Missamma is a 1955 Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy film directed by L. V. Prasad. Produced by Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani's Vijaya Vauhini Studios, its script was adapted by Chakrapani from Rabindranath Maitra's Bengali play Manmoyee Girls School. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao, Savitri, Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Jamuna. It revolves around two unemployed people — M. T. Rao and Mary — who pose as a married couple to obtain employment in a high school founded by Gopalam, a zamindar. As Rao and Mary fall in love, Gopalam's nephew A. K. Raju learns that Mary is Gopalam's missing elder daughter Mahalakshmi; she is unaware of her true identity.
Chandralekha is a 1948 Indian historical adventure film produced and directed by S. S. Vasan of Gemini Studios. Starring T. R. Rajakumari, M. K. Radha and Ranjan, the film follows two brothers who fight over ruling their father's kingdom and marrying the village dancer, Chandralekha.
Subramaniam Srinivasan, popularly known by his screen name S. S. Vasan, was an Indian journalist, writer, advertiser, film producer, director and business tycoon. He is the founder of the Tamil-language magazine Ananda Vikatan and the film production company Gemini Studios, Gemini Film Laboratories and Gemini Picture Circuit. He was a member of parliament from 1964 and served his term till his death.
Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum is a 1956 Indian Tamil-language fantasy swashbuckler film directed and produced by T. R. Sundaram of Modern Theatres. The film stars M. G. Ramachandran and P. Bhanumathi, with K. Sarangapani, P. S. Veerappa, K. A. Thangavelu, M. N. Rajam, Sushila, Vidhyavathi, and M. G. Chakrapani in supporting roles. It revolves around Alibaba, a woodcutter who becomes wealthy after finding a secret treasure cave, but must keep his source of wealth a secret to lead a peaceful life.
Mangamma Sabatham is a 1943 Indian Tamil-language film, starring Vasundhara Devi, Ranjan, N. S. Krishnan and T. A. Mathuram. The film was produced by S. S. Vasan and directed by T. G. Raghavachari, credited as Acharya. The film was remade in Hindi and Telugu as Mangala, in Sinhala as Mathalan (1955) and again in Telugu as Mangamma Sapatham (1965).
Ellorum Nallavare is a 1975 Indian Tamil-language film, directed and produced by S. S. Balan. It is a remake of the 1974 Kannada film Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu. It was simultaneously produced in Telugu and Hindi languages as Andaroo Manchivare and Ek Gaon Ki Kahani. The trilingual was the last production of Gemini Studios; except for the Telugu version, it emerged a box-office bomb and led to the studio's collapse.
Gemini Studios was an Indian film studio based in Madras, Tamil Nadu. It was launched when S. S. Vasan, a businessman of many ventures bought Motion Picture Producers' Combines from Krishnaswamy Subrahmanyam and renamed it. The studio re-opened under the name Gemini. Despite the common beliefs about a lucky racehorse or the astrological sign of his wife, it was the logo Vasan chose that led to the name. Subrahmanyam had shown him a picture of his very young boys, blowing on toy trumpets in the nude. Vasan chose the pose to craft the logo and hence the name Gemini—The Twins. The new facade also had statues of ‘The Gemini Twins’, blowing the bugle. Gemini Studios served as a breeding ground for innumerable artists and technicians for the south Indian Film Industry. The Gemini twins became a household symbol and the Gemini flyover was named after the original studio at that junction. Gemini Studios is one of the few producers in Tamil cinema to survive beyond 100 productions along with AVM, Modern Theatres, Thenandal Films, etc.
Thene Manasulu is a 1965 Indian Telugu-language romance film directed by Adurthi Subba Rao and written by Mullapudi Venkata Ramana. The film stars Krishna, Ram Mohan, Sandhya Rani and Sukanya. It revolves a young girl (Sukanya) falls in love with a man (Krishna), not realising he is the same man her was marriage was initially fixed with. Thene Manasulu is based on K. R. K. Mohan's novel Vakrinchina Sarala Rekhalu. It was the first major role given to actor Krishna Ghattamaneni and also the acting debut for Rammohan, Sandhya Rani and Sukanya. The film was produced by C. Sundaram under Babu Movies, photographed by P. S. Selvaraj, and edited by T. Krishna. It was the first Telugu social film to be shot completely in colour. Thene Manasulu was released on 31 March 1965 and became a commercial success. It was remade in Hindi as Doli (1969).
