Miss Malini

For the blogger known as "Miss Malini", see Malini Agarwal.

Miss Malini
Black-and-white newspaper ad
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKothamangalam Subbu
Screenplay byKothamangalam Subbu
Story byR. K. Narayan
Produced byK. Ramnoth
StarringPushpavalli
Kothamangalam Subbu
M. S. Sundari Bai
CinematographyM. Natarajan
Edited byN. K. Gopal
Music byS. Rajeswara Rao
Parur S. Anantharaman
Production
company
Release date
  • 26 September 1947 (1947-09-26)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Miss Malini is a 1947 Indian Tamil-language satirical film written and directed by Kothamangalam Subbu and produced by K. Ramnoth, based on a story by R. K. Narayan. Subbu also starred in the film alongside Pushpavalli and M. S. Sundari Bai. Javar Seetharaman and Gemini Ganesan made their acting debuts in the film appearing in minor supporting roles. The film focuses on Malini (Pushpavalli), an impoverished woman who joins her actress friend Sundari's (M. S. Sundari Bai) theatre company Kala Mandhiram and becomes a success. Things take a turn for the worse when she befriends a charlatan named Sampath (Kothamangalam Subbu).

Miss Malini ridiculed aspects of life in Madras (now Chennai) during the World War II period, and was the only story written by Narayan for the screen that came to fruition. It was released on 26 September 1947, and was accompanied in theatres by Cinema Kadhambam, the first animated film produced in South Indian cinema. Miss Malini was praised by intellectuals; Subbu's performance as Sampath was widely appreciated. The songs composed by S. Rajeswara Rao and Parur S. Anantharaman became popular, and the film gained cult status in Tamil cinema.

Miss Malini marked Narayan's earliest use of story elements that would recur in some of his later novels. It was later rewritten by him as the 1949 novel Mr. Sampath – The Printer of Malgudi, which in turn was adapted into the Hindi film Mr. Sampat (1952) directed by S. S. Vasan, and a 1972 Tamil film directed by Cho Ramaswamy. Although no print of Miss Malini is known to survive, thereby making it a lost film, surviving artefacts include its songs, along with a few stills and newspaper advertisements.

Plot[edit]

Malini is an indigent woman whose father is in poor health. She is persuaded by her friend Sundari, an actress, to join her theatre company, Kala Mandhiram. Malini soon becomes very successful and popular. She is later befriended by Sampath, a charlatan, who is regularly involved in dodging creditors. Deaf to all advice, Malini allows herself to be led astray in professional, financial and moral terms. She is put out of Kala Mandhiram and sets up a theatre company of her own where Sampath appoints himself as general manager. Malini severs ties with those who previously helped her, including Sundari. At first, the new company prospers, but its resources are soon squandered by Sampath and it falls under a weight of debt and disgrace. Sampath abandons Malini, who falls back to her previous poor condition. However, with Sundari's help, she returns to Kala Mandhiram and begins her life anew.[1][2]

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Two surviving stills from the film.

Miss Malini was an original story written by novelist R. K. Narayan for the screen, not based on any of his past works.[7][8] It was also his only one that came to fruition.[9][a] Soon after the story developed, Narayan's friend, Gemini Studios' owner S. S. Vasan launched it as a film.[10] K. Ramnoth, then the controller of productions at Gemini, produced the film under the studio's banner.[11][12] M. Natarajan worked as the cinematographer, N. K. Gopal was the main editor, and the art director was A. K. Sekhar.[3] Besides directing the film and writing the screenplay,[3][8] Kothamangalam Subbu starred in a leading role as Sampath the charlatan, also known as "Bit Notice".[13][14] It was his second directorial venture, after Kannamma En Kadhali (1945), also produced by Gemini Studios.[15] Narayan's brother, R. K. Ramachandran, who did some editing on the film (marking his cinematic debut), believed that the character of Sampath was inspired by Sathashivayya, a man in Mysore who "exploited young women singers and artistes under the guise of promoting them".[8]

