It’s a long time since we had a period film in Tamil. The producers and the directors are terrified at doing a period film for the want of time, money and the efforts to create authentic details. When we say period film we don’t mean costume dramas like Imsai Arasan or Jaganmohini. We mean some thing like ‘Lagaan’ where the story happens in tune with the classic era.
AGS Entertainment which is producing many quality films of late has dared to venture into the difficult category of period films. The also have ‘Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam’ up for release which is a kind of remembering a bygone era, But the same banner is also the producer of a genuine period film in ‘Madharasapattinam’.
As the name suggests the film ‘Madharasapattinam’ is a period drama set in the back drop of pre-independence India in the then Madras under British Raj. To be more particular the film is set in the Madras of the 40s and takes place in Vannarapettai (Washermanpet) area.
‘Madharasapattinam’ is written and directed by A L. Vijay who has earned a name for him with city subjects like ‘Kireedam’ and ‘Poi Solla Porom’ before. This period drama will be a different experience for AL Vijay to prove that he is good at all genres.
‘Madharasapattinam’ is a story of a dhobi, who is also a wrestling champ. Problems arises when a British girl Amy Wilkinson falls in love with the Indian boy as it was forbidden back then.
Arya who had a tremendous response for ‘Naan Kadavul’ but failed to receive the same applause for the next ‘Sarvam’. Here Arya plays the role of Ilamparthi, a dhobi who is also a wrestling champ. So Arya is hoping this film would resurrect his career which started off with very hopes. Arya knows the importance and has said from his heart ‘Madharasapattinam’ is bigger than his market value. The earnest actor is said to have performed his character with at most faithfulness much to the delight of his director. Arya says he had to work hard on his physique for the wrestler role. He also says that he wanted to look convincing as a wrestler and did his home work to imitate how a wrestler would fight, walk, or for that matter, behave in public.
Amy Jackson, the British actress who has also won the Miss Teen World title plays the role called Amy Wilkinson, the 18-year-old daughter of the governor of ‘Madharasapattinam’ who falls in love with Arya, the wrestler-dhobi.
Nasser, late Cochin Haneefa, Alexx O’Neil, MS Bhaskar and Bala Singh play other important roles in the film.
Music of the film is by G V Prakash. G V Prakash must have already tested the requirements for ‘Madharasapattinam’ while doing ‘Aayirathil Oruvan’ to some extent. The audio of the film was launched on April 4 in style. Kamal Haasan and Director Shankar released the audio from a set that re resembled the colonial era in every detail.
‘Madharasapattinam’ boasts of six songs penned by Na. Muthukumar. Roop Kumar Rathod, Harini, Andrea Jeremiah, G V. Prakash, Udit Narayan, VMC. Haneefa, Amy Jackson, Seenu, Naveen Iyer, Sonu Nigam, Saindhavi, Hariharan, Zia, Augustin Choir have rendered the songs.
Actor Cheeyan Vikram has also rendered a song 'Meghame Oh Meghame' with regal Madras feels and he has sung in five different voices, including that of a dhobi, a teacher and an old man. MS Viswanathan and Naseer have also performed with Vikram for this song.
Nirav Shah who worked for A L Vijay in ‘Kireedom’ and done most of Arya’s films till date is the cinematographer. Nirav’s camera work will be a special value to the film.
Editing is by Antony, Art Direction is by V Selvakumar and make up is by Pattanam Rasheed.
One of the expected films this year ‘Madharasapattinam’ is scheduled for this summer release.
