Miss Malini

Miss Malini (1947) is a social satire film from South India based on the Mr. Sampath story by R.K. Narayan. It included aspects of life in Madras (now known as Chennai) during the World War II period (1939-1945) when there was a shortage of commodities and high prices, and includes depictions of social mores, a love story, and the moral dilemmas its characters face pursuing business and personal interests.^[1]

A write up in The Hindu described it as "one of the finest social satires to have been made in South Indian cinema" and notes that it "did not receive the appreciation it so richly deserved" because it was ahead of its time.^[1] It was a Gemini Studios production.^[1]

The movie featured Pushpavalli in the title role and Sundari Bai as Malini's friend. Kothamangalam Subbu wrote and directed the film and appeared as Sampath, a cheat, in a portrayal that is considered exceptional in South Indian cinema and captured the character's "suave villainy".^[1]

The cast also includes N. Sitaraman, who later became known Javar Sitaraman, as the director of Kala Mandhiram, and a debut by Ramaswamy Ganesan who was working in the Gemini Studios casting department before going on to "blossom as one of the top stars of Tamil and Telugu cinema — Gemini Ganesan! ^[1]

Saluri Rajeswara Rao and Carnatic musician Parur S. Anantharaman composed the film's score.^[1] Songs from the film include Kaalaiyiley ezhunthiruntha kattayodey azhuganam..., sung by Sundari Bai and penned by Surabhi.^[1]

The film was not successful at the box-office, but was well received by intellectuals.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Randor Guy Blast from the past; Miss Malini 1947 July 25, 2008 The Hindu

External links

• Imdb listing