Manthiri Kumari

Manthiri Kumari
Directed by	Ellis R. Dungan
Produced by	T. R. Sundaram (Modern Theatres)
Written by	M. Karunanidhi
Starring	M. G. Ramachandran M. N. Nambiar S. A. Natarajan G. Sakunthala
Music by	G. Ramanathan
Cinematography	K. G. Vijayan
Editing by	L. Balu
Release date(s)	24 June 1950
Language	Tamil

Manthiri Kumari (Tamil: மந்திரி குமாரி) is a 1950 Tamil film directed by Ellis R. Dungan and starring M. G. Ramachandran and M. N. Nambiar. The screen play was written by M. Karunanidhi based on an incident from the Tamil epic Kundalakesi. This was the last Tamil film directed by Dungan and is considered to be among the most successful films of that decade. Shortly after directing this film, Dungan left the Tamil film industry and did not direct Tamil films again.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Production

Manthiri Kumari (lit. The minister's daughter) was the film version of a play written by M. Karunanidhi and based an incident that occurs in the Tamil epic poem Kundalakesi (One of the five Great Tamil epics). T. R. Sundaram of Modern Theatres had previously produced a Dungan directed film Ponmudi (1950) in which Karunanidhi had worked as a script writer. Sundaram decided to make a film based on the play and hired Dungan to direct it (the credits show Sundaram and Dungan as co-directors of the film). M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) who had played the supporting roles in many of Dungan's earlier films had recently achieved success as a hero in Rajakumaari (1947) and Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi (1950). Karunanidhi recommended that his friend MGR be made hero for the new film. Sundaram agreed with a caveat - MGR's double chin had to be hidden behind a beard. G. Ramanathan was hired to compose the music. The lyrics for the songs were written by A. Marudhakaasi and Ka. Mu. Sherriff.^[6]

Plot

The king of Mullai nadu is dominated by his Raja guru (head priest) (M. N. Nambiar). The guru wants his son Parthiban (S. A. Natarajan) to be appointed as the General of the army. But the king appoints Veera Mohan (MGR) instead. The enraged Parthiban becomes a bandit and starts raiding the country side. He wants to marry the princess Jeevarekha (G. Shakuntala) who is in love with Veera Mohan. Parthiban sends a message to Jeevarekha to meet him secretly. The message is delivered by mistake to the minister's daughter Amudhavalli (Madhuri Devi) and she goes to meet Parthiban. Parthiban and Amudhavalli fall in love. Meanwhile, the king sends his general Veeramohan to capture the bandits plaguing the country side. Veeramohan captures Parthiban and produces him in the royal court. The Raja guru is enraged and tries to get his son off by various means. He demands a trial for his son in front of the Goddess. During the trial, Amudhavalli hides behind the Goddess statue and pronounces Parthiban as innocent. She blames Veeramohan for the banditry. The king believing that the Goddess had spoken releases Parthiban and exiles Veeramohan. Parthiban and Amudhavalli are happily married. But goaded by his father Parthiban wants to take over the kingdom by marrying the princess. He decides to kill Amudhavalli. He tricks her into going with him to a cliff edge and tells her of his intention to kill her. Amudavalli begs him for a chance to worship him by going around him three times before she meets her death. Parthiban grants her last wish. While going around him she pushes him to his death from behind. Shocked by her actions and her husband's betrayal, she confesses her sins and becomes a Buddhist nun. The raja guru is jailed and Veera mohan is reunited with the princess.

Cast

Actor	Role
M. G. Ramachandran	General Veera Mohan
S. A. Natrajan	Parthiban
M. N. Nambiar	The Rajaguru
G. Shakuntala	Princess Jeevarekha
Madhuri Devi	Amudhavalli
T. P. Muthulakshmi
A. Karunanidhi
K. S. Angamuthu
Sivasuriyan
K. V. Seenivasan
K. K. Soundar

Crew

• Producer: T. R. Sundaram, Modern Theatres
• Director: Ellis R. Dungan
• Screenplay: M. Karunanidhi
• Dialogue:M. Karunanidhi
• Music: G. Ramanathan
• Lyrics: Ka. Mu. Sheriff, A. Marudhakasi
• Cinematography: K. G. Vijayan
• Sound Recording: K. B. S. Mani, Padmanaban, Raju
• Assistant Director: T. P. S. Mani & K. Somu^[7]
• Dance: Lalitha, Padmini, Ragini

Reception

The film was released in June 1950 and became a box office hit. Though MGR was the hero, it was S. A. Natarajan's role which received the most acclaim. Karunanidhi's fiery dialogues became famous and stirred controversy.^[3][5][6]

Soundtrack

The film's music was composed by G. Ramanathan. The song Vaarai nee vaarai sung by Trichy Loganathan and Jikki was the most popular song of the film. List of songs in the film^[8]:

1. Vaarai Nee Vaarai - Thiruchi Loganathan and Jikki
2. Ulavum Thendral - Thiruchi Loganathan and Jikki
3. Pengalinaal - Jikki
4. Ubakaram Seibavarukke
5. Anthisaayura Neram
6. Isai Tamile Inidhaana - M. L. Vasanthakumari
7. Rajavun Rani Indha Ezhaiyeliya
8. En Erumai Kannukutti
9. Aadhavan Udhitha Tamarai Malarndhadhu
10. Kannadichi Yaarai Neeyum - A. P. Komala
11. Annam Itta Vittile - T. M. Soundararajan
12. Kadhal Baliyagi - M. L. Vasanthakumari
13. Ahahaha Vaazhvile - M. L. Vasanthakumari
14. Ennum Pozhuthil Inbam - M. L. Vasanthakumari
15. Manam Pola Vazhvu - M. L. Vasanthakumari and Jikki
16. Porakka Poguthu

References

1. ^ Americans in Tamil cinema 06 September 2004
2. ^ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1994). Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema. British Film Institute. pp. 88. ISBN 0851704557, ISBN 9780851704555. http://books.google.com/books?client=firefox-a&cd=2&id=jOtkAAAAMAAJ&dq=manthiri+kumari+1950&q=manthiri+kumari+#search_anchor. 
3. ^ ^{a b} National Film Development Corporation of India (1998). Indian cinema: a visual voyage. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India. pp. 112. ISBN 8123006462, ISBN 9788123006468. http://books.google.com/books?id=PhFlAAAAMAAJ. 
4. ^ Muthiah, S. (2004). Madras rediscovered. Chennai: East West Books (Madras) Pvt. Ltd. pp. 404. ISBN 8188661244, ISBN 9788188661244. http://books.google.com/books?id=LxRuAAAAMAAJ. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Thoraval, Yves (2000). The cinemas of India. India: Macmillan. pp. 39. ISBN 0333934105, ISBN 9780333934104. http://books.google.com/books?id=-OpkAAAAMAAJ&q=manthiri+kumari+1950&dq=manthiri+kumari+1950&client=firefox-a&cd=5. 
6. ^ ^{a b c} Manthiri Kumari - A Grand Success (in Tamil), Maalai Malar 27 October 2009
7. ^ Manthiri Kumari Film in Google Videos
8. ^ Joinscene.com Manthirikumari

External links

• Manthiri Kumari at the Internet Movie Database
• Manthiri Kumari Film in Google Videos
• Varaai nee Vaaraai Song in Youtube