Kalabhavan Mani has been on a roll ever since his Ben Johnson became a raging hit all across Kerala.

His Lokanathan IAS has just released and the jury is still out on it.

But Mani, a confident man, is sure that it will do well.

At any rate, both he and the Haridas, the director of Maanikyan are sure that this family drama will be a first- rate entertainer.

Maanikyan, they say, will be a gritty entertainer that will have all the ingredients of a wholesome entertainer.

It would be invidious to talk at this moment the specifics of the film, says the director. He does not want to go in detail into story of the film. But suffice to say that it will have all the things that Mani fans expect from him.

There will be earthy humor, some typical songs (full of rustic beats), some crusty sentiments. Mani, of course, knows his strengths and play to it. In Maanikyan, where he plays the eponymous character, he sure will.

Giving him company in the lead is Nandini. She has emerged as a bankable heroine with frills or fancy. Though she is getting busy on the small screen, Nandini is a good bet in films like this.

The rest of the cast with Jagathi, Salim Kumar can be expected to provide good guffaws. With Siddique around, there can be no dearth of drama.

Director Haridas says that the idea is to provide fulsome viewing experience to all.

Hope Maanikyan lives up to his descriptions.