Mannan - The Taming Of The Shrew In Rajini style!

 Mannan comes in the series of taming of the shrew story with Mappillai and Padayappa!

Mannan was Rajini's first film in Sivaji's Sivaji Productions. Rajini never got to do a film with his

Kannada idol Rajkumar but acted in 3 Rajkumar remake films - Polladhavan, Puthukavithai and

Mannan.

                                                       

Mannan was a remake of Rajkumar's Kannada film Anuraga Aralidhe. In Telugu, Chiranjeevi did it

as Gharana Mogudu which became All Time Blockbuster and lastly in Hindi Anil Kapoor did it as

Laadla was average for mixing both Tamil and Telugu screenplay. Co-incidentally Mannan

and Gharana Mogudu started the shoot on the same day in Oct 1991 but Mannan released in Jan

92 and Gharana Mogudu in Apr 92.

With Thalapathi released for 91 Deepavali and Mannan releasing for 92 Pongal, Rajini literally

ruled the box office.

Rajini gave hat trick Pongal blockbusters 2nd time in his career - Panakkaran (90), Dharmadorai

(91) and Mannan (92). [Pokkiri Raja (82), Paayum Puli (83) and Naan Mahaan Alla (84) being

first time]

Khusboo who acted in Dharmathin Thalaivan as Prabhu's pair, got to pair with Rajini in Mannan.

Rajini and Khusboo pair was instant hit wherein 92, Khusboo acted in all Rajini films - Mannan,

Annamalai and Pandian.

Senior actress Pandari Bai repeated her role from the original Anuraga Aralidhe.

Vijayashanthi who began her career in Telugu Tamil films became a huge star heroine in Telugu

cinema. She acted as Rajini's sister in Netrikan and after a long gap came to Tamil cinema with

Mannan. Vijayashanthi got huge applause and critics appraisal for her role among all version

heroines for doing a great job. From the 90's decade, Vijayashanthi was known for her acting roles

and she gained her own solo market which made her 1 of the highest-paid actresses in India. In

2008 NDTV interview, she said was paid a huge remuneration for Mannan which didn't go down

well in the Tamil industry.

Many know Rajini missed Mudhalvan! During the Mannan shooting, Vijayashanthi did a candid

interview with Rajini for a magazine. Vijayashanthi asked Rajini if you are "CM FOR ONE DAY"

what will you do? Rajini replied, "I'll not say, I'll do it & show!"

When a hero gives a big hit with a 'brilliant director', the pressure mounts for his next film also. But

Rajini downplayed the expectations by getting back to doing his style of films with one-man

show stories. Rajini teams up with P. Vasu second time for Mannan after Panakkaran. The

Amma's song in the film became an unforgettable classic which is remembered forever where the

lyrics of the song by Vaali are etched in a temple shrine of Tiruchirapalli. Call it destiny or fate, just

before the Amma song, P Vasu's mother passed away and cinematographer Ashok Kumar

completed the song. With Mannan, Rajini made his singing debut in the song Adikkuthu Kuliru.

Just like in Petta where Rajini imitates MGR style and Sivaji walking style, in Mannan too

Thalaivar imitates MGR and Sivaji walking style!

Rajini was so happy in silver jubilee function as he felt it as one of the special days in his life as

the film was produced by idol Sivaji production house and in the function, Rajini remembered his

film institute days where he used to walk all the way to Shanthi theatre to watch Sivaji films from

Adayar or Aminjikarai and Rajini felt blessed to get an opportunity to work in Sivaji production and

the film also becoming a huge blockbuster!

Despite all the leading stars having a release for Pongal except Kamal Haasan, Mannan was

just unbeatable in all the places where Rajini proved what a box office force he's emerging in

90's decade!