Kaadhal Mannan

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Kaadhal Mannan
File:Kaadhal Mannan poster.jpg
Poster
Directed bySaran
Produced byV. Sudhir Kumar
Written bySaran
StarringAjith Kumar
Maanu
Music byBharathwaj
M. S. Viswanathan
(1 Song)
CinematographyA. Vijayakumar
Edited byGanesh Kumar
Production
company
Venkateswaralayam
Release date
6 March 1998
Running time
136 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Kaadhal Mannan (English: King of Love) is a 1998 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film directed by Saran, which features Ajith Kumar and Maanu in the lead roles. The film also saw music composer M. S. Viswanathan make his debut in a supporting role, whilst Vivek, Karan and Girish Karnad also played other roles. The film was released on 6 March 1998 to positive reviews and commercial success.

Plot[edit]

Rudran, a strict disciplinarian and father of two daughters, hates the word 'Love'. The very mention of this word makes him punish himself to extreme heights. He has disowned his elder daughter Menaka because she eloped with her lover. The strictness is doubled for the younger daughter Thilottama, and a marriage alliance is fixed for her. She stoically accepts her father's decision until she meets Shiva, a local mechanic. Shiva lives with his friend Oyya in a mansion owned by Mess Viswanthan. Shiva is always ready to accept dares. When Menaka dares him to go to Chennai to deliver a letter to Thilothama, Shiva ends up falling in love with Thilothama, but she is unable to reveal her love to Shiva and her father, as she fears the consequences. The film revoles around whether the lovers are able to declare their love for each other, and if Rudran accepts it.

Cast[edit]

  • Ajith Kumar as Shiva, mechanic
  • Maanu as Thilothama
  • M. S. Viswanathan as Mess Viswanthan, mansion owner
  • Vivek as Oyya, Shiva's friend
  • Nithya as Manjari (Thilothama's friend)
  • Karan as Ranjan
  • Girish Karnad as Rudran, Black Dog security service MD
  • Dhaarini as Menaka, Thilothama's sister
  • Ramesh Khanna as Black Dog security service Inspector
  • Rathan as Ranjan's father
  • Dhamu as Person in Mansion
  • Ramji a special appearance in Maarimuthu song
  • Kanal Kannan as Taxi Driver (special appearance)
  • Shalu Shamu as Thilothama's niece (Child Artist (Uncredited))[1]
  • Chaams (Uncredited role)

Production[edit]

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 make his acting debut in a supporting role, whilst the lead actress Maanu from Assam and music composer Bharathwaj also debuted.[2] Viswanathan had initially waded away the approach but actor Vivek later convinced him to partake in the film.[3] Few scenes were shot at Murugesan Mansion at Triplicane.[4]

Soundtrack[edit]

Kaadhal Mannan
Soundtrack album by
Released1998
Recorded1998
GenreSoundtrack
Length28:56
LabelSony Music
Sa Re Ga Ma
Magnasound
ProducerBharathwaj
Bharathwaj chronology
Oka Chinna Maata
(1997)
Kaadhal Mannan
(1998)
Pooveli
(1998)

The soundtrack of the film was composed by Bharathwaj, except the song "Mettu Thedi" which was composed by M. S. Viswanathan. All lyrics were written by Vairamuthu.

Track-list
No. TitleSinger(s) Length
1. "Unnai Paartha"  S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 5:12
2. "Vaannum Mannum"  Hariharan, K. S. Chithra 5:15
3. "Thilothamma"  Bharathwaj, Annupamaa 4:26
4. "Mettu Thedi"  M. S. Viswanathan 4:45
5. "Marimuthu Marimuthu"  Deva 4:48
6. "Kanni Pengal"  Ada Ali Azad, Febi Mani, 4:30
Total length:
28:56

Release[edit]

The film released on 6 March 1998 in 108 screens worldwide. It won positive reviews from critics, with a reviewer praising the film for tackling a taboo subject. The critic claimed that Ajith Kumar "was back at his best", whilst also crediting success to Bharathwaj's soundtrack.[5][6] 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.[6]

The film was commercial success at the box office as it 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. Still, it ran for 100 days and re-established Ajith's market after a string of failures.[7][8]

References[edit]

External links[edit]