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Iruvar

  • 19971997
  • 2h 20m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
6K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Mohanlal in Iruvar (1997)
Iruvar Trailer
Play trailer2:52
1 Video
26 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama

A struggling actor and a writer-politician become friends as young men and rise to great heights in cinema and politics respectively. But when both become contenders for the top political po... Read allA struggling actor and a writer-politician become friends as young men and rise to great heights in cinema and politics respectively. But when both become contenders for the top political post in the state, a rift develops between them.A struggling actor and a writer-politician become friends as young men and rise to great heights in cinema and politics respectively. But when both become contenders for the top political post in the state, a rift develops between them.

IMDb RATING
8.5/10
6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Mani Ratnam
  • Writers
    • Mani Ratnam(screenplay)
    • Suhasini(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Mohanlal
    • Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
    • Prakash Raj
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mani Ratnam
  • Writers
    • Mani Ratnam(screenplay)
    • Suhasini(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Mohanlal
    • Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
    • Prakash Raj
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 32User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Iruvar Trailer
    Trailer 2:52
    Iruvar Trailer

    Photos26

    Mohanlal in Iruvar (1997)
    Mohanlal and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Iruvar (1997)
    Mohanlal and Prakash Raj in Iruvar (1997)
    Gautami, Mohanlal, Prakash Raj, and Revathi in Iruvar (1997)
    Nassar, Prakash Raj, and Rajesh in Iruvar (1997)
    Mohanlal in Iruvar (1997)
    Prakash Raj in Iruvar (1997)
    Tabu in Iruvar (1997)
    Mohanlal in Iruvar (1997)
    Mohanlal and Prakash Raj in Iruvar (1997)
    Mohanlal and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Iruvar (1997)
    Mohanlal and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Iruvar (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mohanlal
    Mohanlal
    • Anand (Anandan)as Anand (Anandan)
    Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
    Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
    • Kalpanaas Kalpana…
    Prakash Raj
    Prakash Raj
    • Tamil Selvam (Tamilzhchelvan)as Tamil Selvam (Tamilzhchelvan)
    Gautami
    Gautami
    • Ramanias Ramani
    Tabu
    Tabu
    • Selvam's loveras Selvam's lover
    Revathi
    Revathi
    • Selvam's wifeas Selvam's wife
    • (as Revathy)
    Nassar
    Nassar
    • Anna Durai (the party leader)as Anna Durai (the party leader)
    • (as Nasser)
    Madhoo
    Madhoo
    • Special Appearance (Song "Narumugaiye")as Special Appearance (Song "Narumugaiye")
    • (as Madhubala)
    Ravi
    • Ramani's manageras Ramani's manager
    Rajesh
    • Party functionaryas Party functionary
    Delhi Ganesh
    Delhi Ganesh
    • Anandan's helperas Anandan's helper
    Sunder Rajan
    • Police Commissioneras Police Commissioner
    • Director
      • Mani Ratnam
    • Writers
      • Mani Ratnam(screenplay) (story)
      • Suhasini(dialogue) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    A struggling actor Anandam (Mohanlal) is befriended by up and coming grassroots leader and scriptwriter Tamilchelvam (Prakashraj). As Anandam grows in popularity, he becomes an important tool for the Tamilchelvam and his party in wooing the public. After the death of the party leader Annadurai (Nasser), both protagonists find themselves in candidacy for the top spot, the schism is inevitable. —Joyojeet Pal
    • grief
    • train
    • husband wife relationship
    • widower
    • speech
    • 67 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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 best works.
    • Soundtracks
      Kannai Kaatikollathey
      Performed by Hariharan

      Lyrics by Vairamuthu

      Music by A.R. Rahman

    User reviews32

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Mani Ratnam's best
    'Iruvar' is easily Mani Ratnam's best work to date- well researched, well planned, tight screenplay, wonderful classic resembling songs, great camera-work, above all, stellar star cast and performances. The scene on the rooftop of Tamil Selvam (Prakash Raj)'s house where Anand (Mohan Lal) is urged to greet his fans is indeed, a masterpiece of a scene. I should say that 11 years has passed since this movie was made but i have loved every one who has worked on this movie. I believe Santosh Sivan is the best cameraman in India, and I am also saddened that he is not doing cemeraworks for Mani Ratnam anymore (this and Dil Se were both class). I loved Mohan Lal, and ever since then, any of his movies failed to come anywhere near as impactful as this. Above all, there is Aishwarya Rai. There are many people who doubt her acting prowess, claiming her to be nothing but glamorous and beautiful. This is, I admit, the second best all-time single film performance by an actress that i have witnessed in my life thus far (ranking first is the Clementine Wozniacki played by Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine). Ash is tremendous in enacting the role of both a village girl and a seductive actress. There is not a single scene which she fails to impress. Considering this her debut movie, i would say that she always carried great potential, i have seen rushes on the sets of the films that she has worked and i observe that she certainly is a very committed lady trying to portray the role in the best way possible. It's only sad that directors get stuck up when giving her roles. Sanjay Leela Bhansali only gave her HDDCS and Devdas where she played beautiful, exuberant young ladies but did not give her the role he gave to Rani in Black. Ash is easily the most talented of all the actresses, not only the most beautiful, her performances in Mani Ratnam's films (Guru) proves that. He seems to be the only director who knows how to use her talent and also beauty both appropriately. The thing about Iruvar is that the songs never look out of place. They are not abrupt nor mindless. This film, as i have witnessed, has changed a common perception that a good movie shouldn't have song and dance sequences. This is a good movie, and it is even a better movie for its song and dances. They are not out of place because all the songs refer to movies which Anand was acting in, and at the same time, all were gorgeously shot. 'Aayirathil Oruvan' had great locations and camera-work, so did 'Venilla', while 'Aayirathil Oruvan' too is the best shot-under-pouring-rain song i have seen so far. And i am writing this 11 years after the movie released, and five years after i watched it for the first time. I still can't erase it off my memory (I played the movie so many times that i ended up tarnishing the VCD), so i feel it deserves an IMDb review.
    helpful•15
    3
    • ram_dhanush
    • Jun 1, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 14, 1997 (India)
    • Country of origin
      • India
    • Language
      • Tamil
    • Also known as
      • The Duo
    • Filming locations
      • Kerala, India
    • Production company
      • Madras Talkies
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

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