Maanagaram

What links here Related changes Page information
Created by TheHH
Last edited March 24, 2026


Maanagaram
File:Maanagaram poster.jpg


Theatrical release poster

Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj
Written by Lokesh Kanagaraj
Karthik Yogi
Chandhru Anbazhagan
Produced by S. R. Prakashbabu
S. R. Prabhu
P. Gopinath
V. Prabhu
R. Thanga Prabhaharan
Starring Shri
Sundeep Kishan
Regina Cassandra
Cinematography Selvakumar S. K.
Edited by Philomin Raj
Music by Javed Riaz





Country India
Language Tamil
Budget Template:INR5 crore[1][2]


Maanagaram (Template:Translation) is a 2017 Indian Tamil-language action thriller film directed and co-written by Lokesh Kanagaraj (in his directorial debut) and produced by Potential Studios. The film stars Shri, Sundeep Kishan, and Regina Cassandra. Its soundtrack was composed by Javed Riaz.

The film was released on 10 March 2017 to positive reviews from critics. It was remade in Hindi as Mumbaikar (2023).

Plot

Note: The names of several characters were not explicitly mentioned in the filmTemplate:Emdashexcept for Winnings, P. K. P., and KarthiTemplate:Emdashtill the 2023 release of the film's screenplay as a book.

Barani V., an engineering graduate from small-town Trichy, arrives in Chennai to interview for an IT job in Business Process Outsourcing. Barani passes his interview with HR officer Aarthy and celebrates at a bar with his friends. Another man at the bar, Jeeva, has had an unrequited love for Aarthy since they were in college. In a flashback, goons threaten to throw acid in Aarthy's face if she responds to Jeeva's feelings. Enraged, Jeeva punches one of the goons. In the present, the goons recognize Jeeva in the bar and hire some gang members to beat him up. However, the gang members mistake Barani for their target and beat him when he leaves the bar, knocking him unconscious and stealing his phone and bag, throwing the latter into a taxi cab.

Nataraj came to the city to seek medical treatment for his son while driving a taxi rented from gangster P. K. Pandian "P. K. P.". He finds Barani's bag in his taxi with his academic certificates, which he takes to the police station. In the morning, Barani awakens in the street and calls a friend to take him home. He boards a bus to his new job, to explain about his missing academic certificates. Jeeva boards the same bus to attend a job interview at Aarthy's company. He recognizes the goon who threatened Aarthy and attacks him with acid, then escapes with his friends. Barani is detained by the police, having unwittingly passed the bottle of acid to Jeeva. Fatigued by the hostility of the city, Barani argues with the police inspector who beats him until a constable intervenes. The constable talks with Barani at a tea stall, where Barani recognizes the man who told him to pass the acid bottle, and the constable arrests him.

The gang members plot to kidnap schoolboy Karthick "Karthi" for ransom, sending a man named Winnings to trick his teachers. Winnings is unprepared when there are five boys named Karthi, one of whom volunteers to go with Winnings in order to avoid a mathematics test. They take the boy but later realize he is the son of gangster P. K. P. Brani tells Aarthy that he no longer wants the job. She asks him to take the company's training so that she won't be held responsible for his quitting. They begin to argue about it and Jeeva, who is waiting for his interview, intervenes. The police arrive and take Jeeva away, saddening Aarthy who loves Jeeva but cannot accept his carefree nature. Barani tells Aarthy that he lost his academic certificates, and she agrees to cover for him for a day.

P. K. P. orders his henchmen to hunt down his enemies in a search for Karthi. The gang demand a Template:INR crore (10 million rupees) ransom and P. K. P. agrees to follow their instructions. Meanwhile, Jeeva is released by the police inspector, who is his uncle. Jeeva waits for Aarthy at a bus stop outside her hostel. Aarthy sees Karthi, who had escaped the kidnappers, hiding in a truck and instructs Jeeva to take Karthi home. Jeeva tries to call P. K. P. but his phone is off. He then meets his uncle and leaves Karthi in the police inspector's custody. Winnings, who is terrified of P. K. P., confesses the kidnapping to the inspector, who commands Winnings to go through with the ransom exchange. Jeeva arrives and realizes the situation. The inspector shoots P. K. P. and tries to shoot Winnings but Jeeva shoots the inspector in the leg and instructs Winnings to take P. K. P. and Karthi to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Barani is riding in Nataraj's taxi when they are stopped and attacked by the gang who believe they are spying for P. K. P. They threaten to kill Nataraj if Barani does not bring P. K. P. To allow Nataraj to escape and take care of his sick son, Barani fights back against the gang who he recognizes as his attackers from the bar. Barani's lost academic certificates are returned to his home address. Outside the hospital, Barani and Jeeva each talk to their girlfriends. They are about to introduce themselves to each other when they are challenged by another gang hired by the goon Jeeva punched. Jeeva and Barani charge toward the gang to defend themselves.

