Manikanda is a 2007 Indian Tamil-language action film directed by Selva. Arjun plays a dual role, that of father and son. The film, which began production in 2002, went through more production, and was finally released in 2007, was promoted as Jyothika's "last release". It is a remake of the 2000 Telugu movie Jayam Manadera.
| Manikanda | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Selva |
| Written by | G. K. Gopinath (dialogues) |
| Story by | M. Rathnakumar |
| Produced by | K. Dhandapani |
| Starring | Arjun Jyothika Uma |
| Cinematography | U. K. Senthil Kumar |
| Edited by | Raghubob |
| Music by | Deva |
Production company | Malar Combines |
Release date |
|
Running time | 133 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
editRaja lives in Mumbai with his father. Mahalakshmi goes to Bombay to get the blessings of a godwoman but since she is unable to meet Mataji immediately, she is forced to stay in Mumbai for ten days and rents a guestroom among the many run by Raja. Love blossoms between Raja and Maha and when she returns to her village Maniyoor, he follows a few days later on her invitation. After he lands there, he discovers his own link to the village.
Cast
edit- Arjun as Manikandan/Raja (dual role)
- Jyothika as Mahalakshmi (Maha)
- Uma as Lakshmi Manikandan
- Vadivelu as Madhayaanai
- Ashish Vidyarthi as Balasingam
- Chandrasekhar as Veerasamy
- Nalini as Mahalakshmi's mother
- P. Vasu as Mahalakshmi's grandfather
- Pasupathy
- Malavika
- Poovilangu Mohan
- Periya Karuppu Thevar
- Madhan Bob
- Aryan
- Singamuthu
- Thennavan
- Bonda Mani
- Halwa Vasu
- Priyanka as Maha's friend
- Jeeva
- O. A. K. Sundar
- Satya Prakash
- Vijay Ganesh
- Chelladurai
- Nellai Siva
- Kovai Senthil
- Siva Narayana Murthy as Mumbai Dhadha
- Sampath Ram
Production
editSelva who earlier directed Karnaa (1995) with Arjun announced the project in mid-2003. Jyothika was selected to play the lead role uniting with Arjun for second time after Rhythm (2000). P. Vasu, Pasupathi, Ashish Vidyarthi were selected to play villains. There were rumours that film's title would be changed as Nanba but later proved untrue.[1] The film's story happens in a village called Keeripatti where elections were never held for so many years.[2] Due to financial crisis the film was shelved for sometime and Selva and Arjun went on to do Aanai (2005).[3] During the time, Selva shelved other projects like Mamu (with Sathyaraj and Sibiraj)[4] and Thotta (2008) (with Jeevan and Priyamani which he later continued) and finished Nenjil (2006) with Navdeep.[5] Project was restarted in 2006 with a change of storyline and it was finally completed.[6]
Soundtrack
editSoundtrack was composed by Deva, with lyrics written by Piraisoodan, Na. Muthukumar and Kabilan.[7] The song "Mama Mama" from Kumudham was remixed in this film.[8]
| Song | Singers | Lyrics |
|---|---|---|
| "Hey Mukundha" | Karthik, Pop Shalini | Na. Muthukumar |
| "Inji Murappa" | Tippu, Anuradha Sriram | |
| "Madhippukuriya" | Manikka Vinayagam, Jayalakshmi | Piraisoodan |
| "Mama Mama" | Tippu, Anuradha Sriram | Na. Muthukumar |
| "Pondicherry" | Shankar Mahadevan, Harini | Kabilan |
Reception
editThe Hindu wrote the film "looks outdated" and added "It may not be a new storyline but with experienced artists and technicians it could have made an impression if it had been released on time".[9]
References
edit- ^ "Changed circumstances, changed titled". IndiaGlitz. 19 April 2005. Archived from the original on 19 April 2005. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^ "Keeripatti Politics". Behindwoods. 26 May 2005. Archived from the original on 8 April 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ ""Aanai" from Arjun". The Hindu. 11 March 2005. Archived from the original on 11 May 2005. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Son as Mamu". IndiaGlitz. 26 October 2004. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
- ^ "A breezy 'Nenjil Jil Jil'". Behindwoods. 11 May 2006. Archived from the original on 31 January 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ "Delay infuses freshness". IndiaGlitz. 10 May 2005. Archived from the original on 11 May 2005. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ "Manikanda". JioSaavn. 23 March 2007. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ "Arjun's Manikanda restarted". Behindwoods. 15 March 2005. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ Ashok Kumar, S. R. (6 April 2007). "Looks outdated – Manikanda". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 9 May 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
