Manithan (transl. The Man) 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 of the same name by the TKS Brothers, itself a Tamil adaptation of the Malayalam play Manushyan by Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai. The film was released on 13 April 1987.[1]

Manithan
Theatrical release poster
Directed byK. Ramnoth
Screenplay byPa. Adhimoolam
Na. Somasundaram
Story byMuthukulam Raghavan Pillai
StarringT. K. Shanmugam
T. K. Bhagavathi
Krishnakumari
Madhuri Devi
Music byS. V. Venkatraman
Production
companies
Jupiter Pictures
Lavanya Movies
Release date
  • 17 April 1953 (1953-04-17)
Running time
174 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

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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

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List adapted from the database of Film News Anandan[1] and from the Hindu review article.[2]

Production

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Manithan is based on the Malayalam play Manushyan by Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai.[3] When it was staged in Tamil by the TKS Brothers, the title was changed to Manithan.[4] 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.[2][1]

Soundtrack

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Music was composed by S. V. Venkatraman while the lyrics were penned by Kanagasurabhi.[5]

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

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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."[6] 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.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "1953 – மனிதன் – ஜூபிடர் லாவண்யா (நாடகம்)" [1953 – Manithan – Jupiter Lavanya (play)]. Lakshman Sruthi (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 23 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d Guy, Randor (9 March 2013). "Manithan 1953". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 10 September 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  3. ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 178.
  4. ^ Shanmugam 1986, p. 566.
  5. ^ Neelamegam, G. (2014). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 58.
  6. ^ "Press acclaims!". The Indian Express. 2 May 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 2 November 2018 – via Google News Archive.

Bibliography

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