The film featured Pushpavalli in the title role, and M. S. Sundari Bai as her friend Sundari.[1][16] It was the former's second appearance in a Tamil film, after Gemini's Dasi Aparanji (1944).[6] N. Seetharaman, who later became known as Javar Seetharaman, made his acting debut in a minor role with this film, portraying the director of Kala Mandhiram.[1][17] The film also marked the cinematic debut of Ramaswamy Ganesan, who later became known as Gemini Ganesan. He was then working in Gemini's casting department, and Ramnoth, who had faith in Ganesan's acting prowess, cast him in the minor role of an assistant director employed by Seetharaman's character.[11] In his only scene in the film, the assistant director tells the director, "Sir, Collection – Record Break", referring to the tickets having been sold out, to which the director replies that while the collection is "record break", in some time the theatre too would be "break" (broken) due to Malini having gone missing.[18] Ganesan was credited onscreen as "R.G.", standing for "Ramaswamy Ganesan".[19][20] This was the film where he met his future wife Pushpavalli.[21]

V. Gopalakrishnan, in one of his earliest film roles, appeared as Sampath's office boy.[5][4] L. Narayana Rao was cast as a sari merchant who Sampath tells in English, "In this age of publicity, be wise and advertise!" and when the impressed merchant asks in Tamil who said it, Sampath simply replies "Shakespeare", duping the merchant in the process.[6] According to the 1996 book R.K. Narayan: The Early Years by N. Ram and his wife Susan, the film was made on a shoestring budget of approximately ₹ 2,50,000.[22][b] Its final length was 13,924 feet (4,244 m).[3][24]

Themes[edit]

Miss Malini subtly ridiculed aspects of life in Madras (now Chennai) during the World War II period when there was a shortage of commodities and high prices. It included depictions of social mores, a love story, and the moral dilemmas its characters face pursuing business and personal interests.[1] Film historian Randor Guy called the film a satire on South Indian society, it's wolves in sheep's clothing, frauds, social climbers and so on.[16] According to the 2006 book Performing Pasts: Reinventing the Arts in Modern South India, the name "Bit Notice" was resonant of Subbu's own interests in the fields of theatre and cinema.[25] Guy felt that the dialogue "Be wise and advertise!" reflected Vasan's personal beliefs.[26]

R.K. Narayan: The Early Years stated that the film marked Narayan's earliest use of story elements that would recur in his later novels such as The Financial Expert, The Man-Eater of Malgudi and The Guide.[27] These include the protagonist having humble beginnings before being lifted into a "totally new and unexpected situation," which brings fame and prosperity, the rise being invariably associated with an external player, who is a plausible person, of considerable force and no integrity. At the instigation of this character, the protagonist rises even higher, then engages in immoral actions causing their fall, and eventual return to their original position, but with a new philosophical perspective.[28]

Soundtrack[edit]

S. Rajeswara Rao and Carnatic musician Parur S. Anantharaman composed the film's soundtrack.[29] Subbu was the lyricist for all of the songs except "Kaalaiyiley Ezhunthiruntha Kattayodey Azhuganam", which was written by Surabhi.[1][3] T. V. Rathnam sang all of the songs except "Kulikkanum Kalikkanum" (sung by P. Leela), and "Kaalaiyiley" (sung by Sundari Bai).[1]

"Mylapore Vakkeelathu" explores a young woman's ambition to marry a lawyer from the Mylapore district of Chennai – "Mylapore vakeelaathu mattupennaaven" ("I shall be a Mylapore lawyer's daughter-in-law").[30] It also reflects the trend that popular and wealthy people of that period lived in Mylapore,[31] and highlights the association between Mylapore and lawyers.[30] "Kaalaiyiley" ridicules India's ration system through the lyrics "Sarkaraikku queuevil poi saanjukittu nikkanum, sanda pottu patthu balam sakkata mann vaanganum" ("I have to stand in the queue for sugar, and after a lot of fighting, buy ten measures of gutter mud").[32][33]

"Sri Saraswathi" is a partial variant of the Muthuswami Dikshitar composition of the same name.[6] S. S. Vasan initially hired D. K. Pattammal to sing the song, picturised on Malini. However, Pattammal's recording was excluded from the final cut in favour of a version recorded by Rathnam.[34] Vasan later told Randor Guy that Malini is an impoverished woman with no training in music when the song takes place, and cannot be expected to sing with the "class, perfection and brilliance" of Pattammal. As a result, he chose "a regular singer" to sing the song.[35] "Paadum Radio" outlines the comfort of life in Madras with its electricity, radio and so on, but there is "counter in the same song which [emphasises] what city life is devoid of."[36] The songs attained popularity,[1] particularly "Mylapore Vakkeelathu",[30][37] and "Kaalaiyiley".[1] R.K. Narayan: The Early Years states that the songs "would be remembered long after the film ceased showing".[22]

