Manamagan Thevai


Manamagan Thevai is a 1957 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film produced and directed by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Bhanumathi. An adaptation of the American film The Fabulous Senorita, it was simultaneously produced in Telugu as Varudu Kaavaali with Jaggayya replacing Ganesan. Manamagan Thevai was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.

Plot

Banumathi, the daughter of a wealthy man, desires to marry a shy professor named Vijayakumar instead of the wealthy suitor her father chose. To escape from trouble, she creates the fake identity of a twin sister, and in the hodgepodge that ensues, ends up in bugger trouble.

Cast

Manamagan Thevai was based on the American film The Fabulous Senorita. It was produced by P. S. Ramakrishna Rao and his wife Bhanumathi under their company Bharani Pictures. Rao also served as director, while Bhanumathi played the female lead. The film was produced as a Tamil-Telugu bilingual, with Sivaji Ganesan playing the male lead in Tamil, and Jaggaiah replacing him in Telugu.

Soundtrack

The music was composed by G. Ramanathan. Lyrics by K. D. Santhanam, A. Maruthakasi & Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. Singers are P. Bhanumathi & J. P. Chandrababu. Playback singers are Ghantasala, A. M. Rajah, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Pithapuram Nageswara Rao, Jikki, P. Leela, A. P. Komala, A. G. Rathnamala & K. Jamuna Rani.
"Pambara Kannale" was later sampled in the song "En Peru Meenakumari" from Kanthaswamy.

Reception

Manamagan Thevai was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.