The Most Memorable Mani Movies - 11

Alai Payuthey (2000)

All love stories in movies end in marriages, and a fairytale "happily ever after" ending. Or do they? Mani Ratnam explored the consequences of a hasty marriage between two lovers Karthik and Shakti (Madhavan and Shalini).
The film is a look at the tribulations that a newly-eloped couple undergoes in the initial months of their marriage, and how a crisis helps change their outlook towards life, and towards each other.

A highlight of Alai Payuthey was the way the story is narrated -- mostly through flashbacks, with a framing sequence set in the present that brings out the ironical aspects in the tale. Madhavan's debut in mainstream cinema established him as a romantic hero in the Tamil film industry, and the sharp insight into middle-class lives was well-received by both critics and film-goers.

Karthik (Madhavan) is an engineering graduate who happens to lay eyes on Shakti (Shalini), a medical student, at a wedding. The two meet regularly after their initial sighting, on suburban trains, to and from work and university. Karthik and Shakti eventually fall in love. Karthik's father Varadarajan, a lawyer, comes to learn of the two's relationship and approaches Shakti's dad Selvaraj. He asks Selvaraj, a railway employee, for his consent to a marriage proposal between the two young lovers. However, upon meeting, the two parents clash, and the wedding is called off. Shakti decides she will not get married without her parents' consent, and the relationship between herself and Karthik is called off altogether.

Unable to stay separated for very long, coupled with chance meetings, Karthik and Shakti find themselves resuming their relationship, albeit secretly, without the knowledge of their respective families. They decide to get married, without telling anyone, but carry on living with their parents, hoping that a time will come when both families will see eye to eye and can be told of the development. With the help of their friends, and Shakti's elder sister Poorni, their marriage is completed legally, and all the while, they continue to meet each other without their parents' knowledge.

Shakti's elder sister Poorni is approached with an engagement proposal soon after. Poorni is willing to accept the offer to marry the suitor - Raghu. The prospective groom's father offers his second son's hand in marriage to Shakti. Shakti's mother Saroja urges her to accept the marriage proposal, unaware of the fact that Karthik and Shakti are already together. Shakti eventually tells the truth, and Poorni's engagement is called off. Karthik and Shakthi are kicked out of their homes.

With the help of friends, Shakti and Karthik move into an apartment, in development. They cope for a while, however it's not too long before the couple start arguing over various issues that the two seemed so much more tolerant of before they got married. Marriage tension escalates. Shakti comes to learn that her father is seriously ill back home. She and Karthik decide it would be best to visit him. Upon arrival they learn that her father has passed away. Wracked with guilt, the two return home, their relationship taking a turn for the worse.

Meanwhile, Karthik takes it upon himself to sort out Poorni's adjourned marriage proposal to Raghu. He arranges a blind date between the two, which initially fails, backfiring on Karthik, however, with more meetings, Poorni and Raghu become closer. This development takes place without Shakti knowing. She and her husband have not spoken to each other for a long time. Karthik wishes to wait until Poorni and Raghu's marriage is confirmed before telling Shakti. Poorni is desperate to tell her sister the news herself. Whilst hugging Karthik, thanking him for his efforts, Shakti witnesses their close contact and mistakes it for something else, leading to an even bigger argument, and a trade of insults.

Shakti eventually learns of her husband's efforts in getting her sister married, and wants to thank him. Karthik sets off to the railway station to collect his wife, she has left the hospital where she works, but isn't on the train she usually takes. Karthik sits down on a nearby bench and waits for his wife.

Music
The music score that accompanies the film was composed by A. R. Rahman. The soundtrack features 9 songs composed by Rahman, with lyrics by Vairamuthu, except for the title song 'Alai Payuthey' (which was created by the 18th century Carnatic music composer Oothukkadu Venkatasubramanya Iyer, who also set it to the raagam Kaanada).

"September Madham" (5:08) – Asha Bhosle, Shankar Mahadevan
"Yaro Yarodi" (5:46) – Mahalakshmi Iyer, Vaishali, Richa Mahadevan
"Pachai Nirame" (5:58) – Hariharan, Clinton
"Alai Payuthey" (3:43) – Kalyani Menon, Harini, Neivelli Ramalakshmi, Swarnalatha
"Snehidhane" (6:05) – Sadhana Sargam, Srinivas
"Kadhal Sadugudu" (4:35) – S. P. Charan, Naveen
"Evano Oruvan" (5:56) – Swarnalatha
"Endendrum Punnagai" (4:00) – Clinton, Pravin, Srinivas, Shankar Mahadevan
"Mangalyam Thanthuna" (1:41) – Clinton, Srinivas

This soundtrack proved immensely popular upon release. The film’s title is named after a famous classical song composed by Uttukkadu Venkatasubbaiyer.