Manonmani

Manonmani
Directed by T. R. Sundaram
Produced by Modern Theatres (Salem & Madurai)
Story by Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai
Starring P. U. Chinnappa,
T. R. Rajakumari,
Serukalathur Sama,
T. S. Balaiah,
T. R. Mahalingam,
N. S. Krishnan,
T. A. Madhuram
Music by Kalyanam-Mahadevan (Kalyanam Orchestra)
Edited by D Durairaj
Release dates
 1942
Language Tamil
Budget INR 2,00,000

Manonmani (Tamil: மனோன்மணி) is a 1942 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.

Music by Kalyanam-Mahadevan. Song lyrics were by Papanasam Rajagopal Iyer (Sivan's brother) and Velsami Kavi. The movie was recorded on RCA Records

Plot

Manonmani, the Pandya princess (Rajakumari), falls in love in her dream with a prince (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.

Soundtrack

References