# Maheswari (film)

Maheswari is a 1955 Indian Tamil language film produced by Modern Theatres and directed by T. R. Raghunath. The film stars Gemini Ganesan and Savithri. It was released on 13 November 1955.

## 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. Manickam's father Dharmalingam demands a large dowry from Maheswari's mother, Kanthimathi, who somehow manages to give the amount. However, Dharmalingam learns 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 kills herself. 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 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

* Savitri as Maheswari
* Gemini Ganesan as Manickam
* K. A. Thangavelu as Dharmalingam, Manickam's father
* Saradamba as Kanthimathi, Maheswari's mother
* N. S. Narayana Pillai as Mayathevan
* M. N. Rajam
* A. Karunanidhi
* C. K. Saraswathi as Kamakshi, Dharmalingam's wife
* P. Dhanam
* O. A. K. Thevar
* T. P. Muthulakshmi
Dance
* Lakshmikantha

## Soundtrack

Music was composed by G. Ramanathan. This was the first release for lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram.
| Song | Singer/s | Lyricist | Length |
| "Andha Naalum Endha Naalo" | M. L. Vasanthakumari | A. Maruthakasi | 03:22 |
| "Aram Kaattha Dheviye" | A. M. Rajah & Jikki | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 03:29 |
| "Azhagu Nilaavin Bavaniyile" | A. M. Rajah & Jikki | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 03:03 |
| "Alli Veesunga Panatthai" | T. V. Rathnam | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 02:13 |
| "Janakku Janakku Jinjanakku" | S. C. Krishnan & A. G. Rathnamala | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 03:28 |
| "Aagaaya Veedhiyile...Paarum Thannaale" | T. V. Rathnam | Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram | 02:39 |
| "Sonna Pothum Kannale" | S. C. Krishnan & A. G. Rathnamala | A. Maruthakasi | 03:20 |
| "Mundhi Mundhi Vinaayagane" | S. C. Krishnan & A. G. Rathnamala | | 05:24 |
| "Maname Niraindha Dheivam" | A. M. Rajah & Jikki | | 03:29 |
| "Ulagatthu Naayagiye Engal Mutthu Maariyammaa" | A. G. Rathnamala & chorus | | 04:48 |

### Telugu

For the Telugu-dubbed version Rani Rangamma, the music was composed by S. Dakshinamurthi. All the tunes for all the songs for both languages are the same.
| Song | Singer/s | Lyricist | Length |
| "Shoora Bobbili Seemandhuva" | R. Balasaraswathi Devi | Sri Sri | 03:22 |
| | | | 03:29 |
| "Kalalu Tharinchu" | P. B. Sreenivas & S. Janaki | Aarudhra | 03:03 |
| "Challi Veyandi Dabbulu Challiveyandi" | T. Sathyavathi | Sri Sri | 02:13 |
| "Janka Janaka Jinjankadi" | Pithapuram Nageswara Rao & Swarnalatha | Sri Sri | 03:28 |
| "Aakasha Veedhilo...Kalalajaalaalu Pannanela" | T. Sathyavathi | Sri Sri | 02:39 |
| "Orachoopu Kannantha Ollu" | P. B. Sreenivas & S. Janaki | Aarudhra | 03:20 |
| "Natiroju Yela Radhu" | Pithapuram Nageswara Rao & Swarnalatha | Sri Sri | 05:24 |
| "Manapai Shapinche Daivam" | P. B. Sreenivas & S. Janaki | Aarudhra | 03:29 |
| "Jayam Nosagu Devatha" | S. Janaki | Aarudhra | 04:48 |

## Reception

Maheswari was released on 13 November 1955, and was not a commercial success during its original release.