Thillana Mohanambal

Thillana Mohanambal
Theatrical release poster
Directed byA. P. Nagarajan
Screenplay byA. P. Nagarajan
Based onThillana Mohanambal
by Kothamangalam Subbu
Produced byA. P. Nagarajan
Starring
CinematographyK. S. Prasad
Edited byM. N. Rajan
T. R. Natarajan
Music byK. V. Mahadevan
Production
company
Sri Vijayalakshmi Pictures
Release date
  • 27 July 1968 (1968-07-27)
Running time
175 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Thillana Mohanambal (transl. The Dance Queen Mohanambal) is a 1968 Indian Tamil-language romantic musical dance film written, directed and produced by A. P. Nagarajan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini and T. S. Balaiah, with A. V. M. Rajan, Nagesh and Manorama in supporting roles. It tells the story of Shanmugasundaram, a nadaswaram[a] player who falls in love with Mohanambal, a Bharatanatyam dancer who reciprocates his feelings, but unfortunate circumstances and their egoistic nature prevents them from confessing their love for one another. How they overcome their self-created obstacles and those created by the people around them forms the rest of the story.

The film was adapted from Kothamangalam Subbu's novel of the same name, which was serialised in the Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan in 1957–58. The film was mostly shot in Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Madurai. Its original soundtrack was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and songs like "Nalandhana", "Maraindhirundhu" and "Pandian Naanirukka" became immensely popular among the Tamil diaspora.

Thillana Mohanambal was released on 27 July 1968. Critically acclaimed for subtly portraying the socio-cultural environment and the Thanjavur culture of dance and music prevailing at that time, it was also a commercial success, with a theatrical run of over 175 days. The film won two National Film AwardsBest Feature Film in Tamil (President's silver medal) and Best Cinematography — and five Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. Thillana Mohanambal has since acquired cult status in Tamil cinema, and inspired several later films with similar themes of music and dance.

  1. ^ "Thillana Mohanambal". Amazon.in. January 1968. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.


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