MG Ramachandran Starrer Mohini Hits 75-Year Mark: A Vintage Gem Released in 1948

Legendary actor MG Ramachandran and actress VN Janaki appeared in several Tamil films back in the day. Mohini, released in 1948, holds a special place as it saw the two together on screen for the first time. The film has completed 75 years since its release.

Released in 1948, Mohini was penned by ASA Sami, initially a writer for Jupiter Pictures and later the director of Asthana. ASA Sami, well-versed in world literature, penned cinematic narratives inspired by diverse literary sources.

For the film Mohini, he intertwined aspects of Shakespeare’s Two Gentlemen of Verona with the tale of the magical horse from One Thousand and One Nights. ST Sundaram, meanwhile, was the talent behind the film’s verses.

Mohini was originally to be directed by Telugu filmmaker Lanka Satyam, known for his previous work on two Tamil films. However, his scenes fell short of the producer S. Somasundaram’s expectations, and he lacked the skills for special effects. As a result, M. Ramnath took over as the director, although his name wasn’t included in the film’s title.

In the film, DS Balayya was the lead actor with Madhuri Devi as the female lead. MG Ramachandra (MGR), credited as MG Ramachandra at the time, appeared alongside VN Janaki. MGR shared the film’s title with TS Balaiah and played the role of the second hero. He is known for his action sequences, particularly knife fights which played a crucial role in the film’s success.

The music of the film was composed by SM Subbiah Naidu and CR Subburaman. Nambiar had a notable role, and the dance performances by the Lalita-Padmini sisters were memorable highlights. The movie showcased their dances, and the song Aaga, Uya Yardi… composed by C.R. Subburaman was warmly welcomed by fans. After being moved by the song, G. Ramanathan visited CR Subburaman at his residence to express his admiration for the composer’s work.

Mohini premiered on October 31, 1948, featuring a thrilling climax with R. Bala Subramaniam’s daring horseback flight that garnered whistles from the audience. The film was both critically acclaimed and financially successful.