:Iruvar

In the late 1940s, Anandan, an aspiring actor, goes around studios in Madras trying to land roles. He meets Tamizhselvan, a rationalist writer he respects, steeped in Dravidian ideas. On the strength of Tamizhselvan's flowery writing and his own impassioned delivery, he is offered the title role in a few films.

Tamizhselvan introduces Anandan to Ayya Veluthambi, who leads a Dravidian political party. He grows to like the party's ideology. Anandan marries Pushpavalli, while Tamizhselvan marries Maragatham, from their respective villages. When the two return to Madras, Anandan's film has been cancelled due to financial difficulties. In a few months, Tamizhselvan's party becomes the main opposition party. Anandan is reduced to playing minor roles. He sends Pushpavalli back to their village and considers joining the army. A few days later, Pushpavalli dies from illness and Tamizhselvan consoles a despondent Anandan.

Weeks later, Anandan's fortunes return, and he is again offered the part of the protagonist. He convinces the director to hire Tamizhselvan as screenwriter. The film receives tremendous response upon release. Anandan becomes a celebrity and a major star in Tamil Cinema within a few years. During the next elections, Tamizhselvan encourages Anandan to use his popularity to help their party attract more attention. Anandan marries fellow actress Ramani who was being tortured by her own family. Five years later, Ayya Veluthambi asks Anandan to contest in the upcoming elections, much to the displeasure of Tamizhselvan, who thinks other, more devoted workers deserve candidacy.

Anandan is shot in neck by a prop gun while filming a scene, but the party sweeps elections, with 152 seats out of 234. Ayya Veluthambi refuses to become chief minister. He asks Anandan and another leader, Madhivannan, to decide who should be given the post. Tamizhselvan is resentful that Veluthambi did not involve him, but is chosen to be the chief minister of Tamil Nadu with Anandan's wholehearted support. Anandan later asks to be made the health minister, but Tamizhselvan refuses, on the pretext that the executive committee forbids ministers to continue acting while in office. He offers Anandan any portfolio of his choice on the condition that he suspend his acting career. Anandan does not take it up.

Senthamarai, who had admired Tamizhselvan's daring protests, moves in with him when he writes her a poetic letter and has a daughter with him. Anandan's co-star in his new film is Kalpana who resembles his late wife. While initially distant, Kalpana's chattiness draws Anandan to her. But still married to Ramani, his indecision about another marriage angers Kalpana because of which she leaves him.

In a memorial function on Ayya Veluthambi's death, Anandan claims party's corruption in governance was the cause of death of the former. Anandan's expulsion by Tamizhselvan splits the party, with several members creating a new one under Anandan's leadership.

Anandan uses his popular films for next four years to highlight corruption in Tamizhselvan's government and storms to power in the next election with 145/234 seats. But his governance turns out to be no different. Tamizhselvan's eloquent diatribes against misgovernance spark protests and Anandan orders his arrest with a heavy heart. Meanwhile, Anandan sees Kalpana at a disaster relief site and asks her to be brought. The car bringing her has an accident and Kalpana dies.

Anandan is distraught over Kalpana's death. At the wedding of Ayya Veluthambi's granddaughter, a visibly ailing Anandan meets Tamizhselvan. They share a handshake but hardly talk. The next morning, Ramani finds Anandan dead in his bed. Tamizhselvan, in an emotional monologue set in a place where the two had previously planned dominating the Tamil state, recites poetry mourning his death.

