Panakkaran(1990)
Panakkaran is a 1990 Indian Tamil-language masala film directed by P. Vasu. It stars Rajinikanth and Gautami in lead roles. The film is a remake of the Hindi film Lawaaris (1981). The story follows Muthu, a poor factory worker who discovers he is the abandoned son of a wealthy businessman. He fights for workers' rights while uncovering his hidden past. The film was produced by Sathya Movies to celebrate their silver jubilee. It was released on Pongal day in 1990 and ran for over 175 days in theatres. The soundtrack by Ilaiyaraaja remains popular, especially the wedding anthem 'Nooru Varusham'. The film is known for its emotional family drama, action sequences, and Rajinikanth's performance.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 14 January 1990
- Director
- P. Vasu
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 20m
- Rating
- 4.2/10
Storyline
Muthu is a poor factory worker raised by a drunkard. He does not know his real parents. He falls in love with Latha, the daughter of a wealthy man. But dark secrets from his past threaten to destroy everything. Muthu must fight for justice and discover who he really is.
“A son searches for his father's love”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Panakkaran
Cast reunions in this film: Ilayaraja & Janagaraj (59 films together), Rajinikanth & Ilayaraja (58 films together), Ilayaraja & Vijayakumar (44 films together), Ilayaraja & Radha Ravi (37 films together), Ilayaraja & Senthamarai (23 films together), and Ilayaraja & Gouthami (22 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Panakkaran' means 'money man' or 'rich man' in Tamil, directly reflecting the hero's quest for his wealthy father.
- This was the first Tamil film where actor Rajinikanth and director P. Vasu collaborated, leading to several later hits.
- A popular comedy scene involving a 'telephone booth' was improvised on set by actors Goundamani and Senthil.
- The movie's soundtrack by Ilaiyaraaja was a major hit, with the song 'Annakili' becoming a cultural phenomenon.
- Actress Khushbu, who played the female lead, was at the peak of her popularity, making this a much-anticipated pairing with Rajinikanth.
- The film's climax was shot in a specially constructed large set to depict the rich father's mansion and courtyard.
- Despite being an action film, it heavily focused on family drama, which was a key reason for its wide audience appeal.