Mannan (film)

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Mannan
Mannan film poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by P. Vasu
Written by P. Vasu
Based on Anuraga Aralithu
Produced by Prabhu
Starring Rajinikanth
Vijayashanti
Khushbu
Cinematography Ashok Kumar
Edited by P. Mohanraj
Music by Ilaiyaraaja
Production
company

Sivaji Productions
Release date

15 January 1992

Running time
153 minutes
Country India
Language Tamil

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, and was a blockbuster at box office
Contents

1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Production
4 Themes
5 Music
6 Release and reception
7 References
8 Bibliography
9 External links

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 five years ago as the CEO and her maid Kannamma, as she had lost her
mother 20 years ago. 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, Viswanathan is
beaten by thugs. 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 it belongs to Shanthi Devi. She refuses to
hire Krishnan, but later due to her father's compulsion she recruits Krishnan as
Senior mechanic.

Krishnan befriends Meena, Shanthi Devi's secretary. Meena, unlike her boss, is
sweet and warm, and instantly falls in love with Krishnan. Once Krishnan saves
Shanthi Devi from a falling structure by lifting her, but 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 Shanthi Devi. Shanthi
Devi 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. Shanthi Devi, 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 Shanthi Devi's plan. Shanthi Devi expects Krishnan to stay at home post
marriage but her plan backfires as Krishnan continues as the union leader even
after marriage.

Shanthi Devi 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.
Shanthi Devi is angered by this move and begins destroying her house, humiliated at
having lost to Krishnan. Krishnan's mother learns of their bitter relationship and,
despite recovering from paralysis, immediately dies of guilt. An assassination
attempt is made on Shanthi Devi by her business rival Sathish, but Krishnan kills
him and saves her and ultimately she realises her mistake. Meena is later appointed
as the new CEO of Devi Industries and Shanthi Devi remains a homemaker leading a
happy life with Krishnan.
Cast

Rajinikanth as Krishnan[2]
Vijayashanti as V. Shanthi Devi[2]
Khushbu as Meena[3]
Manorama as Azhagi[4]
Visu as Viswanathan[4]
Goundamani as Muthu[5]
Pandari Bai as Parvathy Amma[1]
V. K. Ramasamy as Meena's father[4]
Prathapachandran as Raghavan[4]
Sharat Saxena as Sathish[4]
Uday Prakash as Shanthi's production manager[6]
Prabhu as Prabhu (cameo)[7]
P. Vasu (cameo)[4]

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.[8] Pandari Bai reprised
her role from Anuraga Aralithu.[1] Rajinikanth was paid ₹9 million (equivalent to
₹59 million or US$740,000 in 2020) for acting in the film. When Goundamani was
approached, he asked a figure higher than Rajinikanth; he ultimately received ₹7.5
million (equivalent to ₹49 million or US$610,000 in 2020).[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.[9] 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.[10] Many scenes
were shot in Ooty.[11]
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] The company where Rajinikanth's character initially works
is named Ramoji Rao Ranoji Rao Shivaji Rao Jijabai Pvt Ltd., using the names of
Rajinikanth's parents Ramoji Rao and Jijabai, as well as his birth name Shivaji
Rao.[12]
Music

The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics were written by Vaali.[13]
[14] Rajinikanth made his debut in playback singing with this film,[15] through the
song "Adikkuthu Kuliru".[3] The song is set in Kalyani raga.[16][17]
No. Title Singer(s) Length
1. "Rajathi Raja" Swarnalatha, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 5:00
2. "Sandi Raaniye" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 2:02
3. "Adikuthu Kuliru" S. Janaki, Rajinikanth 5:16
4. "Amma Endru" K. J. Yesudas 4:54
5. "Kumthalakadi" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 5:05
6. "Mannar Mannaney" S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 2:42
Release and reception

Mannan was released on 15 January 1992, during the Pongal holiday frame.[18][19]
Sundarji of Kalki felt the story and visuals were not fit for Rajinikanth, but
Vijayashanti's rage was a total mal, which made him think that it brought her
performance down a certain amount.[20] The film ran for over 25 weeks in theatres,
[1] and Yesudas won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer.
[21]