JohannaBuckley at 05:15, 4 March 2026

2026-03-04T05:15:39Z

New page

{{short description|1961 film by V. N. Reddy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Manapanthal poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[V. N. Reddy]]
| producer = [[T. R. Ramanna]]
| music = [[Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]]
| screenplay = Thuraiyur K. Moorthy
| based_on = {{based on|''[[Sabrina (1954 film)|Sabrina]]''}}
| starring = [[S. S. Rajendran]] <br /> [[S. A. Ashokan]] <br /> [[B. Saroja Devi]] <br /> [[E. V. Saroja]]
| studio = R. R. Pictures
| released = {{film date|1961|1|14|df=y}}
| runtime = 150 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
'''''Manapanthal''''' ({{Translation|Marriage Hall}}) is 1961 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[romance film]], directed by [[V. N. Reddy]], produced by [[T. R. Ramanna]] and written by Thuraiyur K. Moorthy, with music by [[Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]]. The film stars [[S. S. Rajendran]], [[S. A. Ashokan]], [[B. Saroja Devi]] and [[E. V. Saroja]], with [[P. Kannamba]], [[V. Nagayya]], Rama Rao, [[K. A. Thangavelu]] and [[M. Saroja]] in supporting roles. The film was simultaneously made in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''[[Intiki Deepam Illale]]''; both versions are based on the American film ''[[Sabrina (1954 film)|Sabrina]]'' (1954; based on [[Samuel A. Taylor]]'s 1953 play ''[[Sabrina Fair]]'').<ref name="RandorGuy">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=26 April 2014 |title=Blast from the past – Manapandhal 1961 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/Manapandhal-1961/article5951258.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427160346/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/Manapandhal-1961/article5951258.ece |archive-date=27 April 2014 |access-date=30 November 2015 |work=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Rajasekaran is an alcoholic, and his younger brother Gunasekaran is a successful medical practitioner. The widowed mother Kannamba showers her love and affection on her two sons and tries to reform Rajasekaran, with little success. Gunasekaran stays in another town with a widowed mother Dharuvamma and her sprightly daughter Malathi, who falls in love with him; he too seems to show some interest in her.

However, on a rail journey to his hometown, Gunasekaran meets Dharmalingam, an elderly man with a daughter Suguna and both fall in love, and hope to marry soon. Meanwhile, Rajasekaran's mother hopes marriage will reform him and fixes his marriage with Suguna, not realising that Gunasekaran is love with her.

The wedding happens, and Gunasekaran, due to an accident, is unable to attend it and does not known that the bride is Suguna. Later, when he meets her, he is shocked. Rajasekaran suspects his wife and brother when he learns that she was his lover earlier. He decides to kill them. Meanwhile, Kannamba dies, leaving behind all the property to her daughter-in-law.

Gunasekaran puts on an act of having become an alcoholic and makes overtures to his sister-in-law Suguna, who slaps him. Seeing this, her husband realises the truth and apologises to her. The family is reunited. While travelling via train, Gunasekaran notices a young woman dressed as a bride lying on the railway track to commit suicide. The train stops in time and Gunasekaran finds that the women is Malathi, who is still in love with him. The two marry.

== Cast ==
{{cast listing|
* [[S. S. Rajendran]] as Dr. Gunasekaran
* [[S. A. Ashokan]] as Rajasekaran
* [[B. Saroja Devi|B. Sarojadevi]] as Suguna
* [[E. V. Saroja]] as Malathi
* [[P. Kannamba]] as Kannamba
* [[V. Nagayya]] as Dharmalingam
* [[K. A. Thangavelu]] as Dr. Navadeenal
* [[M. Saroja]] as Navami
* Rama Rao as Ashtami
* K. Malathi as Dharuvamma
}}

== Production ==
''Manapanthal'' was directed by V. N. Reddy and produced by [[T. R. Ramanna]] under R. R. Pictures.<ref name="IndianExpress" /> Thuraiyur K. Murthi wrote the screenplay. Hiralal and Gopalakrishnan were the dance choreographers. It was simultaneously made in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''[[Intiki Deepam Illale]]''; both versions were based on the American film ''[[Sabrina (1954 film)|Sabrina]]'' (1954).<ref name="RandorGuy" />

== Soundtrack ==
The music was composed by [[Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]], while the lyrics were written by [[Kannadasan]].<ref name="IndianExpress" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Manapanthal |url=https://tamilsongslyrics123.com/movie/Manapanthal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630113839/https://tamilsongslyrics123.com/movie/Manapanthal |archive-date=30 June 2022 |access-date=20 September 2021 |website=Tamil Songs Lyrics}}</ref> The songs were well received, and contributed to the success of the film. Two songs – "Unakkum Matttum Unakkum"'','' sung by P. Susheela, and "Udalukku Uyir Kaaval", sung by P. B. Srinivas – attained popularity,<ref name="RandorGuy" /> especially the latter which speaks against alcoholism.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2024 |title=''குடித்தால் போலீஸ் பிடிக்காதா'': உறுதி செய்த கண்ணதாசன் எழுதிய காவல் கீதம்; என்ன பாட்டு தெரியுமா? |url=https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema-kannadasan-classic-song-in-manapanthal-movie-songs-4554391 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217014729/https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema-kannadasan-classic-song-in-manapanthal-movie-songs-4554391 |archive-date=17 December 2024 |access-date=17 December 2024 |website=[[The Indian Express]] |language=ta}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! Song !! Singer !! Length
|-
| "Unakku Mattum Unakku" || rowspan=3|[[P. Susheela]] || 3:21
|-
| "Orey Raagam Orey Thaalam" || 3:36
|-
| "Unakku Mattum Unakku" (Sad) || 2:27
|-
| "Paarthu Paarthu Nindrathile" || [[P. B. Srinivas]] P. Susheela || 3:28
|-
| "Muthu Muthu Pacharisi" || [[S. Janaki]] & [[L. R. Eswari]] || 4:41
|-
| "Udalukku Uyir Kaaval" || P. B. Srinivas || 4:10
|-
| "Ammavukku Manasukkuley" || S. C. Krishnan,L.R.Eswari || 3:13
|-
| "Petretuthu Peyarumittu" || T. S. Bagavathi || 3:52
|}

== Release and reception ==
''Manapanthal'' was released on 14 January 1961.<ref name="IndianExpress">{{Cite news |date=14 January 1961 |title=Mana Pandal |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19610114&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=3 May 2017 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=10 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The film was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in theatres.<ref name="RandorGuy" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sabrina Fair]]
[[Category:1961 Indian films]]
[[Category:1960s romance films]]
[[Category:1961 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1961 films]]
[[Category:Comedy-drama film remakes]]
[[Category:Films about alcoholism]]
[[Category:Films about brothers]]
[[Category:Films about Indian weddings]]
[[Category:Films based on adaptations]]
[[Category:Films scored by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy]]
[[Category:Films set in Chennai]]
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]
[[Category:Indian films based on plays]]
[[Category:Indian remakes of American films]]
[[Category:Indian romance films]]
[[Category:Romance film remakes]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language romance films]]

Manapanthal - Revision history

JohannaBuckley at 05:15, 4 March 2026