Dhanush and Hansika Motwani starrer Mappillai is all set to hit the big screens today (April 8). Mappillai is promoted by Sun pictures all over Tamilnadu.
The film is the remake of yester years Rajnikanth‘s film Mappillai. Though the election fever has spread all over TN, the filmmakers decided on this date as they were waiting from a long time to release the film. The audiences have high expectations on this film as for the first time Dhanush played the role of his father-in-law film. The audio was launched a few weeks ago and made an average impression. Bollywood beauty Manisha Koirala played the role of Dhanush’s mother-in-law in the film.
Suraj has directed the film while Nirav Shah worked as the cinematographer. Nemichand Jhabak and Hitesh Jhabak have produced the film.
Mappillai is a bad copy of the original
“If you think the worst of me, I’ll turn out to be a good man. But if you think I’m a good man – then I’ll be the worst you’ll see.”
This is a sample of the kind of punch lines that Sun Pictures’ Mappillai (Son-in-law) abounds in.
The film is a re-worked version of the 1989 Rajnikanth blockbuster. This time, the masala-maker is Padikkadhavan’s Suraaj, who has roped in his lucky charm Dhanush for some good old-fashioned spicy stuff to set the summer box office cash registers ringing.
So does it, in fact, work magic on the silver-screen? That remains to be seen.
This version of Mappillai has better production values than the older hit, and retains much of the original characters and their tussles. You have got the mandatory hero, Saravanan (Dhanush) a guy so good he’s held as an example to all the ‘youth’ in the area, like Child Chinna (Vivek).
Of course, he has a ‘past’ in Kumbakonam as well.
Then there’s the pretty, chubby heroine Gayathri (debutante Hansika Motwani), with whom he falls in love in double-quick fashion after plenty of silly sequences. And finally, the last part of the triumvirate and the hero’s nemesis: Rajeswari (Manisha Koirala), the mother-in-law who almost foils her son-in-law’s plans to dominate her. Almost.
It says much for Vivek’s star power that the movie actually begins with him, and continues for at least 15 minutes before the hero makes an appearance.
There are plenty of scenes where the son-in-law and mother-in-law glare at each other but most lack the punch that the original had. The only saving grace is the humour quotient, particularly in the climax. While the first half moves at the reasonably good pace, the second lags, largely because you already know what’s going to happen next. Every sequence is predictable.
Once again, the movie belongs to Dhanush alone; he smirks, dances, fights, crows and throws around punches and dialogues. His body language and complete ease rattling off trite words is one reason for why you’re able to sit through the movie.
Manisha Koirala doesn’t quite manage to bring across the powerful, conceited woman. She looks washed out, even though she does wear the best of clothes and make-up. Somehow, you can’t really see her as a ruthless woman who will kill to gain her ends. Vivek, in his horrendous get-up and timely punches manages to wring a few laughs.
Then there’s Hansika Motwani, one of the most anticipated debutantes of the year, already dubbed ‘Chinna Khushboo’ due to her resemblance to the yesteryear glamour queen. Sadly, though, her work in this movie consists only of dressing to the nines, dancing to Mani Sharma’s enthusiastic tunes (especially Ennoda Raasi Nalla Raasi) and falling in love with hero at a moment’s notice. In fact, she wouldn’t have been out of place in an 1980s masala movie.
Suraaj, who has handled the story and dialogues has simply taken the Taming of the Shrew framework and based it on Rajni’s hit. He also added some mass elements for Dhanush, making no bones about the fact that there’s no logic or common sense to look out for. It’s just spice, humour, and plenty of silliness thrown in for good old entertainment.
Go with low expectations.
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Watching Mappillai is like a man spending his initial days after tying the knot, at his in-laws’ place. For you can get everything you could expect, that too in abundance, in this film directed by Suraj.
In other words, this remake of a Superstar Rajinikanth starrer, which has Dhanush in the lead role, is a cocktail of all possible commercial elements- songs, romance, stunts and comedy etc…
Dhanush shoulders all burden on his shoulders, with enough help coming from Manisha Koirala, Vivek and of course, Hansika Motwani. The mappillai of the Superstar shines bright in Mappillai, be it fight scenes, hilarious sequences or shaking a leg with the heroine.
Hansika is a beautiful and a welcome debut in Kollywood. Manisha makes a big comeback in Tamil with Mappillai, and she has done a decent job. Besides these people, a huge list of actors, including Ashish Vidyarthi and Cell Murugan, are also there.
Coming to the story, Saravanan (Dhanush) enters wedlock with Gayathri, who is extremely rich. Only after the wedding, he realises that his mom-in-law Rajeshwari (Manisha) is not as easy as he thought.
A woman with loads of ego, Rajeshwari poses all hurdles to Saravanan. How our hero breaks them is the rest of the story, which in a sense, is a cat and mouse game between a young woman’s husband and her mother.
