Manal Naharam


Manal Naharam is a 2015 Indian Tamil-language film written and produced by M.I.Vasanthkumar and directed by Shankar starring himself, Prajin, Gautham, Tejaswini Prakash, Varuna Shetty, Vinod Kumar, Jaise Jose and Jijesh Menon.
The film, a bilingual, was made in Malayalam as Sand City and was released on 2 January 2015. Manal Naharam was released on 27 February 2015.
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Plot

Manal Naharam explores the stories of young Indians who travel to Dubai for better jobs and futures, leaving behind their families. The movie deals with friendship and romance.
Mansur, a sales commission agent in Dubai is in love with Poornima, a waitress at a restaurant. Anand, in search of a job, is loved by Nisha, the daughter of business tycoon Ibrahim Rabbani. James, the third person in the group, gets into trouble that complicates things for everyone.

Cast

  • Shankar Panikkar as Ibrahim Rabbani
  • Prajin as Manzoor
  • Gautham as Aanand
  • Tejaswini Prakash as Thanishka
  • Varuna Shetty as Nisha
  • Vinod Kumar as Mohan Raj
  • Jaise Jose as James
  • Jijesh Menon as Noushad
  • Sakshi Sharma as Fathima
  • Rex George
  • "Engal Aasan" Raamki as Gopalakrishnan
  • Dubai Kannan
  • "Caravan" Arunachalam
  • Kaadhal Saravanan
  • Muraliraman
  • Rajesh B
  • Master Ashwanth

Production

Shankar was impressed by the story line given by his friend Muraliraman from Dubai. M.I.Vasanthkumar wrote the screenplay and produced the film. Gautham Krishn, Prajin and Tejaswini Prakash were cast in the lead roles. Newcomer Varuna Shetty and Narayana Kannan from Dubai.
Renil Gowtham, the music director of Shankar' s directorial debut Virus was signed for music department, while J.Sreedhar, who has worked on Challenge 2 was assigned the cinematography.
The preliminary schedule of the film took place in Chennai in March 2013, before the crew left for the remainder of the shooting in Dubai. "The 50-day shooting was very tough and challenging", said Shankar.

Music

Manal Naharam's audio was launched on 14 July 2014 at RKV Studios, Chennai attended by the cast of both Manal Naharam and the team of the directors first Tamil feature Oru Thalai Ragam as they celebrated the 34 year reunion of that film's release. Roopa, Shankar, Thyagu, Kailash, cameraman Rajasekhar and T. Rajendar spoke on the occasion. Sand City's audio was launched on 15 October at The Oberoi, Dubai attended by the entire cast and crew of Sand City. Apart from the team, actor Rizabawa also spoke on the occasion.
;Tamil Soundtrack
No.SongSingersLyrics
1"Nadhi Pokum Dishai..."Hari Hara SudhanTamil Amudhan
2"Usharaiah Usharu..."AnithaTamil Amudhan
3"Theeyaga Theeyaga..."Sulfiq L.Tamil Amudhan
4"Vaan Mazhai..."V. V. PrasannaRaaj Kannan
5"Kanava Nijama..."V. V. Prasanna & ReshmaMani Bharathy

;Malayalam Soundtrack
No.SongSingersLyrics
1"Oru Yatra Mozhi..."Anwar SadathNeha Gayal
2"Usharaiah Usharu..."AnithaTamil Amudhan
3"Theechoodi Theechoodi..."Sulfiq L.Rinil Gowtham
4"Njan Oru Minnal Kodi..."Sulfiq L.Chitoor Gopi
5"Manasil Mazhaiyai..."Anoop Shankar & SitaraSibi Padiyera

Reception

Maalai Malar gave 71 marks out of 100 for Manal Naharam appreciating the film as attractive. They lauded director Shankar's effort in presenting the film in a touching manner. The technical side of the film, especially songs, cinematography, background score and dialogues were also appreciated. Thanishka and Varuna Shetty along with villain actor Vinod Kumar and Prajin' s performances were commended. Malini Mannath of The New Indian Express praised the screenplay, acting and the direction in Shankar's Tamil directorial debut.
A critic from The Times of India rated the movie as average and appreciated the photography of the film, summing up as "the film could have been much better if treated well".