Nalla Thanka is a landmark Malayalam film directed by P. V. Krishna Iyer, and produced by Kunchacko

Kunchacko

Kunchacko was a Malayali Indian film producer and director who heavily influenced the Malayalam film industry by redefining the commercial film scenario. His venture Udaya Studios influenced the gradual shift of Malayalam film industry from its original base of Madras, Tamil Nadu to Kerala...

 and K. V. Koshy. It was the second film produced at the Udaya Studios

Udaya Studios

Udaya Studios is the oldest film production studio in the Malayalam language film industry of India. It was established in 1947 by director-producer Kunchacko and film distributor K. V. Koshy in Pathirappally, Alappuzha in Kerala...

, the first being Vellinakshatram

Vellinakshatram (1949 film)

Vellinakshatram is a 1949 Malayalam film directed by Felix J. Beyse. It was the first film produced at the Udaya Studios. Its music is composed by B. A. Chidambaranath, who debuted with this film...

(1949). The film marked the debut of several artistes, including actors Augustine Joseph, Vaikom Mani, Miss Kumari

Miss Kumari

-Early life:Miss Kumari, whose real name was Thresiamma, was born on 1 June 1932 at Bharananganam in Kottayam District, in the Kerala state of India.-Malayalam cinema:...

, Miss Omana and S. P. Pillai

S. P. Pillai

S. P. Pillai was an Indian film and stage actor, best known for his comic roles in Malayalam films.-Biography:S. P. Pillai was born in 1913 in Ettumanoor, Kottayam. His father Shankara Pillai, was a police constable. Pillai lost his parents at a young age itself...

, music director V. Dakshinamoorthy

V. Dakshinamoorthy

V. Dakshinamoorthy is a veteran carnatic musician and music director of Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi films, predominantly in Malayalam films. He has set scores for the songs in over 125 films. He is now retired from film music direction but is still active in classical music...

, and cinematographer P. K. Madhavan Nair. It was one of the first commercially successful Malayalam films.

Based on the legend of Nalla Thanka (Nalla Thankal in Tamil), the film had screenplay and dialogues written by Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai

Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai

Muthukulam Raghavan Pillai was a Malayalam dramatist, poet, screen play writer and actor. He was born on 1900 in Muthukulam, a small village in Alappuzha District, Kerala, India...

. Miss Kumari

Miss Kumari

-Early life:Miss Kumari, whose real name was Thresiamma, was born on 1 June 1932 at Bharananganam in Kottayam District, in the Kerala state of India.-Malayalam cinema:...

 played the title role, while singer-stage actors Augustine Joseph and Vaikom Mani played the lead male roles.

Plot

Nallannan is the King of Madhurapuri. His sister Nalla Thanka is married to Somanathan, the King of neighbouring country Ratnapuri. Alankari, the wicked queen of Madhurapuri becomes envious of the happy married life of Nalla Thanka. Years pass and one day, drought strikes Ratnapuri. Nalla Thanka and her seven children seeks refuge in Nallannan's palace. Nallannan promises all help while Alankari tortures Nalla Thanka. But Nalla Thanka hides the misdeeds of Alankari from her brother as she does not want their family life to be disturbed.

Nalla Thanka is forced to leave her brother's palace. She decides to kill her children and commit suicide. She throws her children one by one into a well. Before killing herself, she prays to Lord Shiva to forgive her for the decision. Shiva descends and saves her life, and brings back all the children. Nallannan comes to know about his wife's misdeeds and he banishes her from the country. Meanwhile, Ratnapuri regains its glory and Nalla Thanka returns to her country to lead a happy life.

Cast

• Augustine Joseph as Nallannan
• Vaikom Mani as Somanathan
• Miss Kumari
  Miss Kumari
  -Early life:Miss Kumari, whose real name was Thresiamma, was born on 1 June 1932 at Bharananganam in Kottayam District, in the Kerala state of India.-Malayalam cinema:...
  
   as Nalla Thanka
• Miss Omana as Alankari
• S. P. Pillai
  S. P. Pillai
  S. P. Pillai was an Indian film and stage actor, best known for his comic roles in Malayalam films.-Biography:S. P. Pillai was born in 1913 in Ettumanoor, Kottayam. His father Shankara Pillai, was a police constable. Pillai lost his parents at a young age itself...