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Mazhai is a remake of the Telugu hit Varsham. Arjun (Jeyam Ravi), an unemployed youngster and Deva (Rahul Dev) a powerful don both fall in love with Sailaja (Shriya), a middle-class beauty, at the same time on a rainy day at a railway station. Arjun keeps bumping into Sailaja; coincidentally every time they meet, it is raining. This makes them both feel that it is perhaps the rain that keeps bringing them together, and they start falling in love. Deva, on the other hand, takes the help of her good-for-nothing father (Kalabhavan Mani) to get the girl.
After learning of the Arjun and Sailaja’s love, Deva and Sailaja’s father work up devious plans to break them up, finally succeeding in creating a rift between the two lovers. Though Arjun realises what is really happening, Sailaja falls prey to the foils of Deva and her father. The young lovers part ways; a film producer (Pyramid Natarajan) meets Shailaja and casts her as heroine in his film; Sailaja becomes a leading lady in movies while Arjun becomes a demolition expert with his uncle in a quarry.
When Sailaja becomes a film star, her father does not want Deva to marry her since he wants to keep for himself the goose that lays the golden eggs, and avoids Deva, cheating him of some money. The lovelorn and money-thwarted Deva, cheated by Sailaja’s father, finds out where Sailaja now lives and kidnaps her, right audaciously and thrillingly. Sailaja’s father now realizes that the only person who is daring enough to get his daughter back is Arjun and goes to him with his pleas. It takes much convincing, but Arjun finally decides to rescue Sailaja… but for his own reasons, reasons that he reveals later. But don't worry; this is a typical Tamil movie, and the end is conventional - they make up, her father repents, and they live happily ever after.
Known for soft romantic love stories, director Ezhil is now on a different track. The director is now experimenting with action and adventure.
Deepavali starring Jayam Ravi and Bhavana, directed by Ezhil and produced by directed Lingusamy, revolves around the life of a Chennai-based gangster.
Ezhil, whose earlier movies like Thullada Manamum Thullum and Poovellam Un Vaasam won him a good name, has come out with a pacy screenplay and quick narration of events in Deepavali.
A typical commercial entertainer, the film promises a lot of action with a romantic story woven in. Ravi plays Billu, the son of local bigwig Mudaliar (Vijay Kumar) who owns fishing boats and runs a call taxi service. Mudaliar's mission in life is to give refuge, and to reform all rowdies who want to turn over to a new leaf.
A major portion of the movie was shot in a huge set erected near Royapuram shore replicating Chennai slums. Also a song sequence was shot in Oman.
Lingusamy was all praise for Ezhil. “I was highly impressed with his screenplay in Thullada Manamum Thullum. I am confident that he will repeat his magic in Deepavali.”
Thanking Lingusamy for the opportunity, Ezhil said, ”The story was conceived almost a year ago. When I approached Editor Mohan, he referred me to Lingusamy. Today, Deepavali is ready and raring to go.”
Special mention should be made of Yuvan Shankar Raja, whose tunes are really catchy.
“The entire unit was friendly and it was like a picnic working in the movie,” says Ravi.
Bhavana, who is on a good run in Tamil, has enjoyed her role in Deepavali.
“Deepavali will be truly cracking,” sums up the director.
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Kumaran (Ravi), a college student is extremely close to his mother Mahalakshmi (Nadhiya) and shares a special bond with her. Mahalakshmi, who is a lecturer in a college, is separated from her husband Eshwar (Prakash Raj). Kumaran is passionate about kickboxing and his mother is highly supportive of her son's passion. Meanwhile, Kumaran falls in love with a Malayali girl (Asin).
Soon, Mahalaxmi, who is a heart patient, succumbs to the illness and collapses while in college. While on her deathbed, she pleads Kumaran to go and stay with his father in Malaysia who also happens to be a kickboxing champion. Kumaran, who was always raised by his mother, had developed a 'sort-of' dislike for his father and initially refuses to go. However, to keep the word that he gave to his mother on her deathbed, she goes to Malaysia. When he reaches there, he is shocked to see that his father has married again and also has a grown up daughter by the second wife.
Not wanting to create further tension, Kumaran takes up a job as a helper at his father's kickboxing coaching academy, not revealing that he knows kickboxing. Meanwhile, Eshwar has immense faith in one of his students and train him for the next National championship. Unfortunately, the guy turns out to be a bad man who not only molests Kumaran's sister but also joins the rival gang for the final fight. That is when Eshwar realises Kumaran's talent in kickboxing and trains him against his unfaithful student.
Does Eshwar along with Kumaran succeed in defeating the student? What will happen when Eshwar realises that Kumaran is his first-born? The film is worth watching.
The film is woven in 'sentiments' and will suffice all those who like some tear-jerking emotional scenes. While the first half is interesting, the film drags a little in the second half. Ravi has given some heart-rending performances in the film. As a son - for whom life revolves around his mother, he brings to fore all the emotions, just right. In action sequences, he is full of robust energy. His eyes radiate a rare mix of innocence and rage. Nadhiya, in her second coming is as usual very impressive. Prakash Raj is good too and so is Asin who looks very petite and beautiful. However, her character is not demanding enough and she did not have much scope in the film. The comedy by Vivek and Venniradai Moorthy is a little too 'crude' and one tends to wonder how it hasn't escaped the Censors' scissors! The music of Srikanth Deva is a major disappointment. The cast also includes Vaiyapuri, Ishwarya, OAK Sundar, Manobala and Janakaraj.
