Sabaash Meena

Sabaash Meena (transl. Bravo Meena) is a 1958 Indian Tamil-language comedy film produced and directed by B. R. Panthulu. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, B. Saroja Devi, Chandrababu and Malini, with Panthulu and S. V. Ranga Rao in supporting roles. It was released on 3 October 1958. The film was remade into Hindi as Dil Tera Deewana (1962), in Kannada as Aliya Geleya (1971), and in Malayalam as Chirikkudukka (1976).

Sabaash Meena
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	B. R. Panthulu
Story by	Dada Mirasi
Produced by	B. R. Panthulu
Starring	Sivaji Ganesan B. Saroja Devi Malini J. P. Chandrababu
Cinematography	W. R. Subba Rao Karnan
Edited by	R. Devarajan
Music by	T. G. Lingappa
Production company	Padmini Pictures
Distributed by	A. L. S. Productions
Release date	3 October 1958 (1958-10-03)
Running time	159 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Plot

Mohan is a rich spoilt brat. His erratic and irresponsible behaviour forces his father Sadasivam Pillai to send him to his friend Appadurai's place in Madras to work and learn something in life. Mohan, a street smart man, sends his friend Shekar in his place to Appadurai. Appadurai, who has not seen Mohan before, accepts Shekar as Mohan and gives him a job. Shekar falls in love with Appadurai's daughter and Mohan who meets Meena in a bus falls for her.

Adding to the mix is Mookan, played by Chandrababu again, who gets swapped with the Sekhar giving hilarious situation while Sankar, the corrupt manager of Appadurai and the intended groom for Meena, serves as villain to unite Sekhar and Mohan to resolve all issues and take their due place.

What follows is a hilarious depiction of both their love stories and the confusions it creates.

Cast

Male cast Sivaji Ganesan as Mohan B. R. Panthulu as Meena's father Chandrababu as Shekar S. V. Ranga Rao as Appadurai V. R. Rajagopal as Mani D. Balasubramaniam M. R. Santhanam Natarajan as Sankar Ponnusamy Pillai as Sadhasivam Pillai Ganapathy Bhat

Female cast B. Saroja Devi as Malathi Malini as Meena P. S. Gnanam as Paravathi Krishnabai Chandra as a dancer in "Aanaaga Pirandhathellam" Shantha

Production

Chandrababu's pay for the film was one rupee higher than Ganesan's.^[1]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by T. G. Lingappa, with lyrics by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam.^[2] The song "Kaanaa Inbam Kannidhadheno" is set in the Hindustani raga Bageshri.^[3]

Song	Singers	Length
"Alangara Valliye"	T. M. Soundararajan & Seerkazhi Govindarajan	02:38
"Aanaaga Pirandhadhellam"	P. Susheela & K. Jamuna Rani	03:31
"Chitthiram Pesuthadi"	T. M. Soundararajan	03:18
"Kaanaa Inbam Kannidhadheno"	P. Susheela & T. A. Mothi	03:39
"Nalla Vaazhu Kaanalaame"	Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi	03:33
"Oh Suyanalam Verimigu Maandhargale"	T. M. Soundararajan	03:19
"Chitthiram Pesuthadi"	Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi	03:18
"Erungammaa Summaa Erungammaa"	J. P. Chandrababu, T. G. Lingappa & P. Susheela	06:24
"Inbatthin Vegamaa Idhayatthin Dhaagamaa"	Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi	03:40
"Selvam Nilaiyallave Maname"	T. M. Soundararajan	02:00

Release and reception

Sabaash Meena was released on 3 October 1958,^[4][5] and was distributed by A. L. S. Productions.^[6] It was previously scheduled for 19 September 1958, but got postponed due to delays in the arrival of raw film.^[7] The film was a major success, even in non-Tamil speaking regions such as Karnataka. It was dubbed into Telugu as Sabash Pilla, which did not achieve the same success.^[8]

Remakes

Sabhash Meena was remade into Hindi as Dil Tera Deewana (1962) with Panthulu again directing.^[8] He also directed the Kannada remake Aliya Geleya (1971).^[9] The film was also remade in Malayalam as Chirikkudukka (1976).^[10] The 1996 Tamil film Ullathai Allitha was an unofficial remake of Sabash Meena.^[5][11]