Mahamaya (film)

Mahamaya
Still from the film
மஹாமாயா
Directed by	T. R. Raghunath
Produced by	M. Somasundaram & S. K. Mohideen
Screenplay by	Elangovan
Story by	Elangovan
Starring	P. U. Chinnappa P. Kannamba M. G. Chakrapani N. S. Krishnan T. A. Mathuram M. S. Saroja and others
Music by	S. V. Venkataraman and Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer
Cinematography	Marcus Bartley
Edited by	A. Kasilingam
Production company	Jupitor Pictures
Release dates	October 16, 1944 (1944-10-16) (India) -->
Running time	11,000 ft.
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Mahamaya is an Indian Tamil language film directed by T. R. Ragunath with P. U. Chinnappa, P. Kannamba, M. G. Chakrapani, N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Mathuram in the lead roles. The film was released in 1944.^[1]

Plot

Mahamaya, the Princess of the Kingdom of Gandhara and Vikram, the Prince of a neighbouring Kingdom happen to be pupils of the same teacher (Guru). Mahamaya garlands the sword of Vikram without knowing its implication. When a woman garlands a man's sword, according to the custom prevailed in those times, it is considered that she has become the wife of the sword owner. Vikram knows about her action. After they leave the Ashram of the teacher each marry a different person. Later, Vikram happens to meet Mahamaya. Reminding her that she has chosen him as her husband, he claims that she belongs to him. However, Mahamaya rejects his claim. Vikram abducts Mahamaya but she manage to escape from him. When she goes home, her husband refuses to accept her. Abandoned, Mahamaya kills her child and commits suicide.

Cast

Crew

Producers: M. Somasundaram and S. K. Mohideen
Director: T. R. Raghunath
Story & Dialogues: Elangovan
Cinematography: Marcus Bartley
Camera: Jiten Banerjee
Editing: A. Kasilingam
Audiography: Dinshaw K. Tehrani
Choreography: M. Meenakshisundaram Pillai and Pandit Bholonath Sharma
Art Director: F. Nagoor
Studio: Newtone

Production

Elangovan took almost a year to complete the screenplay. He was not sure how to end the story. So, he wrote three endings and left the decision to the producers and the director. All three endings were filmed.

Sound Track

Music was composed by S. V. Venkataraman and Kunnakudi Venkatarama Iyer while the lyrics were penned by Kambadasan and T. K. Sundara Vaathiyar. Though there were 10 songs in the film only one ‘Silaye nee ennidam' sung by P. U. Chinnappa was a hit.

Box Office

Although the film was acclaimed by critics for good acting by Kannamba and Chinnappa, the people at that time did not accept the story because it shows a King going after another person's wife. Therefore, the film did not do well at the box office.

References