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]
GANESAN’S ENTRY AS AN ACTOR
Noted writer R.K.Narayan in his early days was working in “Merry magazine” run by S.S.Vasan.
In 1947 Vasan asked R.K.Narayan to write a story for his next film.R.K.Narayan wrote the story for Miss.Malini.The story was initially written for the film. There was a man... Sathashivayya in Mysore, who exploited young women singers and artistes under the guise of promoting them. This inspired the character 'Sampath' in the film. Some years later R.K.Narayan wrote the book Mr.Sampath-The Printer of Malgudi.
Koththamangalam Subbu played the role of Sampath. The character earned the nickname “bit notice” in the movie which became popular with the audience. Whenever Kothamangalam Subbu passed by the Kabali temple in Mylapore, children would shout out the nickname. The role brought him fame. Subbu who wrote the screenplay and directed the film, coined the name “bit notice”. R. K. Ramachandran, the younger brother of R. K. Narayan, who was working in Gemini studios made his entry in films.He did some editing for that film.
Miss Malini marked the film debut of R.Ganesan. His name appeared as R.G. in the credits. It was A.K.Ramnoth who gave him a small role in Miss Malini as an assistant to a movie director. The director role was by Javer Seetharaman.Miss Malini was a hit. Pushpavalli(mother of Hindi actress Reka) was the heroine, whom Ganesan married later.
Vasan later produced the film in Hindi as Mr.Sampath. It was in Mr.Sampath, music director Emana sastri introduced a new singer P.B.Sreenivos who sang a couplet in the Hindi film. S.S.Vasan told Emana sastri “Sastri!You have introduced a beautiful voice. Even stones will melt”.What a prediction!
Miss Malini
Banner:Gemini productions
Released on 24-9-1947.
Produced by K.Ramnoth.
Story:R.K.Narayan
Dialogues&Direction:Koththamangalam Subbu.
Music:S.Rajeswara rao& Barur Anantharaman.
Lyrics:Koththamangalam Subbu,Surabhi.
Art:A.K.Sekar.
Cinematogrphy:M.Natarajan
Starring: Koththamangalam subbu, Pushpavalli,Javar Seetharaman, R.G.(R.Ganesh), Suryapraba, Sundaribai, V.Gopalakrishnan, S.Varalakshmi.
After the interval , a cartoon film Cinema kadambam by cartoonist ThaaNu was shown.
T.V.Rathnam sang some songs in Miss Malini.
paadum radio buttonai thiruppi vittaa
sri saraswathi namOsthuthE
jagamE oru chithira saalai
Blast from the past
Miss Malini 1947
a fine social satire From Miss Malini
Miss Malini (1947) is one of the finest social satires to have been made in South Indian cinema. However, it came ahead of its time and therefore did not receive the appreciation it so richly deserved. R. K. Narayan wrote the story.
Miss Malini created at least one immortal character ‘Sampath’. 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!
Miss Malini created an excellent impact on the minds of intellectuals in South India but as it lacked the ingredients that would make it a box-office success — love, sex and action — it did not attract the common man and woman, especially those in rural areas. The cast had Pushpavalli in the title role, Sundari Bai as her friend and Kothamangalam Subbu as Sampath. Kothamangalam Subbu wrote and directed the film and his performance as the cheat is considered as one of the finest portrayals of suave villainy ever seen in South Indian cinema.
Others in the cast included N. Sitaraman as the director of Kala Mandhiram. Later he became famous as ‘Javert’ Sitaraman.
In a walk-on role as the assistant director of the drama company, appeared a tall, slim, handsome young man credited in the titles as ‘R. G.’ He was Ramaswamy Ganesan, a Science graduate, then working in the Gemini Studios — Casting Department. This was his debut and soon he would blossom as one of the top stars of South Indian cinema — Gemini Ganesan!
Miss Malini made gentle fun of the many aspects of life in Madras during the Second World War years (1939-1945) — shortage of commodities, high prices, social mores, high fashion living and preferences. Kothamangalam Subbu’s dialogue was witty and incisive.
Music was a plus-point for this film and many songs became popular such as “Kaalaiyiley ezhunthiruntha kattayodey azhuganam...” (sung by Sundari Bai and penned by ‘Surabhi’). Celebrated South Indian film music composer Saluru Rajeswara Rao and Carnatic musician Parur S. Anantharaman composed the music. Miss Malini didn’t fare so well at the box-office. Later Vasan commented that making films for intellectuals would not bring money. It was a lesson he learnt by making Miss Malini. Sadly no print of this film exists today.
Remembered for: its music, Gemini Ganesan’s debut and as a film that appealed to the intellectuals in South India.
