Manithan (1953 film) explained

Manithan
Director:K. Ramnoth
Screenplay:Pa. Adhimoolam
Na. Somasundaram
Starring:T. K. Shanmugam
T. K. Bhagavathi
Krishnakumari
Madhuri Devi
Music:S. V. Venkatraman
Studio:Jupiter Pictures
Lavanya Movies
Runtime:174 minutes
Country:India
Language:Tamil

Manithan is a 1953 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by K. Ramnoth. The film stars T. K. Shanmugam, T. K. Bhagavathi and Krishnakumari. It is based on the play Manushyan by Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai. The film was released on 13 April 1987.[1]

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 discovers the truth. What happens afterwards forms the rest of the story.[2]

Cast

List adapted from the database of Film News Anandan and from the Hindu review article.

Male cast
Female cast
Dance

Production

Manithan is based on the Malayalam play Manushyan by Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai. When it was staged in Tamil by the TKS Brothers, the title was changed to Manithan. 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.

Soundtrack

Music was composed by S. V. Venkatraman while the lyrics were penned by Kanagasurabhi.[3]

Song Singer/s Length
"Kaasirundhaal Kai Maele" P. Leela 03:19
"Meesai Naraichavan Pendaatti...Naanaa Kizhavan" T. V. Rathnam 03:04
"Kuyile Unakanandha Kodi Namaskaaram" M. L. Vasanthakumari 02:53
"Pongi Varum Muzhu Madhiyai...Karpanai Ellaam.." Thiruchi Loganathan 02:48
"Kaalamellaam Thanimaiyile" Jikki 03:10
"Penne Ulagin Kanne" M. S. Rajeswari 02:40
"Ulagamellaam Nee Odi" S. V. Venkatraman 03:09

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."[4] 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.

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1953 – மனிதன் – ஜூபிடர் லாவண்யா (நாடகம்) . 1953 – Manithan – Jupiter Lavanya (play) . dead . https://archive.today/20170623083555/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1953-cinedetails26.asp . 23 June 2017 . 23 June 2017 . . Tamil.
  2. News: Guy . Randor . Randor Guy . 9 March 2013 . Manithan 1953 . . dead . 23 June 2017 . https://archive.today/20130910173843/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/manithan-1953/article4491463.ece . 10 September 2013.
  3. Book: Neelamegam, G. . Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 . Manivasagar Publishers . 2014 . Chennai . 58 . Tamil.
  4. News: 2 May 1953 . Press acclaims! . 1 . . 2 November 2018.