Manonmani

1942 film

Manonmani

Poster

Directed by| T. R. Sundaram
Based on| Manonmaneeyam
by Sundaram Pillai
Starring| P. U. Chinnappa,
T. R. Rajakumari,
Serukalathur Sama
Edited by| D Durairaj
Music by| T. A. Kalyanam (Kalyanam Orchestra)

Production
company

Modern Theatres

Release date

* 7 November 1942 (1942-11-07)

Running time

| 175 Minutes
Language| Tamil

Manonmani (Tamil: மனோன்மணி) is a 1942 Indian Tamil-language film directed by T. R. Sundaram. It starred P. U. Chinnappa, T. R. Rajakumari, Serukalathur Sama, T. S. Balaiah, T. R. Mahalingam, K. K. Perumal, A. Sakunthala, N. S. Krishnan, T. A. Madhuram, Kali N. Ratnam, L. Narayana Rao, S. S. Kokko, C. T. Rajakantham, P. R. Mangalam, P. G. Venkatesan, T. R. B. Rao, M. E. Madhavan, "Buffoon" Shanmugham, J. M. G. Sarada and G. Saraswathi. It is based on the 1892 play Manonmaneeyam by Sundaram Pillai.[1] The film ran more than 25 weeks.[2]

## Plot

[edit]

King Seevaka of Pandya Kingdom ruled the Kingdom through its capital Madurai. But, under the bad influence of the minister, Kutilan (Balasubramaniam) he changed his capital to Tirunelveli where Kutilan has support. Kutilan wants to rule the kingdom. So, he tried to make the king fall. Rajaguru (Sama) told the king that the capital is not so strong. He said that he would make the Kingdom good with doing a yagna and want to have a special room for him. Princess Manonmani, who dreamt of Chera King Purushottaman fell in love with him as he also does. But, Kutilan wants Manonmani to marry Baladeva his son. Soon, the Rajaguru who was good hearted wanted the princess to marry Purushottaman to get out of Kutilan's evil trap. He asked Seevaka and Manonmani to come to a secret pathway under the palace connecting to the Rajaguru's ashram and Chera's Army Place. Seevaka told this to Kutilan. But,

Manonmani, the Pandya princess (Rajakumari), falls in love in her dream with a prince Purushottaman (Chinnappa) who too does likewise with each unaware of the other's identity! But their love grows deeper in their hearts. The Rajaguru (Sama) is keen on bringing the two kingdoms together and builds a ‘secret way' from one kingdom to the other. However, the King (Perumal) is under the influence of the scheming minister Kutilan, (Balasubramaniam, the name was obviously inspired by the celebrated Kautilya, Chanakya.) The minister's son Balaiah has an eye on the princess, and the father and son try to manipulate the king's mind…

After many twists, the lovers meet and the two kingdoms come together and the ‘dream lovers' marry…. An interesting tale of kings, princes and princesses, Rajaguru and evil ministers, Manonmani was a box office hit with Rajakumari and Chinnappa stealing the show. Sakunthala (Mrs. Chinnappa in private life) played the princess's companion, while the ‘comedy track' was taken care of by the inimitable Krishnan-Mathuram supported by Narayana Rao.

## Cast

[edit]

* P. U. Chinnappa as 'Chera King' Puruchothaman
* T. R. Rajakumari as Manonmani
* T. S. Balaiah as Palathevan
* T. R. Mahalingam as Natarajan
* N. S. Krishnan as Pani Pandaram
* T. A. Madhuram as
* N. Kali Rathnam as Suba
* R. Balasubramaniam as Kudilan
* Serukalathur Sama as The Rajaguru
* Kottapuli Jayaraman as The lender
* Pulimootai Ramasamy as Saint
* L. Narayana Rao
* S. S. Kokko (Pasupuleti Srinivasulu Naidu)[1]
* C. T. Rajakantham
* P. R. Mangalam
* P. G. Venkatesan
* T. R. B. Rao
* M. E. Madhavan
* "Buffoon" Shanmugham
* J. M. G. Sarada
* G. Saraswathi

## Soundtrack

[edit]

The music was composed by T. A. Kalyanam assisted by K. V. Mahadevan[1] and the lyrics were penned by Papanasam Rajagopala Iyer

No | Song | Raagam | Singer

|
|
|

1  | "Kanden Kanden En Kaadhal Kaniyai Kanden" |  |
2  | "Mohana Maamadhanaa" | Punnagavarali |
3  | "Mohanaanga Vadhani" | Kanada, Darbari Kanada |
4  | "Undranuko Inaiyaavaar" | Bhairavi |
5  | "Vaanamudhe, Maan Vizhiye, Unai Kaanbeno" |  |
6  | "Ooooonnnu Oru Vaaarthai" |  |
7  | "Yaarukku Venduvadhinge" |  |
8  | "Koodik Kondaduvom" |  | P. G. Venkatesan, P. A. Periyanayaki

## Reception

[edit]

Kalki in their review appreciated the performances of the cast.[2]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Guy, Randor (19 December 2010). "Manonmani 1942". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
2. ^ a b "வெள்ளி விழா கண்ட மனோன்மணி". Kalki (in Tamil). 20 May 1943. p. 16.

