Iruvar - The Duo

The opening credits of the film states ‘THIS IS NOT A TRUE STORY”.
“Right..!”, I chuckled to myself.

IRUVAR – The Duo, traces the lives of MGR and Karunanidhi with the Dravidian political movement as background.

Almost a decade after the movie was released, I decided to watch it.I cant figure out why I had missed a Maniratnam movie for so long.I simply cannot..

All I remember is K,my best friend,crying out “You have not seen Iruvar??!! Come on…”.

I was introduced to Dravidian politics at K’s house. K and I were in 12th standard then, in 1997-98.
K’s parents had lands and her father practiced agriculture.They were Dravidians, I guess in that sense. K’s parents believed in idealogies,took active interest in politics,Tamil,analysed and compared the functioning of leaders and could trace all prominent Tamilnadu politician’s growth in the party.

“Pagutharivu” /Rational thinking ,Self-respect -Dravidian movement’s founding idealogies,Party’s principles,MGR’s legacy etc were frequent dinner time topics.

“If the guy who cleans the sewer was not allowed inside the house, then you should think about the reason behind this! It is because he eats beef and as a result stinks. He does manual work all day.He needs to eat something that would give him strength.That is why he eats meat.And that is the reason he was not allowee inside.You should not blindly brand him an outcast.You should think for yourself!!!!”, K’s mother would cry out passionately.

“Kalignyar is an able administrator.Its not a joke to manage a party of this level.There are the senior party members,well-wishers,party cadres…Everybody should be satisified.Elections are won not by leaders,but by the party cadres.They are the ones who work tirelessly to make sure that the party wins. Only a good leader can motivate them to work for the party...”, K’s father outlined party dynamics for me.

They referred DMK by “Kazhagam”,Karunanidhi as “Kalignyar”,Anabzhagan as “Perasiriyar”(Professor) while talking about them.Discussions were held late into the night about Moopanaar’s indecisiveness,Vai Ko’s departure from DMK(the first time around),Amma’s arrogance.It was a fascinating world – politics and tamil film industry.

Politics was a part and parcel of their way of living unlike ours,a typical middle class brahmin family.It entered our lives only during the annual railway and union budget.Train fares,tax cuts,LPG prices – these were our only ties with politics and occasionally potholes.Dravidian movement had branded us feudal landlords,aryans,sanskrit spouting academics,who had repressed the Dravidians in the name of caste,religious rituals and superstitions.Elections had been won on promises to restore Tamilnadu to Tamilians.

So my parents’ held a “healthy” brahminical contempt and indifference towards Dravidian politics.We looked the other way, read our “HINDU” ,drank filter coffee and continued to vote for the non existant Congress until BJP came along.

A brief flicker of interest was aroused when the convent educated English speaking AMMA came first to power .“Can he string together atleast two words in English like her?? pshaw!!” , the brahmins rubbed their hands and chuckled in unconcealed glee. Alas! It was shortlived. The flicker was snuffed out forever after she implemented 69% reservation.We were better off,before she came,everybody sighed.

Given the background, I am sure you will agree with me when I say that the storyline is highly controvesial and very contemporary. What Maniratnam had undertaken was nothing less than a tight-walk rope over a bed of nails with a knife pointed at his neck,ready to bleed him to death ,if he so much as shook his body slightly. Believe me, I am not exaggerating.

It is with some trepidation then that I started watching “IRUVAR”.But Maniratnam acquits himself in a way,I would have never imagined!

Maniratnam’s “IRUVAR” is the story of two people – a poet and an actor , their friendship ,their dreams and their ambitions.It is just a convenient co-incidence that their lifestory resembles two people from Tamilnadu politics and film indusrty.Nothing more and nothing less!

Anandan, a struggling actor from Kerala and Tamilchelvam, a poet and activist strike a friendship on the sets of Anandan’s first film as a hero.The actor is a fan of the poet. He knows that with the help of the poet’s fiery pen,he can reach the masses like nobody else can! His instinct turns out to be right.He becomes a Star.And no ordinary Star at that! The mass worship the very land he treads on.He himself does not understand the adulation showered on him or realise the power that is all his to grasp!

It is Tamilchelvam who opens Anadan’s eyes to what he has been offered in a brilliantly conceived scene.

Anandan is dragged from his lunch to the terrace by Tamilchelvam.He urges Anandan to go and look. Anandan walks to the edge of the terrace and is puzzled to see a huge crowd, gathered to catch a glimpse of him.Cries of joy erupt from below on seeing him. Tamilchelvam raises Anandan’s hesitant hand aloft to wave and Santosh Sivan’s camera rises along with their hands and looks down at the people who have become putty in those hands.

“This is the power of people.This is what Lenin Stalin and Hitler slogged to attain.The power to reach the masses”, Tamilchelvam points out.

“I am just an actor”, Anandan protests.

“They don’t think like that.They have carved your figure in their hearts.They will even give their life for your sake.What are you going to do with this?”

“What should I do?” ,Anandan does not know.

