30 years of Mouna Ragam!

There are only some movies which you connect to very closely making them hold a special place in your heart. It's been 30 years since the theatrical release of 'Mouna Ragam' which hit the silver screen on Independence Day, 15th August 1986 and there is something resolutely magical about the film making you revisit it time and again.

In essence, it's just a simple tale of 2 diverse individuals facing difficulties having gotten together through the arranged marriage route but the direction is woven across so discreetly threading the finer needles of emotion. The poignancy and undercurrents facing the couple is handled with such measured care making you relate to the underlying story.

The turbulence of the female protagonist whose life changes 360 degrees from being a vivacious young lady whose joie de vivre comes to a standstill unfortunately due to circumstances beyond control to the housewife daunted with sobriety and having absolutely zilch interest towards her counterpart comes across so earnestly. The trials and tribulations endured by her opposite number trying to keep the troubled waters at bay is touched upon with restraint.

Adjacent to all the vexation brewing between the couple comes the brilliant flash back bit. The character of Manohar is perhaps one of the greatest cameo's in the annals of Tamizh cinema. It was one of the best lover boy characters and the infectious mojo he bought in was electrifyingly magnetic that it could sway even the most hard nosed girl to fall in love. Also, not to forget the smidgeon of comedy, whether it is the peals of laughter evoking 'Chandramouli' scene or the funny bone Sardar being taught to learn Tamizh (the thundering Poda Dei still reverberates) forming an indelible part adding to the memorabilia.

There are innumerable factors hefting up the movie but no showers of encomiums can be complete without mentioning about the music which really is the soul of the film. The Maestro takes over the baton, elevates it and places the movie at an all time high pedestal thanks to the inimitable tunes. The re-recording simply caresses and carries the movie on its shoulders. Be it happiness or sadness, comedy or romance, love or hate, every single emotional chord is expressed by the music playing in the background not to forget the transitions invoking the same musical pieces. The leitmotif running throughout the film continues to be a ringtone in many mobile phones even now and mothers still feed their kids pappu chaadham by showing the moon and humming lines from Nilave Vaa :).

The movie by itself was loosely inspired by the Mahendran directed 'Nenjathai Killathe' and many movies since then have tried to cater to the simple but powerful theme of Mouna Ragam but nothing has even come remotely close in terms of the deft and subtle handling which had the trademark unique precision of the director Mani Ratnam.

Hear close to half an hour of unadulterated unparalleled musical bliss to savor the wonderful memories this motion picture has churned over the years. Celebrating 3 decades since the magic of Mouna Ragam!