{{cast listing|

• Mohanlal as Anandan, an actor and producer, who later becomes the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
• Prakash Raj as Tamizhselvan, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and current opposition leader
• Aishwarya Rai as Pushpavalli and Kalpana
• Gautami as Ramani{{sfn|Rangan|2012|p=292}}
• Revathi as Maragatham
• Tabu as Senthamarai{{sfn|Rangan|2012|p=292}}
• Nassar as Ayya Veluthambi
• Kaka Radhakrishnan as Kasi
• Major Sundarrajan as Police Officer{{sfn|Rangan|2012|p=292}}
• Rajesh as Madhivanan
• Delhi Ganesh as Nambi
• Nizhalgal Ravi as Ramani's uncle{{sfn|Rangan|2012|p=292}}
• Kalpana Iyer as Anandan's mother{{sfn|Rangan|2012|p=174}} Annamal
• S. N. Lakshmi as Tamizhselvan's mother
• Gowtham Sundararajan as Elango
• C. K. Saraswathi
• P. L. Narayana as Ramasamy
• Laxmi Rattan as Arjun Doss
• Sujitha as Tamizhselvan's daughter
• Vishnuvardhan as Tamizhselvan's son
• Krishna Kulasekaran as Tamizhselvan's son
• Monica as Manimegalai, Tamizhselvan's daughter
• Cheenu Mohan as Assistant director
• Madhoo in a special appearance in song "Narumugaye"{{sfn|Rangan|2012|p=292}}

}}

In October 1995, Mani Ratnam announced that he was set to make a feature film titled Anandan featuring dialogue written by his wife Suhasini and starring Mohanlal, Nana Patekar, and Aishwarya Rai.{{Cite news |last=Jayanthi |date=15 October 1995 |title=What makes Mani ? |work=The Indian Express |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/24DFE2FA7D520FBD65256940004C8AEE |url-status=dead |access-date=23 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320055240/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/%28docid%29/24DFE2FA7D520FBD65256940004C8AEE |archive-date=20 March 2012}} Initial speculation suggested that the film would visualise the duel between Velupillai Prabhakaran and his former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam deputy Mahattaya, who was executed in 1995 for an alleged plot to kill his mentor, with Aishwarya Rai reported to be playing Indira Gandhi.{{Cite web |last=Paneerselvam, A. V. |date=14 February 1996 |title=With A Sepia Edge |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/printarticle.aspx?200778 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211010127/http://outlookindia.com/printarticle.aspx?200778 |archive-date=11 February 2011 |access-date=23 September 2011 |website=Outlook}} Mani Ratnam was quick to deny any political backdrop claiming that the film would be about the Indian movie industry; however, this proved to bluff the public as the film was to be set within a political canvas. The film was later retitled Iruvar (The Duo). The idea to make a film on the lives of 1980s Tamil Nadu political icons M. G. Ramachandran and M. Karunanidhi and their influential relationship between Tamil cinema and Dravidian politics was sparked off by a conversation Mani Ratnam had with renowned Malayalam author, M. T. Vasudevan Nair.{{Cite news |last=Umashankar, Sudha |year=1998 |title=Films must reflect the times you live in |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/3D32A24E3D89BB4A65256940004C8AE5 |url-status=dead |access-date=23 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021045913/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/3D32A24E3D89BB4A65256940004C8AE5 |archive-date=21 October 2012}}

When interviewed about the difficulties of casting, Mani Ratnam revealed he "struggled" citing that casting "is most important as far as performance is concerned" and that "fifty per cent of the job is done if you cast correctly". Mohanlal was approached to play Anandan, a character inspired by M. G. Ramachandran and about his performance in the film, Ratnam claimed that Mohanlal had "the ability to make everything absolutely realistic with the least amount of effort". He described that debutant Aishwarya Rai, the former Miss World beauty pageant winner, who appeared in two different characters—one inspired by actress-politician J. Jayalalithaa—as a "tremendous dancer" and as "having a lot of potential". The director revealed that the only difficulty Mohanlal and Rai had was the language, with both being non-Tamil speakers, adding that the pair had to work hard over the dubbing trying to get as close to the Tamil tongue as possible. Tabu was also signed to play an important role in the film and shot for Iruvar alongside her Tamil debut film, Kadhal Desam.{{Cite web |last=Taliculam |first=Sharmila |date=4 April 1997 |title=Commercial films can get you only so far |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/apr/04tabu.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224926/http://www.rediff.com/movies/apr/04tabu.htm |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=23 September 2011 |website=Rediff.com}}

