Iruvar

Iruvar
DVD Poster
Directed by	Mani Ratnam
Produced by	Mani Ratnam G. Srinivasan
Written by	Vairamuthu (Poem) Suhasini (Dialogue)
Screenplay by	Mani Ratnam
Starring	Mohanlal Prakash Raj Aishwarya Rai Revathi Gouthami Tabu
Music by	A. R. Rahman
Cinematography	Santosh Sivan
Edited by	Suresh Urs
Production company	Madras Talkies
Distributed by	Madras Talkies
Release date	14 January 1997 (1997-01-14)
Running time	158 minutes
Country	India
Language	Tamil

Iruvar (English: The Duo) is a 1997 Indian Tamil epic political drama film co-written, produced and directed by Mani Ratnam. The film which is loosely based on the relationship between cinema and politics in Tamil Nadu, features Mohanlal in lead role along with Prakash Raj, Aishwarya Rai, Revathi, Gouthami, Tabu, and Nassar. Rai, a former Miss World, made her screen debut through this film in dual characters. The film had a very successful score and soundtrack composed by A. R. Rahman and the cinematography was by Santosh Sivan. It was dubbed and released in Malayalam in the same name and Telugu as Iddaru

The film was showcased in the Masters section at the 1997 Toronto International Film Festival. The film was a critical success and won the Best Film award at the Belgrade International Film Festival and two National Film Awards. In 2012, Iruvar was included by critic Rachel Dwyer in the 2012 British Film Institute Sight and Sound 1000 greatest films of all time which is considered to be one of the most respected film polls all over the world.

Set in the 1950s, the film begins with Anandan (Mohanlal), a struggling actor, seeking opportunities which will give him a big break in the film industry. Under his uncle's help, Anandan is given an opportunity to audition for the lead role in a forthcoming film. He arrives in the studio and practices his combat skills with sword props provided on the sets while waiting for the director and the crew. At this, he meets Tamizhselvan (Prakash Raj), a small-time writer who enters the studio with some sarcastic poetry and this prompts both into a little debate. The debate turns into a mutual respect into each other, and impressed by Tamizhselvan's skills, Anandan requests Tamizhselvan to write dialogues for him to recite during the audition.