Manal Kayiru(1982)
Manal Kayiru is a 1982 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film written and directed by Visu in his directorial debut. The film stars S. Ve. Shekher as Kittumani and Shanthi Krishna as Uma, with Visu, Manorama, Kishmu, and Kuriakose Ranga in supporting roles. The story follows a young man who imposes eight strict conditions on his future wife, leading his uncle to arrange a marriage with a woman who fulfills none of them. Adapted from Visu's stage play Modi Masthan, the film blends humor with a moral lesson about unrealistic expectations in relationships. It was released on 7 May 1982 and received mixed reviews, with praise for Visu's performance but criticism for its photography and music. The film was remade in Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam, and a sequel followed in 2016.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 7 May 1982
- Director
- Visu
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 20m
- Rating
- 7.5/10
Storyline
Kittumani is a stubborn young man who refuses to marry until he finds a woman who meets his eight impossible conditions. His uncle Naradar Naidu, tired of searching, tricks him into marrying Uma, a kind girl who breaks every single rule. Kittumani must now decide whether to throw her out or learn to love her despite her flaws.
“Eight rules. One wife. Zero matches.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Manal Kayiru
Cast reunions in this film: M. S. Viswanathan & Manorama (63 films together), Visu & M. S. Viswanathan (12 films together), Visu & S. Ve. Shekher (8 films together), Visu & Manorama (8 films together), M. S. Viswanathan & S. Ve. Shekher (6 films together), and S. Ve. Shekher & Manorama (6 films together).
Trivia
- The film's story was inspired by a real-life incident Visu heard about a man with strict marriage conditions.
- This was one of the earliest films where actor-director Visu also played the lead role, Chandran.
- The movie was shot mostly in a single house set to keep production costs very low.
- Actress Urvashi, who played the female lead, was only about 16 years old during filming.
- The film's success helped popularize Visu's signature style of 'message-based' family dramas.
- A famous comedy scene involves the uncle character trying to secretly measure the heroine's height.
- The title 'Manal Kayiru' translates to 'Sand Rope', symbolizing something weak and impossible to find.