Cast

Template:Cast listing

The names of several characters were revealed in the 2023 release of the film's screenplay as a book.[3]

Production

In April 2015, actor Sundeep Kishan began working on the project with writer and director Lokesh Kanagaraj, produced by S. R. Prabhu's production house Potential Studios. Sundeep had earlier expressed an interest in producing the film himself, but later became busy with other commitments.[4] Lokesh had previously worked as a director in Karthik Subbaraj's anthology film project, Aviyal (2016), in which his short film Kalam was included. The story was discussed with associate directors Maharajothi, Krisha, Archana and Gopi, titled Maanagaram and promoted as a dark comedy thriller. Actor Sri and Regina Cassandra were signed on to play other lead roles, with filming beginning later that month.[5] Actors Charle and Munishkanth were subsequently signed and the project was completed by September 2015.[6] The film was revealed to be based on hyperlink cinema with Regina's role constant throughout the film.[7][8] The film was shot and completed within a period of 46 days.[9] Potential Studios began promoting the film in February 2016, but later postponed efforts until early 2017 to get a better date for a theatrical release.[10]

Music

Template:Infobox album The film's score and soundtrack were composed by Javed Riaz. The album was released on 22 August 2016.[11] Riaz previously collaborated with Lokesh Kanagaraj for a segment in Aviyal. A writer from The Hindu called the song "Yendi Unna Pidikkuthu" as the album's highlight and added that "The song’s guitar-layered melody builds steadily, banking on Karthik’s vocal dexterity, even taking on a fantastic celtic sound midway and moving on to a punchy, highly-rhythmic interlude".[12]

Template:Track listing

Release

Maanagaram was released on 10 March 2017. Prior to release, the producers held preview shows for the film in Chennai.[13] Both screenings were attended by film personalities, who widely praised the film.[14] The film had a simultaneous release for its Telugu dubbed version, Nagaram.[13] The film had its television premiere on Star Vijay during Diwali.[15]

Reception

Box office

After release, several other Tamil film personalities including Rajinikanth and Suriya voiced their praise for the film.[16][17]

Critical response

Deccan Chronicle called the film "an absorbing emotional thriller that is a must-watch", adding "with a solid story, deft handling and a seamless screenplay (despite a complex script), extracting the best of performances from the entire cast, picture-perfect frames (Selvakumar), engrossing music (Javed Riaz) and crisp editing (Philomin Raj), Lokesh has weaved a captivating thriller which is not to be missed".[18] Sify stated "Maanagaram is a gripping film that seizes your full attention" and that it was "one of most genuine films in recent times".[19] Similarly, a critic from The Times of India noted "director Lokesh Kanagaraj gives us an exquisite, even-handed thriller — handsomely shot, tightly edited and propped up by a grungy score — that unobtrusively makes its points while narrating a gripping story".[20] S. Shivakumar of The Hindu opined that "Each scene makes you eagerly await the next with a climax that is befitting".[21] Baradwaj Rangan wrote for Film Companion, "The air-tight deliberateness of this structure is given room to breathe by the randomness of the characters, who behave in ways we don’t expect."[22] The New Indian Express wrote that "All that it needs is a solid screenplay, deft treatment and a right selection of cast to make it an interesting and an eminently watchable fare. 'Maanagaram' is proof of that!"[23] Srivatsan wrote for India Today, "Showcasing the capital of Tamil Nadu in a grim light, that too in his debut film is as close to jeopardising one's career as possible [...] But Lokesh Kanagaraj writing in Maanagaram is unparalleled, considering the recent set of sappy releases. Be it the characters that come throughout the film or tight screenplay, Lokesh's work doesn't seem amateurish".[24]

Accolades

Award Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Template:Abbr
Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards Best Comedian – Male Munishkanth Template:Won [25]
Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards Best Comedian Munishkanth Template:Won [26]
10th Vijay Awards Best Debut Director Lokesh Kanagaraj Template:Won [27]
Best Editor Philomin Raj Template:Won
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards Best Film Maanagaram Template:Won [28]
Best Director Lokesh Kangaraj Template:Won

