''Mannukkul Vairam'' () is a 1986 Indian

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...

-language film directed by

Manoj Kumar Harikrishan Goswami (born 24 July 1937), better known by his screen name Manoj Kumar, is an Indian actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, lyricist and editor who worked in Hindi cinema. He is known for acting and making films with patriotic theme ...

in his debut and produced by

Kovaithambi Kovaithambi (born 28 November 1940) is an Indian film producer and politician who was active primarily in the 1980s, in Tamil cinema. Early life Kovaithambi was born on 28 November 1940 to Perumal Udayar and Sunthayi Ammal, a farming couple bel ...

. The film stars

Sivaji Ganesan Villupuram Chinnaiya Manrayar Ganesamoorthy, better known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan, (1 October 1928 – 21 July 2001) was an Indian actor and producer. He was active in Tamil cinema during the latter half of the 20th century. Sivaji Ga ...

, Sujatha,

Rajesh Rajesh is a given name of Indian and Nepali origin. Given name * Rajesh (actor), South Indian actor * Rajesh (Kannada actor), Kannada actor * Rajesh Bishnoi, Indian cricketer * Rajesh Chauhan, Indian cricketer * Rajesh Gangwar, Indian social ...

and Murali. The film, had musical score by

Devendran Devendran also known as Ravi Devendran is an Indian music composer who is concentrating in Tamil-language films. He is known for the melodious composition of chartbuster ''Kannukkul Nooru Nilava...'' from the Bharathiraja directed film ''Vedha ...

, and was released on 12 December 1986.

Plot

Chittu returns to her hometown of Mettupatti after being raised by her grandmother in a neighbouring town. The two most powerful and rich men in town are brothers Thavasi, known as Periyavar, and Virumandi, known as Chinnavar. Periyavar believes in equal justice above all else and is highly respected in the village while Chinnavar believes is his own

caste Caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultura ...

-superiority. Periyavar has a very young grandchild, Chinnathayee, who's been widowed after a child marriage. Chittu's parents, Velappa and Velaiamma, launder the town's clothes. Chittu finds it difficult to adjust to the town's rigid caste hierarchy after being raised with more freedom by her grandmother. She also clashes with her classmate Mayilsamy, Chinnavar's son. He constantly teases and humiliates her due to her caste. Chittu eventually convenes the panjayath to ask for justice and Periyavar punishes Mayilsamy. Chittu intervenes as she's worried his punishment will only breed more resentment and retaliation. In the aftermath of this incident, Mayilsamy realises his errors and soon falls in love with Chittu while Periyavar grows closer to Velappa's family. Chinnavar is incensed by Chittu's arrogance and what he believes is Velappa rising above his station. When Periyavar is called away, Chinnavar, the town's doctor and a few others force Velappa to work during the town's Pongal festival celebrations. Velappa is burned terribly in an accident while he's working. Chittu begs the doctor for help but is rebuffed by him and Chinnavar. Vellappa dies in agony and, in anger, Chittu yells at Chinnavar and his friends for their cruelty. In retaliation, he drives Chittu and Vellamma out of town. Years later, the two women return to the town when Chittu becomes the town's new doctor. Some of the townspeople have changed significantly, however some things are still very much the same. Chittu must face Chinnavar's continued hatred and the ramifications this has on many of those she cares about.

Cast

as Thavasi aka Periyavar * Sujatha as Velaiamma *

as Velappa * Murali as Mayilsamy * Ranjini as Chittu *

Vinu Chakravarthy Vinu Chakravarthy (15 December 1945 – 27 April 2017) was an Indian actor, screenwriter and director who is known for acting in more than 1000 movies in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Badaga and Malayalam mostly as a comedian, supporting actor or in ...

as Virumandi aka Chinnavar *

Goundamani Subramaniyan Karuppaiya (born 25 May 1939), known by his stage name Goundamani, is an Indian actor and comedian who works in Tamil cinema. He is known for his comic duo partnership in Tamil films with fellow actor Senthil. The pair dominated t ...