“You should make use of this.You should increase it thousand fold for the party.Everything depends on your face and the silverscreen “ instructs Tamilchelvam.

As A R Rehman’s brilliant score soars over us, Anandan ever the quick learner, removes his scarf and throws it to the people gathered below, whipping them into a frenzy.

Together they dream of a casteless society without corruption or abuse of power or poverty.They envision a society where power and responsibility go hand in hand and where their Tamil flourishes..

Anandan also later joins the party.Though he is sincere and respects the party principles and leaders, he has joined the party only to further his ambitions as an actor.Tamilchelvam rightly guesses his motive and resents it.He also begins to get jealous of Anandan’s popularity.He tries to block Anandan’s rise in the party by opposing the leader Veluthambi’s(C.N Annadurai) decision to field him in the election

.Later when he is elected as Chief Minister with Anandan’s support, he refuses to make him a minister.
“You can have whatever you want, if you stop acting.It is not my decision.It is the executive committee’s decision”, Tamilchelvam tells Anandan,when Anandan expresses his interest to become the Health minister.

Inspite of this Anandan does not allow his supporters to badmouth Tamilchelvam.But everything crumbles soon after the death of Veluthambi.Anandan asks to see the financial accounts of the party and is expelled from the party.He then launches his own party and rest is history.

Anandan’s popularity keeps him in power for the next decade.None can defeat him.But unexpectedly,Anandan dies in his sleep on the eve of the third election .Anandan’s death causes great pain anguish to Tamilchelvam and the movie ends with a grieving Tamilchelvam,the poet in him reciting a eulogy for his dead friend.


Maniratnam focuses mainly on the relation between the friends,keeping the rest in background.MGR’s populistic schemes,the corruption in both the regimes,the controversial Gupta commision report , the political rhetoric of the parties, their lovelives – all are covered in the passing.Though Kalpana, Jayalalitha’s character, is devoted considerable amount of time.Curiously,she gets killed in an accident.I believe it could be because Maniratnam would have preferred to end the movie with a grieving Tamilchelvam,than with a Kalpana coming to power.After all the movie is about friendship.

Also, the movie is very culture speicifc.It takes for granted that you are aware of certain incidents,facts and the then prevailing political atmosphere making it difficult for outsiders to relate to the movie.But then,it is their loss !!

“IRUVAR’S” casting is nothing short of brilliant,with the exception of ofcourse Aishwarya Rai.She looks breathtakingly beautiful as Anandan’s first wife.But as Kalpana (Jayalalitha supposedly resembles MGR’s dead first wife.So Aishwarya Rai plays both Anandan’s first wife and after her death comes again in the role of Jayalalitha), she is a pain to watch.

Mohan Lal, the malayalee actor is just perfect as Anandan what with MGR himself being a malayalee.

There is this scene with the Police commissioner Nair ,who tells Anandan, the CM then , that Tamilchelvam has been arrested (for protesting against the suppression of the Gupta commision report). The commissioner assures him that Anandan has emerged victorious in the whole mess.

“You call this victory?! “ Anandan asks Nair and momentarily slips into malayalam
“Pazhaya kootukaaranai jailil aakkiyadho?”(Sending my old friend to jail?)..
Brilliant..just brilliant!

Interestingly,Suhasini Maniratnam has penned the dialogues.I would have never guessed she had so much in her.Good job lady!

The struggling actor, the Star, the lover, the friend who feels betrayed , the successful politician – Mohan Lal’s acting brings out all the nuances of his character.

But more than Mohan Lal, it is Prakash Raj as Karunanidhi who is the most impressive.He fits the Dravidian politican role to a tee.He deserved the national award for ‘Best supporting actor’. His tamil diction is impeccable.He is a Kannadiga,mind you! Inspite of that Arvindswamy has lent his voice for Tamilchelvam’s poetry renditions. Mr.Swamy gets the emotions right, but his La-Zha pronounciations, where lies the beauty of Tamil language, makes you wince.It is surprising that nobody bothered to correct it!!!!

Revathi,Tabu,Nasser,Delhi Ganesan,’Nizhalgal’ Ravi, all play their role perfectly.

Since Tamilchelvam is a poet,we get to hear some wonderful tamil poetry, thanks to Vairamuthu.His pennings - be it for the revolutionary tamil hero,whom Anandan plays in the silver screen, or the one for Tamilchelvam’s description of his love for Tabu – do not fail to give you goosebumps.

Maniratnam has undertaken to paint a mammoth canvas,which spans close to four decades…four decades of Tamil movies,politics and life. And succeeds brilliantly. He is aided splendidly in this job by A R Rehman.The 50’s classical based songs,the 60’s MSV-Ramamurthi’s melodies,the 70’s jazz(??) music and the typical MGR fare – everything is provided by ARR with perfection.

