Iruvar
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| Iruvar | |
|---|---|
| Image:Iruvar1.png A scene from 'Iruvar' | |
| Directed by | Mani Ratnam |
| Produced by | Mani Ratnam Suhasini |
| Written by | Mani Ratnam, Suhasini |
| Starring | Mohanlal Tabu Prakash Raj Gouthami Aishwarya Rai Nasser |
| Music by | A. R. Rahman |
| Distributed by | Madras Talkies |
| Release date(s) | January 14, 1997 |
| Running time | 165 mins |
| Language | Tamil |
| IMDb profile | |
Iruvar (The Twosome — The Duo) (1997) is a Tamil language film directed by Mani Ratnam, with music composed by A. R. Rahman. The film traces the lives of 1980s Tamil Nadu political rivals M. G. Ramachandran and M. Karunanidhi. Upon release, it earned a strong critical reception and is also critically considered by some to be one of Mani Ratnam's best films to date.
Mohanlal and Prakash Raj played lead roles in the film. Tabu, Gouthami, Revathi Menon and Nasser star in supporting roles. The film also saw the movie debut of Aishwarya Rai, then merely a model and former beauty queen (as well as an aspiring actress). It was subsequently dubbed in Telugu under the title Iddaru.
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[edit] About The Movie
Iruvar is the tale of two men - Selvam, the poet and rising politician and Anandan, a budding actor. This friendship saw, with the rhetoric of the former and the popularity of the latter, the birth of an alliance which politically took the State by storm. And yet, it was the same politics that drove them apart; a separation that was politically permanent.
It was a time when the country was in the turmoil of the Independence struggle. The exuberance in the wake of independence saw the emergence of new regional political parties, the fight for democracy at the regional level and the birth of a rationalistic party for the suppressed and downtrodden, addressing itself solely at the grass-root level. Cinema yet in its infancy, was recognized as a medium to reach a wider spectrum, and utilized to propagate political consciousness and party ideologies. Thus the bond between the cinema and politics was forged. But slowly the emphasis shifted and cinema soon became a medium for the political game.
In such a scenario do Anandan and Selvam meets Anandan is to play the hero of a film of which Selvam is the writer. An instant rapport is struck, both young, full of dreams an, lofty ideals, basking in the glow of the nation's new-found freedom. Both rise in their respective fields, Anandan becoming an icon, with an image as the Messiah of the downtrodden, and Selvam a powerful orator of grand stature, following the Party's spearhead.
When Anandan decides to join politics, Selvam is encouraging, but is also the first to question his motives. Thus begin the competition and acts of one-upmanship, each wary of the other, ever watchful, though on the outside still maintaining the bonhomie; layers of love and hate mingling, making their relationship difficult to fathom. Both grow and grow apart.
Anandan leaves the party, forms a new one and comes to power. The passing years - five decades - witnesses each one trying to out do the other; their struggle for power, the ego superseding their friendship and their dreams. This stark, complex intriguing, relationship continues till the end. Despite lost friendships and brotherhood, in Selvam's eulogy to Anandan, despite the rhetoric, the poet's admiration for his former comrade shines through.
Are they the same two who, with lofty ideals, a dream in their eyes, heart full of hope, marched forward to conquer the world? Those dreams and ideals; where are they?
[edit] Cast
- Anandan - Mohanlal
- Selvam - Prakash Raj
- Pushpa/Kalpana - Aishwarya Rai
- Senthamarai - Tabu
- Ramani - Gautami
- Maragatham - Revathy
- Ayya Veluthambi - Nasser
- Madhivanan - Rajesh
- Nambi - Delhi Ganesh
[edit] Criticism
The movie dealt with a very sensitive subject. The two men whose lives have been chronicled enjoy an enormous fan following. The dash and flair and captivating oratorical abilities of M. Karunanidhi has attracted many millions over the 50 years of his political life. M. G. Ramachandran enjoys a semi-divine status in Tamil nadu with people constructing temples for him. On account of this the movie invited much criticism from both the camps. Moreover the personal lives of the lead characters (their extra-marital relations, ego problems) have been portrayed with near accuracy in the film. Former chief minister J.Jayalalithaa is also shown in bad light as a young and immature actress trying to seduce and marry M. G. Ramachandran.
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 Rathnam's better works. The movie enjoys enormous fan following among the Tamils in the world. DVDs of the movie are continuously in demand as are the soundtrack (by acclaimed composer, A.R. Rahman).
[edit] Awards
The film has won the following awards since its release:
1997 Belgrade Film Festival
- Won - Best Film of the festival of the Auteur Films - Iruvar - Mani Ratnam
1998 National Film Awards (India)
- Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Supporting Actor - Prakash Raj
- Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Cinematography - Santosh Sivan
[edit] Soundtrack
| Iruvar: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |
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|---|---|---|
| Image:Iruvar1.jpg | ||
| Soundtrack by A. R. Rahman | ||
| Released | 1997 | |
| Genre | Soundtrack | |
| Label | Pyramid | |
| Producer | A. R. Rahman | |
Iruvar: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
The film's soundtrack features 6 songs composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics by Vairamuthu.
Track listing:
- "Kannai Katti" (5:56) – Hariharan
- "Hello Mister Edirkatchi" (4:12) – Harini
- "Narumugaye" (6:20) – Unnikrishnan & Bombay Jayashree
- "Venilla Venilla" (4:59) – Asha Bhosle
- "Ayirathil Naan Oruvan" (5:51) – Mano
- "Poo Kudiyil Punnagai" (5:31) – Sandhya
[edit] Trivia
- Prakash Raj received a Best Supporting Actor award from M. Karunanidhi; the character he portrayed in the film is said to be loosely based on him.
- Dialogues at the end of the film were penned by Suhasini Mani Ratnam.
- Debut Film for Aishwarya Rai
[edit] External links
Films directed by Mani Ratnam |
|---|
| Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983) • Unaru (1985) • Pagal Nilavu (1985) • Idaya Kovil (1985) • Mouna Raagam (1986) • Nayagan (1987) • Agni Natchathiram (1988) • Geethanjali (1989) • Anjali (1990) • Thalapathi (1991) • Roja (1992) • Thiruda Thiruda (1993) • Bombay (1995) • Iruvar (1997) • Dil Se (1998) • Alaipayuthey (2000) • Kannathil Muthamittal (2002) • Aayitha Ezhuthu (2004) • Yuva (2004) • Guru (2007) |
