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

Tamil Tamil may refer to: People, culture and language * Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka ** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...

-language

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

. It consists of four short

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

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 language, 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 ...

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 as a dancer * Krishna Bai as a dancer ;''Naveena Markandeyar'' * Kali N. Rathnam as

Yama Yama (), also known as Kāla and Dharmarāja, is the Hindu god of death and justice, responsible for the dispensation of law and punishment of sinners in his abode, Naraka. He is often identified with Dharmadeva, the personification of ''Dharm ...

* T. R. Ramachandran as

Markandeya Markandeya () is a rishi (sage) featured in Hindu literature. He is the son of the sage Mrikanda and his wife, Manasvini. The Markandeya Purana (one of the eighteen Mahāpurāṇas in Hinduism), attributed to the sage, comprises a dialogue ...

* K. Hiranaiah is

Chitragupta Chitragupta (, 'rich in secrets' or 'hidden picture') is a Hindu deity who serves as the registrar of the dead. He is assigned with the task of maintaining the records of the actions of human beings in a register called the ''Agrasandhanī''. Upo ...

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

Guindy Guindy is a neighborhood of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The Kathipara junction where Anna Salai, Mount-Poonamallee Road, Inner Ring Road, 100 Feet Road or Jawaharlal Nehru Road, and GST Road meet here. It is one of the important nodal points of ...

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 by P. Varadarajulu Naidu. It is headquartered in Noida, owned by the ''Indian Express Group''. It was later taken over by Ramnath Goenka. In 1999, eight y ...

'' 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 1940s Indian films 1941 films Indian anthology films Indian comedy films Films directed by A. T. Krishnaswamy Tamil-language Indian films