He attributed the film's failure to its lack of commercial elements that would have helped it reach out to average filmgoers, the fact that it was ahead of its time, and wrote that Vasan lamented that "making films for intellectuals would not bring money"; Guy considered this a "lesson" he learnt from making the film. Guy also stated that Vasan would later often tell his friends that the film proved that Indian audiences "did not appreciate movies that tickled their intellect". Novelist and historian Venkatesh Ramakrishnan supported Guy's claim, saying the film "bombed at the box office". In contrast, the 1985 book "70 Years of Indian Cinema, 1913–1983" says "Miss Malini" not only created box office records, but was also a trendsetter in Tamil cinema. Balakrishnan, writing for the magazine "Ananda Vikatan" in 2015, also stated that the film was a success. "R.K. Narayan: The Early Years" says that the film "paid for itself at the box office". Vasan's son S. S. Balan said the film "fared reasonably well". In April 1954, the magazine "Gundoosi" column "Nunippul" () said that Ramnoth, not Subbu, was the main reason for the film's success. "Miss Malini" attained cult status in Tamil cinema, and the character of Sampath became iconic. Sundari Bai's "nippy delivery" of her lines also attained popularity. Subbu became popularly known by his character's nickname "Bit Notice" after the film's release; children around Kapaleeshwarar Temple would scream "Bit Notice" when he passed by that area. Subbu's dialogue "Be wise and advertise!" also attained popularity. Music historian Vamanan noted in 2013 that politician M. P. Sivagnanam's enthusiasm for popularising the life of the Polygar chieftain Veerapandiya Kattabomman as a resistance fighter was derived initially from a line written by Subbu in a song from "Miss Malini", which mentions Kattabomman along with Mahatma Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose (""Gandhi Mahaan, Netaji, Kattabomman kathai koori""). According to Ganesan's journalist daughter Narayani, his role in "Miss Malini" won him acclaim, and he soon received more acting offers.