Anjali(1990)
Anjali is a 1990 Indian Tamil-language children's drama film written and directed by Mani Ratnam. The film stars Raghuvaran and Revathi in lead roles, with Tarun, Shruti, and Shamili playing the three children. The story follows a civil engineer named Shekhar who hides the survival of his mentally disabled daughter from his family for two years. When his wife Chitra discovers the truth, she must forgive his betrayal and welcome their daughter home. The film explores the emotional trauma of a family caring for a special-needs child while facing societal rejection. Anjali was critically acclaimed upon release and won three National Film Awards, including Best Feature Film in Tamil. It was also selected as India's official submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1991. The film was released theatrically on 12 July 1990 by GV Films.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- VI Movies and TV, Prime Video, Zee5, Plex, ManoramaMax, Airtel Xstream Play
- Theatrical Release
- 12 July 1990
- Director
- Mani Ratnam
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 2h 35m
- Rating
- 5.2/10
Storyline
A mother believes her newborn daughter died at birth. Two years later, she discovers the child is alive but mentally disabled. Her husband hid the truth to protect her. Now, the family must learn to accept and love a daughter who is different from everyone else. But the community is not ready to accept her.
“A love that knows no limits.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Anjali
Cast reunions in this film: Ilayaraja & Charlie (59 films together), Ilayaraja & Revathi (32 films together), Ilayaraja & Raghuvaran (18 films together), Raghuvaran & Charlie (10 films together), Charlie & Revathi (8 films together), and Mani Ratnam & Ilayaraja (7 films together).
Trivia
- The film's child actors were mostly non-professionals, including the lead actress Shamili, who was discovered at a birthday party.
- Mani Ratnam initially planned to make a film about street children but shifted focus after reading a newspaper article about a child with a disability.
- The iconic apartment building where the family lives is the 'Gee Gee Apartments' in Chennai, which became a minor tourist spot after the film.
- Composer Ilaiyaraaja recorded the song 'Raathiri Nerathu' in a single take with singer Sujatha, as per Mani Ratnam's request for a raw feel.
- The film was India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 63rd Academy Awards, though it was not nominated.
- The character Anjali's distinctive red dress was chosen to make her stand out visually and symbolize her unique presence in the family.