Madhu Malathi (pronunciationⓘ) is a 1966 Indian Kannada-language romantic drama film directed by S. K. A. Chari and produced by M. Sampath.

The film stars Rajkumar, Udaykumar, Arun Kumar and Bharathi Vishnuvardhan.

[1][2] The title card credits the story to the director, noting that it was based on a book by Bhavabhuti.

[3] The story traces its origins to the ancient Indian drama Mālatīmādhava by Bhavabhuti (c. 8th-century) and later became one of the popular Vikram - Vetal stories from Vetala Panchavimshati, a Sanskrit work whose earliest recensions are found in Kathasaritsagara written by Somadeva (c. 11th-century).

[5] The film features characteristics of swashbuckler films with the three male leads playing swashbucklers and the sole female lead portraying a damsel in distress.