Mayakkannadi Tamil Movie
Of the Tamil New Year's Day releases, the one which came in for critical look is 'Maayakkannadi" for it is a film by Cheran who has earned the reputation of making movies on social themes with rural backdrops.
In "Maayakkannadi", however, he has made a departure and taken up a subject that revolves around urban youths and mirrored their aspirations and dreams. The movie puts a powerful message across to the youth. But the message fails to sink in instantly because of a maze of sequences.
Here goes the story...
Kumar (Cheran) is a hair stylist in a five-star salon while his love interest Maheswari (Navya Nair) is a beautician in the same parlor. The two share the same dreams and aspirations – to become rich and lead a life of luxury. They are strongly influenced by the affluent clients who frequent their parlor. Their ambitions grow by the day and Kumar becomes desperate to get rich quick. He even tries to enter cinema but in vain. Jobless, he is on the streets fighting for survival. He then takes up a job with an entrepreneur who is part of a mafia dealing in drugs. He lands in jail. His time in jail makes him introspect and reform himself. He realizes that dreaming big without means to get the dreams fulfilled is crazy with disastrous consequences. With his greed vanishing, he returns to do what he knows best – hair dressing. Tirupathi(Radha Ravi), the parlor owner comes to the rescue of Kumar.
Cheran through his subtle expressions captures the essence of the average youth on streets trying to become rich by any means. His acting skill is in full bloom. Navya Nair, who made her mark in movies like 'Chidambarathil Oru Appasamy' and 'Amirtham', gives excellent performance.
Cheran deftly uses Radha Ravi in climax scenes. The film ends with Radha Ravi giving a lecture summing up that the youth should have the dignity of labor and develop a passion for work. The message is enfeebled by the sagging script. Cheran seems to have not paid the required attention to this aspect. The film drags on for three hours. This tends to dim the focus.
Sarath Kumar, Malavika and Arya make cameo appearances. Prakash, producer of C.J. Combines, gives one of the best performances though this is his first assignment. Dwarakanath's camera capturing nature in exotic locations in Switzerland is splendorous. Ilayaraja's songs are a value-addition to the movie. "Maayakkannadi" is his 31st film since his maiden "Annakili". He scored music for all six songs. "Kasu Kayil" written by Muthulingam, is a hit.
