Punnagai Mannan

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Punnagai Mannan
Directed by K.Balachander
Produced by Kavithalaya
Starring Kamal Haasan, Revathy
Music by Ilayaraaja
Cinematography Ragunatha Reddy
Release date(s) 1986
Country India
Language Tamil

Punnagai Mannan is a Tamil language film starring Kamal Haasan in the lead role of the protagonist. The film was directed by K. Balachander.

The film opens with lead actor Kamal Hassan and his love interest Rekha, who after spending a whole day together attempt to commit suicide by jumping over a cliff. In this attempt, Rekha is killed but Kamal survives the fall. It is later revealed that the attempt was because of the obstacles in their love life placed by Rekha's father.

At this point, Kamal is advised by his uncle (also played by Kamal) that suicide is escapist, and a sign of weakness. Kamal agrees and gets on with his life. He takes up a job as a dance teacher at a school run by actress Srividya.

At the school, he meets a Sinhalese student played by Revathi. Revathi falls in love with Kamal, who is unable to reciprocate because of the horrific experiences of the past. He gives in, and the two convince her parents after a lot of trouble.

At last everyone acquisces, and the couple are married. On their way to their 'shrine' (actually the place where Rekha died), their car blows up, thanks to a bomb placed in the car by Rekha's father.

Notable in this film is Kamal Hassan's convincing portrayal, in his double role, of a Charlie Chaplin-like character called Chaplin Chellappa.