Mathar Kula Manikkam is a 1956 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by T. Prakash Rao. The film stars Gemini Ganesan, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Anjali Devi and Savitri, with music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao. It is based on Rabindranath Tagore's 1906 novel Noukadubi. The screenplay and dialogue were written by Vempati Sadasivabrahmam and C. V. Sridhar, respectively. The film was simultaneously made in Telugu under the title Charana Daasi, both versions were critical and commercial successes.

Plot

The film is based on two couples– where the first couple Dr. Chandra Shekar and Parvathi and the second couple is Ravi and Lakshmi. Ravi and Lakshmi are happy lovers. Ravi is summoned and asked to marry another girl forcibly. Since his father's life and honor are at stake, Ravi agrees to the marriage. Simultaneously, another marriage takes place in the same village; Dr. Chandra Shekar visits his best friend's sister marriage, but the marriage cancels in the last moment due to dowry problems. To keep up his friend's prestige, Shekar marries his sister, Parvathi. Due to the sudden marriage, the couple hasn't seen each other. Thereby because marriage is happening without his wish, Ravi has also not seen the bride's face. Both the bridal parties are traveling on the same train, which meets with a disastrous accident. In the accident, Ravi's parents and wife are killed. Parvathi was lying unconscious in bridal dress and Ravi mistakes her as his wife and takes her to home. Shekar thinks that both his friend & wife are dead.