Maheswari (film)
Maheswari is a 1955 Indian Tamil language film produced by Modern Theatres and directed by T. R. Raghunath. The film features Gemini Ganesan and Savithri in the lead roles.[2]
| Maheswari | |
|---|---|
 Film Poster | |
| Tamil | மஹேஸ்வரி |
| Directed by | T. R. Raghunath |
| Produced by | T. R. Sundaram |
| Written by | C. V. Sridhar |
| Screenplay by | T. R. Raghunath |
| Story by | C. V. Sridhar |
| Starring | Gemini Ganesan Savithri K. A. Thangavelu M. N. Rajam A. Karunanidhi |
| Music by | G. Ramanathan |
| Cinematography | W. R. Subba Rao |
| Edited by | L. Balu |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Modern Theatres |
Release date |
|
Running time | 15954 ft. |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
The film was dubbed into Telugu with the title Rani Rangamma and released in 1957.
Plot
Manickam is wanted by the army of East India Company. He is absconding and takes refuge in the house of Maheswari. Manickam and Maheswari fall in love with each other. Manickam's father Dharmalingam demands a large dowry from Maheswari's mother, Kanthimathi, who somehow manages to give the amount. However, Dharmalingam comes to know that Kanthimathi is ridiculed by the villagers as a woman of loose moral character. So, he sends back Maheswari to her home. Manickam is helpless because he depends on his father for everything. Kanthimathi commits suicide. Maheswari starts looking for a means to earn a living and she comes across Mayathevan, the leader of a gang of robbers who is wanted by the East India Company. She is employed by him as chief assistant. Mayathevan renames Maheswari as Rani Rangamma. Though she lives comfortably like a queen, her heart yearns for Manickam. In the meantime, at the insistence of his father, Manickam has married another woman. What happens to Maheswari forms the rest of the story.
Cast
- Gemini Ganesan as Manickam
- Savitri as Maheswari
- K. A. Thangavelu as Dharmalingam, Manickam's father
- Saradamba as Kanthimathi, Maheswari's mother
- N. S. Narayana Pillai as Mayathevan
- M. N. Rajam
- A. Karunanidhi
- C. K. Saraswathi as Kamakshi, Dharmalingam's wife
- P. Dhanam
- O. A. K. Thevar
- T. P. Muthulakshmi
Dance
- Lakshmikantha
Soundtrack
Music was composed by G. Ramanathan while the lyrics were penned by M. K. Athmanathan, A. Maruthakasi and Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram. Playback singers are: M. L. Vasanthakumari, Jikki, T. V. Rathnam, A. G. Rathnamala, A. M. Rajah and S. C. Krishnan.
| S/N | Song | Singer/s | Lyricist | Duration(m:ss) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Andha Naalum Endha Naalo" | M. L. Vasanthakumari | A. Maruthakasi | 03:22 |
| 2 | "Aram Kaattha Dheviye" | A. M. Rajah & Jikki | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 03:29 |
| 3 | "Azhagu Nilaavin Bavaniyile" | A. M. Rajah & Jikki | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 03:03 |
| 4 | "Alli Veesunga Panatthai" | T. V. Rathnam | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 02:13 |
| 5 | "Janakku Janakku Jinjanakku" | S. C. Krishnan & A. G. Rathnamala | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 03:28 |
| 6 | "Aagaaya Veedhiyile...Paarum Thannaale" | T. V. Rathnam | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 02:39 |
| 7 | "Sonna Pothum Kannale" | S. C. Krishnan & A. G. Rathnamala | A. Maruthakasi | 03:20 |
| 8 | "Mundhi Mundhi Vinaayagane" | S. C. Krishnan & A. G. Rathnamala | 05:24 | |
| 9 | "Maname Niraindha Dheivam" | A. M. Rajah & Jikki | 03:29 | |
| 10 | "Ulagatthu Naayagiye Engal Mutthu Maariyammaa" | A. G. Rathnamala & chorus | 04:48 |
Rani Rangamma (Telugu) Songs
The music was composed by S. Dakshinamurthi. Lyrics were by Sri Sri and Aarudhra. Playback singers are P. B. Sreenivas, Pithapuram Nageswara Rao, R. Balasaraswathi Devi, S. Janaki, Swarnalatha & T. Sathyavathi.
All the tunes for all the songs for both languages are the same.
| S/N | Song | Singer/s | Lyricist | Duration(m:ss) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Nāṭirōju ēla rādu" | R. Balasaraswathi Devi | Sri Sri | 03:22 |
| 2 | 03:29 | |||
| 3 | "kalalu tarin̄cu vibhāvarilō" | P. B. Sreenivas & S. Janaki | Aarudhra | 03:03 |
| 4 | "calli vēyaṇḍi ḍabbulu" | T. Sathyavathi | Sri Sri | 02:13 |
| 5 | "janaka janaka jin̄janakaḍi" | Pithapuram Nageswara Rao & Swarnalatha | Sri Sri | 03:28 |
| 6 | "Ākāśa vīdhilō...kalalajālālu pannanēla" | T. Sathyavathi | Sri Sri | 02:39 |
| 7 | "ōrācūpu kannanta" | P. B. Sreenivas & S. Janaki | Aarudhra | 03:20 |
| 8 | "śūrabobbili sīmanduvā" | Pithapuram Nageswara Rao & Swarnalatha | Sri Sri | 05:24 |
| 9 | "manapai śapin̄cē daivaṁ" | P. B. Sreenivas & S. Janaki | Aarudhra | 03:29 |
| 10 | "jayaṁ nosagu dēvatā" | S. Janaki | Aarudhra | 04:48 |
Reception
Maheswari was not a commercial success during its original release. In 2015, film historian Randor Guy said it would be "Remembered for: the different theme, period sets and technical values of Modern Theaters, and good performances by the leads."[2]
References
- Film News Anandan (23 October 2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [History of Landmark Tamil Films] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivakami Publishers. Archived from the original on 8 January 2017.
- Guy, Randor (4 April 2015). "Maheswari (1955)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 8 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.