Mouna Ragam

The film’s development began when Ratnam began writing a short story tiled “Divya” with no cinematic plans until he finished it. Since production on his directorial debut Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983) was delayed, he took a break for a month and developed “Divya” into a film script, which would eventually be renamed Mouna Ragam. Although Ratnam began work on the script during Pallavi Anu Pallavi, it languished in development hell and ended up becoming his fifth film. Mouna Ragam was the first film produced by Venkateswaran’s Sujatha Films, and was shot primarily in Madras, with additional filming taking place in Delhi and Agra. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics by Vaali. P. C. Sreeram was the cinematographer, and the art director was Thota Tharani. The film was edited by B. Lenin and V. T. Vijayan.

Mouna Ragam was released on 15 August 1986. Despite opening to modest audiences, it became a box-office success, with a theatrical run of over 175 days, and Mani Ratnam’s breakthrough. The film received critical acclaim; it won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, and Ratnam received the Filmfare and Cinema Express Awards for Best Director in Tamil. Mouna Ragam also became a breakthrough in Karthik’s career despite his role being a cameo. The film introduced techniques such as soft-focus shots, flare filters and backlighting, which became popular in Tamil cinema. It was remade in Hindi in 1992 as Kasak, and in Kannada in 1999 as Chandrodaya.

After the marriage, Chandrakumar takes Divya to his house in Delhi, but she indirectly mentions that she cannot accept him as her husband. To make her comfortable, he asks her what she would like as a wedding gift, to which she replies saying she wants a divorce, which shocks Chandrakumar. Sometime later Chandrakumar gives Divya his wedding gift, but she refuses it and tells him not to try anything to make her comfortable as she cannot accept Chandrakumar as her husband because of her past love relationship with Manohar, whom she met during her college days. She reveals that she first encountered Manohar when he and his gang were robbing a politician’s son. Divya reports Manohar to the police, and he is arrested. She later learns that the politician’s son had run over a girl with his car, and Manohar stole the money to pay for the girl’s medical treatment. Feeling guilty, Divya bails him out by pawning her gold chain.

When Manohar meets Divya to return her chain, their conversation leads him to fall in love with Divya, and he tries various ways to win her love; although she initially rejects him, she eventually returns his feelings. Manohar is a member of a revolutionary group that plans to hold an illegal rally. Divya does not approve, and asks him not to attend; he agrees only if she will marry him. On their wedding day, Manohar is falsely accused of participating in the rally and arrested. He escapes and runs to the marriage registrar’s office where Divya is waiting for him. A policeman accidentally shoots Manohar, and he dies in front of Divya.

After hearing her story, Chandrakumar tells Divya that he does not care about her past, but about the future that he wants to build with her. He tells Divya to either sign the divorce papers he has obtained as per her request for a wedding gift or accept the anklets he bought as his wedding gift to her; Divya chooses divorce. They consult a lawyer who tells them that according to the law, they must wait one year to file for divorce since they are newly married; the couple is forced to live together for a year.

Having told Chandrakumar about her past and the reason why she was unable to accept her marriage, Divya finds herself finally free from her mental baggage and discomfort around Chandrakumar. She begins to appreciate her situation and make the most of it. Conversely, Chandrakumar is wary of her presence in his life as he fears what would happen at the end of the year when their divorce would be approved. Troubled, he distances himself from her and rejects her every move. At the same time, he slowly begins falling in love with her while denying his feelings to himself.

One day, Chandrakumar is attacked by his company’s labourers because he had suspended their union leader. Divya rushes him to a nearby hospital, where he survives after receiving treatment. After he is discharged, Divya takes care of him and realises that she has fallen in love with him. She tries to show it by wearing the anklets which Chandrakumar bought as a wedding gift for her. But before he can notice the anklets, they enter an argument while Divya tried to surprise him, and Chandrakumar asks her to return to Madras and books her trip. Divya rushes out of her home alone at night after the argument and is chased by goons, but rescued by Chandrakumar. He notices her anklets and realises that she too loves him. However, the booked ticket arrives the next morning; neither Chandrakumar nor Divya express their wish for the trip to be cancelled aloud.

Once Chandrakumar leaves for work, Divya arrives alone at the railway station, where she sees Chandrakumar waiting for her. He hands her the finalised divorce papers, saying that it has been approved that morning. Divya breaks down, telling Chandrakumar that she loves him and would wait indefinitely for him to reciprocate. She tears the divorce papers and leaves to catch her train. Chandrakumar, surprised at Divya’s open declaration, catches the train that was departing from the station, stops it and carries Divya home.