Tracks sorted alphabetically[38]
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Abayam Thanthu Arul Purivaiyam"Kothamangalam SubbuT. V. Rathnam2:52
2."Jegame Oru Chiththira Salai"Kothamangalam SubbuT. V. Rathnam3:15
3."Kaalaiyiley Ezhunthiruntha Kattayodey Azhuganam"SurabhiM. S. Sundari Bai6:06
4."Kulikkanum Kalikkanum"Kothamangalam SubbuP. Leela1:58
5."Mylapore Vakkeelathu"Kothamangalam SubbuT. V. Rathnam2:24
6."Paadum Radio"Kothamangalam SubbuT. V. Rathnam6:24
7."Senthamizh Nadu Sezhiththidave"Kothamangalam SubbuT. V. Rathnam2:43
8."Sri Saraswathi"Kothamangalam SubbuT. V. Rathnam3:24

Release[edit]

A scene from Cinema Kadambam, an animated short screened alongside Miss Malini. It was the first animated film produced in South India.[39]

Miss Malini was released on 26 September 1947.[40] An animated film of roughly 10 minutes,[c] developed by cartoonist N. Thanu, titled Cinema Kadhambam, was screened after the interval of Miss Malini.[3][41] Cinema Kadhambam, which featured caricatures of popular South Indian actors like Ranjan, Vasundhara, T. R. Ramachandran and P. Kannamba,[42] was the first animated film produced in South Indian cinema.[39]

Critical reception[edit]

Miss Malini was well received by intellectuals; critics praised Subbu's performance as Sampath.[1][14] On 26 September 1947, the reviewer from The Hindu believed the technical aspects had made Miss Malini "Gemini's most outstanding achievement", concluding that the film was "of immense significance for the Indian screen." The Free Press Journal's review the same day similarly opined, "[Miss] Malini with its technical perfection, good photography and high level acting splashed by good music, and untainted by vulgarity will provide good entertainment." The following day, a review of Miss Malini from The Indian Express noted that it presented "a sort of skit on modern life" and termed it as "fine entertainment." The Tamil newspaper Swadesamitran's review described it as a "sample of the high production values Gemini is capable of introducing in a picture".[43]

The critic from the Telugu newspaper Andhra Prabha said on 28 September, "Evidence of skillful expression of art is profusely manifest in this picture." On 3 October, the critic from The Mail praised the cast performances, the film's music, "enchanting pageantry" and Subbu's direction. A reviewer from another Tamil newspaper, Dinamani, believed the film to be "a pointer to social pictures in future" in their review dated 5 October.[43] The critic from The Indian Review called Miss Malini an "attempt at a new kind of filmmaking with new technique. Eschewing cheap love-scenes and lewd expressions and gestures, the film yet keeps our interest intact."[44]

Box office[edit]

According to Randor Guy, Miss Malini was not successful at the box-office,[45] and it took a few years to recover its cost.[46] He attributed the film's failure to its lack of commercial elements that would have helped it reach out to average filmgoers, the fact that it was ahead of its time, and wrote that Vasan lamented that "making films for intellectuals would not bring money"; Guy considered this a "lesson" he learnt from making the film.[1] Guy also stated that Vasan would later often tell his friends that the film proved that Indian audiences "did not appreciate movies that tickled their intellect".[46] Novelist and historian Venkatesh Ramakrishnan supported Guy's claim, saying the film "bombed at the box office".[9]

In contrast, the 1985 book 70 Years of Indian Cinema, 1913–1983 says Miss Malini not only created box office records, but was also a trendsetter in Tamil cinema.[47] V. Balakrishnan, writing for the magazine Ananda Vikatan in 2015, also stated that the film was a success.[48] R.K. Narayan: The Early Years says that the film "paid for itself at the box office".[22] Vasan's son S. S. Balan said the film "fared reasonably well".[49] In April 1954, the magazine Gundoosi's column "Nunippul" (lit. 'Surface Grass') said that Ramnoth, not Subbu, was the main reason for the film's success.[50]

Legacy[edit]

Miss Malini attained cult status in Tamil cinema,[14] and the character of Sampath became iconic.[1] Sundari Bai's "nippy delivery" of her lines also attained popularity.[51] Subbu became popularly known by his character's nickname "Bit Notice" after the film's release; children around Kapaleeshwarar Temple would scream "Bit Notice" when he passed by that area.[8] Subbu's dialogue "Be wise and advertise!" also attained popularity.[6][52] Music historian Vamanan noted in 2013 that politician M. P. Sivagnanam's enthusiasm for popularising the life of the Polygar chieftain Veerapandiya Kattabomman as a resistance fighter was derived initially from a line written by Subbu in a song from Miss Malini, which mentions Kattabomman along with Mahatma Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose ("Gandhi Mahaan, Netaji, Kattabomman kathai koori").[d]