Miss Malini is a 1947 Indian Tamil-language satirical film written and directed by Kothamangalam Subbu and produced by K. Ramnoth, based on a story by R. K. Narayan. Subbu also starred in the film alongside Pushpavalli and M. S. Sundari Bai. Javar Seetharaman and Gemini Ganesan made their acting debuts in the film appearing in minor supporting roles. The film focuses on Malini (Pushpavalli), an impoverished woman who joins her actress friend Sundari's theatre company Kala Mandhiram and becomes a success. Things take a turn for the worse when she befriends a charlatan named Sampath.
Ranjan was an Indian actor, singer, journalist and writer. He debuted in the 1941 movie Ashok Kumar, but gained fame in S. S. Vasan's 1948 magnum opus Chandralekha.
Apoorva Sagodharargal is a 1949 Indian Tamil-language action film directed by Acharya. The film which was adapted from Alexandre Dumas' 1844 novella The Corsican Brothers stars M. K. Radha and P. Bhanumathi, with Nagendra Rao and Suryaprabha playing supporting roles. It revolves around the two lookalike brothers who were separated during childhood by their cruel uncle who murdered his parents, rest of the film shows how two brothers join together in avenging the death of their parents.
Motor Sundaram Pillai is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by S. S. Balan and written by Veppathur Kittoo. A remake of the Hindi film Grahasti (1963), itself based on the American film The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1959), the film stars Sivaji Ganesan, Ravichandran, Sowcar Janaki and Jayalalithaa. It revolves around a man who leads a double life, having two sets of families.
Mr. Sampat is a 1952 Indian Hindi-language satirical film produced and directed by S. S. Vasan of Gemini Studios. It is based on R. K. Narayan's 1949 novel Mr. Sampath – The Printer of Malgudi, and the Tamil film Miss Malini (1947). The film revolves around the titular con artist (Motilal) who manipulates an actress (Padmini) and a merchant (Kanhaiyalal) for his own benefits.
Missiamma is a 1955 Indian Tamil-language romantic comedy film directed by L. V. Prasad. Produced by B. Nagi Reddy and Aluri Chakrapani's Vijaya Vauhini Studios, the script was adapted by Chakrapani from the Bengali novel Manmoyee Girls School by Rabindranath Maitra. Missiamma also focused on social issues such as unemployment, corruption, and freedom of worship. Missiamma tells the story of two unemployed people of different religions and mentalities: Balu and Mary. They pose as a married couple to obtain jobs in a high school founded by Gopal, the zamindar of Aandipettai. As Balu and Mary fall in love, Gopal's nephew Raju learns that Mary is Gopal's missing elder daughter Mahalakshmi; she is unaware of her true identity.
Bhale Kodallu is a 1968 Telugu-language comedy film written and directed by K. Balachander. It was simultaneously filmed in Tamil as Bama Vijayam, despite being released more than a year after that. The film features an ensemble cast consisting of S. V. Ranga Rao, Sowcar Janaki, Kanchana, Jayanthi, Nagabhushanam, Ramakrishna, Chalam, Rajasree and Saraswathi.
Samsaram (transl. Wife) is a 1951 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Chandru and produced by S. S. Vasan. A remake of the 1950 Telugu film of the same name, it stars M. K. Radha, Pushpavalli, Kumari Vanaja, Sriram, M. S. Sundari Bai, T. R. Ramachandran, D. Balasubramaniam, R. Balasubramaniam, K. N. Kamalam, and Kamalaveni Ammal. It was simultaneously filmed in Hindi as Sansar, which S. S. Vasan directed.
Kathal Paduthum Padu is a 1966 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film directed by Joseph Thaliath Jr and produced under Citadel Studios. The film stars Jaishankar and Vanisri, the latter's debut in Tamil cinema. It was released on 7 October 1966 and became a commercial success. The film was remade in Telugu as Premalo Pramadam (1967).
Sattekalapu Satteya is a 1969 Telugu-language film written and directed by K. Balachander. It was later remade in Tamil as Patham Pasali (1970) by Balachander himself, in Hindi as Mastana (1970) and in Kannada as Manku Thimma (1980).
Thoothukudi Govindachari Raghavachari, also known by his initials TGR and the pseudonym Acharya, was an Indian filmmaker and lawyer who was active in Tamil cinema in the 1940s and 1950s.
