

A fictionalized account of the lives of 1980s Tamil Nadu political icons M. G. Ramachandran and M. Karunanidhi, continuing the tryst between Tamil cinema and Dravidian politics.
Acting
Mohanlal and Prakash Raj — volcanic chemistry, devastating final scene.
Direction
Mani Ratnam at his most fearless; banned, delayed, legendary.
Cinematography
Santosh Sivan's black-and-white film-within-film sequences.

Director
Mani Ratnam
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The film was banned for two years because MGR's widow and Karunanidhi himself were still politically active — cinema and politics too dangerously intertwined.