''Naalai Manithan'' () is a 1989 Tamil-language science fiction horror film written and directed by Velu Prabhakaran. The film was produced by Thakkali Srinivasan under the banner Perfect Productions. Premi–Srini composed the music for the film. It stars Ajay Rathnam playing the titular role with Prabhu,

Amala Amala may refer to: People * Amala Akkineni, South Indian actress * Amala Chebolu, playback singer in the Telugu film industry, also known as Tollywood * Amala Paul (born 1991), South Indian actress * Amala Shankar (1919–2020), Indian dancer * ...

and Jaishankar playing the protagonist roles. The film was inspired from the American film '' Silent Rage'' directed by Michael Miller. The film was remade in Kannada as ''Manava 2022''.

Plot

In 2008 in Chennai, a doctor invents a drug which gives back life to the dead if injected within two hours of death. He works along with two other doctors. They experiment on the dead body of an orphan and succeed. Unknown to them, the drug induces side effects which makes the recipient immortal and, at the same time, feral and murderous. The orphan goes on a killing spree, and the city is soon flooded with murders. But he does not hurt the doctors as he trusts them, and returns to them every time he is wounded by bullets fired by the police. A police officer starts investigating the crimes and is soon on the trail of the orphan and the doctors after suspecting their research work. When the doctor' assistants suggest to their superior that they kill the orphan to end to the rampage, the orphan overhears it and later tracks down the assistants and kills them all. Later he kills the doctor as well. The police officer and his girlfriend finally track down the orphan, and after some intense bloodshed and fight, they roll him off a cliff in their car. Even after getting burnt, he comes back alive and attacks them. Finally, the police officer throws him into a deep watery pit, seemingly killing him, and leaves the place along with his girlfriend. However, the orphan comes out from the pit, having survived.

Cast

* Prabhu as the police officer *

as Prabhu's girlfriend * Ajay Rathnam as immortal john * Jaishankar as the doctor * Thakkali Srinivasan as the doctor's assistant * Jayashree as Thakkali Srinivasan's wife * Janagaraj as Sergeant Sekar * Disco Shanti as Dancer * J Livingston as TV Presenter guest appearance * Senthamarai (Guest appearance) as Amala's Father * Mohan as Host (Guest appearance) * Jai Ganesh as Ramesh, another assistant of Jaishankar

Production

''Naalai Manithan'' marked the directorial debut of Velu Prabhakaran, who also wrote the screenplay and served as cinematographer. Thakkali Srinivasan produced the film and also acted. Ajay Rathnam made his acting debut with this film.

Reception

N. Krishnaswamy of '' The Indian Express'' wrote on 20 January 1989, "The murderous hunt is what the film is about and such sequences are put together with crisp finesse. 2008 notwithstanding, ''Naalai Manithan'' is closer to what Cain did to Abel."

Soundtrack

Music was by Premi–Srini. The background music and re-recording was by Manachanallur Giridharan.

Sequel

The sequel '' Adhisaya Manithan'' was released in 1990, and was also directed by Prabhakaran.

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 4168940 1980s action films 1980s science fiction action films 1980s science fiction horror films 1980s serial killer films 1980s Tamil-language films 1989 directorial debut films 1989 films 1989 horror films Films directed by Velu Prabhakaran Films set in Chennai Indian action horror films Indian remakes of American films Indian science fiction action films Indian science fiction horror films Indian serial killer films Mad scientist films