Menaka (1955 film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Menaka
Menaka 1955 poster.jpg
Poster
Directed byV. C. Subburaman
Written byA. T. Krishnaswamy
Screenplay byA. T. Krishnaswamy
Story byVaduvur Duraisami Iyengar
Based onMenaka (Novel)
by Vaduvur Duraisami Iyengar
Produced byV. C. Subburaman
StarringK. R. Ramaswamy
Lalitha
Ragini
K. Sarangapani
CinematographyP. Balasubramaniam
R. R. Chandran
M. S. Mani
Edited byB. V. M.
Music byT. G. Lingappa
C. N. Pandurangan
Vedha
Production
company
Kasturi Films
Release date
  • 5 January 1955 (1955-01-05) (India)
[1]
Running time
182 mins. (16449 ft.)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Menaka is a 1955 Indian, Tamil language film directed by V. C. Subburaman.[2] It is a remake of the 1935 film of the same name. The film featured K. R. Ramaswamy and Lalitha in the lead roles.[3]

Plot[]

The story is about a loving couple getting separated by designs of evil doers. However, after many sufferings, they re-unite.[4]

Cast[]

List adapted from the database of Film News Anandan[3] and from the Hindu review article.[4]

Production[]

This is the second edition of the same story by Vaduvur Duraisami Iyengar that he first published as a novel. Then it was staged as a successful play by TKS Brothers. It was made into a film in 1935 with the same title. K. R. Ramaswamy who featured in a supporting role in the 1935 edition, was the hero in this 1955 edition.[4]

The film was produced and directed by V. C. Subburaman. Screenplay and dialogues were written by A. T. Krishnaswamy. Cinematography was handled by P. Balasubramaniam, R. R. Chandran and M. S. Mani while the editing was done by B. V. M. V. Ramaraju was in charge of art direction while the choreography was done by V. Madhavan. Still photography was by R. N. Nagaraja Rao.[3]

Soundtrack[]

Music was composed by T. G. Lingappa, C. N. Pandurangan and Vedha while the lyrics were penned by Kannadasan, Ku. Sa. Krishnamoorthy, A. Maruthakasi, K. P. Kamatchisundaram, K. D. Santhanam and S. D. Sundharam. Singer is K. R. Ramaswamy while the playback singers are P. Leela, (Radha) Jayalakshmi, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, A. P. Komala, A. M. Rajah and Sirkazhi Govindarajan.[5]

No. Song Singer/s Lyricist Duration (m:ss)
1 "O! Come Come Aiyaa Salaamunga" P. Leela
2 "Aasai Kaaddi Yaengalaagumaa" Sirkazhi Govindarajan & A. P. Komala 02:34
3 "Anna Amudham Nee Eppo"
4 "Kanavu Ninaivaagumo" (Radha) Jayalakshmi 03:10
5 "Manam Polae Ini Vaazhalaam" K. R. Ramaswamy & (Radha) Jayalakshmi 02:41
6 "Sugamaana Isaiyaagum Vaazhve" Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi 02:31
7 "Azhagin Deivam Arivin" K. R. Ramaswamy & Sirkazhi Govindarajan 03:02
8 "Allahvin Naamathai" A. M. Rajah 02:49
9 "Karpanai Ulaginilae" K. R. Ramaswamy 03:19

Reception[]

Menaka was poorly received by critics, and underperformed at the box office.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ "மேனகா 2 / Menaka 2". Screen4Screen (in English and Tamil). Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Ashish Rajadhyaksha & Paul Willemen. Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 1998. p. 617.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  3. ^ a b c 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 29 June 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d Guy, Randor (4 September 2011). "Menaka 1955". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  5. ^ Neelamegam, G. (2014). Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 (in Tamil). Chennai: Manivasagar Publishers. p. 100.
Retrieved from ""