Mahadevi (film)

1957 film by Sundar Rao Nadkarni

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Mahadevi

Theatrical release poster

Directed by| Sundar Rao Nadkarni
Screenplay by| Kannadasan
Based on| Punya Prabhav
by R. G. Katkari
Produced by| Sundar Rao Nadkarni
B. Radhakrishna
Starring| M. G. Ramachandran
Savithri
Cinematography| G. K. Ramu
Edited by| P. Venkatachalam
Music by| Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy

Production
company

Sri Ganesh Movietone

Distributed by| Sri Krishna Films[1]

Release date

* 22 November 1957 (1957-11-22)

Running time

| 160 minutes
Country| India
Language| Tamil

Mahadevi is a 1957 Indian Tamil-language film directed by Sundar Rao Nadkarni and written by Kannadasan. Starring M. G. Ramachandran and Savithri, it is based on the novel Punya Prabhav by R. G. Katkari.[2] The film was released on 22 November 1957.[3]

## Plot

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Mahadevi is a princess, whose father, the king, is defeated in battle. Despite this, he is invited by the rival king to stay with him as his honoured guest. The victorious king has an adopted daughter Mangamma and a son. His senior commander, Karunakaran is attracted to Mahadevi, but she rejects him. Thereby she earns his wrath. Karunakaran hatches various evil plans to get her, but in the meantime, Mahadevi falls in love with the other commander, Vallavan. Karunakaran tries to kidnap Mahadevi with the help of his sidekick Mariappan, but by mistake ends up kidnapping Mangamma. To cover up his folly, Karunakaran ends up marrying her. Mahadevi and Vallavan marry in due course. After a while, Mahadevi delivers a son, even as Karunakaran continues to lust for Mahadevi. Mangamma supports Mahadevi, and protects her from Karunakaran. When Mangamma learns of her husband's plans to kill Mahadevi's baby, she replaces her baby with Mahadevi's, causing Karunakaran to kill his own child. When Karunakaran realises the truth, he kills himself and so does his wife.

## Cast

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* M. G. Ramachandran as General Vallavan
* Savithri as Mahadhevi
* P. S. Veerappa as General Karunakaran
* M. N. Rajam as Princess Mangamma
* J. P. Chandrababu as Mariappan
* Master Murali as Young Prince
* T. P. Muthulakshmi as Vasantha
* O. A. K. Thevar as Thalapathi
* A. Karunanidhi as Muthupulavan
* Sattampillai Venkatraman
* Susheela

## Soundtrack

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The music was composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy.[4][5]

Song | Singers | Lyrics | Length

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"Kaka Kaka Maikondaa" | M. S. Rajeswari | A. Maruthakasi | 03:20
"Kaamugar Nenjil"  | K. Jamuna Rani | 03:29
"Thaayatthu Thaayatthu" | T. M. Soundararajan | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 03:01
"Kurukku Vazhiyil" | T. M. Soundararajan | 03:03
"Un Thirumugatthai"  | J. P. Chandrababu & A. G. Rathnamala | Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass | 03:20
"Thanthana Paattu" | J. P. Chandrababu & A. G. Rathnamala | 03:21
"Eru Poottuvom" | T. M. Soundararajan | 03:17
"Kanmoodum Velaiyilum"  | A. M. Rajah & P. Susheela | Kannadasan | 03:14
"Singara Punnagai"  | M. S. Rajeswari & R. Balasaraswathi Devi | 03:33
"Maanam Ondre Perithena" | T. S. Bagavathi | 03:29
"Sevai Seivadhe Aanandham" | M. S. Rajeswari & T. M. Soundararajan | 04:08

## Reception

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This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (February 2025)

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[6]It is a very successful movie. Ran for 100 days in many centres mainly due to fine acting of Savitri and music of Viswanathan Ramamurthy.

## Legacy

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The dialogue "Mananthal Mahadevi Illaiyel Maranadevi" uttered by Veerappa became hugely popular. [7] In all likelihood Kannadasan is the first to introduce punch dialogues to Tamil cinema.

The song " Nanandri yaar varvar " was first written for this movie. But MGR did not like it. So Kanbadasan wrote " kann moodum velaiyile" .

Later kannadsan used the song "Nanandri yaar varuvaar" in his own film Malaiyitta mangai

## References

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1. ^ "Mahadevi". The Indian Express. 15 November 1957. p. 1. Retrieved 29 December 2021 - via Google News Archive.
2. ^ Guy, Randor (1 December 2012). "Mahadevi 1955 [sic]". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
3. ^ "Mahadevi". The Indian Express. 22 November 1957. p. 1. Retrieved 26 January 2021 - via Google News Archive.
4. ^ "Mahadevi (1957)". Music India Online. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
5. ^ Neelamegam, G. (December 2014). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil) (1st ed.). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 131.
6. ^ காந்தன் (15 December 1957). "மஹாதேவி" (PDF). Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 41–42. Retrieved 12 February 2025 - via Internet Archive.
7. ^ Guy, Randor (2 August 2014). "The superstar villain". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.

## External links

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* Mahadevi at IMDb
* Mahadevi at Rotten Tomatoes