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by T. R. Sundaram

* Naveena Nirupama (1937)
* Padhma Jothi (1937)
* Sathi Akalya (1937)
* Maanikka Vaasakar (1939)
* Uthama Puthiran (1940)
* Manonmani (1942)
* Sathi Suganya (1942)
* Arundhati (1943)
* Dewan Bahadur (1943)
* Rajarajeswari (1944)
* Burma Rani (1945)
* Subhadhra (1946)
* 1000 Thalaivangi Apoorva Chinthamani (1947)
* Adhithan Kanavu (1948)
* Manthiri Kumari (1950)
* Thigambara Samiar (1950)
* Sarvadhikari (1951)
* Valayapathi (1952)
* Thirumbi Paar (1953)
* Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (1956)
* Sollu Thambi Sollu (1959)
* Thalai Koduthaan Thambi (1959)
* Kandam Becha Kottu (1961)

* v
* t
* e

Modern Theatres

Key people|

* T. R. Sundaram (founder)

Films produced|

| 1930s|

* Modern Girl (1935)
* Bandit of the Air (1936)
* Country Girl (1936)
* Modern Lady (1936)
* Modern Youth (1937)
* Mr. Ammanchi (1937)
* Naveena Nirupama (1937)
* Padma Jothi (1937)
* Sathi Ahalya (1937)
* Balan (1938)
* Dhaksha Yagnam (1938)
* Kambar (1938)
* Maya Mayavan (1938)
* Mayuradhawaja (1938)
* Santhanadevan (1938)
* Thayumanavar (1938)
* Maanikka Vaasakar (1939)
* Manmadha Vijayam (1939)
* Sathyavaani (1939)
* Sri Sankarachariyar (1939)

|

1940s|

* Harihara Maya (1940)
* Raja Yogam (1940)
* Sathyavaani (1940)
* Sathi Mahananda (1940)
* Sathi Murali (1940)
* Uthama Puthiran (1940)
* Vikrama Oorvasi (1941)
* Bhaktha Gowri (1941)
* Dhayalan (1941)
* Ashok (1942)
* Manonmani (1942)
* Sathi Suganya (1942)
* Sivalinga Satchi (1942)
* Arundhathi (1943)
* Dewan Bahadur (1943)
* Soorapuli (1943)
* Sow Sow (1944)
* Rajarajeswari (1944)
* Burma Rani (1945)
* Chitra (1946)
* Sangram (1946)
* Subhathra (1946)
* 1000 Thalaivangi Apoorva Chinthamani (1947)
* Sulochana (1947)
* Adhithan Kanavu (1948)
* Ahimasa Yuddham (1948)
* Bhojan (1948)

1950s|

* Thigambara Samiar (1950)
* Manthiri Kumari (1950)
* Maaya Rambha (1950)
* Ponmudi (1950)
* Aada Janma (1951)
* Sarvadhikari (1951)
* Kaadu (1952)
* The Jungle (1952)
* Atthinti Kapuram (1952)
* Kalyani (1952)
* Savathiporu (1952)
* Valayapathi (1952)
* Mangala Gowri (1953)
* Thirumbi Paar (1953)
* Deva Kannika (1954)
* Illara Jothi (1954)
* Sugam Enge (1954)
* Kathanayaki (1955)
* Maheswari (1955)
* Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (1956)
* Pasavalai (1956)
* Aravalli (1957)
* Kitna Badal Gaya Insan (1957)
* Veera Kankanam (1957)
* Petra Maganai Vitra Annai (1958)
* Engal Kuladevi (1959)
* Thalai Koduthaan Thambi (1959)
* Vannakili (1959)

1960s|

* Anna Chellalu (1960)
* Kaithi Kannayiram (1960)
* Kandam Becha Kottu (1961)
* Kumudham (1961)
* Modern Girl (1961)
* Kavitha (1962)
* Kattu Roja (1963)
* Konjum Kumari (1963)
* Yarukku Sontham (1963)
* Amma Enge (1964)
* Chitrangi (1964)
* Vallavanukku Vallavan (1965)
* Iru Vallavargal (1966)
* Monagallaku Monagadu (1966)
* Vallavan Oruvan (1966)
* Ethirigal Jakkirathai (1967)
* Kadhalithal Podhuma (1967)
* Evaru Monagadu (1968)
* Naangu Killadigal (1969)

1970s|

* CID Shankar (1970)
* Justice Viswanathan (1971)
* Nenu Manishine (1971)
* Karunthel Kannayiram (1972)
* Thedi Vandha Lakshmi (1973)
* Prayachitham (1974)
* Kaali Koyil Kabali (1979)
* Vallavan Varugiraan (1979)

1990s|

* Jenanaayakan (1999)

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