Mariyakutty (1958)
Mariyakutty
Release date : 15 March 1958
Miss Kumari must have been the favourite choice for Muttathu Varkey’s onscreen narratives. Of the 14 movies for which he wrote the screenplay, Miss Kumari played the lead role in 7 of them ! Mariyakutty had all the melodramatic elements packed in generous measures to make the ‘family crowd’ weep, ensuring the producers laughed all the way to the bank. Playing the titular role must have been a cake walk for Miss Kumari, who embodied all the qualities thanks to her cultural background, and had to simply lean in on her onscreen emotive brilliance to get the audience wrapped around her little finger.
Movie Handbill
More about the Movie
| Miss Kumari | Prem Nazir |
| Kaviyoor Ponnamma | Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair |
| Jose Prakash | Baby Indira (Old) |
| TS Muthaiah | William Thomas |
| Changanassery Chinnamma | Abraham Joseph |
| Aranmula Ponnamma | Bahadoor |
| Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair | Kushalakumari |
| Nanukkuttan | Pankajavalli |
| SP Pillai | KV Santhi |
| Thankam |
| Director | P Subramaniam |
| Producer | P Subramaniam |
| Banner | Neela Productions |
| Story | Muttathu Varkey |
| Screenplay | Muttathu Varkey |
| Dialogues | Muttathu Varkey |
| Lyrics | Thirunayinaarkurichi Madhavan Nair |
| Music | |
| Singers | P Leela, Kamukara, CS Radhadevi, Kaviyoor CK Revamma, P Gangadharan Nair, Santha P Nair, Shyamala, V Lakshmi |
| Cinematography | NS Mani |
| Editing | KD George |
| Art Direction | MV Kochaappu |
| Costumes | K Narayanan |
| Sound Design | Krishna Ilamon |
| Distribution | Kumaraswamy & Co |
Copyrights & Courtesy : The Hindu (B Vijayakumar’s MetroPlus Kochi Column)
The story takes place in a remote Kerala village. Mariakutty (Miss Kumari), daughter of Kora (Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair), is in love with Chacko (Abraham Joseph), young leader of the farmers fighting against the policies of the landlords. The landlord Martho (Nanukuttan) attempts to harm Chacko and defame him by spreading scandals about his love affair through his servant ‘Cheravanaakkan’ Thoma (T.S. Muthiah). The rich businessman Kuruvachan (Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair) from the nearby town happens to see Mariakutty and is impressed by her humbleness and approach towards others. Kuruvachan thinks that only such a woman can reform his son Pappachan (Prem Nazir) who is a wastrel. Kuruvachan moots this idea and the greedy Kora agrees for the alliance. Pappachan weds Mariakutty.
Mariakutty is dedicated to her husband and his family. Martho’s enmity towards Kora and Chacko continues. Thoma spreads scandals about Mariakutty and Chacko. Suspicious of his wife, Pappachan begins to spend time in night clubs. He takes a fancy for Beatrice (Kusalakumari), a dancer, and spends most of his time with her. Pappachan even gifts Mariakutty’s ornaments to her. But Mariakutty’s love for Pappachan was true. She even sells her property in the village when Pappachan needed money for business.
Mariakutty becomes pregnant. Martho and Thoma continue their malingering. Tales of Chacko and Mariakutty meeting secretly spreads like wild fire. Mariakutty is sent back to her home. She meets Beatrice and narrates the story of her life. Beatrice talks to Pappachan and manages to convince him about the honesty of his wife. Pappachan promises Mariakutty that he will get back her property from Ponnachan (Jose Prakash), who bought it and leaves to the town. Mariakutty gives birth to a baby boy.
Pappachan dies in a car crash on his way back home after successfully redeeming Mariakutty’property. Kuruvachan takes Mariakutty and her child home.
Songs from the Movie
When requested to play the titular role in Muttathu Varkey’s Mariyakutty, I was doubly happy, recalling the spectacular success of our last collaboration – Paadatha Painkili.
Watch Mariyakutty 1958) Online
In the Media
Mariyakutty – Songbook Inset
