Manjapai

Manjapai
Theatrical release poster
Directed byN. Ragavan
Written byN. Ragavan
Produced byN. Linguswamy
A. Sargunam
(Presenters)
N. Subash Chandrabose
A. Nandha Kumar
StarringVimal
Rajkiran
Lakshmi Menon
CinematographyMasani
Edited byDeva
Music byN. R. Raghunanthan
Production
company
A Sarkunam Cinemaz
Distributed byThirupathi Brothers[1]
Release date
  • 6 June 2014 (2014-06-06)
Running time
136 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Manjapai (transl. Yellow Duffle) is a 2014 Indian Tamil-language comedy drama film written and directed by N. Ragavan in his debut. Produced by Thirrupathi Brothers and A Sarkunam Cinemaz, it stars Vimal, Rajkiran and Lakshmi Menon. The film saw its worldwide release on 6 June 2014 and became a sleeper hit. The film was remade in Telugu as Erra Bus (2014)[2] and in Kannada by the same director as Mr. Mommaga (2016).[3]

Plot[edit]

The film starts with Tamil who is raised single-handedly by his grandfather, Venkatasamy in a village, as his parents had committed suicide after eloping and giving birth to him. 25 years later the boy is working in a Chennai-based IT company, staying in a modern upmarket apartment. Tamil meets Karthika, a medical student using tricks to get to the front of the traffic signal. They fall in love at first sight, and end up being so engrossed in each other that they don't realise that the signal had gone green. The way Karthika tricks the police officer and gets away with it endears Tamil to Karthika. He follows her and in no time she reciprocates.

Meanwhile, at work, Tamil is selected to go to US for a three-month project and he brings Venkatasamy to the city so that they can spend time together before he leaves for US. Venkatasamy, coming from a rustic background, is unfamiliar with the urban lifestyle of people in a modern city.

He bathes and washes his clothes at a fountain, causing much embarrassment to Tamil which he does not share with Venkatasamy. He causes further hardship by disturbing Tamil during his date with Karthika, causing a break-up between them. Venkatasamy infuriates Tamil further by slapping Karthika's father, an Inspector of Police, for allowing his daughter to wear short clothes in public. Tamil pleads with Karthika and finally she forgives him.

Tamil spends several nights working on a project on his laptop. Venkatasamy assumes the laptop to be a sandwich grill and without knowing how to use it, puts it on the stove causing the laptop to explode into pieces, destroying the project work. Tamil is sacked from his job as a result but hides his anger from Venkatasamy.

Karthika motivates Tamil to complete the project on her computer. The old man feels really guilty of destroying the laptop, and buys him a new one by selling his ancestral wedding ring. Tamil thanks his grandfather and starts working on the project. He finishes the project and gets his job back.

Meanwhile, the old man helps a couple elope and get them married the same way he did with Tamil's parents. While Tamil is leaving to attend an interview to go to the US, Venkatasamy mocks the US flag at the US consulate and thinks that the whites are conquering India again. He creates a nuisance and both of them are arrested. When they come out of the station, Tamil goes for a second interview but his visa is rejected; he scolds his grandfather amidst a large crowd.

A girl, Pooja, thinks that a piece of sweet laced with rat poison is a sweet that the old man gave her and faints after eating it. She was brought to the hospital and the old man is scolded in public for the second time by the girl's parents. The girl is cured thanks to the mixture of salt and tamarind water Venkatasamy gave Pooja before she was taken to the hospital, helping her to vomit and get rid of the poison.

When everyone wants to apologise and thank the old man, he goes missing and everyone starts to search for him. The old man is finally located but in a mentally challenged state. The film ends with Tamil regretting scolding his grandfather and crying while hugging him tightly.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Initially, when first reported in June 2012, it was said that the film starring Vimal would be directed by A. Sargunam simultaneously with his other project Naiyaandi.[4] Though he quickly denied reports, citing that his assistant Naveen Raghavan would make his directorial debut with the project, while he would co-produce the film with his brother Nandha Kumar.[5] In December 2012, Lakshmi Menon and Rajkiran were added to the cast.[6] In January 2013, Thirupathi Brothers acquired the rights of the film to produce the film on "first copy basis".

The film began shooting schedules in March 2013.[7] On 2 April 2014, the shooting was wrapped up by filming a song sequence in Chettinad Health City, Kelambakkam.

Soundtrack[edit]

M. Ghibran was first signed to compose the soundtrack and score for the film, but he opted out of the project due to conflicting schedules.[8] He was replaced by N. R. Raghunanthan. All lyrics were written by Yugabharathi. The songs were reused in Mr. Mommaga (2016).[9]

Title Singer Length
"Aagaasa Nilavu" S. P. Balasubrahmanyam 04:24
"Anbu Dhaan" Krishnaraj 03:39
"Ayyo Ayyo" Laxman, Rishi, Sailaxmi, Harish, Ayshwarya, Asvitha & Vaishali 03:37
"Paathu Paathu" Hariharasudhan & Vandana Srinivasan 03:56
"Sattena" Karthik 04:21

Release[edit]

The satellite rights of the film were sold to Zee Thamizh.[10]

Critical reception[edit]

Baradwaj Rangan wrote, "We've heard of movies that push the audience's buttons. Manjapai grabs a live wire and gooses the audience's behind — so desperate is it to evoke a reaction that it even has a little girl munching on rat poison".[11] The Times of India gave 3 stars out of 5 and wrote, "Manja Pai is a good film with a solid message but if you aren't in the mood for gyan, then this movie might not be to your liking".[12] Sify wrote, "Simplistic and sincere, Manja Pai has an old-fashioned plot and characters. It's got its heart in the right place, but sometimes that's not enough entertainment for today's audience".[13] Rediff.com gave it 2 stars out of 5 and wrote, "Manjapai, with its cliched plot, has absolutely nothing new to offer", calling it "a very predictable and overemotional tale".[14]

Deccan Chronicle gave the film 2.5 stars out of 5 and wrote, "The movie is watchable for its clean content and sincere effort by debutant director Raghavan".[15] Behindwoods gave the film 2.25 stars out of 5 saying "Manja Pai is a crude term that refers to rural migrants arriving to take on the big city. While there was an opportunity for director N. Raghavan to present them as is, focusing on their ability to adapt, the director resorts to stereotypes instead, not just with these sons of the soil, but also with city dwellers. This may evoke sympathy but its certainly far from a confidence building measure for other 'old school' migrants".[16] Indiaglitz.com gave it a score of 2.25 out of 5 and wrote, "Manjapai is definitely not on the lines of the previous films of the prestigious Thirrupathi Brothers banner. But it will not disappoint you if you go to the movie halls expecting some unadulterated entertainment filled with humor and sentiment".[17]

Box office[edit]

The film collected nett collection of ₹15.5 million (US$190,000) in first day and around ₹75 million (US$940,000) in Tamil Nadu in first weekend.[18] The film collected ₹16.6 million (US$210,000) in Chennai in ten days.[19]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Suriya and Samantha for Thirupathi Brothers". IndiaGlitz. 7 March 2013. Archived from the original on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  2. ^ "Manja Pai to be remade in three languages". The Times of India. 29 June 2014. Archived from the original on 25 November 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Rangayana Raghu Plays a Grandfather in Mr Mommaga". The New Indian Express. 19 February 2015. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Sargunam's 'Manja Pye' with Vimal". IndiaGlitz. 16 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Sargunam's next is with Dhanush". Behindwoods.com. 16 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 September 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  6. ^ ""Manja Pai" for Vimal and Lakshmi Menon!". IndiaGlitz. 31 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Director Sarkunam turns producer for 'Manja Pai'". The New Indian Express. 31 December 2012. Archived from the original on 23 March 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  8. ^ "Ghibran walks out of Manja Pai". The Times of India. 8 January 2014. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  9. ^ B. K. (15 April 2016). "Cinema Suddi: Mr. Mommaga audio out". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 October 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Zee Tamizh to premier Comedy special "Manjapai" on this Diwali". MediaNews4U. 20 October 2014. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  11. ^ Rangan, Baradwaj (7 June 2014). "Manjapai: Aging bull". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  12. ^ KR, Manigandan (8 June 2014). "Manja Pai Movie Review". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 15 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  13. ^ "Manja Pai". Sify. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  14. ^ Saraswathi, S. (9 June 2014). "Review: Manjapai is cliched and predictable". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  15. ^ Subramanian, Anupama (8 June 2014). "Movie review 'Manja Pai': Is watchable for its clean content and sincere efforts". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 9 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  16. ^ "Manja Pai Review". Behindwoods. Archived from the original on 10 June 2014. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
  17. ^ "Manjapai Review". IndiaGlitz.com. 4 June 2014. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  18. ^ Seshagiri, Sangeetha (10 June 2014). "Box Office Collection: 'Manjapai', 'Kochadaiiyaan', 'Un Samayal Arayil' and 'Yaamirukka Bayamey'". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  19. ^ Seshagiri, Sangeetha (16 June 2014). "Box Office Collection: 'Mundasupatti', 'Naan Thaan Bala', 'Kochadaiiyaan' and Other Tamil Films". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2020.

External links[edit]

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