Madharasapattinam Review

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
Firstly director Vijay’s attempt of making a different cinema has to be appreciated. There are some changes happening over the Tamil Cinema as romantic films are being made on different lines that are more experimental as well. Now set in backdrops of before independence period, Madharasapattinam is a different cinema with some good performances of actors. But screenplay is more dragging at duration of 2.40hrs.
The story starts in London with old age Amy on her death bed wanting her family members to visit Chennai. As the journey starts, Amy’s flashback too commences thereby letting us the secret behind her visit to India, especially Chennai. We get to know that Amy (Amy Jackson), daughter of British Governor was in love with a Tamil Dhobi (Aarya) and they were separated by fate. The next couple of hours is like revisiting the ancient Chennai with its backdrops and a poignant love story as the main line. Towards the climax, there awaits the most surprising, eyes soaking sequence as the audiences would be puzzled will Amy meet her old Indian boyfriend.
The major plus of this film is the camera work by Nirav Shah and art work by Selvakumar. Musical score by G.V. Prakash is passable and the song Vaama Duraiyamma is good. The British girl Amy Jackson is so beautiful as she will transfix you and has performed well and Aarya too does a great job with his body language and acting skills. The other actors like Poi Solla Porom fame Omar and late actor Haneefa along with Nasser have done justice to their roles.
The first half is very lengthy and audience may be more restless as the major portions are in English dialogues. The pace starts at 20mins after second half.
The film can be watched for the attempts of Vijay on bring the old Madharasapattinam.