'Bhagyalakshmi could have clarified that she wasn’t the voice of Nagavalli'

Manichithrathazhu, the evergreen hit of Malayalam cinema, is making a grand return to theaters after nearly three decades. Originally released as a Christmas blockbuster in 1993, the film has now been restored and re-released in 4K Atmos, offering audiences a chance to experience its technical brilliance anew. Iconic characters like Ganga, Dr. Sunny, Nakulan and Sridevi will once again captivate viewers, along with memorable performances by stars such as Nedumudi Venu, Innocent, Sudheesh and KPAC Lalitha.

Despite its lasting popularity, Manichithrathazhu has not been without its share of controversies over the years. One of the most notable involved the character Nagavalli, brilliantly portrayed by Shobhana. For many years, audiences believed that Bhagyalakshmi, a well-known dubbing artist, had provided the voice for Nagavalli. However, it was later revealed that the voice actually belonged to Durga Sundarrajan, a renowned Tamil dubbing artist with a career spanning 50 years and over 5,000 films.

Durga Sundarrajan recently addressed the issue, shedding light on the misconception:

"My name was not credited in the movie. It was only after 23 years that I realized the audience had been misled. Some other dubbing artists encouraged me to reveal the truth, which I eventually did in a few interviews. Bhagyalakshmi could have clarified that she wasn’t the voice of Nagavalli after the film’s release. Since I was in Chennai, I wasn’t aware of the situation. It was other dubbing artists who informed me about it later. If I had known then, I would have spoken up."