''Mani Malai'' () is a 1941 Indian

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia ** Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nati ...

-language

anthology film An anthology film (also known as an omnibus film, package film, or portmanteau film) is a single film consisting of several shorter films, each complete in itself and distinguished from the other, though frequently tied together by a single theme ...

. It consists of four short

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

s — ''Ashaadabuthi'', ''Minor-in Kaathal'', ''Abbuthi Adigal'' and ''Naveena Markandeyar'' — each made by a different director and featuring a different cast. The anthology film was successful.

Cast

;''Ashaadabuthi'' * P. B. Rangachari as the ''bhagavathar'' * Jaya as the domestic help * K. S. Adhilakshmi as the ''bhagavathar''s wife * T. V. Sethuraman as the ''bhagavathar''s disciple * M. R. Subramaniam as the village headman ;''Minor-in Kaathal'' *

T. S. Durairaj T. S. Durairaj (31 December 1910 – 2 June 1986) was a Tamil film comedian, drama artist, producer and director in the early stages of the Tamil film industry (Kollywood). He received a Kalaimamani award from the Tamil Nadu Government in ...

as the "minor" * K. S. Adhilakshmi as the washerwoman * M. R. Swaminathan as the washerwoman's husband ;''Abbuthi Adigal'' * P. B. Rangachari as Adigal * T. N. Meenakshi as Adigal's wife * V. N. Sundaram as the saint/poet *

V. N. Janaki Vaikom Narayani Janaki (30 November 192319 May 1996), also known as Janaki Ramachandran, was an Indian politician, actress and activist who served as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for 23 days after the death of her husband M. G. Ramachandra ...

as a dancer * Krishna Bai as a dancer ;''Naveena Markandeyar'' *

Kali N. Rathnam Narayana Padaiyatchi Ratnam (c. 1897 – August 1950), popularly known as "Kali" N. Ratnam, was a Tamil stage and film artist known for his roles as a comedian in Tamil movies of the 1930s and 1940s. Renowned Tamil actor and politician M. G. Ra ...

Yama Yama (Devanagari: यम) or Yamarāja (यमराज), is a deity of death, dharma, the south direction, and the underworld who predominantly features in Hindu and Buddhist religion, belonging to an early stratum of Rigvedic Hindu deities ...

T. R. Ramachandran Thirukampuliyur Ranga Ramachandran (9 January 1917 – 30 November 1990) was an Indian actor and comedian who acted mainly in Tamil films. He was cast mostly in lead or supportive roles, especially in comical parts, from the 1940s to the 1960s. Kn ...

Markandeya Bhargava Markandeya ( sa, मार्कण्‍डेय ) is an ancient rishi (sage) born in the clan of Bhrigu Rishi (Bhargava Brahmins Community). The Markandeya Purana especially, comprises a dialogue between Markandeya and a sage cal ...

* K. Hiranaiah is

Chitragupta Chitragupta (Sanskrit: चित्रगुप्त, 'rich in secrets' or 'hidden picture') is a Hindu deity assigned with the task of keeping complete records of the actions of human beings and punishing or rewarding them according to their ...

Production

''Mani Malai'' is an

consisting of four short

s, each made by a different director. The first, ''Ashaadabuthi'', explores the serious issue of

untouchability Untouchability is a form of social institution that legitimises and enforces practices that are discriminatory, humiliating, exclusionary and exploitative against people belonging to certain social groups. Although comparable forms of discrimin ...

in a light manner, and was directed by Fram Sethna. The second, ''Minor-in Kaathal'', revolves around a "minor" refusing to marry the woman of his mother's choice. The third, ''Abbuthi Adigal'', is a story of "godly devotion dealt with humour". The fourth, ''Naveena Markandeyar'', tells the story of

in a parodical manner and was directed by

A. T. Krishnaswamy A. T. Krishnaswamy (1905–1987) was an Indian director best known for the film ''Sabapathy''. Career Krishnaswamy joined the A. V. Meiyappan unit as an assistant during the mid-1930s and worked on all AVM projects. He made his directorial d ...

. Shooting for ''Mani Malai'' took place at Vel Pictures Studio,

Guindy Guindy is one of the most important neighborhoods of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and is nicknamed as ''The Gateway to Chennai''. The Kathipara junction where Anna Salai, Mount-Poonamallee Road, Inner Ring Road, 100 Feet Road or Jawaharlal Nehru Roa ...

Release and reception

''Mani Malai'' was released in 1941 and emerged a commercial success; according to Krishnaswamy, it was due to "the presence of top comedy actors of that era". ''

The Indian Express ''The Indian Express'' is an English-language Indian daily newspaper founded in 1932. It is published in Mumbai by the Indian Express Group. In 1999, eight years after the group's founder Ramnath Goenka's death in 1991, the group was split betw ...

'' wrote, "Usual slap-stick inescapably lapsing into cheap humourising of domestic life is provided."

Notes

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, id=11465776 1941 comedy films 1940s Tamil-language films 1941 films Indian anthology films Indian comedy films