{{short description|1938 film by B. Sampathkumar}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=March 2018}} {{Infobox film | image = Maya Mayavan.jpg | alt = | caption = Poster | director = B. Sampathkumar | producer = [[T. R. Sundaram]] | writer = S. Velusami | starring = T. K. Sampangi<br />J. Susheela Devi<br />K. Kokila<br />G. R. Varadachar | music = G. Rajagopal Naidu<br />S. Velusami | cinematography = | editing = | studio = [[Modern Theatres]] | distributor = | released = {{Film date|df=yes|1938|10|22}} | runtime = | country = India | language = Tamil }} '''''Maya Mayavan''''' ({{translation|Magical Krishna}}) is a 1938 Indian [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language [[action thriller film]] directed by B. Sampathkumar and produced by [[T. R. Sundaram]] of [[Modern Theatres]]. It stars T. K. Sampangi, J. Susheela Devi, K. Kokila and G. R. Varadachar. It was released on 22 October 1938.

== Plot == Sabapathy Mudaliar, a [[wolf in sheep's clothing]] and [[Promiscuity#Male promiscuity|womaniser]], lusts for a young woman named Indira, and tries to make her his own by any means possible, despite already having a mistress who is a dancer named Sundari. Jagadish, a detective, decides to save Indira, with whom he becomes hopelessly enamored. The duo faces many obstacles from Sabapathy and his partners in crime. But by utilising his investigative abilities, he succeeds in saving his lover and the two marry.<ref name="RandorGuy" /><ref name="songbook" />

== Cast == Cast adapted from the film's songbook:<ref name="songbook" /> {{Col-begin|width=70%}} {{col-break|width=60%}} * T. K. Sampangi as Jagadish (Detective Officer) * Miss K. Kokila as Indira * Miss J. Susheela Devi as Sundari * Miss Seetha Bai as Shantha & Female Dancer * G. R. Varadachari as Sir Sabapathy Mudaliar * K. Kaveri Chettiar as [[Dewan Bahadur|Diwan Bahadur]] Shivasankara Mudaliar * Venugopala Sharma as Kittu * Venu Chetti as Pattu * Devaraju as Munusami * V. V. S. Mani as Neliyan {{col-break|width=60%}} ;Group of Bandits * Anthonisami * Deivadhanavel * Somasundaran * Lakshminarayanan * Appavu Pillai {{col-end}}

== Production == ''Maya Mayavan'' was produced by [[T. R. Sundaram]] under his Salem-based production company [[Modern Theatres]]. It was directed by B. Sampathkumar and written by S. Velsamy Kavi.<ref name="RandorGuy" /> The length of the film was 15500 feet.<ref name="Anandan" />

== Soundtrack == The music of the film was composed by G. Rajagopal Naidu. S. Velusami wrote the lyrics. The singers were Miss K. Kokila, Miss J. Susheela Devi, Venugopala Sharma, Venu Chetti, and T. K. Sampangi. P. G. Venkatesan, popularly known as the "Saigal of South India", worked as a playback singer on two of the songs.<ref name="RandorGuy" /><ref name="songbook" /><ref name="Anandan" />

;Orchestra<ref name="songbook" /> * Rajagopal Naidu&nbsp;– Fiddle * Ibrahim&nbsp;– Organ & Piano * K. Rangaiah Naidu&nbsp;– Clarinet * T. P. Chinaiah&nbsp;– Tabla {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" ! No. !! Song !! Singer/s |- | 1 || Thyagabuvani Bharath Devi || P. G. Venkatesan |- | 2 || Malai Neram Manoharantharumam Kalam|| Miss K. Kokila |- | 3 || Loka Nayaga Mathiya Kanthi || Miss K. Kokila |- | 4 || Manilameede Jananamalame || Miss J. Susheela Devi |- | 5 || Urargal Thetum Chothu Ellame Namekku<br />{{small|(Lion Dance)}}|| Chorus |- | 6 || Kamavathana Radhai Sukuna || Miss J. Susheela Devi |- | 7 || Kulavi Guti Maygadal Peruvome || T. K. Sampangi, Miss K. Kokila |- | 8 || Vazhvithu Thane Uzhvinai Kane|| P. G. Venkatesan |- | 9 || Alankaraganne Kaicharasi...Nay-Lattu Poori || Venugopala Sharma, Venu Chetti |- | 10 || Ika Loka Vazhvile || Miss J. Susheela Devi |}

== Release and reception == ''Maya Mayavan'' was released on 22 October 1938.<ref name="Anandan" /> According to film historian [[Randor Guy]], the film did "not leave much of an impact on viewers", but he said it would be remembered for "interesting storyline, exciting car chases on lonely highways, kidnappings and thrilling sequences, rarely seen in Tamil Cinema of that era."<ref name="RandorGuy" />

== References == <references>

<ref name="Anandan">{{Cite book |last=Film News Anandan |url=http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1938-cinedetails26.asp |title=Sadhanaigal Padaitha Thamizh Thiraipada Varalaru |publisher=Sivagami Publishers |year=2004 |location=Chennai |language=Tamil |trans-title=Tamil film history and its achievements |author-link=Film News Anandan |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170925094535/http://www.lakshmansruthi.com/cineprofiles/1938-cinedetails26.asp |archive-date=25 September 2017 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> <ref name="RandorGuy">{{Cite news |last=Guy |first=Randor |author-link=Randor Guy |date=26 November 2011 |title=Maya Mayavan (1938) |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/maya-mayavan-1938/article2662633.ece |url-status=live |access-date=26 September 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170926070745/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/maya-mayavan-1938/article2662633.ece |archive-date=26 September 2017}}</ref> <ref name="songbook">{{Cite book |url=https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP689-27-1-20 |title=Maya Mayavan |publisher=Modern Theaters |year=1938 |language=ta |type=[[song book]]}}</ref>

</references>

{{Modern Theatres}}

[[Category:1930s action thriller films]] [[Category:1930s chase films]] [[Category:1938 Indian films]] [[Category:1938 Tamil-language films]] [[Category:Films scored by G. Rajagopal Naidu]] [[Category:Indian action thriller films]] [[Category:Indian black-and-white films]] [[Category:Indian chase films]] [[Category:Tamil-language action thriller films]] [[Category:Tamil-language Indian films]]