Muthuramalingam is a 2017 Indian Tamil-language action drama film written and directed by Rajadurai. The film stars Gautham Karthik and Priya Anand, while Napoleon plays a pivotal supporting role. Soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, song lyrics written by Panchu Arunachalam. The film had a theatrical release worldwide on 24 February 2017. This film received highly negative reviews from critics and was unsuccessful at the box office.[1][2][3]
| Muthuraamalingam | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Rajadurai |
| Written by | Rajadurai |
| Produced by | D. Vijayprakash |
| Starring | Gautham Karthik Priya Anand Napoleon |
| Cinematography | U. K. Senthil Kumar |
| Edited by | P. Sai Suresh |
| Music by | Ilaiyaraaja |
Production company | Global Media Works |
Release date | 24 February 2017 |
Running time | 160 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Cast edit
- Gautham Karthik as Muthuramalingam
- Priya Anand as Viji
- Napoleon as Mookkaiyya Thevar
- Suman as IG Sethuraman, Muthuramalingam's biological father
- Rekha as Muthuramalingam's biological mother
- Vivek as Rajasekar Kaalakeyan
- Chinni Jayanth as Doctor
- Viji Chandrasekhar as Mookkaiyya Thevar's wife
- FEFSI Vijayan as Ramaiah
- Vamsi Krishna as DSP Ashok Pandian
- Singampuli as Mookkaiyya Thevar's nephew
- Singamuthu as Swamiji
- Bonda Mani as Ghost
- Cell Murugan as Arul Murugan, Rajasekara Kalakeyan's assistant
- Subbalakshmi Rangan as Ponni
- Azhagu as Ramaiah's father
- Nellai Siva
- Boys Rajan
Production edit
The project was announced on 1 January 2016, with a press release stating that Gautham Karthik would work with director Rajadurai. Panchu Arunachalam, in his final project before his death, worked on the lyrics of the film's song after a sabbatical from the industry and teamed up with composer Ilaiyaraaja after a period of 21 years.[4][5][6] In mid-January, Catherine Tresa was signed on to play the leading female role, while Prabhu, Suman and Vivek among others were signed on to feature in supporting roles.[7] Catherine Tresa was later replaced by Priya Anand, while Prabhu was replaced by Gautham's father Karthik. A few months after production began, Karthik's leg injury meant that Napoleon subsequently replaced him in the film. Napoleon, settled in Nashville, Tennessee, made a comeback through the project and agreed to film for the project during his vacation to India for twenty two days.[8][9] Priya Anand revealed that she would portray a schoolgirl, while Vivek would appear in a comedy role as a police officer.[10][11]
The film was shot in locations including Sanakarankoil and Courtallam, with Gautham Karthik learning the art of silambam for his role in the film.[12] Prior to the shoot of the film, Gautham attended a silambam coaching class held by stunt choreographer 'Kickass' Kaali.[12] The film was completed by July 2016 after a further brief schedule was held in a studio in Chennai.[13][14]
Soundtrack edit
Actor Kamal Haasan recorded a song for the film in February 2016, after Ilaiyaraaja opted to pick him ahead of S. P. Balasubrahmanyam for the particular track. The song, written by Panchu Arunachalam, was initially meant to feature Gautham Karthik and his father, Karthik, before the latter opted out of the project. The film's soundtrack album did not have a separate release.[15]
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Thekatthi Singamada" | Kamal Haasan | |
| 2. | "Naan Irukkum Podhu" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | |
| 3. | "Katthi Vetti" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Ramya NSK | |
| 4. | "Manasil Niranjavane" | Vibhavari, Ilaiyaraaja |
Release edit
The film was released on 24 February 2017 across Tamil Nadu to highly negative reviews. A critic from The Times of India noted that the film was a "colossal disappointment", adding that "with over melodramatic scenes towards the climax, the clichéd confrontation between the families of hero and villain, and a patient-testing, age-old flashback story, the film, would have (perhaps) worked, had it released at least 20-30 years ago".[16] The New Indian Express wrote that a "decent first half was laid to waste in the second with a terrible set of twists, turns and godawful violence". The critic lamented that "beyond just being a tiresome movie, riddled with ridiculous subplots, some of the sentiments expressed in the film are downright dangerous in these times of heightened Tamil nationalism".[17] Indiaglitz.com stated that "Rajadurai’s direction is probably the biggest letdown with nothing gripping or solid enough to get the screenplay going", concluding that "maybe could have done well if it was released in the 80’s, for it had the usual village essence with an ensemble cast too".[18] Sify.com gave the film a negative review adding "the editing pattern, immature manner in which violence is portrayed, b-grade glam sequences, caste glorification, over the top performances and loud dialogues cannot be even recommended to our worst enemy".[19] A reviewer from Silverscreen.com stated "Muthuramalingam as a film is mediocre" and criticised the theme stating it promoted "casteism packaged with Tamil cinema clichés".[20]
