Nayakan to Thug Life: A new chapter for an iconic duo
Thirty-eight years after 'Nayakan', which stormed into theatres and ran for more than 200 days, Kamal and Mani Ratnam are back with another magnum opus: 'Thug Life'. 'Nayakan' was loosely based on the life of gangster Varadaraja Mudaliar, who ruled the slums of Mumbai's Dharavi.
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Pink Villa
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Kamal Haasan's Nayakan to Rajinikanth's Thalapathi: 10 Mani Ratnam films with Ilaiyaraaja's musical score
Mani Ratnam and Ilaiyaraaja are not only two creative geniuses in the world of entertainment but are also two of the greatest collaborators in the history of Indian cinema. The duo, who share the same birthday, have delivered some of the most iconic films as director and composer. Here are 10 films that had Mani Ratnam as the filmmaker and Ilaiyaraaja as the composer. 1. Pallavi Anu Pallavi Cast: Anil Kapoor, Lakshmi, Kiran Vairale, Sundar Raj, Vikram Makandar Release date: January 7, 1983 Kannada romantic drama Pallavi Anu Pallavi marked Mani Ratnam's debut as a director in Sandalwood, along with Anil Kapoor. With Ilaiyaraaja as the music composer, the film revolves around a romantic relationship between a young man and a slightly older woman. 2. Unaroo Cast: Mohanlal, Sukumaran, Ratheesh, Unni Mary, Sabitha Anand Release date: April 14, 1984 Malayalam political drama Unaroo marked another collaboration between Mani Ratnam and Ilaiyaraaja. The film's story was about a group of workers who defy the union leaders to help a new factory get started. It gave an inside view of the problems that arose within the labor trade union parties in Kerala. 3. Geethanjali Cast: Nagarjuna Akkineni, Girija, Vijayakumar, Vijayachander, Sumithra Release date: May 12, 1989 Telugu romantic drama Geethanjali was a commercial success back in the day, as it ran in theaters for over 100 days. It even won a National Film Award and six state Nandi Awards. Its story narrates the life of two terminally ill individuals who fall in love despite knowing that their days are numbered. 4. Pagal Nilavu Cast: Murali, Revathi, Sathyaraj, Goundamani, Sarath Babu, Radhika Sarathkumar Release date: June 28, 1985 Tamil gangster film Pagal Nilavu received wide acclaim for its musical score as composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The Mani Ratnam directorial navigated the life of a carefree youth who is torn between his love for the sister of a police officer and loyalty towards his mafia don. It was the Tamil debut for the filmmaker. 5. Idaya Kovil Cast: Mohan, Radha, Ambika, Goundamani, Thyagu, Ilavarasu Release date: September 14, 1985 Idaya Kovil's songs and soundtrack went on to become iconic numbers in themselves, even though the film slightly underperformed at the box office. The movie talks about a one-sided love between Suresh, who falls for a spirited girl, Sudha. But she instead falls for a singer named Shankar. 6. Mouna Ragam Cast: Mohan, Revathi, Karthik, Sonia, Vani, VK Ramasamy Release date: August 15, 1986 Mouna Ragam is another Tamil romantic drama by Mani Ratnam, based on a short story by the filmmaker, for which he did not plan any cinematic venture until he finished writing. The movie narrates the story of a girl named Diya who holds on to her past with the memories of her dead lover, Manohar. 7. Nayakan Cast: Kamal Haasan, Saranya, MV Vasudeva Rao, Janagaraj, Delhi Ganesh Release date: October 21, 1987 Epic crime drama Nayakan marked Mani Ratnam's first-ever work with Kamal Haasan. Its plot was loosely based on the life of Bombay's underworld don Varadarajan Mudaliar and is inspired by the American film The Godfather. The movie was a critical and commercial success back in the day. 8. Agni Natchathiram Cast: Prabhu, Karthik, Amala, Jayachitra, Nirosha, Tara Release date: April 15, 1988 A true-blue masala entertainer, Agni Natchathiram was intended to follow Mani Ratnam's previous film, Mouna Ragam. With a musical score composed by Ilaiyaraaja, the film's plot talked about two half-brothers who conflict over claiming the legitimate inheritance of their father. 9. Anjali Cast: Raghuvaran, Revathi, Prabhu, Janagaraj, Saranya, Nishanti Release date: July 12, 1990 The Tamil children's drama film Anjali deals with the story of a dying and mentally disabled child against the painful and emotional trauma dealt by her family. The film was critically acclaimed and won three National Awards. 10. Thalapathi Tamil gangster drama Thalapathi is said to be based on the friendship between the mythological characters of Duryodhana and Karna from the Mahabharata. This marked the last collaboration between Mani Ratnam and Ilaiyaraaja. The movie revolves around the friendship between a courageous slum dweller and a gangster.
