Soundararajan, Thiruchi Loganathan, V. N. Sundharam, P. Susheela, A. P. Komala, Jikki, T. V. Rathinam, G. Kasthoori, Vaidheki and P. Leela.[5]

No	Songs	Singers	Lyrics	Length
1	Anbe Enthan Vaazhvil	Ghantasala & P. Leela	Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass	02:13
2	Malaiyae Asainthalum	T. M. Soundararajan		04:01
3	Ye Manitha			04:13
4	Boologamada Idhu Boologamada			04:10
5	Payaname Kadduvom	Tiruchi Loganathan		04:03
6	Naalum Nalla Naalu	Tiruchi Loganathan & A. P. Komala		07:12
7	Thean Idhazh Meley	Jikki		03:12
8	Enkke Tharamaadi	V. N. Sundharam		02:15
9	Yennintha Jaalamada	P. Leela		03:48
10	Sri Lalitha Dhayabhariyae			03:36
11	Maasatru Uyarntha Maragathame	Vaidheki		03:14
12	Denjaru Aiyaa Denjaru	T. V. Rathinam & G. Kasthoori	Udumalai Narayana Kavi	04:50
13	Isaiyarase Kala Nidhiye	P. Suseela	A. Maruthakasi	09:16
14	Kaadhalin Jothi Idhe			04:08
15	Inai Yedumillaa	Ghantasala & P. Susheela

Release

Mathar Kula Manikkam and Charanadasi, the Tamil and Telugu versions respectively, were released the same year and were box-office successes.[3] The former helped Gemini Ganesan and Anjali Devi establish a career in Tamil cinema.[4][6]

References

1. "Matharkula Manikkam". Swatantra. Vol. 11. 1956. p. 48.
2. "Mathar Kula Manikkam". The Indian Express. 20 December 1956. p. 1.
3. Guy, Randor (20 October 2012). "Blast from the Past – Mathar Kula Manikkam 1956". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
4. தீனதயாளன், ப. (13 February 2016). "அஞ்சலி தேவி: 2. எங்கெங்கு காணினும்...!". Dinamani (in Tamil). Retrieved 21 July 2016.
5. G. Neelamegam. Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil). Manivasagar Publishers, Chennai 108 (Ph:044 25361039). First edition December 2014. p. 114 — 115.
6. Film World. T.M. Ramachandran. 1964. p. 145.