Naan Sigappu Manithan (1985 film)
Naan Sigappu Manithan (transl. I am a Red Man) is a 1985 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film written and directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar. The film stars Rajinikanth, K. Bhagyaraj and Ambika, with music by Ilaiyaraaja. It was a commercial success at the box office. The film is a remake of 1984 Hindi film Aaj Ki Awaaz.[1] Vijay played a child artist role in this film.[2]
| Naan Sigappu Manithan | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | S. A. Chandrasekhar |
| Screenplay by | S. A. Chandrasekhar |
| Based on | Aaj Ki Awaaz |
| Produced by | A. Poorna Chandra Rao |
| Starring | Rajinikanth K. Bhagyaraj Ambika |
| Cinematography | M. Kesavan |
| Edited by | P. R. Gautham Raju |
| Music by | Ilaiyaraaja |
Production company | Lakshmi Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 147 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
Vijay is a Tamil professor who lives with his widowed mother and his sister Shanti. During a visit to his friend Ravi's house, Vijay is disgusted by the Illicit liquor and prostitution in the neighbourhood and complaints to the police, but they do not pay heed as they are on the corruption's payroll and manages to warn them before making a raid. Ravi's sister is killed and the perpetrator named Mohanraj gets off scot-free with help from a minister. Enraged, Vijay and Ravi take matters into their own hands and clean up the liquor trade and brothel on their own.
Mohanraj and his goons barges into Vijay's house where they kill his mother and assault Shanti, who later commits suicide by jumping from the terrace. Vijay turns into a vigilante, walking the streets at nights and dealing out his own brand of justice, where he soon becomes known as Robin Hood. While CID officer Singaram is assigned to unmask Robin Hood. Vijay kills Mohanraj and his uncle, where he surrenders to Singaram revealing the truth, but Singaram mentions that he had already found the truth and decided not to arrest Vijay as he destroy the "weeds" that are harmful to the society.
However, Vijay feels guilty for his murders and surrenders himself. Vijay's girlfriend Uma appears in court in favour of Vijay and argues. The day before the judgment, Singaram disguise himself and tries to molest the judge's daughter, seeing which the judge tries to shoot him. Singaram reveals his identity and mentions that his intention was to make the judge understand that Vijay was also under a similar situation before. The judge sentences Vijay for lifetime imprisonment, but recommends to the President of India for granting a pardon.
Cast
- Rajinikanth as Professor Vijay (Robin Hood)
- Sathyaraj as Mohanraj
- K. Bhagyaraj as CID Chinna Salem Singaram
- Ambika as Uma
- Nizhalgal Ravi as Ravi
- Banerjee as Anburaj (voice dubbed by Shanmugasundaram)
- M. N. Nambiar as Commissioner of police Amarnath
- Y. Gee. Mahendra as Harichandran
- Thengai Srinivasan as Minister Tambaram Thanga Kannan
- Sumathi as Sumathi, Vijay's Younger Sister
- Senthil as Senthil
- V. Gopalakrishnan as Lawyer Sivaraman
- V. S. Raghavan as Judge Vishwanathan
- Vennira Aadai Moorthy as Krishnan, Anburaj's Henchman
- S. R. Veeraraghavan as Justice Veeraraghavan , Uma's Father
- Suryakanth as Mani, Anburaj's Henchman
- Arundhathi as Meena, Ravi Wife
- Rajni Nivetha as Rani, Meena's Younger Sister
- Vaani as Lakshmi, Vijay's Mother
- K.G.Shanthi as Visalam, Viswanathan' Wife
- Swaminathan as Student
- Kovai Sarala as Saradha
- Renuka as Janaki, Uma's Mother
- Anuradha (Special appearance)
- T. K. S. Natarajan as the victim of a robbery
- S. N. Surendar as Beggar
- S. A. Chandrasekhar as Sekhar, Hospital Ward Boy
- Vijay as a child artist in opening song in the pre-credits scene with a social message board
Production
Though Rajinikanth stopped working in "double-hero" films by the mid-1980s, he accepted to work on this film, which had Bhagyaraj in another leading role, "without any alterations" to the script.[3]
Themes
Writing for Jump Cut, Kumuthan Maderya noted Naan Sigappu Manithan's similarities to the American film Death Wish (1974) and its sequel Death Wish II (1982). According to him, one factor that differentiates Naan Sigappu Manithan from those films is the "unleashing of nationalist angst in a climactic courtroom drama scene".[4]
Soundtrack
The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[5][6]
| Title | Singer(s) | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Ellarumey Thirudangathan" | Ilaiyaraaja | Vaali | 04:09 |
| "Gandhi Desamey" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | Vairamuthu | 04:32 |
| "Kungumathu Meni" | S. Janaki | Gangai Amaran | 04:30 |
| "Penn Maaney" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki | Mu. Metha | 04:32 |
| "Venmegam Vinnil" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | Pulamaipithan | 04:47 |
Reception
Jayamanmadhan of Kalki said the film would run for Rajinikanth and Bhagyaraj.[7]
References
- Ramachandran, Naman (2014) [2012]. Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography. Penguin Books. p. 110. ISBN 978-81-8475-796-5.
- Nair, Unni R. (10 June 2010). "Vijay in Rajnikanth film remake". The Indian Express. p. 1. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- Darshan, Navein (10 March 2020). "Sense of a Scene: Naan Sigappu Manithan-Professor by day, protector at night". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- Maderya, Kumuthan (2010). "Rage against the state: historicizing the "angry young man" in Tamil cinema". Jump Cut. Archived from the original on 4 September 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- "Naan Sigappu Manidhan (1985)". Raaga.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
- "Naan Sigappu Manithan Tamil Film LP Vinyl Record by Ilayaraaaja". Macsendisk. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ஜெயமன்மதன் (12 May 1985). "நான் சிகப்பு மனிதன்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 61. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
