The Story of a young man who returns from jail after imprisonment on crime he commits for justice during young age. He comes out and again fights for justice in everyway. This film released along with Kamal hassan starred and Mani Ratnam directed Nayakan,Sathyaraj starred Brahma and Vijayakant starred Uzhavan Magan for the Deepavali season. Collection wise, reportedly this was a hit.
Acting
Rajinikanth's simmering restraint before the superstar explosion.
Direction
SP Muthuraman balancing AVM entertainment with 80s social consciousness.
Production
Released against Nayakan — and somehow still held its own.
Director
S. P. Muthuraman
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Deepavali 1987 was STACKED — Manithan competed directly with Mani Ratnam's Nayakan and still emerged a hit, proving Rajini's mass appeal could withstand even auteur-driven prestige cinema.
SP Muthuraman was AVM's hit machine who could make ANY star commercial; pairing him with Rajini during this transitional period (between Thillu Mullu and Baashha) captured the superstar before he became a demigod.
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