The actor to play the role of Tamizhselvan, inspired by Karunanidhi, took substantially longer to finalise with the initial choice, Nana Patekar, withdrawing after several discussions about his remuneration. Later, Mammootty was offered the role but declined, as did Kamal Haasan and Sathyaraj.{{Cite news |last=Ramanujam |first=D. S |date=8 June 1999 |title=Power packed performance |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/0BBEC4DD18D5643165256940004D0E04 |url-status=dead |access-date=23 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021044431/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/0BBEC4DD18D5643165256940004D0E04 |archive-date=21 October 2012}}{{Cite news |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=28 January 2012 |title=Character Call |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2839950.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=12 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201180149/http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2839950.ece |archive-date=1 February 2012}} Negotiations with R. Sarathkumar failed as he demanded a higher remuneration, and Mithun Chakraborty declined as the required looks would have affected his other film commitments. Arvind Swamy was later signed on,{{Cite web |last=Sitaraman |first=Sandya |date=22 October 1996 |title=Kuzhappam.. shandai niraindha "Anandham" |url=https://groups.google.com/g/soc.culture.tamil/c/J68fuQkdCtw |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117091233/https://groups.google.com/g/soc.culture.tamil/c/J68fuQkdCtw |archive-date=17 January 2022 |access-date=17 January 2022 |website=Google Groups}} but soon opted out after a look test, as he could not cut his hair for the role, which would have caused continuity problems for his commitment to Minsara Kanavu and Pudhayal (1997).{{Cite web |last=Thangadurai |first=S. |date=1997 |title=Look who's talking now |url=http://www.filmfare.com/site/may97/sspecial.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990503053105/http://www.filmfare.com/site/may97/sspecial.htm |archive-date=3 May 1999 |access-date=11 January 2022 |website=Filmfare}} Ratnam called R. Madhavan, then a small-time model, for the screen test, but left him out of the project citing that he thought his eyes looked too young for a senior role.{{Cite web |date=24 July 1996 |title=A Close Shave |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/glitterati.aspx?41 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023221415/http://outlookindia.com/glitterati.aspx?41 |archive-date=23 October 2010 |access-date=23 September 2011 |website=Outlook}}{{Cite web |last=Ganapati |first=Priya |date=8 March 2000 |title=People remember scenes, not episodes |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2000/mar/08madh.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709061247/http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2000/mar/08madh.htm |archive-date=9 July 2012 |access-date=23 September 2011 |website=Rediff.com}}{{Cite web |last=Sitaraman |first=Sandya |date=3 February 1996 |title=Arvind Swamy-in pudhiya image!.. |url=https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/soc.culture.tamil/sandya$20sitaraman/soc.culture.tamil/1EPmpEGDWEg/8xqXWn0UH2YJ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20110122130054/https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/soc.culture.tamil/sandya$20sitaraman/soc.culture.tamil/1EPmpEGDWEg/8xqXWn0UH2YJ |archive-date=22 January 2011 |access-date=1 October 2015 |website=Google Groups}} Subsequently, Prakash Raj, who had played a small role in Ratnam's Bombay (1995), was signed up. Prakash Raj initially told Ratnam that he was unprepared to essay such a delicate role on such short notice, with Prakash Raj later revealing that Ratnam nurtured the character and brought self-confidence into the actor.

The film was shot in 1996 and schedules were canned all across India from Kerala to Leh with Mohanlal stating that it was the longest duration he had shot for a film.{{Cite web |last=Warrier |first=Shobha |author-link=Shobha Warrier |date=4 April 1997 |title=I celebrate whether a film is a hit or a flop |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/apr/04mohn.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021053350/http://www.rediff.com/movies/apr/04mohn.htm |archive-date=21 October 2012 |access-date=23 September 2011 |website=Rediff.com}} To ensure perfection, Ratnam made Prakash Raj take 25 takes for his first shot, lasting over six hours. After the shooting for Iruvar was completed, Mani Ratnam asked Prakash Raj to dub in Tamil himself for the first time, with his work taking four days to complete.

