Mannan (film)

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Mannan
Mannan film poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byP. Vasu
Written byP. Vasu
Based onAnuraga Aralithu
Produced byPrabhu
StarringRajinikanth
Vijayashanti
Khushbu
CinematographyAshok Kumar
Edited byP. Mohanraj
Music byIlaiyaraaja
Production
company
Release date
  • 15 January 1992 (1992-01-15)
Running time
153 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Mannan (transl. King) is a 1992 Indian Tamil-language masala film[1] written and directed by P. Vasu. The film stars Rajinikanth, Vijayashanti and Khushbu. It is a remake of the 1986 Kannada film Anuraga Aralithu, which in turn was based on the novel Anuragada Anthapura by H. G. Radhadevi. The film was released on 15 January 1992 and ran for over 25 weeks in theatres.

Plot[]

V Shanthi Devi, owner and CEO of Devi Industries in Madras is announced as the number one young industrialist in India. She is a rich and arrogant woman who rules her company with an iron fist. She lives with her father Viswanathan, whom she replaced 5 years ago as the CEO and her maid Kannamma, as she had lost her mother 20 years ago. N Krishnan, a kind-hearted mechanic working in Bombay, comes home to Madras to see his mother.

Krishnan and Shanthi Devi meet at the airport and their first meeting ends on a bitter note. Krishnan learns that his mother is suffering from paralysis. Krishnan quits his job in Bombay and decides to stay in Madras to take care of his ailing mother. His family doctor recommends Krishnan to meet a renowned businessman for his job. Krishnan goes to meet the businessman and on the way an elderly man, Viswanathan, is beaten up by several men. Krishnan helps him and takes him to a hospital and discovers that Viswanathan is the businessman whom he was going to meet. Krishnan is asked to go to the factory only to discover that factory belongs to Shantidevi who happens to be Viswanathan's daughter. Shantidevi refuses to hire Krishnan but later due to her father's compulsion she recruits Krishnan as Senior mechanic.

Krishnan befriends Meena, Shantidevi's secretary. Meena is a very sweet and warm person who instantly falls in love with Krishnan. Once Krishnan saves shanti devi from a falling structure by lifting her, and she slaps him. He returns to her room and slaps her in private. She then realises the incident and promotes him as Section chief mechanic. In the meantime Krishnan is elected as the union leader, defeating the office staff candidate supported by Shanti Devi. Shantidevi is not very happy about him as they have different views and ideas. They have frequent clashes due to this. Meena decides to marry Krishnan and reveals it to him. Krishnan likes Meena but advises Meena to discuss it with his mother first. Shantidevi on the hand decides to marry Krishnan, to take revenge on him. She somehow convinces Krishnan's mother to get her married and Krishnan obliges his mother. Krishnan's mother is not aware of Shantidevi's plan. Shantidevi expects Krishnan to stay at home post marriage but her plan back fires as Krishnan continues as the union leader even after marriage. Shantidevi changes a policy in her company which agitates all the workers and they go on an indefinite hunger strike, which is headed by Krishnan. Viswanathan realises that his company's image is at stake and takes over as the chairman. Shantidevi is angered by this move saying that she has lost to Krishnan. Krishnan's mother comes to know about their bitter relationship and dies immediately, out of guilt. Shantidevi is being kidnapped by some of her business rivals, when Krishnan saves her and ultimately she realises her mistake. The film ends with Meena being appointed as the new CEO and Shantidevi as a homemaker leading a happy life with Krishnan.

