“Mayakkam Enna” is really a good movie but when you consider the standards Selvaragavan has set in his previous movies it is way below par. That is the bane if you are a very talented creator & when you carry that huge baggage on your back. One has to wait for more than one & half hours for Selvaragavan , the talent to get going on screen with his signature style.
First half is lackadaisical with nothing much happening . The misogynist in Selva shows in most of the first half . The casual banter between Dhanush & Richa do add some spice to the very ordinary first half. Selvaragavan’s touch is there in couple of instances like “Vennilave vennilave ” song in the background when Dhanush & Richa start developing feelings towards one another & “Mustafa mustafa” song playing when the trio embark on a tour to the jungle. But these sparks are few & far in between .
Just when one is exasperated by the tiring first half , the second half starts of promisingly & once the mishap happens it is all vintage Selvaragavan all through. The manner in which he has depicted a person with addiction problem , the socioeconomic consequences of it & the manner in which support of the significant others are vital in an addict tiding over his problems are portrayed excellently.
Movie starts of in an autobiographical mode but after a few reels changes over to narrative style. Minor glitches like these are there here & there which is very rare in Selvaragavan’s movies. Also many shots , background music & profiles of hero and heroine in many instances might remind one of “7G Rainbow Colony”. And the graphics used is quite amateurish & garish , especially in the “Voda voda” song & the graphics bird that Dhanush shoots for the first time in the jungle.
“Mayakkam Enna” will be the first instance in which instead of saying “a film by Selvaragavan” one can say “a film by Ramji ”. Man he has just high jacked the movie with his extraordinary cinematography. The cinematography is of international standards . Considering the movie is about the travails & triumphs of a photographer Ramji might have had an extra licence to explore and showcase his skills which he has in abundance. Considering most of the movie is in dark yet the emotions of the actors are portrayed so very well on screen , credits should go to Ramji for effectively presenting the same.
Next is Dhanush as the protagonist Karthik Saminathan , a rookie photographer with dream to become a wild life photographer , he is excellent. In such a young age he has acquired abundant skills which makes one look at him with awe. His acting is top class in many scenes . The interval block , the confrontation scene with the senior photographer after he plagiarises his photograph , climax speech & most of the second half are few of the many example of the manner in which Dhanush , the actor has matured.
Richa Gangopadhyay as the supportive wife Yamini ala Jennifer Connelly of “The Beautiful Mind” is excellent. First half doesn’t give enough scope for her to perform but in the second half she has ruled the roost with her competing equally with Dhanush in many scenes. Her expressions in the climax will move even those with a strong heart.
The supporting cast consisting of Sunder , Ravi Prakash & others who acted as friends of Dhanush have done their parts well. Special mention about Sunder & Ravi Prakash , both have performed exceedingly well.
G.V.Prakashkumar’s songs are already huge hits . “Kadhal en kadhal ” , “Oda oda oda” , “Naan sonnadhum malai ” are all delightful numbers . His background score reminds one of Yuvan Shankar Raja at many places especially that of “7 G Rainbow Colony ”. His background score also interferes with the dialogues at many places drowning them. He as well should learn to use silence effectively.
When one enters theatre to watch Selvaragavan’s movie one does so with lots of expectations. May be that expectation might lead to this movie’s undoing as “Mayakkam enna” is nowhere near to any of his previous ones. Though Selvaragavan manages to salvage some pride in the second half seeing the movie as a whole one might not get satisfied with it , especially if you are a diehard fan of the man. But when one consider the below average fare that we getting treated to in the last couple of years , “Mayakkam Enna ” is way above all those ones.
One can’t help but wonder the movie might have been loosely inspired by “The Beautiful Mind” , especially second half which has striking resemblance to that movie.
On the whole , “Mayakkam Enna ” , go for it for excellent acting by Dhanush & Richa , flashes of Selvaragavan’s brilliance and to savour outstanding cinematography of Ramji.
Bottomline : The Beautiful Mind...!!!
3.5 / 5
