Mouna Raagam

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mouna Raagam
Directed by Mani Ratnam
Produced by G. Venkateswaran
Written by Mani Ratnam
Starring Karthik
Mohan
Revathi
V. K. Ramaswamy
Music by Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematography P. C. Sriram
Distributed by Sujatha Films
Release date(s) 1986
Running time 146 mins
Language Tamil
IMDb profile

Mouna Raagam (Silent Symphony) (1986) is a Tamil language feature film directed by filmmaker Mani Ratnam. The score and soundtrack are composed by Ilayaraja, and the film's cinematography is by P. C. Sriram. Critically acclaimed upon release, it hit cinemas in the mid-1980s and was a stylistic landmark in romance-drama filmmaking in the south Indian motion-picture industry. It is in fact an inspiration for some of the films in Bollywood.

Contents

[edit] Plot

A scene from Mouna Raagam
A scene from Mouna Raagam

The film is essentially a psychological study revolving around two central characters, a newly-married husband and wife, who find themselves caught in an unexpectedly tense, complex and untenable relationship.

Middle-class young woman Divya (Revathi) accedes to familial pressure and marries Chandrakumar (Mohan), an affable, soft-spoken company manager from New Delhi. She is unable to reconcile her marriage with a haunting past marked by memories of a former lover, Manohar (Karthik), and yearns for a separation. Chandrakumar graciously acquiesces to her wish, but because the law stipulates that a divorce can only be granted after a one-year period, they continue to live divided lives under the same roof for the duration of the period.

[edit] Awards

The film has won the following awards since its release:

1987 National Film Awards (India)

  • Won - Silver Lotus Award - Best Regional Film (Tamil) - Mouna Raagam - Mani Ratnam

[edit] Trivia

  • The film was very well received upon release, by critics and audiences alike, with the script, dialogue, acting and direction particularly gaining plaudits.
  • The film was an instant hit and earned Mani Ratnam due recognition for his filmmaking artistry and scriptwriting.
  • The film was featured at an Indian film festival in Israel in 2005 [1][2].
  • The role played by Karthik as Manohar in this film is included in Roll of Honour of the Film and Television Institute of India (Pune) as one of the best supporting roles in a film.

[edit] Soundtrack

The soundtrack features five songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics provided by poet Vaali:

The songs Nilavae Vaa and Mandram Vandaa proved particularly popular upon release. The title soundtrack of the film is making circles as ringtones for mobile phones.The song Mandram Vandaa,s tune is originally from a Kannada movie called Geetha composed by Illaiyaraaja.

Composer Ilaiyaraaja reused Mandram Vandaa's tune in Bollywood film, Cheeni Kum.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Films directed by Mani Ratnam
Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983) • Unaru (1985) • Pagal Nilavu (1985) • Idaya Kovil (1985) • Mouna Raagam (1986) • Nayagan (1987) • Agni Natchathiram (1988) • Geethanjali (1989) • Anjali (1990) • Thalapathi (1991) • Roja (1992) • Thiruda Thiruda (1993) • Bombay (1995) • Iruvar (1997) • Dil Se (1998) • Alaipayuthey (2000) • Kannathil Muthamittal (2002) • Aayitha Ezhuthu (2004) • Yuva (2004) • Guru (2007)