Nadodi Mannan (1958 film)

Nadodi Mannan English The Vagabond King is a 1958 Tamil language adventure film directed, produced by and starring M. G. Ramachandran in dual roles. The film features P. Bhanumathi, B. Saroja Devi as heroines of the film, while P. S. Veerappa and M. N. Nambiar play the villains. The film, had musical score by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu and N. S. Balakrishnan. Upon release, the film was blockbuster and ran for 100 days in major cities. The movie was taken in black and white forhoursminutes andseconds. The rest was taken in Geva Color. This film was dubbed in Telugu as Anaganaga Oka Raju in year 1959.

MGR was keen to act in a double role. Since the advertisement in the papers of the making of Nadodi Mannan, MGR had faced hurdles. At the same time P. Bhanumathi of Bharani Pictures had announced a movie which would be based on The Prisoner of Zenda. MGR and Bhanumathi had discussed trying to convince each other to abandon the project. MGR told Bhanumathi that she could proceed if she had been intending to fully adapt The Prisoner of Zenda as he was only planning to make a movie which was loosely based on it. P. Bhanumathi gave in and MGR was able to proceed in his project.Commenting on the tile Nadodi Mannan, MGR is said to have confessed that if the movie profited, he would be a King Mannan if it flopped, he would be a homeless nomad Nadodi. The movie was some years in the making. All dedicated members of MGRs entourage were put to work night and day on the project. K. Ramnoth was appointed to direct this movie, but upon his sudden demise onOctober 1956, MGR had taken up the direction responsibilities. The latter portions depicting the happenings in the island were shot in colour. ........

Source: Wikipedia