Thaindian News

Madharasapattinam – A Journey Back To The Ancient Chennai

Banner: AGS Entertainment, Red Giant Movies

Production: Kalpathy S Agoram

Direction: A.L. Vijay

Star-casts: Aarya, Amy Jackson, Nasser, V.M.C. Haneefa, Bala Singh, M.S. Bhaskar, Omar, Periya Karuppu Devar, Balaji

Music: G.V. Prakash

Cinematography: Nirav Shah

Editing: Anthony

Art: V. Selvakumar

Filmmaker A.L. Vijay is known for making exceptional attempts over choosing unique scripts. Be it his directorial debut Kireedom (remake of yesteryear Malayalam film Kireedom) or the comedy entertainer Poi Solla Poram (again a remake of Hindi film Khosla Ka Ghosla). Indeed, these films were ennobled with the best verdicts as “Better than the best’. Now again, the filmmaker seems to have been vividly inspired by Aamir Khan’s Lagaan.

Set in the backdrop of ancient Chennai, the film revolves around an 18-yr old Amy Wilkinson (Amy Jackson), who falls in love with a Tamil dhobi (Aarya), who’s a wrestler as well. Emerging from different societal classes, this couple has to now fight back everything that hassles their relationship.

As Aarya wanted to project himself as a worthy wrestler to watch out on screens, he had to hit gym everyday so as to look like Hercules. The film started rolling soon after the release of Aarya’s National award winning film Naan Kadavul. Since, it was a period film, director Vijay got himself intensively involved in the researches.

Since the film revolves around the life of a dhobi, most of the portions have been shot in the backdrops of Washermenpet sets. Director Vijay assures that audiences will be astonished to see the sets replicating the city of Chennai in the late 40s.

Nasser, V.M.C. Haneefa, Bala Singh, M.S. Bhaskar, Omar, Periya Karuppu Devar, Balaji and many Anglo-Indians have donned prominent roles in this film.

Followed by the grand success of his magnum opus Aayirathil Oruvan, music director G.V. Prakash spells out some pleasing melodies. Actor Vikram has crooned a song along with veteran music director M.S. Viswanathan.

Nirav Shah of Pokkiri, Dhoom and Wanted fame has handled cinematography while Anthony has edited the shots. A. Selvakumar holds special mention for his mind-boggling act of erecting biggest sets of ancient Chennai.

Producer Udhayanidhi Stalin of Red Giant Movies has acquired the rights of this film, which is hitting screens this Friday (July 9) with more prints across the globe.

–Richard Mahesh /Sampurn Wire