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{{short description|1958 film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Maalaiyitta Mangai.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = G. R. Nathan
| screenplay = [[Kannadasan]]
| based_on = {{based on|''Chandra Natha''|[[Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay]]}}
| producer = Kannadasan
| starring = [[T. R. Mahalingam (actor)|T. R. Mahalingam]] <br /> [[Pandari Bai]] <br /> [[Mynavathi]]
| cinematography = G. R. Nathan
| studio = Kannadasan Films
| music = [[Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]]
| distributor = ALS Productions<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 July 1958 |title=Malaiyitta Mangai |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19580704&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=18 September 2022 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=3 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
| released = {{film date|1958|6|27|df=y}}
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}

'''''Maalaiyitta Mangai''''' ({{Translation|The woman who garlanded}}) is a 1958 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language film directed by G. R. Nathan and produced by [[Kannadasan]] under his own production company Kannadasan Films.<ref name="lakshmansruthi">{{Cite web |title=1958 – மாலையிட்ட மங்கை – கண்ணதாசன் பிலிம்ஸ் |trans-title=1958 – Maalaiyitta Mangai – Kannadasan Films |url=http://lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1958-cinedetails31.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181207140745/http://lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1958-cinedetails31.asp |archive-date=7 December 2018 |access-date=7 December 2018 |website=[[Lakshman Sruthi]] |language=Tamil}}</ref> The film's soundtrack was composed by [[Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]]. The film stars [[T. R. Mahalingam (actor)|T. R. Mahalingam]], [[Pandari Bai]] and [[Mynavathi]], with [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]] (in her acting debut), [[Kaka Radhakrishnan]] and [[C. Lakshmi Rajyam]] in supporting roles. It is based on [[Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay]]'s novel ''Chandra Nath''. The film was released on 27 June 1958 and became a success.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 June 1958 |title=Malaiyitta Mangai |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19580627&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=10 July 2018 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=3 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sri Kantha |first=Sachi |author-link=Sachi Sri Kantha |date=3 November 2014 |title=MGR Remembered – Part 22 {{!}} Sibling Rivalry and Siblicide in DMK of 1950s |url=https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-22/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022030141/https://sangam.org/mgr-remembered-part-22/ |archive-date=22 October 2020 |access-date=8 August 2021 |website=[[Ilankai Tamil Sangam]]}}</ref>

== Plot ==
{{more plot|date=September 2022}}
Chandru studies in [[London]] and returns to [[Tiruchirappalli]]. He lives with his aunt, Alankari and uncle and their daughter Kamalam. Kamalam is in love with Chandru but Chandru doesn't reciprocate it. Chandru goes to [[Chennai|Madras]] to meet his friend's family. There, he meets Sarasu and they fall in love. Sarasu is from a poor family. They both get married and he brings her to Tiruchirappalli. Kamalam hates Sarasu in the beginning but when Sarasu is ready to give up her husband for Kamalam, she realises Sarasu's generous and gentle nature and they both become close. Sarasu gets pregnant and during the bangle ceremony, Alankari gets a picture of Sarasu's mother, Chellam and tells everyone that Chellam became pregnant after her husband went to jail and she is characterless. Chandru's mind changes and he makes Sarasu leave the house to uphold his family values. Sarasu comes to Madras and finds that her mother is dead and her father is in jail again. She finds a letter written by her mother which says she got pregnant by her father who used to escape from jail and meet her at night and that they both run away to Madras. This letter proves her mother's character. Sarasu delivers a boy and Kamalam's marriage arrangements are made with Chandru. Kamalam chastises Chandru for throwing the pregnant Sarasu out and says he will be a man only if he brings her back. Chandru realises his mistake and goes to apologise to Sarasu. He meets with an accident and Sarasu donates her blood and nurses him back to health. Sarasu becomes weak and on her death bed unites Chandru and Kamalam and dies.

== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
* [[T. R. Mahalingam (actor)|T. R. Mahalingam]] as Chandru
* [[Pandari Bai]] as Sarasu
* [[Mynavathi]] as Kamalam
* [[Manorama (Tamil actress)|Manorama]] as Anjalai
* [[Kaka Radhakrishnan]] as Sudalai
* [[C. Lakshmi Rajyam]]
* [[Padmini Priyadarshini]]
* [[C. K. Saraswathi]] as Alankari
}}

== Production ==
''Maalaiyitta Mangai'' is an adaptation of the novel ''Chandra Nath'' by [[Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay]].<ref name="bong">{{Cite web |last=Vamanan |author-link=Vamanan |date=23 April 2018 |title=Tamil cinema's bong connection |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/tamil-cinemas-bong-connection/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228093357/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/tamil-cinemas-bong-connection/ |archive-date=28 February 2019 |access-date=8 August 2021 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> The film marked the acting debut of Manorama.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 June 2008 |title=50 years of Manorama |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/50-years-of-Manorama/article15384181.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725165612/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/50-years-of-Manorama/article15384181.ece |archive-date=25 July 2020 |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sadhanandan |first=Smitha |date=30 September 2002 |title=Having the last laugh |url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/09/30/stories/2002093001070300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030312192403/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/09/30/stories/2002093001070300.htm |archive-date=12 March 2003 |access-date=30 April 2016 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> In an interview, she recalled that it was Kannadasan who insisted her to perform the comical role for the film as portraying such characters would cement her status in the industry.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Balachandran |first=Logesh |date=24 September 2015 |title=It's only because of Kalai Thaai that I'm still alive: Manorama |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/its-only-because-of-kalai-thaai-that-im-still-alive-manorama/articleshow/49074379.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909171815/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Its-only-because-of-Kalai-Thaai-that-Im-still-alive-Manorama/articleshow/49074379.cms |archive-date=9 September 2019 |access-date=8 August 2021 |work=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
Music was composed by [[Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]] and all lyrics were written by Kannadasan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 December 1958 |title=Maalaiyitta Mangai (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/maalaiyitta-mangai-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1394053841 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019055936/https://music.apple.com/us/album/maalaiyitta-mangai-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1394053841 |archive-date=19 October 2021 |access-date=8 August 2021 |website=[[Apple Music]]}}</ref> According to ''[[Scroll.in]]'' writer Sruthisagar Yamunan, the song "Engal Dravida Ponnade" was a "[[Dravidian nationalism|direct challenge]] to the [[Indian National Congress|Congress party]]'s version of [[Indian nationalism|nationalism]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yamunan |first=Sruthisagar |date=10 May 2018 |title=Tamil Nadu minister Jayakumar's threat to the 'Kaala' soundtrack betrays his ignorance of history |url=https://scroll.in/reel/878439/tamil-nadu-minister-jayakumars-threat-to-the-kaala-soundtrack-betrays-his-ignorance-of-history |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720165649/https://scroll.in/reel/878439/tamil-nadu-minister-jayakumars-threat-to-the-kaala-soundtrack-betrays-his-ignorance-of-history |archive-date=20 July 2021 |access-date=8 August 2021 |website=[[Scroll.in]]}}</ref> Kannadasan wrote the song with Mahalingam singing, as a challenge in response to actor/politician [[M. G. Ramachandran]]'s prediction that the film would fail because of his belief that Mahalingam would not be accepted as a lead actor by party cadres.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sri Kantha |first=Sachi |author-link=Sachi Sri Kantha |date=17 October 2011 |title=Kannadasan's Minor Book(let) on MGR {{!}} Random Notes |url=https://sangam.org/2011/10/Kannadasan_Booklet.php?uid=4486 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200104064118/https://sangam.org/2011/10/Kannadasan_Booklet.php?uid=4486 |archive-date=4 January 2020 |access-date=8 August 2021 |website=[[Ilankai Tamil Sangam]]}}</ref> The song "Naan Andri Yaar Arivaar" is set to the raga [[Abhogi]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=2 March 2012 |title=A Raga's Journey – Arresting Abhogi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/a-ragas-journey-arresting-abhogi/article2954010.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006235026/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/a-ragas-journey-arresting-abhogi/article2954010.ece |archive-date=6 October 2018 |access-date=5 December 2018 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> and "Sentamizh Thenmozhiyal" is set to [[Kapi (raga)|Kapi]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=7 December 2012 |title=Notes that intrigue |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/Notes-that-intrigue/article15616721.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118235754/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/Notes-that-intrigue/article15616721.ece |archive-date=18 January 2021 |access-date=31 August 2020 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! Songs !! Singers !! Length
|-
| "Sendhamizh Thenmozhiyaal" || [[T. R. Mahalingam (actor)|T. R. Mahalingam]] || 04:26
|-
| "Engal Dravida Ponnade" || T. R. Mahalingam || 03:25
|-
| "Naan Indri Yaar Vaaruvaar" || T. R. Mahalingam & [[A. P. Komala]] || 03:28
|-
| "Sendhamizh Thenmozhiyaal" || [[K. Jamuna Rani]] || 04:48
|-
| "Ammaa Unnai Kondu Vanatthile" || [[V. N. Sundaram]]|| 01:05
|-
| "Akkarai Cheemaikku Pona Macchaan" || [[Seerkazhi Govindarajan]] & K. Jamuna Rani || 04:10
|-
| "Maalayitta Mana Mudichu" || K. Jamuna Rani || 03:28
|-
| "Mazhai Kooda Oru Naalil" || [[M. S. Rajeswari]] || 03:43
|-
| "Illaram Onre Nallaram" || [[P. Suseela]] || 04:11
|-
| "Saattai Illaa Pambarampol" || [[Thiruchi Loganathan]] & M. S. Rajeswari<br />dialogues by [[Pandari Bai]] || 04:06
|-
| "Thingal Mudi Soodum Malai" || T. R. Mahalingam || 02:22
|-
| "Inaadum Immozhiyum.... Vetri Thrunaade" || A. P. Komala || 02:26
|-
| "Annaiyin Naattai Pagaivargal" || T. S. Bagavathi || 02:12
|-
| "Vil Enge Kanai Enge" || Seerkazhi Govindarajan || 02:04
|-
| "Annam Pola Pennirukku" || P. Suseela || 03:26
|}