Five days after the release of the film, the Madras High Court issued an order restraining the screening of Muthuramalingam because its producer Vijay Prakash had not settled 28.5 lakh rupees to M. V. Prakash. Following the High Court order, the film was removed from theatres across Tamil Nadu.[21][22] Post-release, Gautham Karthik admitted that from the first week of the shoot, he sensed that the film would not do well due to the inept film-making methods involved by the director. He stated he stayed on to do the film because he did not want to cause problems for the technicians of the film, who were reliant on production continuing.[23][24]
References edit
- ^ "Muthuramalingam Movie Review, Trailer, & Show timings at Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017.
- ^ "Muthuramalingam review: Cannot be even recommended to our worst enemy!". Sify. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017.
- ^ "Muthuramalingam box office collection". 2 March 2017. Archived from the original on 16 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- ^ "21 வருடங்கள் கழித்து கௌதம் கார்த்திக் படத்தில் இணைந்த இரு ஜாம்பவான்கள்!". Ananda Vikatan. 18 January 2016. Archived from the original on 19 May 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
- ^ "Two veterans come together for Gautham Karthik". Sify. Archived from the original on 19 January 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
- ^ "21 Years on, Ilaiyaraja, Panchu Arunachalam Team Up Again". Retrieved 17 August 2016.[dead link]
- ^ "IndiaGlitz — Gautham Karthick Catherine Tresa Prabhu new movie Muthuramalingam — Tamil Movie News". 18 January 2016. Archived from the original on 13 June 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
- ^ "In the US, my son leads a normal life: Napoleon". The Times of India. 16 January 2017. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- ^ "How Napoleon became Gautham's father!". The Times of India. 16 January 2017. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
- ^ "No Jokes! Priya Anand is a schoolgirl in her next film - Tamil News - IndiaGlitz.com". 28 June 2016. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- ^ "Public Intelligence a Big Threat to Films: Vivek". 13 June 2016. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- ^ a b "Silambam and sentiment are the focus of this film". The Times of India. 16 January 2017. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ^ "Gautham Karthik, Muthuramalingam,Director Rajadurai's ,legendary musician Ilayaraja, 'panchu' Arunachalam, Prabhu, Vivek, Suman, Radharavi and Singampuli , Global Media Work, cinematography, U.K, movie schedules,more updates". Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- ^ "I play a courageous, village girl in Muthuramalingam: Priya Anand". 2 July 2016. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- ^ "Kamal Haasan sings for Muthuramalingam". Nowrunning. 8 February 2016. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "Muthuramalingam Movie Review, Trailer, & Show timings at Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017.
- ^ "Muthuraamalingam Review: This unabashedly mass movie is an ode to the twirly moustache- The New Indian Express". Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
- ^ "MuthuraamaLingam review. MuthuraamaLingam Tamil movie review, story, rating - IndiaGlitz.com". Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- ^ "Muthuramalingam review: Cannot be even recommended to our worst enemy!". Sify. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017.
- ^ "Muthuramalingam Review: Casteism Packaged with Tamil Cinema Clichés". Silverscreen India. 25 February 2017.
- ^ "Madras High Court bans 'Muthuramalingam'?". Sify. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017.
- ^ "Muthuramalingam banned from theaters due to financial reasons". March 2017. Archived from the original on 4 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ "It was the director who made me say 'yes': Gautham Karthik". The Times of India. 7 June 2017. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ Menon, Vishal (30 June 2017). "Gautham Karthik talks about life on the cusp of stardom - The Hindu". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
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