Anjali (1990)

Director: Mani Ratnam

Story: Mani Ratnam

Cast: Raghuvaran, Revathy, Shamili, Prabhu

Music: Ilayaraaja

Time: 150 minutes

Bottom-line: A magical movie, that plays with your heart

Often considered Mani Ratnam’s best, this 1990 drama was also India’s official entry for the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film (but never got nominated by the committee). The three-National-Award-winning film stars Raghuvaran, Revathy and Shamili in the lead roles, with Prabhu, Master Tarun and Shruthi Vijaykumar in the supporting roles.

A civil engineer Shekar (Raghuvaran), his wife Chitra (Revathy) and his two children: Arjun (Tarun) and Anu (Shruthi) move into a new apartment complex, after Chitra’s third child dies at childbirth. The apartment has people of all sorts, from a mentally retarded ex-watchman to an ex-convict (Prabhu). One day, Chitra and the kids decide to surprise Shekar at work, but he is missing. He comes home claiming to be at work all day. Later, Arjun also spots his father talking an unknown woman late in the night. All these activities make Chitra pack her bags and leave Shekar, who eventually comes clean: the third child, Anjali (Shamili) is alive, but is mentally retarded, and is kept at a nursing centre. Chitra decides to bring Anjali home. How Anjali bonds with her siblings, and the other kids in the neighbourhood form the rest of the film.

Raghuvaran as Shekar

Much like Ratnam’s later film Kannathil Muthamittal, here too the prime focus is on family. First, we are shown a happy family, which slowly starts to break apart when Chitra suspects her husband of infidelity, and then that issue is mended. Then again, there is friction when Anjali enters her new home: she remains aloof from her mother despite all of Chitra’s efforts, and while she tries to bond with her siblings, they are desperate to get rid of her (even praying to God that she dies!). When that gets resolved, the other children refuse to accept her… the entire movie is about how children and adults bond with one unique child. The fact that it deals with an otherwise normal community makes it relatable to most viewers.

Revathy as Chitra

The pace might be a bit slow, since a lot of time is given to character development, and for the children’s activities: their pranks, songs, what not. The essence of the story, still sends out a powerful message. The gradual transition of the society slowly becoming “mature” enough to realise that Anjali is no different is beautifully shown. The side tracks are distracting, but they add to the humour and fun of the film. The innocence of Anjali, and her charm, make the climax all the more emotional.

Raghuvaran, being an actor known for his villainous roles, has done an excellent job to play the hero here. Sacrificing everything for the sake of his daughter, and despite the way the society looks down on his daughter, the way he stands up for his family is inspirational. Revathy and Shamili put in their best efforts to lift the film to a great height: the former plays a disturbed mother, first troubled by her husband’s shady activities, and later by the fact that her children don’t get along well, but more importantly because her daughter is not accepting her as the mother. Shamili, who plays Anjali, won the National Award for Best Child Artist, and it is, hands down, one of the best child performances of all time in Tamil cinema.

 

The children: (from left) Anu, Anjali and Arjun

Mani Ratnam shows his versatility in direction by making such a heartfelt family film, following his gangster film Nayakan and romance Mouna Raagam. The story, acting, visuals and the genuine emotions that the film fills you with make this a classic.

My Rating: 4/5