It’s not just the songs, Ilaiyaraaja is also an integral part of Manjanathi, says Mari Selvaraj

“Manjanathi is a film about women, their feelings, emotions and aspirations. The core of the story is about women. The narrative begins in the southern districts where the name Manjanathi is more common.” Photo: Special Arrangement

Award-winning director Mari Selvaraj’s next film, Manjanathi, with music by maestro Ilaiyaraaja, centers not on a single female character but on women portrayed by three actors. The title of the story was originally part of a series published in the Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan.

“Whenever the name Manjanathi came to my mind, I thought of adapting it into a film. Even then I decided that the music should be composed by maestro Ilaiyaraaja. When I met him and narrated the story, he agreed to record it,” said Mari, who attended a program to mark the 50th anniversary of Ilayaraaja’s film entry and how a long-held dream came true a few days ago and spoke about it. Ilayaraaja invited him on stage and asked him to share his experiences.

When asked if the story revolves around Manjanathi, the title character, Mari told The Hindu that the film has many female characters.

“It is a film about women, their feelings, emotions and aspirations. The core of the story is about women. The narrative begins in the southern districts where the name Manjanathi is more common. But I have handled the subject in a fresh way and the audience will find it surprising,” he said.

Talking about his experience of working with Ilaiyaraaja, he said that they have only just begun. “He makes me happy. I went to meet him with a bit of trepidation, but he gave me confidence. I wrote the script entirely with Ilaiyaraaja in mind. The way I approached the subject and incorporated it into the film will be new to cinema. The audience will understand why I chose Ilaiyaraaja when the film releases. It’s not just about the songs, he is an integral part of the film,” he added.

Although Mari aims to release the film by December this year, the release may be pushed to January 2027.

Kathir is playing the lead role in the movie. He had earlier played the eponymous role in Maria’s acclaimed film Pariyerum Perumal. The director also promoted Ponvel, who played Sivananainjan in Vaazhai, as the second hero in the film.

The female leads include Kayadu Lohar, Priyanka Arul Mohan and a newcomer that has not been completed.

Published – 02 Jun 2026 23:01 IST