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Mayakannadi
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'Mayakannadi' -Worth A Watch

By P. Sreekumaran
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

It may suffer in comparison with his earlier films like ‘Autograph’ and ‘Thavamai Thavamirunthu’. Still, Cheran’s latest flick, ‘Mayakannadi’ arrests attention for a variety of factors.

It is an honest attempt to delve deep into the problems faced by the youngsters in the globalisation era. The pains, sense of alienation and frustration life in globalisation times cause have been sought to be analysed with refreshing candour by the actor-cum-director.

‘Mayakannadi’

also sees director Cheran stray from his chosen path. For a change – a change for the better it certainly is – Cheran has moved away from his forte: rural-specific themes.

He seems to be making a conscious attempt to reach out to the ambitious middle-class and even upper middle class audience. Towards that end, the young director has adopted a format that showcases things that appeal to the city slicker – even in the matter of dress. For the first time, you see Cheran sporting flashy outfits, sun glasses and going round the mulberry bushes singing duets with his lady love.

The movie chronicles the angst of hair stylist Kumar (Cheran) and his co-worker and lover Maheswari (Navya Nair). The duo works in a beauty parlour owned by Tirupathi (Radha Ravi). Influenced by the rich and famous who frequent their beauty parlour, the twosome who have a middle class background, vow to get rich quick so that they can lead the luxurious life their clients do.

In pursuance of their dream project, they try their hand at all manner of jobs. The turning point comes when Kumar runs into actor Sarathkumar. The encounter whets Kumar’s appetite to be an actor.

Kumar pays dearly for his pathological obsession to make it big as a film star. The first setback: he loses his job with the beauty parlour. As it happens, he strays into bad company and ends up working for a drug dealer businessman. It does not take much time for the long law of the land to get him.

Three years in jail transforms him totally. The owner of the beauty parlour, Tirupathi becomes his saviour. Thus begins Kumar’s journey on a new path.

Mayakannadi (Magical Mirror) holds the mirror up to youngsters in a hurry to acquire wealth by hook or crook. The perils of short-cuts to make money and the dangers that involve such blind Mammon worship form the theme song of the movie.

The director delivers a strong message: In the ultimate analysis, honest and hard work alone pays.

In conveying this message, ‘Mayakkannadi’ borrows liberally from a Malayalam film, titled ‘Akkare’ featuring Bharat Gopi and Madhavi.

Protagonists Cheran and Navya Nair have managed to get under the skin of their roles and infuse them with meaning and strength. Navya surpasses her performance in ‘Chidambarathil Oru Appusamy’ with a different approach. Cheran, too, emotes well. Radha Ravi’s beauty parlour owner is a role he can be proud of.

A major drawback of an otherwise above average film is that it is a bit too long. Editors Iyyappan and Rama Rao have made a hash of their job, it must be pointed out. With a bit of trimming ‘Mayakannadi’ would have shone bright and clean. The reflections would have been more real had they done a better job.

However, lensman Dwarakanath and composer Ilayaraja make handsome contributions to enriching the movie. The camera comes up with amazing frames of locales in Switzerland. Ilayaraja is in his elements, having composed a few songs drenched in melody.

‘Mayakannadi’ attempts an honest reflection of middleclass morality and aspirations.

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