as Esakki *

Senthil Senthil (born 23 March 1951) is an Indian comedy actor who works in Tamil cinema. He is famous for his comedian roles along with fellow actor Goundamani. The pair dominated the Tamil industry as comedians in the 1980s and 90s.Ganthimathi Ganthimathi (30 August 1940 – 9 September 2011) was a Tamil stage and film actress. She acted in over 500 films. Early life Kanthimathi was born in Manamadurai in the then Ramanathapuram district of India. She started acting in dramas and ...

as Mayilsamy's Mother *

Kovai Sarala Kovai Sarala is an Indian actress and comedian, who prominently plays supporting roles in Tamil and Telugu films. She has won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Comedian three times, for her performances in '' Sathi Leelavathi'' (1995), '' ...

* Pandiyan as Bhoomi *

Vani Viswanath Vani Viswanath (born 13 May 1971) is an Indian actress who predominantly appeared in Malayalam and Telugu films. In 2000, Vani won the Kerala State Film Award for Second Best Actress for her performance in '' Susanna'', directed by T. V. Chandra ...

as Chinnathayee (adult) *

Vinodhini Vinodhini is an Indian actress, who has appeared in Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada films and Tamil serials. Beginning her acting career as a child artist, she went on to play lead and supporting roles before acting in television series as well. ...

as Chinnathayee (young) *Baby Lakshmi *Keerthi *Devi *Madurai Saroja *Vijaya *Nagalakshmi *K. K. Soundar *Ramnath *Suryakanth *Krishnamoorthy *Jayapal *

Kullamani Kullamani (1952–2013) was an Indian actor and comedian who appeared in South Indian films. He acted over 500 films. He is known for films like ''Karagattakaran'', '' Apoorva Sagodharargal'', ''Panakkaran'', ''My Dear Marthandan'', and many more ...

Pasi Narayanan Narayanan, better known as Pasi Narayanan, was an Indian stage and film actor known for performing comedic roles alongside actor Goundamani. Narayanan acted in over 500 Tamil-language films and is known for the catchphrase, Early life Narayan ...

Vellai Subbaiah Vellai Subbaiah was an Indian actor who had appeared in more than 500 films and 1000 stage plays. He featured mostly in comedy roles and also minor roles. He is well known for his dialogue, "Thirumba Thirumba pesura nee..." in the movie Nesam ...

Periya Karuppu Thevar Periya Karuppa Thevar (1936 - 18 September 2012) was a Tamil film character artiste and folk singer who appeared in Tamil-language films. Film career PKT was part of the drama troupe floated by veteran Sankaradoss Swamigal more than fifty year ...

*M. L. A. Murugesh *Karisai Amalan *Rajamani *Singamuthu

Production

Manojkumar, brother-in-law of director

Bharathiraja Bharathiraja (born 17 July 1941) is an Indian film director and actor who works mainly in the Tamil film industry. Making his debut in 1977 with ''16 Vayathinile'', he is known for realistic and sensitive portrayals of rural life in his films. ...

made his directorial debut with this film. Producer

was impressed with the story narrated by Manojkumar and he immediately narrated the story to

who agreed to act in the film.

Soundtrack

Soundtrack was composed by

in his debut. The song "Pongiyathe Kadhal" was well received and Devendran revealed it was based on a song which he composed while working as music teacher for a school.

Reception

''Mannukkul Vairam'' was released on 12 December 1986. ''

The Indian Express ''The Indian Express'' is an English-language Indian daily newspaper founded in 1932. It is published in Mumbai by the Indian Express Group. In 1999, eight years after the group's founder Ramnath Goenka's death in 1991, the group was split betw ...

'' praised Manoj Kumar's "treatment of caste discrimination is .subdued". Kovaithambi said the film ran for 50 days in theatres, and though it was not that successful, it gave him the satisfaction of working with Sivaji Ganesan.

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0234196 1980s Tamil-language films 1986 directorial debut films 1986 films Films about the caste system in India