Zamindar 1955

S.A. Natarajan, M.V. Rajamma, Madhuri Devi, D. Balasubramaniam, G. Muthukrishnan, M.R. Santhanam, T.N. Sivathanu, V.M. Ezhumalai, O.A.K.Thevar, T.R. Harihara Bhagavathar, S.M. Thirupathisami, M.N. Krishnan, T.P. Muthulakshmi, Rita, V.T. Rajagopal, M.A. Ganapathi, S. S. Sivasuriyan, M.M.A.Chinnappa (late R. Chinnappa Thevar), S.S. Kathiresan, R. Lakshmi Devi, Pushpammal, K.P. Ramaiah, P. Padmavathi, Meera, Ranganayaki, K. Rathinam and Manickam.

A poster of Zamindar film.

This film was a joint production of the famous Jupiter Pictures and Sangeetha Pictures. Sangeetha was a unit of the noted Tamil film producer of the day, M.A.Venu, who had humble beginnings in Modern Theatres, doing small roles and looking after the business side. Soon he established MAV Pictures making successful movies such as Mudalali (the debut of Muktha V. Srinivasan as director) and Sampoorna Ramayanam . For a while, Venu also had a studio near Salem taking over the Ratna Studio on a long lease.

This film was produced at the famous Central Studios, Coimbatore, which has played a major role in the development of Tamil Cinema since its early days in the 1930s.

The story of

Zamindar was written by a popular writer of the day with progressive ideas and leanings toward the Dravidian Movement, Jalakantapuram Pa. Kannan, who also wrote the dialogue. G. Ramanathan composed the music, and A. Marutha Kasi and Ka. Mu. Sheriff wrote the lyrics.

This film was directed by P.V. Krishnan, edited by T. Vijayarangam, and the photography was by J.G. Vijayan. There were dance sequences by Rita composed by Hiralal, while the gypsy dance was composed by Kumar.

Allikulam is a small zamindari administered by the regent Pandi Thevar who has plans to usurp it. With the sudden and shocking demise of the zamindar, his villainous brother also plans to usurp the property. Thus the regent and the brother are at loggerheads with one trying to outwit the other.

The story has many characters. Mamundi, a struggling farmer, is a man of discipline even though he has a rough exterior and his sister Meenakshi is a good-looking young woman. The villains plan to kidnap her, indulging in murder and such crimes. More complications are woven into the story to create interesting situations.

S.A. Natarajan who made a splash with Manthiri Kumari was his usual debonair self in this film. Madhuri Devi was attractive, and Rajamma played the suffering woman carrying the burden of the family on her shoulders.

The film has several talented actors who came from the theatrical background such as Santhanam and Balasubramaniam, while the later day producer of multilingual hits, including Hindi, ‘Sandow’ M.M.A. Chinnappa Thevar played a minor role as a tough guy credited as M.M.A.Chinnappa.

There were many songs; however, they did not become hits.

Despite the star-studded cast and talented performers, the movie did not meet with success and brought the producers big losses.

Remembered for the performances by Natarajan, Rajamma, Madhuri Devi and Balasubramaniam and the dances.