Neranja Manasu
Vijaykanth's biggest blockbusters have been subjects set to the rural backdrop. Poonthota Kavalkaran to films like Chinna Gounder have been box office hits. After the success of Rammana and Engal Anna in which he had very little action, Vijaykant has realized that only if he plays his age can he succeed. But to appease his fans he comes with an action film like `Gajendra'. Though Gajendra is said to be a no profit- no loss film the release dispute has affected Vijaykanth's image. Taking a cue from his early career graph Vijaykant has decided to play it safe.
Now for Diwali Vijaykant dons a soft family man role in Naranja Manasu. At first the film was titled Naranja Manasakaran but since it sounded like a Ramarajan film the producer changed it to Naranja Manasu. A do gooder in the village Vijaykanth plays Ayyanar who is head of a family. Known to everybody as a gentleman with no vices he is saddled with the responsibility of looking after his family due to his father's death. While dying his father asks him a promise which he has to fulfill and this promise even leads to his good name being tarnished. The film was shot entirely in a village near Udmalpet. An Ayyanar temple was built for the film. Vijaykanth a Maduraite uses the Madurai slang throughout the film.
Intially Sneha was to play the lead. With no current heroines ready to play the lead and also Mumbai gals being too sophisticated the search led to Hyderabad. The director found in Susan a heroine in a B grade film apt and having the right looks. Susan plays the village belle Irunayi and Mahima plays yet another role. Samudrakanni who directed K Balchander's `Anni' directed `Unnai Saranadanjeyan'' with SPB Charan- Yugendran in the lead. Known for his expertise in spinning melodramatic screenplay the film is expected to reach out to the family audience and especially the rural folk. The cast includes Vinu Chakravarthi, Manorama, Nasser, Senthil, Ilavarasu and Venkat Prabhu. Cinematography by Pratap, editing by Anil Malnat, stunts by Rakki Rajesh, art direction by Pugazh, music is scored by Karthik Raja, choreography by Kala, Shivashanker and D. K. S. Babu and lyrics are penned by Kalai Kumar and Muthukumar.
GJ combines produce the film . They are having a good streak of luck with Chellamay.