The soundtrack was composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu.{{Cite web |title=Iruvar Tamil audio cassette By A. R. Rahman |url=https://banumass.com/shop/iruvar-tamil-audio-cassette/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117095201/https://banumass.com/shop/iruvar-tamil-audio-cassette/ |archive-date=17 January 2022 |access-date=17 January 2022 |website=Banumass}} It has songs ranging from pure Carnatic to Tamil folk and jazz. Rahman blended two Carnatic ragas—Naattai and Gambheera Naattai—in "Narumugaye".{{Cite news |last=Mani |first=Charulatha |author-link=Charulatha Mani |date=20 December 2013 |title=Versatile Nattai |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/versatile-nattai/article5482691.ece |url-status=live |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221051732/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/versatile-nattai/article5482691.ece |archive-date=21 December 2019}} "Vennila Vennila" and "Hello Mister Edhirkatchi" are based on jazz music.{{Cite news |last=Desikan |first=Aparna |date=30 April 2015 |title=What Does it Take to Jazz Up? |work=The New Indian Express |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2015/apr/30/what-does-it-take-to-jazz-up-749008.html |url-status=live |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117102322/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2015/apr/30/What-Does-it-Take-to-Jazz-Up-749008.html |archive-date=17 January 2022}}{{Cite web |date=8 October 2019 |title=10 lesser-known AR Rahman songs you should have been listening to this entire time |url=https://www.vogue.in/culture-and-living/content/best-lesser-known-ar-rahman-songs-127-hours-delhi-6-couples-retreat |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824132405/https://www.vogue.in/culture-and-living/content/best-lesser-known-ar-rahman-songs-127-hours-delhi-6-couples-retreat |archive-date=24 August 2021 |access-date=17 January 2022 |website=Vogue India}} Rahman sampled Dave Grusin's "Memphis Stomp" for the intro of "Hello Mister Edhirkatchi".{{Cite web |last=Karthik |author-link=Karthik Srinivasan |date=2 June 2012 |title=Blast from the past: Mani Rathnam – Sounds of success |url=https://milliblog.com/2012/06/02/blast-from-the-past-mani-rathnam-sounds-of-success/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924103225/http://milliblog.com/2012/06/02/blast-from-the-past-mani-rathnam-sounds-of-success/ |archive-date=24 September 2019 |access-date=17 January 2022 |website=Milliblog}} "Udal Mannukku" and "Unnodu Naan Irundha" were recitals by Arvind Swamy.{{Cite web |last=Bhattacharya |first=Roshmila |author-link=Roshmila Bhattacharya |date=23 September 2021 |title=Revealed: Why Arvind Swamy Quit Films |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/revealed-why-arvind-swamy-quit-films/20210923.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012170856/https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/revealed-why-arvind-swamy-quit-films/20210923.htm |archive-date=12 October 2021 |access-date=17 January 2022 |website=Rediff.com}} Vishwa Mohan Bhatt also worked on the album, playing the Mohan veena upon Rahman's invitation.{{Cite web |last=Taliculam |first=Sharmila |date=4 April 1997 |title="Pop is temporary, classical music is permanent" |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/apr/04vish.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000608172055/http://www.rediff.com/entertai/apr/04vish.htm |archive-date=8 June 2000 |access-date=11 January 2022 |website=Rediff.com}}

