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{{Infobox film<br />
| name = Manimekalai<br />
| image = Manimekalai (1940).jpg<br />
| caption = Theatrical release poster<br />
| director = Bomman Irani<br />
| producer = T. Krishnachand<br />
| screenplay = A. M. Somarajulu<br />S. Ramaiah<br />
| based_on = {{Based on|''[[Manimekalai]]''|[[Chithalai Chathanar]]}}<br />
| starring = [[K. B. Sundarambal]]<br />
| music = [[Papanasam Sivan]]<br />Papanasam Rajagoplan<br />
| cinematography = Bomman Irani<br />
| editing = <br />
| studio = T. K. Productions<br />
| distributor = <br />
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1940|11|23}}<br />
| runtime = <br />
| country = India<br />
| language = Tamil<br />
}}<br />
'''''Manimekalai''''' (also known as '''''Balasanyasini''''') is a 1940 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language film directed and photographed by Bomman Irani. It is based on the epic [[Manimekalai|of the same name]] by [[Chithalai Chathanar]]. The film stars [[K. B. Sundarambal]] as the title character. It was released on 23 November 1940, and failed commercially.<br />
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== Plot ==<br />
{{More plot|date=February 2020}}<br />
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== Cast ==<br />
* [[K. B. Sundarambal]] as Manimekalai<ref name="IE review" /><br />
* Kothamangalam Seenu as Udayakumaran<ref name="IE review" /><br />
* [[N. S. Krishnan]] as the sari vendor<ref name="RandorGuy" /><br />
* A. Sundaram as Madavi<ref name="IE review" /><br />
* [[T. A. Mathuram]] as Kunchalam<ref name="IE review" /><br />
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== Production ==<br />
''Manimekalai'' is the first film based on the [[Chithalai Chathanar]]-written epic [[Manimekalai|of the same name]], one of the [[Five Great Epics]] of Tamil literature.<ref name="RandorGuy" /> It was directed and photographed by Bomman Irani, and produced by T. Krishnachand under T. K. Productions while the screenplay was written by A. M. Somarajulu and S. Ramaiah. The final length of the film was {{Convert|17500|feet|metres|abbr=}}.<ref name="Anandan" /> The film was launched in 1938, but took a long time to complete due to various reasons, mainly financial. Additionally, distributors were reluctant to pick the film up even after its completion.<ref name="RandorGuy" /><br />
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== Soundtrack ==<br />
The songs were composed and written by [[Papanasam Sivan]] and his brother Papanasam Rajagopalan.<ref name="RandorGuy" /><ref name="Anandan" /> The songs were released via [[Columbia Records]].<ref name="poster" /> Songs such as "Aanandamey Yaarukku", "Niddhiraiyilum Bhayamundo", "Buddhabhiraaney", "Namakini Yethu Sogamey" and "Siraichaalai Enna Seyyum" attained popularity. Sundarambal would later sing "Siraichaalai Enna Seyyum" at various [[Indian National Congress]] party meetings.<ref name="RandorGuy" /><br />
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== Release and reception ==<br />
''Manimekalai'' was released on 23 November 1940, and had an alternate title: ''Balasanyasini''.<ref name="poster" /> N. R. B. of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' wrote, "Few of our Tamil films which deal with Classical or Historical themes achieve in any marked measure sch fine blending of soulful acting, soul-stirring music and sublime philosophy. The producers of this film ought to be congratulated on their admirable choice of the film as well as the actress providing a second opportunity for K. B. Sundarambal, the queen of the Tamil stage to appear on the screen."<ref name="IE review" /> However, the film was not commercially successful.<ref name="RandorGuy" /><br />
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== References ==<br />
<references><br />
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<ref name="RandorGuy">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/manimekalai-1940/article3022633.ece |title=Manimekalai 1940 |date=7 March 2008 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=10 February 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200210055728/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/manimekalai-1940/article3022633.ece |archive-date=10 February 2020 |author-link=Randor Guy}}</ref><br />
<ref name="Anandan">{{Cite book |last=Film News Anandan |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1940-cinedetails25.asp |title=Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru |publisher=Sivagami Publishers |year=2004 |language=Tamil |trans-title=Tamil film history and its achievements |author-link=Film News Anandan |access-date=10 February 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200210091948/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1940-cinedetails25.asp |archive-date=10 February 2020 |url-status=usurped}}</ref><br />
<ref name="poster">{{Cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19401123&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |title=Balasanyasini or Manimekhalai |date=23 November 1940 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=9}}</ref><br />
<ref name="IE review">{{Cite news |last=N. R. B. |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9ZI-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=3UsMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1944%2C7932227 |title=K. B. Sundarambal back on the screen |date=23 November 1940 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |pages=3}}</ref><br />
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</references><br />
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== External links ==<br />
* {{IMDb title}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Films based on Tamil novels]]<br />
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]<br />
[[Category:1940 Tamil-language films]]<br />
[[Category:1940 Indian films]]<br />
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]</div>Harpreet Singh Kohli