According to Ganesan's journalist daughter Narayani, his role in Miss Malini won him acclaim, and he soon received more acting offers.[54] Guy noted that he went on to "blossom as one of the top stars of South Indian cinema".[1] The film was later rewritten by Narayan as the 1949 novel Mr. Sampath – The Printer of Malgudi,[14] which in turn was adapted into the Hindi film Mr. Sampat (1952) directed by Vasan and starring Motilal Rajvansh,[55][e] and a 1972 Tamil film directed by and starring Cho Ramaswamy.[59][60] Although no print of Miss Malini is known to survive, which makes it a lost film,[20] surviving artifacts include its songs,[38] along with a few stills and newspaper advertisements.[1][43]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Narayan wrote a story for Jupiter Pictures which was not produced. He also wrote a treatment for Gemini's Moondru Pillaigal (1952) and contributed to the script of Avvaiyar (1953), but Narayan's brother R. K. Ramachandran did not know "how much of his work Vasan used" for the latter.[8]
  2. ^ The exchange rate in 1947 was 3.3175 Indian rupees (₹) per 1 US dollar (US$).[23]
  3. ^ While film historian Randor Guy estimated the short to have run for "5 to 10 minutes",[39] the 1992 book Films Division and the Indian Documentary by India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting says it was 8 minutes long.[41]
  4. ^ The claim by Vamanan does not identify the song by name.[53]
  5. ^ While Vasan's son S. S. Balan and Mr. Sampat's lead actress Padmini stated that the film was adapted from Miss Malini,[56][57] a December 1952 article by The Times of India stated that it was "based on a popular story which appeared in serial form in The Illustrated Weekly of India some time ago".[58]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Guy, Randor (25 July 2008). "Miss Malini 1947". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2012.
  2. ^ Ram & Ram 1996, pp. 322–323.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Film News Anandan (2004). Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru [Tamil film history and its achievements] (in Tamil). Chennai: Sivagami Publishers. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b Guy, Randor (13 July 2013). "Thulasimaadam (1963)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b Guy 2016, pp. 193–194.
  6. ^ a b c d e Guy, Randor (6 April 1991). "Miss Malini: Fine acting and good music". The Indian Express. p. 19 – via Google News Archive.
  7. ^ Ram, Susan; Ram, N. (5 October 1996). "Narayan of Malgudi". Frontline. Vol. 13, no. 20. Chennai: S. Rangarajan for Kasturi & Sons. p. 13. ISSN 0970-1710. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e Guy, Randor (26 July 2001). "A flood of fond memories". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  9. ^ a b Ramakrishnan, Venkatesh (14 August 2017). "1947: A Madras story". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  10. ^ Ghosh 2013, pp. 3–4.
  11. ^ a b Guy, Randor (15 August 2003). "Star and a versatile actor". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  12. ^ Guy, Randor (3 November 2006). "Remembering Ramnoth". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  13. ^ Ganesh 2011, p. 50.
  14. ^ a b c d Guy, Randor (8 February 2014). "Blast from the Past: Chandra Mohana or Samooga Thondu 1936". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  15. ^ "Director". Kothamangalam Subbu. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  16. ^ a b Guy 2016, p. 193.
  17. ^ Guy, Randor (14 November 2015). "Aalayamani (1962) Tamil". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  18. ^ Krishnamoorthy, Sugeeth (5 January 2018). Chapter Four – The Missing Film Reels of Thamizh Cinema 1916–2016 (documentary). YouTube. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021.
  19. ^ Guy 2016, p. 252.
  20. ^ a b Guy, Randor (2008). "Round the City's old studios with Randor Guy". Madras Musings. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  21. ^ Usman 2016, p. 28.
  22. ^ a b c Ram & Ram 1996, p. 322.
  23. ^ "Exchange Rate – 1945–1971". Reserve Bank of India. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  24. ^ Doraiswamy, V . (1952). Asian Film Directory and Who's who. Bombay: Fozalbhoy House. p. 167. OCLC 19120677.