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| all_lyrics = Vairamuthu

| headline = Tamil

| title1 = Ayirathil Naan Oruvan

| extra1 = Mano, A. R. Rahman {{small|(backing vocals)}}

| length1 = 5:51

| title2 = Narumugaye

| extra2 = P. Unnikrishnan, Bombay Jayashri

| length2 = 6:20

| title3 = Kannai Kattikolathey

| extra3 = Hariharan

| length3 = 5:10

| title4 = Vennila Vennila

| extra4 = Asha Bhosle

| length4 = 4:59

| title5 = Hello Mister Edhirkatchi

| extra5 = Harini, Rajagopal

| length5 = 4:12

| title6 = Pookodiyin Punnagai

| extra6 = Sandhya Jayakrishna

| length6 = 5:31

| title7 = Udal Mannuku

| extra7 = Arvind Swamy

| length7 = 2:54

| title8 = Unnodu Naan Irundha

| extra8 = Arvind Swamy

| length8 = 2:35

}}

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| all_lyrics = Veturi

| headline = Telugu

| title1 = Aadhukonadam Vratha Mai

| extra1 = Mano

| length1 = 5:51

| title2 = Sasivadane

| extra2 = P. Unnikrishnan, Bombay Jayashri

| length2 = 6:22

| title3 = Kallagganthalu Kattadhoi

| extra3 = Hariharan

| length3 = 5:56

| title4 = Vennelaa

| extra4 = Asha Bhosle

| length4 = 4:58

| title5 = Hello Mister Edurpakshi

| extra5 = Harini, Rajagopal

| length5 = 4:13

| title6 = Poonagave

| extra6 = Sandhya Jayakrishna

| length6 = 5:31

| title7 = Odalu Mannanta

| extra7 = Mano

| length7 = 2:54

| title8 = Unnanu Neeku Thodugaa

| extra8 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Dominique Cerejo

| length8 = 2:36

}}

The Central Board of Film Certification panel saw the film on 31 December 1996 and opined that various characters in the film reflected the personal lives of some politicians and accordingly a certificate was denied. Following the producer's protest, it was seen by an eight-member revising committee on 2 January 1997 which suggested deletion of some objectionable portions and cleared the film for U/A certification. Four dialogues from the film were subsequently cut.{{Cite news |date=28 February 1998 |title=Censors refer Iruvar to home dept |work=The Times of India |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/F4AF25E8DDFA9E8F6525694100207BAB |url-status=dead |access-date=23 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405022505/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/F4AF25E8DDFA9E8F6525694100207BAB |archive-date=5 April 2012}} However the objected scenes were muted with a background playing rather than a complete muting of the scenes.

Two days before the release of the film, Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani threatened to mobilise public against its screening in theatres, because he felt that it contained "objectionable" footage denigrating the Dravidian movement founded by Periyar.{{Cite news |date=13 January 1998 |title=Maniratnam's film 'Iruvar' draws DK leader's anger |work=The Times of India |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/78F98F35051707B465256940004C8B21 |url-status=dead |access-date=23 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021050214/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/art.nsf/(docid)/78F98F35051707B465256940004C8B21 |archive-date=21 October 2012}} The politician threatened legal action if the film was screened in theatres without removing what he perceived as the "offending" portion, but Mani Ratnam dismissed that Veeramani was making rushed conclusions without having seen the film. The film's box office performance was also hampered by the fallout from the FEFSI strike of 1997.{{Cite web |date=18 June 1997 |title=Strike paralyses Madras film industry |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/jun/17mad.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000616005753/http://www.rediff.com/entertai/jun/17mad.htm |archive-date=16 June 2000 |access-date=11 January 2022 |website=Rediff.com}}

A month after the film's release in February 1997, the regional chief of the censor board G. Rajasekaran brought up the issue again and referred the film to the Indian Home Office for "advice", threatening that if more scenes were not deleted, it might ultimately lead to a law and order problem. The film was dubbed in Telugu under the title Iddaru and in Malayalam under the same name.{{Cite web |title=Remembering S P Balasubrahmanyam: 4 Telugu-dubbed movies that prove he was a brilliant voice actor |date=25 September 2020 |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/remembering-s-p-balasubrahmanyam-4-telugu-dubbed-movies-that-prove-he-was-a-brilliant-voice-actor-892760.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607085017/https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/remembering-s-p-balasubrahmanyam-4-telugu-dubbed-movies-that-prove-he-was-a-brilliant-voice-actor-892760.html |archive-date=7 June 2022 |access-date=26 July 2022}}{{Cite web |title=24 Years of Iruvar: A nostalgic look-back at Mani Ratnam's ode to TN politics; 50+ lesser-known facts & rare working stills |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/photos/slideshows/2020/jan/16/24years-of-iruvar-a-nostalgic-look-back-at-mani-ratnams-ode-to-tn-politics50-lesser-known-fact-851.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730165910/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/photos/slideshows/2020/jan/16/24years-of-iruvar-a-nostalgic-look-back-at-mani-ratnams-ode-to-tn-politics50-lesser-known-fact-851.html |archive-date=30 July 2022 |access-date=26 July 2022 |website=Cinema Express|date=16 January 2020 }}

