Kadhal Mannan
Encyclopedia
Kaadhal Mannan is a 1998 Tamil romantic film directed by Saran
, which features Ajith Kumar
and Maanu in the lead roles. The film also saw prominent music composer M. S. Viswanathan
make his debut in a supporting role, whilst Vivek
, Karan
and Girish Karnad
also played other roles. The film, which had music composed by Bharathwaj
, was released in March 1998 to positive reviews.
The film saw veteran music composer M. S. Viswanathan
make his acting debut in a supporting role, whilst the lead actress Maanu from Assam
and music composer Bharathwaj
also debuted. The film's soundtrack gained rave review prior to release. Viswanathan had initially waded away the approach but actor Vivek later convinced him to partake in the film.
subject. The critic claimed that Ajith Kumar
"was back at his best", whilst also creditting success to Maanu's performance and Bharathwaj's soundtrack. Despite winning plaudits for her portrayal, Maanu quit the film industry for over a decade before resurfacing as a promoter for the 2010 Singaporean film Gurushetram - 24 Hours of Anger
and later as an aide to Rajinikanth during his health-related visit to Singapore in 2011.
The film received an above average response at the box office. The film released during a period of crisis in the film industry where the FEFSI strikes were ongoing and thus the distributors refused to pick the film up outright and insisted on distribution only. The first copy was worth Rs 22 million, but was only sold for Rs 16 million. Despite all this, it ran 80 days and re-established Ajith Kumar's market after a string of failures.
Saran (director)
Saran is a Tamil film director from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. He was once an assistant to K. Balachander. He now owns a production house called Gemini Productions.-Life and Career:...
, which features Ajith Kumar
Ajith Kumar
Ajith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai . A succession of high-grossing films followed where Ajith was usually depicted as a romantic hero, with...
and Maanu in the lead roles. The film also saw prominent music composer M. S. Viswanathan
M. S. Viswanathan
Manayangath Subramanian Viswanathan , is a Tamil music director. He is popularly known as "Mellisai Mannar" . His major works over the past five decades have been in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films...
make his debut in a supporting role, whilst Vivek
Vivek (actor)
Vivekananthan is an Indian film actor and comedian. He has won four Filmfare Best Comedian Awards for his performances in Run, Saamy, Perazhagan and Sivaji, respectively. In April 2009, Vivek received the Padma Shri award by the Government of India for his contribution to the arts. He was...
, Karan
Karan (actor)
Karan is an Indian actor. He started his career as child actor under the name Master Raghu for more than 20 films in Malayalam. Ina and Kuyiline Thedi were huge hits. After turning 20, he acted in Tamil films where he made his debut in Nammavar starring opposite Kamal Hassan...
and Girish Karnad
Girish Karnad
Girish Raghunath Karnad is a contemporary writer, playwright, screenwriter, actor and movie director in Kannada language...
also played other roles. The film, which had music composed by Bharathwaj
Bharathwaj
Bharathwaj is a Tamil film composer. He has since scored music in languages including Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. trained in Hindustani, Western and Carnatic music.He is a recipient of Kalaimamani Award for the year 2008 from Tamil Nadu Government...
, was released in March 1998 to positive reviews.
Plot
Shiva (Ajith Kumar) is a mechanic, a daredevil known for attempting daring acts for the sake of a bet. One such bet takes him to Delhi where he meets a woman who asks him to deliver a letter to her younger sister. This younger sister is Thilothama (Maanu), who is all set to be engaged to Ranjan (Karan), the man of her father's choice. But that doesn't stop Shiva from falling in love with her. Against her better sense, Thilothama too finds herself falling for Shiva.Cast
- Ajith KumarAjith KumarAjith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai . A succession of high-grossing films followed where Ajith was usually depicted as a romantic hero, with...
as Shiva - Maanu as Thilothama
- M. S. ViswanathanM. S. ViswanathanManayangath Subramanian Viswanathan , is a Tamil music director. He is popularly known as "Mellisai Mannar" . His major works over the past five decades have been in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films...
as Mess Viswanthan - VivekVivek (actor)Vivekananthan is an Indian film actor and comedian. He has won four Filmfare Best Comedian Awards for his performances in Run, Saamy, Perazhagan and Sivaji, respectively. In April 2009, Vivek received the Padma Shri award by the Government of India for his contribution to the arts. He was...
- KaranKaran (actor)Karan is an Indian actor. He started his career as child actor under the name Master Raghu for more than 20 films in Malayalam. Ina and Kuyiline Thedi were huge hits. After turning 20, he acted in Tamil films where he made his debut in Nammavar starring opposite Kamal Hassan...
as Ranjan - Girish KarnadGirish KarnadGirish Raghunath Karnad is a contemporary writer, playwright, screenwriter, actor and movie director in Kannada language...
- Salip Dass Gupta @ Bonda Dass @ Serupu Thirudan
Production
Saran describes that he "was wondering what would happen if a girl, who is engaged to a particular person, falls in love with someone else" and this formed the basis of his plot for the film.The film saw veteran music composer M. S. Viswanathan
M. S. Viswanathan
Manayangath Subramanian Viswanathan , is a Tamil music director. He is popularly known as "Mellisai Mannar" . His major works over the past five decades have been in Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu films...
make his acting debut in a supporting role, whilst the lead actress Maanu from Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
and music composer Bharathwaj
Bharathwaj
Bharathwaj is a Tamil film composer. He has since scored music in languages including Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. trained in Hindustani, Western and Carnatic music.He is a recipient of Kalaimamani Award for the year 2008 from Tamil Nadu Government...
also debuted. The film's soundtrack gained rave review prior to release. Viswanathan had initially waded away the approach but actor Vivek later convinced him to partake in the film.
Release
The film won positive reviews from critics, with a reviewer praising the film for tackling a tabooTaboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
subject. The critic claimed that Ajith Kumar
Ajith Kumar
Ajith Kumar is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Tamil cinema. He began his career as a supporting actor in a Telugu film before gaining critical recognition in the Tamil thriller Aasai . A succession of high-grossing films followed where Ajith was usually depicted as a romantic hero, with...
"was back at his best", whilst also creditting success to Maanu's performance and Bharathwaj's soundtrack. Despite winning plaudits for her portrayal, Maanu quit the film industry for over a decade before resurfacing as a promoter for the 2010 Singaporean film Gurushetram - 24 Hours of Anger
Gurushetram - 24 Hours of Anger
Gurushetram - 24 Hours of Anger is a 2010 Singaporean Tamil crime thriller film directed by T. T. Dhavamanni. Written by Dhavamani and Chong Tze Chien, the film stars Vishnu, Sivakumar, Mathialagan, Rajesh Kannan, Gunalan in the lead roles...
and later as an aide to Rajinikanth during his health-related visit to Singapore in 2011.
The film received an above average response at the box office. The film released during a period of crisis in the film industry where the FEFSI strikes were ongoing and thus the distributors refused to pick the film up outright and insisted on distribution only. The first copy was worth Rs 22 million, but was only sold for Rs 16 million. Despite all this, it ran 80 days and re-established Ajith Kumar's market after a string of failures.