Miss Malini
| Miss Malini | |
|---|---|
 A still from the film | |
| Directed by | Kothamangalam Subbu |
| Produced by | Gemini Studios |
| Written by | R. K. Narayan[1] |
| Starring |
Pushpavalli Kothamangalam Subbu Sundari Bai Javar Seetharaman Gemini Ganesan |
| Music by |
Saluri Rajeswara Rao Parur S. Anantharaman |
Release dates | 1947[1] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Miss Malini is a 1947 Indian Tamil-language satirical film directed by Kothamangalam Subbu and produced by Gemini Studios. Based on the novel Mr. Sampath – The Printer of Malgudi 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. No print of the film is known to survive, making it a lost film.[1]
Plot
Life is a constant struggle for Malini, a poor young woman with an ailing father. She reluctantly accepts stage actor-friend Sundari’s suggestion to go on stage, and joins her theatre group, Kala Mandhiram. Success smiles on her and she soon becomes an idol of the masses. Sampath, a suave swindler, befriends Malini and takes control of her life. He persuades her to start her own theatre company. A puppet in his hands, Malini severs ties with those who have helped her in the past such as Sundari. Soon she is in debt and back at the bottom of the ladder. Sampath abandons her. Sundari and others come to her rescue and Malini goes back to Kala Mandhiram and begins her life anew, sadder but certainly wiser.
Cast
- Pushpavalli as Malini
- Kothamangalam Subbu as Sampath
- M. S. Sundari Bai as Sundari
- Javar Seetharaman
- Gemini Ganesan as an assistant director (credited onscreen as "R.G.", for Ramaswamy Ganesan)[2]
- V. Gopalakrishnan
Production
Produced by Gemini Studios, the film featured Pushpavalli in the title role and M. S. Sundari Bai as Malini's friend. Kothamangalam Subbu wrote and directed the film and appeared as Sampath, a cheat, in a portrayal that was then considered "exceptional" in South Indian cinema and his performance was praised for being "suave villainy".
The cast also included N. Sitaraman, who later became known as Javar Seetharaman, and a debut by Ramaswamy Ganesan who was working in Gemini Studios casting department before going on to "blossom as one of the top stars of South Indian cinema — Gemini Ganesan".[1]
Soundtrack
S. Rajeswara Rao and Carnatic musician Parur S. Anantharaman composed the film's score.[1]
Track listing[3]
| Song |
|---|
| Jegame Oru Chiththira Salai |
| Kulikkanum Kalikkanum |
| Mylapore Vakkeelathu |
| Paadum Radio |
| Senthamizh Nadu Sezhiththidave |
| Sree Saraswadhae |
Reception
Randor Guy, writing for The Hindu, described it as "one of the finest social satires to have been made in South Indian cinema" and noted that it "did not receive the appreciation it so richly deserved" because it was ahead of its time. He however concluded that the film would be "remembered for its music, Gemini Ganesan’s debut and as a film that appealed to the intellectuals in South India." The film was not successful at the box-office, but was well received by intellectuals.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Guy, Randor (2008-07-25). "Miss Malini 1947". The Hindu. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
- ↑ Guy, Randor (2008). "Round the City's old studios with RANDOR GUY". Madras Musings. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ↑ Guru Ashok. "Miss Malini (மிஸ் மாலினி) - Songs, Mp3, Youtube Video, Movie, Padam, Lyrics, Paadal, Paattu Varigal, Geetham - Guruvin Inbaminge". Inbaminge.com. Retrieved 2013-09-19.