'Mayakkannadi' is main Tamil New Year film

Chennai, April 15 (IANS) The Tamil New Year has brought fans here a star-less cinematic fare. None of the matinee idols, including Vijay, Suriya, Vikram and Ajith, figures in the five films released on the occasion.

A bigger disappointment is the non-release of the much-awaited Rajnikanth blockbuster "Sivaji", earlier scheduled for this festival date.

Of the five releases, innovative director-actor Cheran's "Mayakkannadi" has raised the highest expectations. He plays a hairdresser, while heroine Navya Nair does the role of a beauty parlour employee.

Cheran says that "Mayakkannadi", like his other films, is based on "real life experiences". He also claims that the film is "for the youth" and about "the irony of life".

Also youth-oriented is "Unnale Unnale", billed as a "visual treat". Bollywood star Kajol's sister Tanisha forms the eternal triangle in the film with Vinay and Sada. Much of the film has been shot in Melbourne.

Comedian Chinni Jayanth carries forward the trend set by Vadivelu by casting himself as the protagonist in "Kanal Neer". Chinni grows from a 30-year-old man to a 60-year-old in the course of the film.

"Arbuthatheevu" is the remake of a Malayalam hit. The film fantasy tells the tale of some naval personnel, carrying tsunami relief material, stranded on a strange island.

The last of the five, "Madurai Veeran" (the title borrowed from an MGR classic), has been promoted as an action film. Starring Ramesh and Saloni, the film has music by Srikant Deva.

Click the Movie button below for more info:
Mayakkannadi