Tenaga Nasional merges family values and obsession with Tamil movies in Deepavali film

Tenaga Nasional (TNB) has collaborated with Reprise Digital to roll out a Deepavali film titled "Style Mannavan" (Style Hero), which continues on from the family portrayed in last year's Deepavali film.

The protagonist Mano is the teenage son who is distressed by the yearly makeover by his movie-buff mother, transforming him into the classic Tamil movie star MGR. This year, he aspires to transform as a current hero to impress a girl, however all his plans are foiled. The film culminates with a visit to the temple where he encounters his heroine, similarly dressed in a traditional outfit, upon which he realises his mother’s good intentions. The film was directed by Esham Shahlin and produced by Reservoir Production, with music composed by Krishinthen Shanmugam of Rocsho Music.

The integrated campaign features an Instagram filter through Insta stories, allowing users to create their own #StyleMannavan poster or video. Additionally, the film is scheduled to air across all TNB social media channels, with content across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. The film will also appear on free-to-air TV networks over the Deepavali weekend.

Bhattacharya said as a company serving the nation, its goal is to spread joy during the festive celebrations and emphasise the importance of togetherness and family values.

"We are pleased to once again collaborate with Reprise to bring this story to life in a meaningful way this Deepavali," she added.

Reprise's ECD Kevin Le said the underlying theme this year is trust, and that family always has one's best interests at heart.

"This central theme of familial blessings is one that has been weaved into our TNB festive films over the last two years. This year, we tapped into the obsession with Tamil movies and the audience’s penchant for melodrama," he explained.