Marmayogi

Marmayogi
Theatrical poster
Tamil	மர்மயோகி
Hindi	एक था राजा
Directed by	K. Ramnoth
Produced by	M. Somasundaram
Written by	A. S. A. Sami
Starring	M. G. Ramachandran M. N. Nambiar S. A. Natarajan Anjali Devi Javar Seetharaman Serukulathur Sama Madhuri Devi
Music by	C. R. Subburaman S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Cinematography	Masthan W. R. Subbarao
Edited by	M. A. Thirumugam
Production company	Central Studios
Distributed by	Jupiter Pictures
Release date	2 February 1951
Running time	175 min. (15,760 feet)
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Marmayogi (English: The Mysterious Sage) is a 1951 Indian Tamil-language fantasy film directed by K. Ramnoth and produced by M. Somasundaram under his banner Jupiter Studios. A film adaptation of the novel Vengeance by Marie Corelli and William Shakespeare's play Macbeth, the film was shot simultaneously in Hindi as Ek Tha Raja (English: Once There Was A King). The film features Serukalathur Sama playing the title role; M. G. Ramachandran, Madhuri Devi and Anjali Devi in the lead roles; with Pandari Bai, M. N. Nambiar and S. V. Sahasranamam playing supporting roles.

Development of the film began after the success of Rajakumari (1947), Ramachandran approached writer A. S. A. Sami to write a script which revolves around him. Samy wrote a script inspired from Vengeance by Marie Corelli, Shakespeare's theatrical play Macbeth, and Robin Hood. S. M. Subbaiah Naidu and C. R. Subbaraman composed all the songs in the soundtrack album. Masthan and Subbarao handled the film's cinematography. The film was edited by M. A. Thirumugam.

The film was released on 2 February 1951 with reel length of 4,804 metres (15,761 ft). The film became commercial success at box office and established Ramachandran's image as a star. It was the first Tamil film to receive an "A" (Adults Only) certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification.

A King's (Serukalathur Sama) mistress (Anjali Devi) usurps his power and casts him adrift in a river. The two princes of the kingdom (S. V. Sahasranamam and M. G. Ramachandran) are denied their birthright. The deposed king wanders the country in the guise of a sage. The younger prince (M. G. Ramachandran) leads a popular rebellion against the usurper-queen and restores the kingdom to his father.