Nadodi Mannan

This article is about the 1958 film. For the 1995 film, see Nadodi Mannan (1995 film). For the 2013 film, see Nadodimannan.

Nadodi Mannan
Theatrical release poster
Directed byM. G. Ramachandran
Screenplay byC. Kuppusami
K. Srinivasan
P. Neelakantan
Story byR. M. Veerappan
Ve. Lakshmanan
S. K. T. Sami
Produced byM. G. Ramachandran
M. G. Chakrapani
R. M. Veerappan
StarringM. G. Ramachandran
P. S. Veerappa
M. N. Nambiar
P. Bhanumathi
M. N. Rajam
B. Saroja Devi
CinematographyG. K. Ramu
Edited byK. Perumal
C. P. Jambulingam
Music byS. M. Subbaiah Naidu
N. S. Balakrishnan
Production
company
Em.Gee.Yar Pictures
Release date
  • 22 August 1958 (1958-08-22)
Running time
220 – 226 minutes[a]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil
Budget₹1.8 million[3]
Box office₹11 million[4]

Nadodi Mannan (transl. The Vagabond and the King)[b] is a 1958 Indian Tamil-language action adventure film directed by M. G. Ramachandran in his debut as a filmmaker. He stars in dual roles alongside P. Bhanumathi, M. N. Rajam and B. Saroja Devi. P. S. Veerappa, M. N. Nambiar, M. G. Chakrapani, T. K. Balachandran and Chandrababu play supporting roles. The film revolves around a king being replaced by a look-alike after getting abducted on the eve of his coronation. The look-alike begins to implement social and economic reforms to uplift the poor which irks the kingdom's high priest, who has kidnapped the very person the look-alike resembles. The rest of the film shows how the look-alike saves the man he impersonates and defeats the high priest.

Made on a budget of ₹18 lakh, Ramachandran co-produced the film with Chakrapani and R. M. Veerappan under the banner of Em.Gee.Yar Pictures. C. Kuppusami, K. Srinivasan, and P. Neelakantan were in charge of the screenplay. Kannadasan and Ravindar undertook the responsibility of writing the dialogues. The cinematography was handled by G. K. Ramu while K. Perumal and C. P. Jambulingam did the editing. S. M. Subbaiah Naidu and N. S. Balakrishnan composed the film's soundtrack and score. Songs from the soundtrack like "Thoongathey Thambi Thoongathey", "Thadukkathey", "Summa Kedandha", and "Senthamizhe" became popular hits.

Filmed in both black and white as well as Gevacolor, Nadodi Mannan was released on 22 August 1958 and garnered positive critical reception. It was a commercial success, grossing ₹1.1 crore in its lifetime, thereby becoming only the second Tamil film to earn ₹1 crore after another Ramachandran starrer Madurai Veeran (1956); it became a silver jubilee film. Nadodi Mannan acquired cult status in Tamil cinema, and became a turning point for Ramachandran in terms of both his acting and political career.

  1. ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 355.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference FMNCredits was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kantha25 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference NMBO was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Jagathrakshakan 1984, p. 33.


Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).