Missiamma

Missiamma
Theatrical poster
Directed by	L. V. Prasad
Written by	Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass (dialogues)
Screenplay by	Aluri Chakrapani
Based on	Manmoyee Girls School by Rabindranath Maitra
Produced by	B. Nagi Reddy Aluri Chakrapani
Starring	R. Ganesh Savitri K. A. Thangavelu Jamuna
Cinematography	Marcus Bartley
Edited by	C. P. Jambulingam G. Kalyanasundaram
Music by	S. Rajeswara Rao
Production company	Vijaya Productions
Distributed by	Vijaya Productions
Release date	14 January 1955 (1955-01-14)
Running time	179 minutes[1]
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Missiamma (transl. Miss Madam) is a 1955 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed by L. V. Prasad. Produced by B. Nagi Reddy and Aluri Chakrapani's Vijaya Vauhini Studios, the script was adapted by Chakrapani from the Bengali novel Manmoyee Girls School by Rabindranath Maitra. Missiamma also focused on social issues such as unemployment, corruption, and freedom of worship. Missiamma tells the story of two unemployed people of different religions and mentalities: Balu and Mary. They pose as a married couple to obtain jobs in a high school founded by Gopal, the zamindar of Aandipettai. As Balu and Mary fall in love, Gopal's nephew Raju (an amateur detective) learns that Mary is Gopal's missing elder daughter Mahalakshmi; she is unaware of her true identity.

Production began in early 1954. The film was simultaneously shot in Telugu as Missamma, with an altered cast. P. Bhanumathi was originally cast as the female lead, with R. Ganesh playing the male lead. After a dispute with Bhanumathi, Chakrapani replaced her with Savitri. K. A. Thangavelu, Jamuna, S. V. Ranga Rao, Rushyendramani, and K. Sarangapani were cast in supporting roles while M. N. Nambiar was cast as the antagonist. C. P. Jambulingam and Kalyanam edited the film; Marcus Bartley was the cinematographer, and S. Rajeswara Rao composed the music.

Principal photography took place in and around Madras (now Chennai) and wrapped in December 1954. Missiamma was released in theatres on 14 January 1955, two days after Missamma. Both versions were commercially successful, completing 100-day theatrical runs. The bilingual film brought recognition to its cast and studio. AVM Productions remade the film in Hindi as Miss Mary in 1957, with Ganesan reprising his role.