== Critical reception ==
{{Empty section|date=March 2024}}
<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=காந்தன் |date=20 July 1958 |title=மாலையிட்ட மங்கை |url=https://archive.org/details/kalki1958-07-20/page/n51/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230202055808/https://archive.org/details/kalki1958-07-20/page/n51/mode/2up |archive-date=2 February 2023 |access-date=21 July 2022 |magazine=[[Kalki (magazine)|Kalki]] |pages=50–51 |language=ta |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=5 July 1958 |title=மாலையிட்ட மங்கை |url=https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_9_14_180/6.jp2/full/1000,1581/0/default.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250228125948/https://images.eap.bl.uk/EAP372/EAP372_9_14_180/6.jp2/full/1000,1581/0/default.jpg |archive-date=28 February 2025 |access-date=28 February 2025 |work=Janasakthi |pages=6 |language=ta |via=[[Endangered Archives Programme]]}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}

[[Category:1958 Indian films]]
[[Category:1950s musical drama films]]
[[Category:1950s romantic musical films]]
[[Category:1958 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1958 films]]
[[Category:1958 romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Films based on Bengali novels]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay]]
[[Category:Films scored by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Indian musical drama films]]
[[Category:Indian romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Indian romantic musical films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language romantic drama films]]

Maalaiyitta Mangai - Revision history

ShereeDrm9452 at 04:59, 4 March 2026