RANDOR GUY
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
GANESAN’S ENTRY AS AN ACTOR
Noted writer R.K.Narayan in his early days was working in “Merry magazine” run by S.S.Vasan.
In 1947 Vasan asked R.K.Narayan to write a story for his next film.R.K.Narayan wrote the story for Miss.Malini.The story was initially written for the film. There was a man... Sathashivayya in Mysore, who exploited young women singers and artistes under the guise of promoting them. This inspired the character 'Sampath' in the film. Some years later R.K.Narayan wrote the book Mr.Sampath-The Printer of Malgudi.
Koththamangalam Subbu played the role of Sampath. The character earned the nickname “bit notice” in the movie which became popular with the audience. Whenever Kothamangalam Subbu passed by the Kabali temple in Mylapore, children would shout out the nickname. The role brought him fame. Subbu who wrote the screenplay and directed the film, coined the name “bit notice”. R. K. Ramachandran, the younger brother of R. K. Narayan, who was working in Gemini studios made his entry in films.He did some editing for that film.
Miss Malini marked the film debut of R.Ganesan. His name appeared as R.G. in the credits. It was A.K.Ramnoth who gave him a small role in Miss Malini as an assistant to a movie director. The director role was by Javer Seetharaman.Miss Malini was a hit. Pushpavalli(mother of Hindi actress Reka) was the heroine, whom Ganesan married later.
Vasan later produced the film in Hindi as Mr.Sampath. It was in Mr.Sampath, music director Emana sastri introduced a new singer P.B.Sreenivos who sang a couplet in the Hindi film. S.S.Vasan told Emana sastri “Sastri!You have introduced a beautiful voice. Even stones will melt”.What a prediction!
Miss Malini
Banner:Gemini productions
Released on 24-9-1947.
Produced by K.Ramnoth.
Story:R.K.Narayan
Dialogues&Direction:Koththamangalam Subbu.
Music:S.Rajeswara rao& Barur Anantharaman.
Lyrics:Koththamangalam Subbu,Surabhi.
Art:A.K.Sekar.
Cinematogrphy:M.Natarajan
Starring: Koththamangalam subbu, Pushpavalli,Javar Seetharaman, R.G.(R.Ganesh), Suryapraba, Sundaribai, V.Gopalakrishnan, S.Varalakshmi.
After the interval , a cartoon film Cinema kadambam by cartoonist ThaaNu was shown.
T.V.Rathnam sang some songs in Miss Malini.
paadum radio buttonai thiruppi vittaa
sri saraswathi namOsthuthE
jagamE oru chithira saalai
Blast from the past
Miss Malini 1947
| Pushpavalli, Kothamangalam Subbu, Sundari Bai, N. Seetharaman and ‘R.G.’ |
a fine social satire From Miss Malini
Miss Malini (1947) is one of the finest social satires to have been made in South Indian cinema. However, it came ahead of its time and therefore did not receive the appreciation it so richly deserved. R. K. Narayan wrote the story.
Miss Malini created at least one immortal character ‘Sampath’. 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!
Miss Malini created an excellent impact on the minds of intellectuals in South India but as it lacked the ingredients that would make it a box-office success — love, sex and action — it did not attract the common man and woman, especially those in rural areas. The cast had Pushpavalli in the title role, Sundari Bai as her friend and Kothamangalam Subbu as Sampath. Kothamangalam Subbu wrote and directed the film and his performance as the cheat is considered as one of the finest portrayals of suave villainy ever seen in South Indian cinema.
Others in the cast included N. Sitaraman as the director of Kala Mandhiram. Later he became famous as ‘Javert’ Sitaraman.
In a walk-on role as the assistant director of the drama company, appeared a tall, slim, handsome young man credited in the titles as ‘R. G.’ He was Ramaswamy Ganesan, a Science graduate, then working in the Gemini Studios — Casting Department. This was his debut and soon he would blossom as one of the top stars of South Indian cinema — Gemini Ganesan!
Miss Malini made gentle fun of the many aspects of life in Madras during the Second World War years (1939-1945) — shortage of commodities, high prices, social mores, high fashion living and preferences. Kothamangalam Subbu’s dialogue was witty and incisive.
Music was a plus-point for this film and many songs became popular such as “Kaalaiyiley ezhunthiruntha kattayodey azhuganam...” (sung by Sundari Bai and penned by ‘Surabhi’). Celebrated South Indian film music composer Saluru Rajeswara Rao and Carnatic musician Parur S. Anantharaman composed the music. Miss Malini didn’t fare so well at the box-office. Later Vasan commented that making films for intellectuals would not bring money. It was a lesson he learnt by making Miss Malini. Sadly no print of this film exists today.
Remembered for: its music, Gemini Ganesan’s debut and as a film that appealed to the intellectuals in South India.
RANDOR GUY
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