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        MGR still continues to charm the masses. The matinee idol of Tamil cinema, who successfuly forayed into politics, is a household name in the State.

        After decades, Nadodi Mannan, featuring MGR and Banumathi, was re-released in the State last year and it managed to draw a huge audience. The film of the late 50s, it was directed by MGR himself. He featured in a dual role.

        Cashing on the success of Nadodi Mannan, another MGR's immortal classic Ayirathil Oruvan is all set to hit the theatres again.

        MGR is at his swashbuckling best, opposite Jayalalithaa in the movie.

        The film is full of romance, action and comedy.

        Ayirathil Oruvan has numerous dialogues referring to the fight against tyranny and the power of the poor. This movie was instrumental in raising MGR's stock in Tamilnadu.

        The flick is centered around a brutal King, who punishes a tribal doctor

        (M G Ramachandran) and his people by selling them as slaves. When the doctor falls in love with a beautiful Princess (Jayalalithaa), he joins forces with a band of pirates and fights to free his enslaved kinsmen.

        The film is directed by B R Banthulu with the musical score by Viswanathan and Ramamurthy. Some of the songs including Odum Megangalae, En Endra Kelvi and Atho Antha Paravai Polae were chartbusters.

        Ayirathil Oruvan also stars M N Nambiar, R S Manohar, Nagesh among others.

        Says Manickam, an avid MGR-fan: 'One of the most brilliant films of MGR is Ayirathil Oruvan. I have seen the movie more than a dozen times. I am eager to see it again on the big screen.'

        It is re-released by Padmini Pictures and would be screened in nearly half-a-dozen cinema halls from 1 June.