Majaa
| Majaa | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Shafi |
| Screenplay by | Viji |
| Story by | Benny P Nayarambalam |
| Based on | Thommanum Makkalum |
| Produced by | Rockline Venkatesh |
| Starring | Vikram Asin Pasupathy Vadivelu Manivannan Biju Menon |
| Cinematography | Balasubramaniem |
| Edited by | V. T. Vijayan |
| Music by | Vidyasagar |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Aascar Films International |
Release date |
|
Running time | 138 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Majaa is a 2005 Indian Tamil-language masala film directed by Shafi, starring Vikram, Asin, Pasupathy, Vadivelu, Anu Prabhakar, Vijayakumar, Manivannan, Murali and Biju Menon (in his Tamil debut). The music was composed by Vidyasagar. It tells the story of two adopted children changing from their old, mischievous ways of life. The film is a remake of Shafi's own Malayalam film Thommanum Makkalum.
Plot[edit]
Govindan is a thief who has two sons: Aadhi and Mathi. Years go by and the brothers decide to stop stealing, mend their ways, and lead a hardworking life with their father. They migrate to a neighbouring village and meet a retired agricultural officer Chidambaram, who is in deep debt and is under pressure from the village landlord Kalingarayar to clear his debts. In efforts to help Chidambaram, Mathi confronts Seetha Lakshmi, Kalingarayar's daughter, who comes to collect the money Chidambaram owes her father. Seetha Lakshmi starts to acquire a liking for Mathi, but keeps it hidden due to her father's atrocious temper. In an attempt to teach Kalingarayar a lesson, Mathi forcibly ties the mangalsutram around Seetha's neck. Kalingarayar, realising his daughter's love for Mathi, comes down to arrange a grand remarriage between the two. But things go awry when Manicka Vel, Seetha Lakshmi's maternal uncle, comes to town in an effort to stop the wedding between the two as he has wicked plans of marrying her and usurping her family fortune.
Cast[edit]
- Vikram as Mathi
- Asin as Seetha Lakshmi
- Pasupathy as Aadhi
- Vadivelu as Pulipaandi
- Manivannan as Govindan
- Anu Prabhakar as Selvi
- Biju Menon as Raja Velu (Voice dubbed by P. Ravi Shankar)
- Vijayakumar as Chidambaram
- Murali as Kalingarayar
- Nithin Sathya as Muthu, Chidambaram's son
- T. P. Gajendran as Doctor
- Abu Salim as Manickam, Raja Velu's henchman
- Sindu Tolani (special appearance in the song "Ayyarettu")
- Ram Lakshman as Ramudu & Bheemudu
Production[edit]
Vikram watched the Mammootty starrer Thommanum Makkalum, and requested director Shafi to remake it with him, in Tamil. The film was launched at AVM Studios in 2005, a huge set of village was erected at studios.[1] The film was launched at AVM Studios in 2005, a huge set of village was erected at studios.[2] Initially, Trisha and Jyothika were considered for the lead female role, due to their unavailability Asin was chosen.[3] The crew went to Austria to shoot a song.[4] Vikram worked as an assistant director under Shafi for this film.[1] The film was shot at Pollachi.[5]
Soundtrack[edit]
The music was composed by Vidyasagar.[6]
| Song title | Singers | Lyrics |
|---|---|---|
| "Aiyyarettu" | Shankar Mahadevan, Anuradha Sriram | P. Vijay |
| "Chi Chi Chi" | Harini, Shankar Mahadevan, Savitha Reddy, Viji | Yugabharathi |
| "Hey Pangaali" | Udit Narayan, Tippu, Manikka Vinayagam | P. Vijay |
| "Podhumadaa Saami" | Kailash Kher | |
| "Sollitharavaa" | Madhu Balakrishnan, Sadhana Sargam | Kabilan |
Release[edit]
The film was released on 1 November 2005, Diwali day.[7]
Reception[edit]
Sify wrote, "The major flaw of Majaa is its wafer-thin story and screenplay, a mediocre subject to be remade from Malayalam, sic the film gives you a dreary sense of déjà vu, a feeling that one has seen it before".[8] A critic from Chennai Online wrote that "'Thomanum Makkalum', the film's original Malayalam version, in which Mammootty starred, had some perfect casting for the trio. But here the combination of Vikram, Pasupathi and Manivannan somehow fails to jell together as a team".[9] A critic from Behindwoods wrote that "On seeing the movie spectators are enfolded with action, comedy, love, and emotion. Members of the family can sit together and enjoy this movie".[10] A critic from webindia123 wrote that "Overall it is a clean family entertainer worth a watch".[11] A critic from Kungumam called the film a Tamil film from a Malayalam origin made in a Telugu style and added that the film can be enjoyed in theatres during Diwali if you watch the film ignoring the pre-release hype.[12] Lajjavathi of Kalki praised the humour and performances of Vadivelu, Pasupathy and Manivannan but felt Asin and Murali were wasted, Vidyasagar did not score well while panning Thaali sentiment scenes, crippling screenplay and lengthy dialogues. He was surprised by Vikram for choosing this film and she do not want to get him wasted in weak plots.[13]
Box office[edit]
It was declared an average grosser.[14][15]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "I've struggled a lot to reach this level: Vikram". IndiaGlitz. 9 January 2006. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
- ^ "Maja begins in a grand way". IndiaGlitz. 18 June 2005. Archived from the original on 25 November 2005. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
- ^ "Asin with Vikram in Maja". IndiaGlitz. 8 June 2005. Archived from the original on 11 June 2005. Retrieved 25 April 2012.
- ^ "Maja to be shot in Austria". IndiaGlitz. 8 October 2005. Archived from the original on 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ "Going South". Indiaglitz. 9 July 2005. Archived from the original on 12 July 2005. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Majaa". JioSaavn. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Deepavali releases - 2005". Chennai Online. 27 October 2005. Archived from the original on 15 October 2006. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Majaa Review". Sify. Archived from the original on 28 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
- ^ Mannath, Malini (5 November 2005). "Maja". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 14 October 2006. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
- ^ "Tamil movie review : Maja". Behindwoods. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "Majaa". Webindia123. Archived from the original on 31 October 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ "மஜா". Kungumam (in Tamil). 13 November 2005. pp. 10–11.
- ^ லஜ்ஜாவதி (13 November 2005). "மஜா". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 1. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Chennai Box-Office (Nov 04-06)". Sify. 8 November 2005. Archived from the original on 24 January 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ "Chennai Box-Office (Nov 11-13)". Sify. 16 November 2005. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
