Iruvar (1997)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Mani Ratnam

Writers:

Mani Ratnam (screenplay)
Mani Ratnam (story)

Release Date:

14 January 1997 (India)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Mani Rathnam's take on the real-life rivalry between M.G. Ramachandran and Karunanidhi.

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | One Word Title

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Mohanlal	...	Anand (Anandan)
Prakash Raj	...	Tamil Selvam (Tamilzhchelvan) (as Prakashraj)
Aishwarya Rai	...	Pushpa / Kalpana
Gautami	...	Ramani
Tabu	...	Selvam's lover
Revathy	...	Selvam's wife
Nasser	...	Anna Durai (the party leader)
Madhoo	...	Special Appearance (Song "Narumugaiye") (as Madhubala)
Ravi	...	Ramani's manager
Rajesh	...	Party functionary
Delhi Ganesh	...	Anandan's helper
Sunder Rajan	...	Police Commissioner

Also Known As:

Iddaru (India: Telugu title) (dubbed version)
The Duo

Runtime:

140 min

Country:

India

Language:

Tamil

Color:

Black and White | Color

Sound Mix:

DTS

Filming Locations:

Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh, India

Company:

Madras Talkies

Trivia:

When the movie was released, various political parties staged demonstrations to prevent theaters from showing the movie. Still the movie is regarded as one of Mani Ratnam's better works.

The Best Indian Movie Ever!

I have seen this movie about 10 times in the last 5 years. One of the most inspiring movie ever made in Indian movie history. The best part which sets this movie apart is the fact that it is in Tamil and about two of the greatest pioneers of Tamil Nadu, yet it is unbiased and brings out the psyche of two of the greatest minds of Tamil Nadu. Although the movie claims that it is not a true story (in the very first scene), it is intuitive to anybody who lived or are aware of the golden age of Tamil Nadu.

Mohanlal and Prakash Rai play Anandan and Tamizh Chelvan respectively. Impeccable performances by them portraying the real life characters. Every bit of this movie says that it is a classic and this will only be realized in years to come. The film showcases the kind of films Maniratnam is capable of making. A.R.Rahman's music will haunt the ears of the viewers.

This movie was not appreciated by the movie goers in India as it was a little too slow. There are no racy songs, unwanted characters or unrealistic scenes to woo the viewers. Suhasini Maniratnam's dialogues in Tamil takes this movie to a pedestal where only the connoisseurs can admire. A very straight forward approach by the best film-maker in India.

Arvind Swami lends his masculine voice to Vairamuthu's verses to bring out the intensity in the scenes that show Thamizh Chelvan's prowess as a poet.

On the whole, a wonderful movie to have in your DVD rack. A classic that will only reveal itself in the years to come.