Iruvar

About the film

Iruvar (transl. The Duo) is a 1997 Indian Tamil-language epic political drama film co-written, produced, and directed by Mani Ratnam. The music was composed by A. R. Rahman. The film, inspired by the lives of M. G. Ramachandran, M. Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa, is set against the backdrop of cinema and politics in Tamil Nadu. It stars Mohanlal with an ensemble supporting cast including Prakash Raj, Aishwarya Rai, Revathi, Gautami, Tabu, and Nassar. Rai, who was crowned Miss World 1994, made her first screen appearance, playing dual characters.

The high-budget film had its original soundtrack composed by A. R. Rahman, and the cinematography was by Santosh Sivan. The film marked Mohanlal's debut in Tamil cinema after having only a cameo in Gopura Vasalile.

Plot

In the late 1940s Madras, Anandan is a charismatic but struggling actor attempting to break into the Tamil film industry. He meets Tamizhselvan, an eloquent, rationalist writer steeped in Dravidian ideology. Impressed by Tamizhselvan's flowery prose, Anandan delivers an audition that secures him the lead role in an upcoming feature film. Tamizhselvan introduces Anandan to Ayya Veluthambi, the venerable leader of a rising Dravidian political party. Anandan aligns with the party's socialist principles, and the two friends marry their respective village suitors: Anandan marries Pushpavalli, while Tamizhselvan marries Maragatham. However, upon returning to Madras, financial issues abruptly halt Anandan's film production. Over the next few months, while Tamizhselvan's party grows into the primary political opposition, Anandan is reduced to minor acting roles. Facing poverty, he sends a pregnant Pushpavalli back to her village. Shortly after, Pushpavalli dies from a sudden illness, leaving a despondent Anandan to be consoled by Tamizhselvan.

Weeks later, Anandan’s fortunes shift when he is re-offered a lead protagonist role. He insists the director hire Tamizhselvan as the screenwriter. The film is a monumental success, transforming Anandan into a cinematic icon and a massive cultural celebrity. Recognizing his immense star power, Tamizhselvan encourages Anandan to campaign for the party. During this period, Anandan marries Ramani, a fellow actress whom he rescues from her abusive family. Years later, as a general election approaches, Veluthambi requests that Anandan contest a legislative seat to leverage his mass appeal. Tamizhselvan privately objects, believing veteran party workers are more deserving of the candidacy, sowing the first seeds of friction between the friends.

During a film shoot, Anandan is accidentally shot in the neck with a prop gun, triggering a massive wave of public sympathy that helps the party sweep the state elections. Veluthambi declines the office of Chief Minister, tasking Anandan and senior leader Madhivannan with selecting the premier. Though resentful of being sidelined by Veluthambi, Tamizhselvan is ultimately appointed Chief Minister with Anandan's wholehearted public endorsement. Later, Anandan requests the Health Minister portfolio in the new cabinet. Tamizhselvan refuses, citing a party rule that prohibits cabinet ministers from continuing active film careers, offering Anandan any portfolio on the condition that he retire from acting. Reluctant to abandon cinema, Anandan declines. Concurrently, Tamizhselvan enters into a passionate relationship with Senthamarai, an idealistic admirer of his political protests, who becomes his second wife.

Production

In October 1995, Mani Ratnam announced that he was set to make a feature film titled Anandan featuring dialogue written by his wife Suhasini and starring Mohanlal, Nana Patekar, and Aishwarya Rai. Initial speculation suggested that the film would visualise the duel between Velupillai Prabhakaran and his former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam deputy Mahattaya, who was executed in 1995 for an alleged plot to kill his mentor, with Aishwarya Rai reported to be playing Indira Gandhi. Mani Ratnam was quick to deny any political backdrop claiming that the film would be about the Indian movie industry; however, this proved to bluff the public as the film was to be set within a political canvas. The film was later retitled Iruvar (The Duo). The idea to make a film on the lives of 1980s Tamil Nadu political icons M. G. Ramachandran and M. Karunanidhi and their influential relationship between Tamil cinema and Dravidian politics was sparked off by a conversation Mani Ratnam had with renowned Malayalam author, M. T. Vasudevan Nair.

When interviewed about the difficulties of casting, Mani Ratnam revealed he "struggled" citing that casting "is most important as far as performance is concerned" and that "fifty per cent of the job is done if you cast correctly". Mohanlal was approached to play Anandan, a character inspired by M. G. Ramachandran and about his performance in the film, Ratnam claimed that Mohanlal had "the ability to make everything absolutely realistic with the least amount of effort". He described that debutant Aishwarya Rai, the former Miss World beauty pageant winner, who appeared in two different characters—one inspired by actress-politician J. Jayalalithaa—as a "tremendous dancer" and as "having a lot of potential". The director revealed that the only difficulty Mohanlal and Rai had was the language, with both being non-Tamil speakers, adding that the pair had to work hard over the dubbing trying to get as close to the Tamil tongue as possible. Tabu was also signed to play an important role in the film and shot for Iruvar alongside her Tamil debut film, Kadhal Desam.

Key details