Punnagai Mannan

Punnagai Mannan

Year: 1986

Runtime: 144 mins

Language: Tamil

Director: K. Balachander

DramaRomance

Chandram and Ranjani are deeply in love, but their families oppose their union. In desperation they leap from a cliff, hoping to end their lives; Ranjani dies instantly while Chandram survives. Overcome with grief, he dedicates himself to dance, eventually rising to become a respected dance master.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Punnagai Mannan (1986)

Trace every key event in Punnagai Mannan (1986) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Cliff suicide attempt by Sethu and Ranjani

Opposed by their families, Sethu and Ranjani decide to end their lives by leaping from a cliff. Ranjani's parents threaten to kill Sethu or themselves if the couple elopes. They jump, and Sethu becomes trapped among branches in a tree and survives, while Ranjani dies.

initial cliff
2

Sethu is framed and arrested

Ranjani's father tries to jail Sethu by framing him for Ranjani's death; there is no evidence to prove guilt. Sethu faces arrest as the case sins against him and the tragedy compounds the couple's ruined future.

immediately after court/jail
3

A year passes; Sethu is released

A year passes and Sethu is released from custody. His well-wisher Padmini, who runs a dance school, helps him restart his life and look toward the future.

one year later prison
4

Padmini offers him a new start

Padmini offers him a job as a dance instructor at her school, giving him a purpose after the trauma. This marks the beginning of his new professional chapter.

after release Padmini's dance school
5

Sethu remembers Ranjani at the cliff

Sethu regularly visits the cliff to remember Ranjani, keeping her memory close as he rebuilds his life. The place remains a poignant touchstone for his past.

post-release cliff
6

A girl attempts suicide; Sethu intervenes

On his way to the cliff, a girl attempts suicide and Sethu stops her, saving a life. This encounter introduces him to a new presence in his life and sets the stage for a different path.

early path to cliff
7

Malini appears in a gallery

Sethu meets Malini in a gallery; she introduces herself, but he initially ignores her. The encounter plants the seeds for a later, more complicated relationship.

soon after gallery
8

Malini pursues Sethu after a photo moment

Malini secretly photographs him at a tourist spot, which leads to a confrontation when he destroys her camera. She then chases him to his dance school where she becomes his student, and despite his insults, she begins to fall in love.

subsequent tourist spot; dance school
9

Chellapa and humor shape Malini's bond

Malini grows close to Chellapa, who dresses like Chaplin and uses humor to connect with her. Sethu becomes jealous and attempts to mimic Chellapa's mannerisms, injuring himself in the process.

after first meetings
10

Chellapa's past and the Chaplin mask

Sethu discovers Chellapa's own failed relationship and learns that Chellapa once wore a Chaplin mask to forget it. This revelation deepens Sethu's understanding of Chellapa and relationships.

pre-engagement
11

Reuniting Chellapa with Padmini

Sethu helps unite Chellapa with his former lover Padmini, who had never married. The reconciliation brings emotional balance to those around him.

midway Chellapa's circle / Padmini's space
12

Malini travels to Tamil Nadu; father's approval

Malini travels from Sri Lanka to Tamil Nadu to join Sethu, and her father finally approves their marriage. The couple moves closer to a life together despite cultural differences.

after reconciliation Sri Lanka to Tamil Nadu
13

Ranjani's father plots again

Ranjani's father learns of the engagement and intends to kill Sethu. The threat underscores the continuing danger from those opposed to the union.

before wedding
14

The bomb and the lovers' deaths

On the day of Sethu's engagement, Ranjani's father arranges a time bomb inside a basket of apples and gives it to Sethu's father. The basket is placed in Chellapa's car, and the explosion kills Sethu and Malini as they drive toward the cliff; Chellapa later places flowers on the cliff to mourn them.

engagement day Chellapa's car; cliff

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:21

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