Marmayogi (1951 film)
Encyclopedia
Marmayogi is a 1951 Tamil film
directed by K. Ramnoth and starring M. G. Ramachandran
(MGR) and M. N. Nambiar
. The screen play was written by A. S. A. Sami based on a Marie Corelli
novel. This film cemented the onscreen image of MGR as a social rebel and fighter for justice. It was also made in Hindi
(as Ek tha Raja) at the same time. It was the first Tamil film to receive an "A" (Adults Only) certificate from the film censor board
.
(1947) - his first film as hero, MGR wanted to act in a film which would be centered around him. He persuaded A. S. A. Sami to write a script that would promote him as a fighter against injustice. Sami wrote a script based on Marie Corelli
's novel Vendetta with elements of Robin Hood
in it. The script was initially titled Karikalan (after the chola
king karikalan
). This was a break from tradition, when the usual practice was to give the hero (and the film title) Sanskrit
names like Veerasimhan or Pratapan. The film's title was changed to Marmayogi (lit. The mysterious sage) to avoid it being confused as a historical film. The film was produced by Jupiter Pictures at the Central Studios in Coimbatore
. K. Ramnoth was hired as director. Serukalathur Sama, Sahasranamam, S. A. Natarajan, M. N. Nambiar
and Anjali Devi
were cast in the film. The film's dialogue was written carefully to embellish MGR's image as a social rebel and do-gooder. The film was also made simultaneously in Hindi as Ek tha raja. The film was given an "A" (Adults Only) certificate by the film censor board because it featured a ghost.
Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
directed by K. Ramnoth and starring M. G. Ramachandran
M. G. Ramachandran
Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran , popularly known by his initials , was an Indian film actor, director, producer and politician....
(MGR) and M. N. Nambiar
M. N. Nambiar
M. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar ( (born Manjeri Narayanan Nambiar 7 March 1919 — 19 November 2008) was a film actor in Tamil cinema and had been in the film industry for more than 50 years.-Biography:...
. The screen play was written by A. S. A. Sami based on a Marie Corelli
Marie Corelli
Marie Corelli was a British novelist. She enjoyed a period of great literary success from the publication of her first novel in 1886 until World War I. Corelli's novels sold more copies than the combined sales of popular contemporaries, including Arthur Conan Doyle, H. G...
novel. This film cemented the onscreen image of MGR as a social rebel and fighter for justice. It was also made in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
(as Ek tha Raja) at the same time. It was the first Tamil film to receive an "A" (Adults Only) certificate from the film censor board
Central Board of Film Certification
The Central Board of Film Certification is a Government of India regulatory body and censorship board of India controlled by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. It reviews, rates and censors motion pictures, television shows, television ads, and promotional material...
.
Production
After the success of RajakumariRajakumaari
Rajakumaari is a Tamil language film starring M. G. Ramachandran in the lead role. The film was released in the 1940s.-Cast:...
(1947) - his first film as hero, MGR wanted to act in a film which would be centered around him. He persuaded A. S. A. Sami to write a script that would promote him as a fighter against injustice. Sami wrote a script based on Marie Corelli
Marie Corelli
Marie Corelli was a British novelist. She enjoyed a period of great literary success from the publication of her first novel in 1886 until World War I. Corelli's novels sold more copies than the combined sales of popular contemporaries, including Arthur Conan Doyle, H. G...
's novel Vendetta with elements of Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
in it. The script was initially titled Karikalan (after the chola
Chola Dynasty
The Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which was one of the longest-ruling in some parts of southern India. The earliest datable references to this Tamil dynasty are in inscriptions from the 3rd century BC left by Asoka, of Maurya Empire; the dynasty continued to govern over varying territory until...
king karikalan
Karikala Chola
Karikala Chola or Karikala Chozhan was one of the great Tamil kings of Early Chola during the Sangam period. He was the son of Ilamcetcenni and ruled around 270 BC....
). This was a break from tradition, when the usual practice was to give the hero (and the film title) Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
names like Veerasimhan or Pratapan. The film's title was changed to Marmayogi (lit. The mysterious sage) to avoid it being confused as a historical film. The film was produced by Jupiter Pictures at the Central Studios in Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
. K. Ramnoth was hired as director. Serukalathur Sama, Sahasranamam, S. A. Natarajan, M. N. Nambiar
M. N. Nambiar
M. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar ( (born Manjeri Narayanan Nambiar 7 March 1919 — 19 November 2008) was a film actor in Tamil cinema and had been in the film industry for more than 50 years.-Biography:...
and Anjali Devi
Anjali Devi
Anjali Devi is a veteran Telugu actress and producer. She is well known for her mythological role as Sita in Lava Kusha and roles in movies like Suvarna Sundari and Anarkali.- Biography :...
were cast in the film. The film's dialogue was written carefully to embellish MGR's image as a social rebel and do-gooder. The film was also made simultaneously in Hindi as Ek tha raja. The film was given an "A" (Adults Only) certificate by the film censor board because it featured a ghost.
Plot
A King's (Serukalathur Sama) mistress (Anjali Devi) usurps his power and casts him adrift in a river. The two princes of the kingdom (Sahasranamam and MGR) are denied their birthright. The deposed king wanders the country in the guise of a sage. The younger prince (MGR) leads a popular rebellion against the usurper-queen and restores the kingdom to his father.Cast and crew
- M. G. RamachandranM. G. RamachandranMaruthur Gopalan Ramachandran , popularly known by his initials , was an Indian film actor, director, producer and politician....
- S. A. Natrajan
- M. N. NambiarM. N. NambiarM. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar M. N. Nambiar ( (born Manjeri Narayanan Nambiar 7 March 1919 — 19 November 2008) was a film actor in Tamil cinema and had been in the film industry for more than 50 years.-Biography:...
- Anjali DeviAnjali DeviAnjali Devi is a veteran Telugu actress and producer. She is well known for her mythological role as Sita in Lava Kusha and roles in movies like Suvarna Sundari and Anarkali.- Biography :...
- Javar Seetharaman
- Serukalathur Sama
- Sahasranamam
- Madhuri Devi
- Pandari BaiPandari BaiPandari Bai was a prominent heroine of South Indian languages films mostly in Kannada and Tamil during the 1950s and 60s. She has the distinction of having acted as both heroine and mother to stalwarts such as Dr. Rajkumar and Sivaji Ganesan...
- M. S. S. Bhagyam
- K. Ramnoth - Director
- A. S. A. Sami - Screenplay, Dialogue
- C. R. Subbaraman - S. M. Subbaiah Naidu - Music
- Udumalai Narayana KaviUdumalai Narayana KaviUdumalai Narayana Kavi was an Indian poet.He was born to a poor family in Poolavadi, a small village in Udumalpet taluk, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India...
- Lyrics - K. D. Santhanam - Lyrics
- KannadasanKannadasanKannadasan was a Tamil poet and lyricist, heralded as one of the greatest and most important writer in the Tamil language...
- Lyrics - A. S. Kaleeswaran - Lyrics
- M. A. Thirumugam - Editor
- Masthan & W. R. Subbarao - Cinamatography
- Vedandham Ragavayya - Choreographer
- R. N. Nambiar & T. R. Lakshminarayanan - Stunts
- K. Anandan - Still Photographer