Cast[]

Production[]

Mannan is a remake of the 1986 Kannada film Anuraga Aralithu,[2] which in turn was based on the novel Anuragada Anthapura by H. G. Radhadevi.[7] Pandari Bai reprised her role from Anuraga Aralithu.[1] Rajinikanth was paid ₹9 million (equivalent to ₹56 million or US$780,000 in 2019) for acting in the film. When Goundamani was approached, he asked a figure higher than Rajinikanth; he ultimately received ₹7.5 million (equivalent to ₹46 million or US$650,000 in 2019).[5] The scene where their characters struggle to buy tickets at a cinema theatre was inspired from P. Vasu's real-life experience at Shanti Theatre.[8] During the filming of another scene where Goundamani's character says "Naan inga vandhu ukaandhadhe thappu" (I made a huge mistake by sitting next to him), in reference to Rajinikanth's character, Rajinikanth could not control his laughter, resulting in the scene going through 21 retakes; it was ultimately filmed with Rajinikanth's mouth covered.[9] Many scenes were shot in Ooty.[10]

Themes[]

Writing for PopMatters, Kumuthan Maderya said, "At the heart of Mannan is the conceit that domestic violence, physical and emotional, is a civil war of attrition that inevitably hemorrhages both parties".[1] In a separate article for the same website, Ranjani Krishnakumar viewed it differently, as "a fight between a woman in power and a man of the people, who is reluctant to take power into his own hands, but wants to steer his people towards whom he believes deserves that power, which certainly isn’t her".[6]

Soundtrack[]

Mannan
Soundtrack album by
Ilaiyaraaja
Released1992
Recorded1991
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length24:59
LanguageTamil
LabelAgi Music
Aditya Music
ProducerIlaiyaraaja
Ilaiyaraaja chronology
Gunaa
(1991) 		Mannan
(1992) 		Singaravelan
(1992)

The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics were written by Vaali.[11] Rajinikanth made his debut in playback singing with this film,[12] through the song "Adikkuthu Kuliru".[3] The song is set in Kalyani raga.[13][14]

No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Rajathi Raja"Swarnalatha, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam5:00
2."Sandi Raaniye"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam2:02
3."Adikuthu Kuliru"S. Janaki, Rajinikanth5:16
4."Amma Endru"K. J. Yesudas4:54
5."Kumthalakadi"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam5:05
6."Mannar Mannaney"S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam2:42

Release and reception[]

Mannan was released on 15 January 1992, during the Pongal holiday frame.[15][16] The film ran for over 25 weeks in theatres,[1] and Yesudas won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Male Playback.[17]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Maderya, Kumuthan (31 January 2017). "Hardline Feminism and Unfettered Capitalism in the Action-Masala, 'Mannan'". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Ramachandran 2014, p. 141.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Ramachandran 2014, p. 142.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Mannan". Apple TV. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "At a time when Goundamani charged on a par with Rajini". DT Next. 3 April 2021. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Krishnakumar, Ranjani (24 April 2017). "Tamil Film 'Mannan' Presses the Limits of Using Violence on a Female Nemesis". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  7. ^ "ರಾಜ್‌ ಹಬ್ಬ: ವರನಟನ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳ ಕನ್ನಡಿ". Udayavani (in Kannada). 24 April 2019. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  8. ^ Ramanujam, Srinivasa (5 March 2015). "The way to Shanti". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  9. ^ "P. Vasu Talks About 'Sivalinga' And Goundamani's Actions In 'Mannan' Which Made Rajini Go For 21 Takes". Iflicks. 3 January 2017. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  10. ^ Thomas, Annie (12 December 2005). "Surprise party beats Rajnikanth to 56". DNA India. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Mannan". Gaana.com. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Rajini mania". The Hindu. 2 August 2016. Archived from the original on 2 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  13. ^ Saravanan, T. (20 September 2013). "Ragas hit a high". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  14. ^ Mani, Charulatha (14 October 2011). "A Raga's Journey: Kinetic Kalyani". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Mannan". The Indian Express. 15 January 1992. p. 15.
  16. ^ "Baashha to Darbar: Here is a list of Rajinikanth's Pongal releases that turned super hits". Asianet News. 8 January 2020. Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Film city to be ready soon: Jaya". The Indian Express. 19 January 1994. p. 3.

Bibliography[]

External links[]

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