'Sivakasi' precariously perched on top

Chennai, Nov 19 (IANS) The verdict on Diwali releases is out. Though Vijay's "Sivakasi" is supposed to be a super-hit, the fact is the film has not been able to sustain its great opening.

The filmmaker blames it on the torrential rains the state witnessed in the last few weeks but critics say the film itself is a rehash on the Vijay-Perarasu team's earlier film "Thirupachi".

The top five Tamil films are

1. "Sivakasi" (Director Perarasu): A lot was expected of "Sivakasi." And its good opening - much bigger than Vikram's "Majaa" - created the impression that the film was going to be a mega hit. But it has not been able to sustain the hysteria because there is nothing new in the film. Yet it is still the top film of the week.

2. "Ghajini" (Director Murugadoss): Surya's "Ghajini" is a huge box office hit. Only in the first week of Diwali could Vikram's "Majaa" manage better collections than "Ghajini". But fans promptly went back to "Ghajini", making it one of the biggest hits of 2005.

3. "Majaa" (Director Shafi): This is a remake of the highly successful Malayalam film "Thommanum Makkalum" starring Mammootty, Lal and Rajan P. Dev. Unfortunately, the Tamil remake, though directed by the same director, does not have the same zing.

4. "Mazhai" (Director Rajkumar): The interest in "Mazhai", starring Jeyam Ravi and Shriya, is nothing except Shriya who has been chosen as Rajnikanth's heroine for "Sivaji".

5. "Athu Oru Kanaa Kaalam" (Director Balu Mahendra): This film by Balu Mahendra has fared miserably at the box office. Dhanush, with several flops in his kitty, must be a worried man now.

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Sivakasi