Manohara is yet another feather in Sivaji Ganesan’s cap. This film epitomes a dutiful son’s love for his mother and his motherland, so much that even when chained by his tormentors, he waits for his mother’s order to rebel against his father and cruel stepmother. “Poruthadhu podhum pongi ezhu” dialogue almost instantly reminds Sivaji in shackles. Shivaji Ganesan as the hero rose to splendid heights in this film.

The films has earned its place in the Hall of fame for its brilliant Tamil dialogue. It was a successful stage play by P.Sambanda Mudaliar who made a talkie version in 1936.

While Manohara was half way through the making, its Tamil version’s dialogue writer and the present Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Kalaignar Karunanidhi was jailed due to some political reasons. Acharya Athreya was writing the Telugu version’s dialogue. At the insistence of Director L.V. Prasad, Athreya used to go to the jail and discuss with Karunanidhi the dialogues for the remaining portions in the Tamil version. The film was a huge hit in all the three languages. Kalaignar has worked the script keeping the story line intact but providing every spoken word which elevated the film to the realms of literature.

The flowing Tamil dialogue, alternative cadenzas of words, all these helped “Manohara” to be a box-office success and classic. “Manohara” was directed by LV. Prasad whose contribution to the growth of cinema in India is enormous.

One of the most memorable movies for it’s Tamil dialogue - Watch and enjoy.