Maya Kannadi (transl. Mirror of Illusion) is a 2007 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Cheran and produced by Subbu Panchu. Cheran also plays the lead role with Navya Nair. Ilaiyaraaja scores the music, while R. Sarathkumar, Arya and Malavika make cameo appearances in the film.
| Maya Kannadi | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Cheran |
| Written by | Cheran |
| Produced by | Subbu Panchu |
| Starring | Cheran Navya Nair |
| Cinematography | Dwarakanath |
| Edited by | Ayyappan-Ramarao |
| Music by | Ilaiyaraaja |
Production company | Chellamai Celluloids |
Release date |
|
Running time | 180 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Plot
editThis article needs an improved plot summary. (April 2023) |
Kumar (Cheran) is a young man who comes from Thiruvannamalai to Chennai with dreams and hopes about the future. He gets a job in a men's beauty parlor in Chennai. Every day, he observes and learns more about life in the city. He starts to dream and build castles in the air.
Maheswari (Navya Nair) works in another beauty parlor and also has desires of her own.
The rest of the story is about what happens to these two people. This three hour-long film has similar themes compared to Cheran's previous films. The key message in this movie is that each person's life is in his or her own hands.
Cast
edit- Cheran as Kumar
- Navya Nair as Maheshwari
- Radha Ravi
- Jayaprakash
- Bharathi Kannan
- Vinod Raj as Maheshwari's father
- Crane Manohar
- Kavingar Muthulingam as struggling actor
Cameo appearances
- Arya as himself
- Sarath Kumar as himself
- Malavika as herself
- Ranjitha as herself
- Raj Kapoor as himself
- Bobby Simha as barber customer (uncredited; seen in beginning of film)
Production
editJayaprakash, who earlier worked as producer, made his acting debut with this film.[1]
Soundtrack
editSoundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja.[2]
| Song | Singers | Lyrics |
|---|---|---|
| "Ulagile Azhagi" | Vijay Yesudas, Nanditha | Mu. Metha |
| "Oru Mayalogam" | Tippu, Manjari | Palani Bharathi |
| "Yele Enga Vantha" | Ilaiyaraaja | Vaali |
| "Kaadhal Indru" | Muthulingam | |
| "Kaasu Kaiyil" | ||
| "Konjam Konjam" | Karthik, Shreya Ghoshal | Pa. Vijay |
Reception
editShwetha Bhaskar of Rediff.com wrote "A brave film indeed for not resorting to the usual cliches and daring to go where very few filmmakers dare to go -- the ordinary realm of the despondency of the common man."[3] Sify wrote "We wish Cheran had whipped up a more winsome screenplay with Mayakannadi, which is based on middle class dreams turning sour due to lack of commitment. It's nowhere in the league of the talented director's previous works like Autograph or Thavamai Thavamirunthu."[4] Behindwoods wrote "Mayakannadi is by no means a mediocre movie. But it certainly falls short of the high standards that Cheran has set for himself. It makes you think but fails to touch. That is the difference between just another movie and a great movie."[5] Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu wrote "Cheran's much awaited film does not live up to its expectations. One does not know what Cheran wants to convey through Chellammai Celluloids "Maayakkannaadi," in which positive aspect is thoroughly missing".[6] Lajjavathi of Kalki praised Cheran for narrative style despite finding the message of giving up dreams rather weird while praising the acting of Cheran and other actors, found Ilayaraja's songs as average but praised Dwarakanath's cinematography and concluded saying Cheran has a good sense of what people expect from him through "Maya Kannadi". Cheran must be thankful for this time glass that is useful for that!.[7] Malini Mannath of Chennai Online wrote "Cheran steps away from the rural milieu and into a totally urban-centric plot in 'Mayakkanadi'. The director-hero, while conveying a relevant message through his film, keeps the proceedings fairly engaging for the most part. But what is missing here is the sense of completeness which we had experienced while watching the director's earlier films".[8]
References
edit- ^ Pillai, Sreedhar (15 March 2011). "I'm enjoying acting: Jayaprakash". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ "Maya Kannadi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". Gaana. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ^ Bhaskar, Shwetha (16 April 2007). "Mayakannadi is a brave film". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ^ "Mayakannadi". Sify. 15 April 2007. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ^ "Mayakannadi : reflections of urban ambitions". Behindwoods. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ^ Rangarajan, Malathi (20 April 2007). "Let down by screenplay -- Maayakkannaadi". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ லஜ்ஜாவதி (6 May 2007). "மாயக்கண்ணாடி". Kalki (in Tamil). pp. 12–13. Retrieved 1 May 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Mannath, Malini (23 April 2007). "Mayakkannadi". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
External links
edit- Maya Kannadi at IMDb