  25. ^ Peterson & Soneji 2008, p. 275: "In Miss Malini, Subbu played the role of the film's central character, Sampath, dubbing him 'Bit Notice', a name resonant of his own interests in the worlds of the popular drama and cinema".
  26. ^ Guy, Randor (23 May 2003). "With a finger on people's pulse". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  27. ^ Haq, Kaiser (1997). "A Malgudi Life". The London Magazine. Vol. 37, no. 1–6. p. 211.
  28. ^ Ram & Ram 1996, p. 323.
  29. ^ மிஸ் மாலினி (song book) (in Tamil). Madras: Gemini Studios. 1947.
  30. ^ a b c Guy, Randor. "Mylapore Lawyer". Mylaporelawyerpichai.org. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  31. ^ Chetti, Nalli Kuppuswami (28 June 2014). "Creating Emerging Markets – Oral History Collection" (PDF) (Interview). Interviewed by V. G. Narayanan. Harvard Business School. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  32. ^ "தில்லானா மோகனாம்பாளை திரைக்குத் தந்த கொத்தமங்கலம் சுப்பு! பிறந்தநாள் சிறப்புப் பகிர்வு" [Kothamangalam Subbu, who gave the screen Thillana Mohanambal! Birthday special]. Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). 10 November 2016. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  33. ^ Venkatachalam 2009, p. 12.
  34. ^ Guy, Randor (31 July 2009). "Memorable voice, evergreen songs". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  35. ^ Guy 1997, p. 234.
  36. ^ Gopalakrishnan, P. V. (22 August 2017). "Filmy Ripples – Madras Day, in the eyes of an old movie buff". The Cinema Resource Centre. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  37. ^ Ramnarayan, Gowri (15 June 2010). "Memories of Madras: Mystic aura of Mylapore". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  38. ^ a b "Miss Malini (மிஸ் மாலினி)". Inbaminge. Archived from the original on 14 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  39. ^ a b c Guy, Randor (3 December 2011). "Padma Jyoti 1937". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  40. ^ Madhavan, Pradeep (14 November 2014). "ஜெமினி கணேசன் பிறந்தநாள்: நவம்பர் 17 – காதல் மன்னன் பிறந்த கதை" [Gemini Ganesan's birthday: 17 November – How the King of Romance was born]. The Hindu (Tamil). Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  41. ^ a b Narwekar 1992, p. 45.
  42. ^ Swamy, R. (director) (1997). Glimpses Of Indian Animation (documentary). Films Division of India. From 8:40 to 9:30.
  43. ^ a b c "All about Miss Malini the press acclaims". The Indian Express. Madras. 21 October 1947. Retrieved 11 April 2017 – via Google News Archive.
  44. ^ Natesan, G. A., ed. (November 1947). "Gemini's Malini". The Indian Review. p. 629.
  45. ^ Guy, Randor (1 February 1989). "Hit and Miss". Aside. pp. 46–47.
  46. ^ a b Guy 2016, p. 194.
  47. ^ Ramachandran & Rukmini 1985, p. 164.
  48. ^ Balakrishnan, V. (19 December 2016). "கைதட்டலை கணித்த கெட்டிக்காரர் எஸ்.எஸ்.வாசன் (தமிழ்சினிமா முன்னோடிகள்: தொடர்-13)" [S. S. Vasan, the clever man who foresaw applause (Pioneers of Tamil cinema: Part 13)]. Ananda Vikatan (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 8 May 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  49. ^ Ghosh 2013, p. 8.
  50. ^ Pillai 2015, p. 189.
  51. ^ Guy 2016, p. 181.
  52. ^ Pillai 2015, p. 173; Guy 2016, p. 249.
  53. ^ Vamanan (April 2013). "Kothamangalam Subbu: Storyteller par excellence" (PDF). Sruti. pp. 13–14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  54. ^ Ganesh 2011, pp. 50–51.
  55. ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 326.
  56. ^ Ghosh 2013, p. 4.
  57. ^ Santhanam, Kausalya (24 September 2004). "The tillana glitter is intact". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  58. ^ "Vast crowds welcome Gemini's Mr Sampat". The Times of India. 26 December 1952.
  59. ^ Venkatachalam 2009, pp. 12–13.
  60. ^ "திரை உலகில் சோ மீது போர் தொடுத்த துக்ளக்!" [The war on the actor Cho by Tughlaq!]. Dinamalar (in Tamil). 25 January 2016. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

Bibliography[edit]

External links[edit]

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