Mani (film)

Mani is a 2003 Indian Kannada-language romance film written and directed by debutant Yograj Bhat. It features Mayur Patel and Radhika in the lead roles. The supporting cast includes Umashree, Kashi, Avinash, Rangayana Raghu and Karisubbu. The score for the film is by Rajesh Ramanath and soundtrack for the film is by Raja. The film was dubbed in Tamil as Sollattuma with a few reshot scenes.

Cast

 * Mayur Patel as Kummi
 * Radhika as Mani
 * Umashree as Shantakka
 * Sanketh Kashi as Dasanna
 * Avinash as assistant commissioner of police
 * Rangayana Raghu as Chami
 * Karisubbu
 * Anand
 * Nagashekar
 * Myna Chandru
 * Renuka Prasad
 * Joe Simon
 * Karthik Sharma

Production
Umashree played a prostitute while Radhika played her daughter.

Soundtrack
The film's background score is by Rajesh Ramnath and the soundtracks are composed by Raja. The music rights were acquired by Ananda Audio.

Reception
A critic from Viggy wrote that "In a nutshell, Yojaran Bhat's Mani is a perfectly polished pearl that shines among the lot". A critic from Chitraloka wrote that "Hats off to the new director for striking to our eyes the realities happening around us. The style adopted by the director is simple yet marvelous". S. N. Deepak of Deccan Herald wrote: "Debutant director Yogaraj Bhat has done a brilliant job of depicting a hypocritical male dominated society, helplessness of a prostitute and the humanity surrounding it in this film." He added, "The story is well-knit and has a touch of freshness. The way in which love blooms between the two hearts in a prostitution area is watchable. The dialogues have been written carefully to avoid double meanings and vulgarity as the film also deals with prostitution." He concluded the performances of the lead actors and the art direction by Shashidhar Adapa.