Maheswari (film)


Maheswari is a 1955 Indian Tamil language film produced by Modern Theatres and directed by T. R. Raghunath. The film features Gemini Ganesan and Savithri in the lead roles.

Plot

Manickam is wanted by the army of East India Company. He is absconding and takes refuge in the house of Maheswari. Manickam and Maheswari fall in love with each other. Manickam's father Dharmalingam demands a large dowry from Maheswari's mother, Kanthimathi, who somehow manages to give the amount. However, Dharmalingam comes to know that Kanthimathi is ridiculed by the villagers as a woman of loose moral character. So, he sends back Maheswari to her home. Manickam is helpless because he depends on his father for everything. Kanthimathi commits suicide. Maheswari starts looking for a means to earn a living and she comes across Mayathevan, the leader of a gang of robbers who is wanted by the East India Company. She is employed by him as chief assistant. Mayathevan renames Maheswari as Rani Rangamma. Though she lives comfortably like a queen, her heart yearns for Manickam. In the meantime, at the insistence of his father, Manickam has married another woman. What happens to Maheswari forms the rest of the story.

Cast

Dance
Music was composed by G. Ramanathan while the lyrics were penned by M. K. Athmanathan, A. Maruthakasi and Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram. Playback singers are: M. L. Vasanthakumari, Jikki, T. V. Rathinam, A. G. Rathnamala, A. M. Rajah and S. C. Krishnan.

Reception

Maheswari was not a commercial success during its original release. In 2015, film historian Randor Guy said it would be "Remembered for: the different theme, period sets and technical values of Modern Theaters, and good performances by the leads."