Inspite of all this,the movie failed at the box office!!! The reason, I believe is Maniratnam’s Anandan and Tamilchelvam are nothing like the audience’s idea of MGR and Karunanidhi. To sculpt his MGR and Karunanidhi ,he has whittled down all their negative traits and has retained only that was good and pure in them ..Anandan,the ambitious actor,the charmer,the dreamer, the do-gooder and Tamilchelvam , the poet,the socialist,the reformist,the champion for the cause of Tamil – both good friends with a little jealousy and ego between them.

The non-believers would have been irked by the idealism portrayed by the characters, the believers would have been hurt to see that their leaders are not flawless and the ordinary men would have found it difficult to relate to these people,for its true as Mani claims in the beginning - they are fictional!

Yes Mr.Ratnam,I agree with you! Your story is not a true story.For you talk about what could have been,not what was ! It is fictional alright!

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The day before Anandan dies,Tamilchelvam and he, accidentally meet at the marriage of a common friend.Anandan on his own accord walks and sits next to Tamilchelvam.As the photographers start clicking furiously, both sit without exchanging a word, but their heart reverberates with old emotions.As Anandan gets up to leave,he slips and Tamilchelvam immediately leans to catch him.He notices that his friend looks ill.

“Anandan,what is wrong?” , worry creases Tamilchelvam’s forehead.

“Nothing…I am fine”,Anandan smiles.

“Udal mannukku,uyir tamizhukku !!” (The body is for the earth,but life is for Tamil) he jokes, referring to their youth’s passion.Tamilchelvam laughs with him.

“With election round the corner,we cannot be seen smiling thus in public!”,Anandan pats his friend and leaves.

The next day,when Tamilchelvam gets the news he cannot believe it!He rushes to see his friend.But he is asked to wait out, as Anandan’s body is being dressed.A touch of irony here as makeup is being shown applied to the dead Anandan – an actor to the end.

Tamilchelvam is unable to share his pain with anybody there..(Bloody brilliant acting my Prakash Raj here).There is nobody there who can relate to his pain,much less believe him .He tries to ask the yound doctor present there,but words fail him.The Commissioner talks to him about security concerns!! He leaves without seeing his body.

The climax alternates between shots of Anandan’s funeral procession and Tamilchelvam reciting eulogy to his friend in their meeting place of yonder!…

Ennarum thozhane,idayathu nanbane !
Manikka mazhayae,maraindhu vittaya?
Munnoru pozhudil,meesai mulaikkira vayadil,
Or ilayil sorundom..
Oru paayil kan malarndom..
Anda ninaivugalin kanneeril, nenjukuzhi niraikiradhu..

Nam kangal vevveru,kanavugal onrundaan!!
Nam nejnam vevveru, ninaivugal onrudhaan!!
Nam kottaigal vevvru, kozhgaigal onrudhaa!!

Edhilum mundi vara thudikkum munaipullavane..
Saavilum ennai mundi sarithiram ayinayo?

En vetrikku malai thanda karam enge?
En vizhi neerai sunditivitta viral enge?
Kuzhal konda isayaaga konjunginra kural enge?
En muthuvel vasanathai muthamitta uthadu enge?
Ennai oor naal sumandu yetri vandda thol enge?

Ayyago..!!!.
Ini paarkave mattaya nanba?

ELLin munai alavum ippozhudu kasappillai
Pullin nuni alavum ippozhudu pagai illai
Maranathai pola en manathirkku marundillai

Unnodu oru vaarthai pesathaan ninaithen,mudiyavillai
Nalindu vitta udal varudi nalam ketka thudithen,mudiyavillai
Indru un roja poo mugathil muthamida ninaikiren,mudiyavillai
Mutti varum kannerai mudivida ninaikiren,mudiyavillai

Poi vaa nanba poi vaa..

Un pakktahil enakkum oru padukkai virithu vai
Enrenum oru naal un arugil naan varuven
Innoru ponneram ennai thedi vanthaal
Kaalam oru sengolai en kaiyil thandaal
Un kanavum en kanavunm oru pozhudil niraiverum
Un kallarayin kaadhugalil nalla seidhi arangerum!!!!

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My dear friend,my heartfelt,shower of diamonds,are you gone?
Sometime ago,in our youth,we ate out of the same plate and slept on the same bed,
Those memories wrench my heart
Our eyes are different,but our dreams are alike
Our hearts are different,but our memories are alike
Our fortresses are different,but are ideals are alike

Always seeking to be the best,you had to better me in death too!!

Where are the hands that garlanded me in my victory?
Where is the finger that dried my eyes?
Where is the voice that was my music, the lips that uttered my dialogues?
Where is the shoulder that bore my weight!

Would you never see me again?

I have no bitterness or enmity now
My heart has no medicine like death

I sought to speak one word with you,I couldn't
I sought to enquire after your health,I couldn't
Today, I wish to kiss your rose like face,I can't
I wish to stop my pouring,I can't...

Farewell my friend,Farewell!!!

Save a bed near you for me
Some day I will come to you

If another golden era came my way and the throne be mine..
Your dreams and mine will materialise in the one era
The ears of your tomb will receive the good news..


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