Time of India
an hour ago
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Thug Life: Pro-Kannada group warns Bengaluru theatres against screening Kamal Haasan's 'Thug Life'
Tensions flared in Bengaluru on Sunday as members of the pro-Kannada group Karnataka Rakshana Vedike staged a protest outside Victory Cinema in Kamakshipalya. The demonstration was aimed at halting the screening of 's upcoming film 'Thug Life,' following a controversial statement made by the actor. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now During an event in Chennai, Kamal Haasan reportedly remarked that "Kannada was born from Tamil," a claim that triggered widespread backlash among Kannada supporters. Group threatens theatre owners, KFCC responds Praveen Shetty, the president of the Rakshana Vedike, led the protest and issued a stern warning to theatre owners. He alleged that Kamal Haasan had insulted the Kannada language and called for the film to be blocked across Karnataka. Speaking to ANI, Shetty said that if 'Thug Life' is screened, the state government must be prepared to take responsibility for any fallout. Shortly after the protest, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) announced a statewide ban on the film's release. CM and Kamal Haasan respond The controversy deepened midweek when Siddaramaiah responded to Kamal Haasan's remarks. Dismissing the actor's statement as ignorant, the CM said, 'Kannada has a long-standing history. Poor Kamal Haasan, he is unaware of it.' The issue escalated further when Kamal Haasan, addressing the uproar at a separate event, refused to offer an apology. He maintained his position by saying, 'Love will never apologise. I will apologise only if I am wrong. This is my lifestyle. Please don't tamper with it.' Ban threat intensifies amid KFCC support In the latest development, Karnataka Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi echoed calls for a ban on Kamal Haasan's films unless the actor issues a public apology. Supporting this sentiment, KFCC President M Narasimhalu stated that the decision to withhold screenings of 'Thug Life' was taken independently by theatre owners and distributors. As tensions simmer, the film's release in Karnataka remains uncertain.
Pink Villa
an hour ago
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3 New Tamil movies releasing in theaters this week (June 2 - June 8): Thug Life, Madras Matinee to Peranbum Perungobamum
It's that time of the week again when movie buffs check out what's hitting the big screens. Tamil cinema has a few new surprises in store. Some promise laughs, others bring drama, and a few might just catch you off guard. Curious to know what's releasing this week? Here's your quick guide. Tamil movies releasing in theaters this week 1. Thug Life Thug Life unfolds in a world ruled by crime and betrayal. During a deadly police shootout, mafia leader Sakthivel and his brother Manickam rescue a young boy named Amaran and raise him as part of their family. As years pass, the empire they built begins to crack. An unexpected assassination attempt leaves Sakthivel shaken. With trust eroding, he starts to suspect betrayal from within. Driven by anger and a thirst for revenge, Sakthivel turns against his own people. As loyalties crumble and secrets come to light, the once-powerful family begins to fall apart. 2. Peranbum Perungobamum Peranbum Perungobamum marks the acting debut of Vijith Bachan, son of acclaimed filmmaker Thangar Bachan. Directed by Siva Prakash, the film explores three distinct phases in the protagonist's life. The music is composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with cinematography by Dinesh and editing by Ramar. 3. Madras Matinee Cast: Sathyaraj, Kaali Venkat, Roshni Haripriyan Release date: June 6, 2025 Madras Matinee tells the story of an elderly science fiction writer who finds his imagination running dry. His caretaker encourages him to write something grounded—something about the everyday man. Hesitant at first, he accepts the challenge and begins penning the life of Kannan, a humble TukTuk driver. As he delves into Kannan's world, the writer uncovers the emotional depth and struggles within a seemingly simple life. Kannan's journey, along with his family's ups and downs, slowly transforms the writer's perspective. What begins as a reluctant attempt becomes a heartfelt narrative. The film beautifully explores how ordinary lives can be just as powerful and moving as fictional epics.