Legacy

The film was remade in Hindi as Mumbaikar (2023).[29] The screenplay book of the original film published by Pesaamozhi Publication was released in January 2023.[30]

References

  1. ↑ 4 Lokesh Kanagaraj films to watch on OTT on his 37th birthday, Chakraborty, Saikat. The Telegraph(2023-03-14). Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  2. ↑ From Maanagaram at 45 days to Leo in 125 days: Here's a list of how many days Lokesh Kanagaraj took to complete shooting for his films, Natarajan, Saradha. The Times of India(2023-07-26). Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  3. ↑ மாநகரம் (திரைக்கதை): Maanagaram (Screenplay in Tamil) | Exotic India Art. www.exoticindiaart.com. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  4. ↑ Maanagaram: Was a challenge to showcase Chennai differently, says director. Hindustan Times(7 March 2017). Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  5. ↑ Sundeep Kishan's next is a dark comedy. The Times of India(4 April 2015). Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  6. ↑ Sundeep and Regina team up third time. Deccan Chronicle(13 September 2015). Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  7. ↑ Managaram based on Hyperlink. Tamil Star(23 February 2016). Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  8. ↑ Hot actress Regina Cassandra next new movie Managaram. IndiaGlitz(23 February 2016). Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  9. ↑ The lives of others, Anantharam, Chitradeepa. The Hindu(9 March 2017). Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  10. ↑ MADRAS, KABALI, KASHMORA AND NOW…, Jyothsna. Behindwoods(23 February 2016). Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  11. ↑ Maanagaram (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). Apple Music(2016-08-22). Retrieved 2026-01-30.
  12. ↑ "Yendi Unnda Pidikudhu". The Hindu(6 November 2016). Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Nagaram: Life in a metropolis, Devi Dundoo, Sangeetha. The Hindu(9 March 2017). Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  14. ↑ T'town can't stop gushing abt Sundeep Kishan and Regina's Nagaram. The Times of India(7 March 2017). Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  15. ↑ Special movies to be screened by popular TV channels on Deepavali. livechennai.com(16 October 2017). Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  16. ↑ Sundeep Kishan, Regina Cassandra-starrer Maanagaram wins over Rajinikanth, Kumar, Karthik. Hindustan Times(15 March 2017). Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  17. ↑ Suriya heaps praise on 'Maanagaram'. Sify(11 March 2017). Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  18. ↑ Maanagaram review: An absorbing emotional thriller that is a must-watch!. Deccan Chronicle(10 March 2017). Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  19. ↑ Maanagaram review – A genuine attempt which is entertaining. Sify(8 March 2017). Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  20. ↑ Maanagaram Movie Review. The Times of India(9 March 2017). Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  21. ↑ Shining without stars, Shivakumar, S.. The Hindu(16 March 2017). Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  22. ↑ Maanagaram Movie Review, Rangan, Baradwaj. Film Companion(10 March 2017). Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  23. ↑ 'Maanagaram' Review: The plot travels on multiple tracks, Mannath, Malini. The New Indian Express(9 March 2017). Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  24. ↑ Maanagaram movie review: Every Chennaiite will love this fantastic thriller. India Today(11 March 2017). Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  25. ↑ Vijay, Nayanthara, Bigg Boss Tamil win big at Vikatan Awards 2018 – here's the list of winners. Times Now(11 January 2018). Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  26. ↑ 9th NTFF 2018: Official selection & Winners of Tamilar Awards 2018 Tamil Nadu !. Norway Tamil Film Festival(2018). Retrieved 5 January 2022.
  27. ↑ Vijay awards 2018: Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi win best actor award, Dhanush and Anirudh perform together. See pics. Hindustan Times(4 June 2018). Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  28. ↑ Tamil Nadu State Film Awards for 2016-2022 announced; see full list. Mid-Day(2026-01-30). Retrieved 2026-01-30.
  29. ↑ Santosh Sivan to direct Hindi remake of Maanagaram. The New Indian Express(29 September 2020). Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  30. ↑ Trending: After Jai Bhim... Lokesh Kanagaraj's sensational blockbusters turn into book adaptations!. The New Stuff(2023-01-07). Retrieved 2025-02-06.

Cite error: <ref> tag with name "vikatan" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

Template:S. R. Prabhu Template:Lokesh Kanagaraj

Retrieved from "https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Maanagaram&oldid=455709"
Discover more