'Punnagai Mannan' is a 1986 romantic film directed by K. Balachander with Kamal, Revathi and Rekha starring as the lead pair. A scene in the film had Kamal and Rekha attempting suicide and just before taking the plunge off a waterfall an emotional liplock would take place. Rekha in a You Tube interview has stated that she was just 16 years old at that time and that she was not informed about the kiss and felt very bad about it.

The video clip viral now one year after it was first uploaded and social media users have been slamming the late director K. Balachander and Kamal Haasan. Especially demands have been raised that Kamal should apologize to Rekha.

Rekha has reportedly said that she has immense respect for both Balachander and Kamal Haasan and she does not want the latter to apologize to her. She has also said to have added that the controversy has brought her back into the limelight and that she would soon be approached for films with both Rajini and Kamal.