Maanasthan Explained

Manasthan
Director:K. Bharathi
Producer:K. Dhandapani
Starring:Sarathkumar
Sakshi Shivanand
Cinematography:Kichas
Editing:V. T. Vijayan
Music:S. A. Rajkumar
Studio:Malar Combines
Runtime:152 minutes
Country:India
Language:Tamil

Manasthan is a 2004 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film directed by K.Bharathi. The film stars Sarathkumar and Sakshi Shivanand. Abbas, Vijayakumar and Sujatha play supporting roles. It was released on 11 June 2004.[1]

Plot

A rich landlord Ramasamy and his wife Lakshmi have two sons Deva and Selva. Deva is an illiterate village bumpkin who is naive and is devoted to his family, gives a job to Pachakili who makes fun. Selva is a college student. Raasathi is Deva's cousin and love interest and was betrothed to marry him since childhood. Deva's family has a rivalry with Ramasamy's younger brother's family.

All is well until Deva's maternal grandmother becomes severely ill. She meets with Ramasamy on her deathbed and reveals a secret: Deva is not their child. During her delivery, Lakshmi's son was stillborn. As a result, Lakshmi's mother switched the stillborn baby with an infant Deva, whom she found abandoned in a train latrine. This causes Ramasamy to kick out Deva from his home and disown him, as Ramasamy is a staunch casteist. This causes the rich Deva to become a pauper, but he loves his parents more than ever.

Meanwhile, Rasathi's brother arranges her wedding with Deva's cousin, but she consumes poison and blackmails her family that she will die unless Deva marries her. Deva marries her takes her to the hospital, but she dies on the way, devastating Deva. Shortly after her funeral, Selva comes back home and heavily criticizes Ramasamy for mistreating Deva. He leaves home to find Deva and reunites with him. Later on, Ramasamy and Selva are kidnapped by Deva's cousins and are blackmailed to sign over their properties. Deva comes and rescues them. Ramasamy and entire village beg Deva to return and take his place as Ramasamy's heir. However, Deva refuses and leaves forever in a train latrine while everyone tries to look for him.

Production

Prathyusha was supposed to pair with Abbas but due to her demise she was reported to have been replaced by Radha who earlier appeared in Sundhara Travels;[2] however Bharathi later removed the love angle of Abbas from the film.

Soundtrack

Soundtrack was composed by S. A. Rajkumar and lyrics were written by Pa. Vijay, Nandalala and Kalaikumar.[3]

Song Singers Lyrics
"Aasavechen" Nandalala
"Katha Katha" Pa. Vijay
"Pattu Jarikai" Kalaikumar
"Raasa Raasa" Nandalala
"Un E Mail" (Not in Film) Pa. Vijay
"Vaada Thambi" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam

Reception

Indiaglitz wrote, "Bharathi has tried to come out with a movie on father-son relationship, targetting the family audience. When fast-paced scripts are the order of the day in Tamil filmdom, the narration seems slow in Manasthan."[4] Sify wrote "Manasthan is as stale as day before yesterday?s sambarand can be avoided."[5] Visual Dasan of Kalki wrote that a fan who ignores Manasthan, where there is no innovation in anything be it cinematography, music or direction, is really a knowledgeable.[6] K. N. Vijiyan of New Straits Times wrote, "If you like family-based stories, you are unlikely to be disappointed with Manasthan".[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maanasthan (2004) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240117055028/https://screen4screen.com/movies/maanasthan . 17 January 2024 . 17 January 2024 . Screen 4 Screen.
  2. Web site: Mannath . Malini . 28 August 2003 . Manasthan . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20041205001117/http://chennaionline.com/location/manasthan.asp . 5 December 2004 . 20 February 2024 . Chennai Online.
  3. Web site: 23 July 2004 . Manasthan . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220607094520/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/manasthan/1B4RGqWi96I_ . 7 June 2022 . 3 February 2023 . JioSaavn.
  4. Web site: June 18, 2004 . Manasthan Review . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190424142841/https://www.indiaglitz.com/manasthan-review-tamil-movie-7153 . 24 April 2019 . 24 April 2019 . IndiaGlitz.
  5. Web site: 18 June 2004 . Manasthan . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190302152525/http://www.sify.com/movies/manasthan-review--pclv3Ngjjecfb.html . 2 March 2019 . 24 April 2019 . Sify.
  6. தாசன் . விஷுவல் . 4 July 2004 . மானஸ்தன் . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230627083057/https://ibb.co/c1ZWcFZ . 27 June 2023 . 27 June 2023 . . 96 . Ta.
  7. News: Vijiyan . K. N. . 26 June 2004 . He ain't heavy, he's my brother . 8 August 2023 . . Entertainment 4 . Google News Archive.