Music by Manisharma is peppy, which is apt for a commercial film, while Sathish Kumar’s cinematography is rich and glossy. In other words, but for a few jerks and some speed-breakers, Mappillai, produced by Nemichand Jhabak and Hitesh Jhabhak, is a journey that one would enjoy.
Cast: Dhanush, Hansika Motwani, Manisha Koirala, Vivek, Ashish Vidyarthi, Kadhal Thandapandi, Sathyan Sivakumar, Vaiyapuri, Madhan Bob, Chitti Babu, Pattimandram Raja and Sri Ranjani.
Music: Mani Sharma
Cinematography: SR Satish Kumar
Editing: T Kishore
Director: Suraj
Producer: Nemichand jahabak and Hitesh Jhabak
Banner: Sun Pictures
Release date: April 8th, 2011
“Mappillai” is a Tamil film, which is much hyped and has full of expectations. This Tamil film is a remake of 1989 film of Rajinikanth with the same title. So, expectations are high, that Dhanush will take on his father in law Rajnikanth’s “Superstar” title with this movie
Story
“Mappillai” is a movie aimed for the fans of Dhanush. It has nothing to impress all section of audiences. It is the same old story of the old film, but will be presented in a news way to the fans. The story begins with Sarvanan (Dhanush) falling in love with Gayathri (Hansika) and the usual running around trees, songs and romantic scenes and the other stuff are presented.
Finally, in a hush-bush affair, Sarvanan marries Gayatri and then goes to her house, which is a lavish bungalow of riches. Sarvanan comes to know that Gayatri works like a doll on her mother’s advice and she is none other than rajeshwari (Manisha Koirala).
The movie takes a turn, when Sarvanan starts to face hurdles from Rajeshwari, who is an ego driven woman, who has is proud of her riches. Sarvanan challenges his mother in law and how he tames both the mother and daughter forms the rest of the story
Performances
Dhanush has given his best for the movie and “Mappillai” is truly aimed at his fans, who need the mass and the class tadka.
Hansika looks a bit plum in the film. But fairly speaking, the actress looks gorgeous in her plum avatar. She will be a sure treat to the first bench crowds, as they love to see the females, having cellulite on their arms, waist, buttocks, and thighs and on the bosom of course.
Manisha Koirala has done justice to her sister character. But in few frames, she looks like a sister to Hansika and not as a mother.
The rest of the characters, have played their parts well and music composed by Mani Sharma is peppy and will impress the audiences, to certain extent.
Coming to the direction part, Suraj has tried nothing new or extra in the film. It is the regular 1989 film remake and so, the director will have nothing much to be appreciated.
On the whole, ‘Mappillai’ is truly aimed at his fans and will be just a passable watch in this summer.
Dhanush, Tamannah & Sun Pictures have already claimed success with couple of movies – ‘Padikadhavan’ & ‘Aadukalam’. On the course of striking a hat-trick spell, they came together for ‘Mappillai’, a remake of Superstar Rajnikanth’s yesteryear movie with the same title. Made before couple of decades, the film had raciness in script with the presence of big stars like Rajnikanth, Sri Vidya and Amala. Director Suraaj has tried recreating the magic here with Rajnikanth’s son-in-law Dhanush, newbie Hansika Motwani and Manisha Koirala.
The film revolves around Saravanan (Dhanush), averred as troublemaker in village is sent by his parents to Chennai. He comes across a rich beautiful girl Gayathri (Hansika Motwani), daughter of billionaire Rajeshwari (Manisha Koirala). Saravanan’s sister having shared intimate relationship with Rajeshwari’s son becomes pregnant. Though her son willingly accepts to marry without the approval of Rajeshwari, Saravanan assures that everything must happen with the blessings of her. Rest of the film is about how Saravanan having tied wedding knot to Gayathri mends the way of his mother-in-law.
Director Suraaj has made the film too comical (but doesn’t evoke laughter all the time) by bringing
Vivek as a goofy character into the script. He alone saves the film from sinking halfway.
His performance as a rich billionaire during second half leaves us into a state of irresistible laughter. But when it comes down to main star-casts – Dhanush and Hansika Motwani, they’re a complete mismatch. Especially Hansika Motwani leaves us annoyed at many points with her exaggerated expressions. The actress has to get serious over her performance if she has plans to stay for a long time. She’s too amateurish with her acting. Dhanush had proved to be an outstanding actor with ‘Aadukalam’, where he reached an epitome of great style. But this one is a regrettable piece of work.
30minutes into the film, director turns us restless and there we feel like walking out much prior to intermission. Technically, there’s nothing special about the film. Musical score by Manisharma is below average while ‘Ennoda Rasi’ turns to be a special highlight.
The climax is ridiculous and as post-the-show, it’s time to wriggle our heads…
With IPL season all set to begin from this evening and loads of big tickets including ‘Ko’ & ‘Vaanam’ scheduled to hit screens in forthcoming weeks, the film has least chances to survive in box office.