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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Menaka
| image = Menaka 1955 poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = V. C. Subburaman
| producer = V. C. Subburaman
| screenplay = A. T. Krishnaswamy
| story = [[Vaduvur Duraisami Iyengar]]
| starring = [[K. R. Ramasamy (actor)|K. R. Ramasamy]] [[Lalitha (actress)|Lalitha]] [[Ragini (actress)|Ragini]] [[K. Sarangapani]]
| music = [[T. G. Lingappa]] [[C. N. Pandurangan]] [[Vedha (composer)|Vedha]]
| cinematography = P. Balasubramaniam R. R. Chandran M. S. Mani
| editing = B. V. M.
| studio = Kasturi Films
| released = {{film date|df=yes|1955|1|5|ref1=}}
| runtime = 182 minutes
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
'''''Menaka''''' is a 1955 Indian [[Tamil language]] film directed by V. C. Subburaman. It is a remake of the [[Menaka (1935 film)|1935 film of the same name]], in turn based on the novel of the same name by [[Vaduvur Duraisami Iyengar]]. The film stars [[K. R. Ramasamy (actor)|K. R. Ramasamy]] and [[Lalitha (actress)|Lalitha]].<ref name="lakshmansruthi">{{Cite web |title=1955 – மேனகா-2 – கஸ்தூரி பிலிம்ஸ் (நாடகம்) |trans-title=1955 – Menaka-2 – Kasturi Films (play) |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1955-cinedetails32.asp |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170629010400/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1955-cinedetails32.asp |archive-date=29 June 2017 |access-date=29 June 2017 |website=[[Lakshman Sruthi]] |language=Tamil}}</ref> The film was released on 5 January 1955,<ref>{{Cite web |title=மேனகா 2 / Menaka 2 |url=https://screen4screen.com/movies/menaka-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112133727/https://screen4screen.com/movies/menaka-2 |archive-date=12 November 2021 |access-date=12 November 2021 |website=Screen 4 Screen }}</ref> and emerged a critical and commercial failure.

== Plot ==
{{More plot|date=October 2022}}
The story is about a loving couple getting separated by designs of evil doers. However, after many sufferings, they reunite.<ref name="hindu">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=4 September 2011 |title=Menaka 1955 |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/menaka-1955/article2421868.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=29 June 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170629011224/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-cinemaplus/menaka-1955/article2421868.ece |archive-date=29 June 2017}}</ref>

== Cast ==
List adapted from the database of [[Film News Anandan]]<ref name="lakshmansruthi" /> and from [[the Hindu]] review article.<ref name="hindu" />
{{Col-begin|width=62%}}
{{col-break|width=33%}}
;Male cast
*[[K. R. Ramasamy (actor)|K. R. Ramasamy]]
*[[K. Sarangapani]]
*[[T. K. Ramachandran]]
*[[D. Balasubramaniam]]
*Acharya
*Friend Ramasami
*T. N. Sivathanu
*M. S. Karuppaiah
*T. V. Sethuraman
*V. P. Balaraman
*V. P. S. Mani
{{col-break|width=33%}}
;Female cast
*[[Lalitha (actress)|Lalitha]]
*[[Ragini (actress)|Ragini]]
*[[C. K. Saraswathi]]
*M. S. S. Bhagyam
*K. S. Angamuthu
*Indira
*S. K. Venubai
*K. S. Adilakshmi
*K. S. Rajam
*K. S. Chandra
{{col-break|width=33%}}
;Dance
*[[Padmini (actress)|Padmini]]
*[[T. D. Kusalakumari|Kushalakumari]]
{{Col-end}}

== Production ==
This is the second edition of the same story by [[Vaduvur Duraisami Iyengar]] that he first published as a novel. Then it was staged as a successful play by TKS Brothers. It was made into a film in 1935 with the [[Menaka (1935 film)|same title]]. [[K. R. Ramasamy (actor)|K. R. Ramasamy]] who featured in a supporting role in the 1935 film, was the hero in this film.<ref name="hindu" />

The film was produced and directed by V. C. Subburaman. Screenplay and dialogues were written by A. T. Krishnaswamy. Cinematography was handled by P. Balasubramaniam, R. R. Chandran and M. S. Mani while the editing was done by B. V. M. V. Ramaraju was in charge of art direction while the choreography was done by V. Madhavan. Still photography was by R. N. Nagaraja Rao.<ref name="lakshmansruthi" />

== Soundtrack ==
Music was composed by [[T. G. Lingappa]], [[C. N. Pandurangan]] and [[Vedha (composer)|Vedha]] while the lyrics were penned by [[Kannadasan]], Ku. Sa. Krishnamoorthy, [[A. Maruthakasi]], K. P. Kamatchisundaram, [[K. D. Santhanam]] and [[S. D. Sundharam]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Neelamegam |first=G. |title=Thiraikalanjiyam — Part 1 |publisher=Manivasagar Publishers |year=2014 |location=Chennai |pages=100 |language=Tamil}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Song !! Singer/s !! Length
|-
| "O! Come Come Aiyaa Salaamunga" || P. Leela ||
|-
| "Aasai Kaaddi Yaengalaagumaa" || Sirkazhi Govindarajan & A. P. Komala || 02:34
|-
| "Anna Amudham Nee Eppo" || ||
|-
| "Kanavu Ninaivaagumo" || (Radha) Jayalakshmi || 03:10
|-
| "Manam Polae Ini Vaazhalaam" || K. R. Ramasamy & (Radha) Jayalakshmi || 02:41
|-
| "Sugamaana Isaiyaagum Vaazhve" || Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi || 02:31
|-
| "Azhagin Deivam Arivin" || K. R. Ramasamy & Sirkazhi Govindarajan || 03:02
|-
| "Allahvin Naamathai" || A. M. Rajah || 02:49
|-
| "Karpanai Ulaginilae" || K. R. Ramasamy || 03:19
|}

== Reception ==
''Menaka'' was poorly received by critics, and underperformed at the box office.<ref name="hindu" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

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

[[Category:1955 Indian films]]
[[Category:1955 Tamil-language films]]
[[Category:1955 films]]
[[Category:Films based on adaptations]]
[[Category:Films based on Tamil novels]]
[[Category:Films scored by C. N. Pandurangan]]
[[Category:Films scored by T. G. Lingappa]]
[[Category:Films scored by Vedha (composer)]]
[[Category:Remakes of Indian films]]
[[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]

Menaka (1955 film) - Revision history

LauriTym702628: Info