A General After Our Own Hearts – Thalapathi Redux –

Celluloid Nirvana: Mani Ratnam’s ThalapathiPrimarily starring Rajinikanth and Mammootty, was pitted against Kamal Haasan foldDirected by Santhana Bharathi. , Photo Courtesy: The Hindu Archives

Diwali 1991 celebrated celluloid nirvana. Mani Ratnam’s ThalapathiPrimarily starring Rajinikanth and Mammootty, was pitted against Kamal Haasan foldDirected by Santhana Bharathi.

The multi-starrer film, which took inspiration from the epic friendship between Duryodhana and Karna and presented it in a modern realm, was a box-office winner. Meanwhile, Kamal’s film about obsessive love and childhood angst transforming into adulthood has come of age but at the time fold The cash register was not set on fire.

It may have been a fluke at work, but over the past few weeks both of these classics have received a rebirth through their re-releases. He Guna’s Kanmani Anbodu The Malayalam hit Manjummel Boys became the number one emotional highlight and also generated interest towards the film.

Unique Marketing Initiative

At a time when there was a battle of appreciation between two films, Thalapathi Took some unique marketing initiatives. The tickets were co-branded and generated some advertising revenue. It may seem cliché now but in 1991 it was a revolutionary move.

Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan made the iconic film together hero And the author’s venture into Rajini-sphere gave rise to debate. To be honest, even though the film had a mainstream vibe, especially the songs, the director remained star-starved. Aadi Rakamma KaithattuMammootty is a familiar face to the Chennai audience due to his stellar performances in Malayalam films oru cbi diary kurippuThe attraction also increased and the beauty also increased.

The depth of friendship, a mother’s longing for her lost child, romance and repentance and the gangster zone, these were all part of it Thalapathi Universe. If Mani Ratnam effected any deviation from the Mahabharata, it was in the way he dealt with the demise of one of the central heroes. In his interpretation, Duryodhana survives, Karna goes away and perhaps this was a compromise he made towards fans who would not want their star to end.

a unifying factor for Thalapathi And fold The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, and in those days, music cassettes would disappear from the shelves. Thalapathy’s songs, considering the last collaboration between Mani Ratnam and Ilaiyaraaja, remain iconic, be that as it may Sundari Kannal Oru Sethi Or for the KJ Yesudas-SP Balasubramaniam combination katukuyilu,

maybe later Mullum MalarumIt was Thalapathi who left a deep mark in Rajinikanth’s acting. There is a scene in which the mother and her abandoned child, now grown, hear the sound of a train coming in the distance. Srividya is teary-eyed, while Rajinikanth is a blend of aching vulnerability and a tough exterior. This was a scene in which the actor overtook the star. And after 33 years, Thalapathi It still stands today and for those interested in trivia, it was also Arvind Swami’s first film.