Mani Malai

1941 Indian film
  • 1941 (1941)
CountryIndiaLanguageTamil

Mani Malai (pronounced [maɳimaːl̪aɪ̯]) is a 1941 Indian Tamil-language anthology film. It consists of four short comedy films — Ashaadabuthi, Minor-in Kaathal, Abbuthi Adigal and Naveena Markandeyar — each made by a different director and featuring a different cast. The anthology film was successful.

Cast

Ashaadabuthi[1]
  • P. B. Rangachari as the bhagavathar
  • Jaya as the domestic help
  • K. S. Adhilakshmi as the bhagavathar's wife
  • T. V. Sethuraman as the bhagavathar's disciple
  • M. R. Subramaniam as the village headman
Minor-in Kaathal[1]
  • T. S. Durairaj as the "minor"[a]
  • K. S. Adhilakshmi as the washerwoman
  • M. R. Swaminathan as the washerwoman's husband
Abbuthi Adigal[1]
  • P. B. Rangachari as Adigal
  • T. N. Meenakshi as Adigal's wife
  • V. N. Sundaram as the saint/poet
  • V. N. Janaki as a dancer
  • Krishna Bai as a dancer
Naveena Markandeyar[1]
  • Kali N. Rathnam as Yama
  • T. R. Ramachandran as Markandeya
  • K. Hiranaiah is Chitragupta

Production

Mani Malai is an anthology film consisting of four short comedy films, each made by a different director. The first, Ashaadabuthi, explores the serious issue of untouchability in a light manner, and was directed by Fram Sethna. The second, Minor-in Kaathal, revolves around a "minor"[a] refusing to marry the woman of his mother's choice. The third, Abbuthi Adigal, is a story of "godly devotion dealt with humour". The fourth, Naveena Markandeyar, tells the story of Markandeya in a parodical manner and was directed by A. T. Krishnaswamy. Shooting for Mani Malai took place at Vel Pictures Studio, Guindy.[1]

Release and reception

Mani Malai was released in 1941 and emerged a commercial success; according to Krishnaswamy, it was due to "the presence of top comedy actors of that era".[1] The Indian Express wrote, "Usual slap-stick inescapably lapsing into cheap humourising of domestic life is provided."[2]

Notes

  1. ^ a b In archaic Tamil vernacular, a "minor" is a young man living luxuriously on inherited wealth.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Guy, Randor (31 August 2013). "Mani Malai (1941)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Mani Malai | Comic Programme at Kinema Central". The Indian Express. 22 November 1941. p. 3. Retrieved 19 February 2021.

External links

  • Mani Malai at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata