A great movie. This movie more than anything defined Rajni ,as he is known today. Nearly thirty years have passed since it was released but even today it is very watchable. The movie is about the ego clash between a city bred Engineer Sarathbabu and an uncouth villager Rajni. The movie takes interesting turns and has some sterling performances given by the late actress Shobha as Rajni's wife, Rajni and Sarathbabu. Rajni sizzles, and he is packaged in this movie with his trade mark style, punchlines and everything else that is Superstar Rajni. The songs are just superb and Ilayaraja was in his peak form those days. The camera-work and the direction is flawless considering the times. Director Mahendran achieved great fame with this movie. Above all, this movie is of great nostalgic value.
6 Reviews
Simple, cohesive and heart-warming
vaidy-ts3 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Mullum Malarum" Tamil film review - Cliff notes version
Theme/genre A rustic/pastoral drama
Plotline Kaalai (Rajinikanth) and his sister Valli (Shobha) are orphaned since childhood. Valli is the apple of Kaali's eye and he brings her up with utmost love and affection. He means the world to her and vice versa. However Kaalai is not without flaws. He sees the world in black and white, has very firm beliefs, is opinionated, dominating and controlling. Conflicts start when a new chief engineer (Sarath Babu) arrives at his work place. Their relationship starts off in a bad way and only gets worse. Kaali starts to think of the chief engineer as his enemy. Things get a further twist as Kaali's sister Valli falls in love with the engineer. How the three of them negotiate this triangle forms the rest of the story.
Main Characters Kaali (Rajinikanth), Valli (Shobha), chief engineer (Sarath Babu) and Kaali's wife Manga.
Character development Kaali's character is the most well developed. We come to know that he can be short tempered, violent and vitriolic and at the same time kind, doting, helpful with a good sense of humor. Valli comes off as a loving, caring sister. The engineer (Sarath Babu) is a very decent, upright person. Manga who initially is at odds with Kaali and is even responsible for him losing his job, makes a remarkable turn around when she marries him and then on goes on to play a central role in the second half of the movie, taking on Kaali for what she believes is right. She owns the second half of the movie which makes for a great showdown.
Plot development/progression, momentum, central conflicts, climax, plot resolution The movie begins and moves very slowly in the first half, focusing on Kaali's character development and the brother-sister relationship. This is not a flaw - it fits very nicely with the village setting. But the movie does pick up in the last hour especially after Kaali loses his hand and gets married to Manga. The climax is a natural progression of the central conflict and the resolution too is satisfactory. Kaali's dialogue in the end is brief but powerful. The plot resolution is perfect.
Direction, cinematography, music score, Acting highlights As said before, the film moves slowly which is in keeping with its setting. It focuses on the central characters and conflict and does a very good job without too many distractions or side tracks. The climax and ending are perfect. Songs in the movie have become masterpieces, especially "Senthazam Poovil". "Adi Pennae" is also a very good song. Camera work is good, but not "out of the world" good.
In the acting department, everyone has done what they are supposed to do. No over-acting. The story dominates, not the characters themselves. Fatafat Jayalakshmi has done a great job as Manga.
Flaws, loose ends, alternate storyline There are no major flaws or loose ends or alternate endings which would have made the film better in my view.
Overall verdict Mullum Malarum is a textbook lesson on how to take a simple plotline and make into a cohesive, compelling and heart-warming movie. Great job by the great director Mahendran
Theme/genre A rustic/pastoral drama
Plotline Kaalai (Rajinikanth) and his sister Valli (Shobha) are orphaned since childhood. Valli is the apple of Kaali's eye and he brings her up with utmost love and affection. He means the world to her and vice versa. However Kaalai is not without flaws. He sees the world in black and white, has very firm beliefs, is opinionated, dominating and controlling. Conflicts start when a new chief engineer (Sarath Babu) arrives at his work place. Their relationship starts off in a bad way and only gets worse. Kaali starts to think of the chief engineer as his enemy. Things get a further twist as Kaali's sister Valli falls in love with the engineer. How the three of them negotiate this triangle forms the rest of the story.
Main Characters Kaali (Rajinikanth), Valli (Shobha), chief engineer (Sarath Babu) and Kaali's wife Manga.
Character development Kaali's character is the most well developed. We come to know that he can be short tempered, violent and vitriolic and at the same time kind, doting, helpful with a good sense of humor. Valli comes off as a loving, caring sister. The engineer (Sarath Babu) is a very decent, upright person. Manga who initially is at odds with Kaali and is even responsible for him losing his job, makes a remarkable turn around when she marries him and then on goes on to play a central role in the second half of the movie, taking on Kaali for what she believes is right. She owns the second half of the movie which makes for a great showdown.
Plot development/progression, momentum, central conflicts, climax, plot resolution The movie begins and moves very slowly in the first half, focusing on Kaali's character development and the brother-sister relationship. This is not a flaw - it fits very nicely with the village setting. But the movie does pick up in the last hour especially after Kaali loses his hand and gets married to Manga. The climax is a natural progression of the central conflict and the resolution too is satisfactory. Kaali's dialogue in the end is brief but powerful. The plot resolution is perfect.
Direction, cinematography, music score, Acting highlights As said before, the film moves slowly which is in keeping with its setting. It focuses on the central characters and conflict and does a very good job without too many distractions or side tracks. The climax and ending are perfect. Songs in the movie have become masterpieces, especially "Senthazam Poovil". "Adi Pennae" is also a very good song. Camera work is good, but not "out of the world" good.
In the acting department, everyone has done what they are supposed to do. No over-acting. The story dominates, not the characters themselves. Fatafat Jayalakshmi has done a great job as Manga.
Flaws, loose ends, alternate storyline There are no major flaws or loose ends or alternate endings which would have made the film better in my view.
Overall verdict Mullum Malarum is a textbook lesson on how to take a simple plotline and make into a cohesive, compelling and heart-warming movie. Great job by the great director Mahendran
Mullum Malarum
santhosh-102904 July 2020
Good Movie. Everybody acted very well in the movie. Songs and BGM in the movie were good. The movie was so interesting at 1st half. The movie somewhat lagged at 2nd half. The movie had some unwanted scenes. The movie did not had conclusion for some characters. This movie is one of the Best Tamil Movie of Rajinikanth. Good Movie.
Best of movie 'actor' Rajinikanth
thirujay6 February 2019
Must watch
yuvangkrishna27 November 2020
Mullum Malarum is a must watch film with a slow screenplay which shows the natural life of different people. The acting of every individuals in this film was stunning especially SUPER STAR RAJINIKANTH sir and the ma'am who acted as RAJINI sir's sister(Valli) in the movie. The climax portion in this film was very much touching. The film cannot be completely addressed as a feel good movie because some scenes the movie are very much emotional. This film is a family movie and the film must be watched by all brothers and sisters.
Acting-10/10
Direction-10/10
Screenplay-10/10
Story-8/10
Editing-10/10
Music-10/10
Characterisation-10/10
Overall-9.5/10
A must watch movie with family
Acting-10/10
Direction-10/10
Screenplay-10/10
Story-8/10
Editing-10/10
Music-10/10
Characterisation-10/10
Overall-9.5/10
A must watch movie with family
Over Two Hours of Misogyny
graven131 July 2018
Warning: Spoilers
If you enjoy watching over two hours of a horrible and unlikable lead character, then this is the movie for you. If you enjoy watching him beat his wife against a wall, then this is for you. If you love misogyny, then this is for you. I hated the lead role, which made me hate the whole movie.
I wish I could give this movie a rating of zero, however the two female leads are great in this.
I wish I could give this movie a rating of zero, however the two female leads are great in this.
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