The film received positive reviews from critics including by reviewers in Kalki,{{Cite magazine |last=ஆர். பி. ஆர். |date=26 January 1997 |title=இருவர் |url=https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1997/jan/26-01-1997/p16.jpg |url-status=dead |magazine=Kalki |language=ta |page=16 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220730164956/https://kalkionline.com/kalkionline_archive/imagegallery/archiveimages/kalki/1997/jan/26-01-1997/p16.jpg |archive-date=30 July 2022 |access-date=23 June 2022}} The Hindu,{{Cite news |date=24 January 1997 |title=Hindu's Iruvar Review |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.newtamilfilms.com/maniratnam/reviews/iruvar-review2.html |url-status=usurped |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010305074555/http://www.newtamilfilms.com/maniratnam/reviews/iruvar-review2.html |archive-date=5 March 2001}} and the Edmonton Sun.{{Cite news |last=Tilley |first=Steve |date=11 March 1998 |title=Friends at odds in fine Tamil Tale |work=Edmonton Sun |url=http://www.newtamilfilms.com/maniratnam/reviews/iruvar-review1.html |url-status=usurped |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010715001330/http://www.newtamilfilms.com/maniratnam/reviews/iruvar-review1.html |archive-date=15 July 2001}}

Both M. Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa denied the relevance of the film to their lives and never admitted to the film being a biopic.{{Cite web |last=Narayanan |first=Sujatha |date=7 December 2016 |title=How Mani Ratnam's Iruvar put the spotlight on Jaya |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2016/dec/07/how-mani-ratnams-iruvar-put-the-spotlight-on-jaya-1546363.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325025602/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2016/dec/07/how-mani-ratnams-iruvar-put-the-spotlight-on-jaya-1546363.html |archive-date=25 March 2017 |access-date=24 March 2017 |website=The New Indian Express}}

Mani Ratnam named Iruvar as his best film in an interview with critic Baradwaj Rangan.{{sfn|Rangan|2012|p=182}} Rangan also named the film the best work of Mani Ratnam, in his list “All Mani Ratnam Movies Ranked”.

The film was also noted for its vignette style of making, with many single-shot scenes, where a fluid camera setup captures the entire action.

;National Film Awards 1997

• Best Supporting Actor – Prakash Raj
• Best Cinematography – Santosh Sivan

;International honours

• Belgrade International Film Festival – Best Film in the Festival of the Auteur Films
• Toronto International Film Festival – Masters section{{sfn|Dhananjayan|2014|p=365}}
• Inducted into British Film Institute Sight & Sound 1000 greatest films of all time

• Film à clef

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last=Dhananjayan |first=G. |title=Pride of Tamil Cinema: 1931–2013 |title-link=Pride of Tamil Cinema |publisher=Blue Ocean Publishers |year=2014 |oclc=898765509 |author-link=G. Dhananjayan}}
• {{Cite book |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |title=Conversations with Mani Ratnam |title-link=Conversations with Mani Ratnam |publisher=Penguin Books |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-670-08520-0 |location=India |author-link=Baradwaj Rangan}}

• {{IMDb title|0119385}}

{{Madras Talkies}}

{{Mani Ratnam}}

{{A. R. Rahman}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1990s Indian films

Category:1990s political drama films

Category:1990s Tamil-language films

Category:1997 controversies

Category:1997 films

Category:Censored films

Category:Film censorship in India

Category:Films à clef

Category:Films about actors

Category:Films about entertainers

Category:Films about filmmaking

Category:Films about mass media people

Category:Films about screenwriters

Category:Films directed by Mani Ratnam

Category:Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor National Film Award–winning performance

Category:Films produced by Mani Ratnam

Category:Films scored by A. R. Rahman

Category:Films set in Chennai

Category:Films set in the 1940s

Category:Films set in the 1960s

Category:Films shot in Chalakudy

Category:Films shot in Ladakh

Category:Films shot in Madurai

Category:Films shot in Rajasthan

Category:Films shot in Thrissur

Category:Films whose cinematographer won the Best Cinematography National Film Award

Category:Indian docudrama films

Category:Indian films based on actual events

Category:Indian political drama films

Category:Jayalalithaa

Category:Political controversies in film

Category:Political controversies in India

Category:Tamil-language Indian films

Category:Works subject to expurgation