Madarasapattinam
If you want to re-live memories of old Madras (Chennai), then the movie ‘Madarasapattinam’ is for you.
Director Vijay weaves a beautiful love story between Parithi (Arya), a launderer-cum-wrestler and Amy (Amy Jackson) an aristocratic, beautiful British girl who comes to India. The story is set in the time when India was under British rule and the year is 1945.
Amy Wilkinson, a London girl and daughter of the governor of Madras, comes to Madras, happens to meet Parithi by chance and love blossoms between the two due to circumstances, and develops gradually and reaches the climax on the eve of Independence Day! Parithi serves as her guide, shows her around the city. The chemistry between the two is excellent and Arya’s role suits to a T. Amy’s expressions are excellent though she is a newcomer to Indian cinema. She looks gorgeous in the scene where she wears a sari! Her attempts to learn Tamil to communicate with her lover is commendable.
 Kudos to young director Vijay for capturing Madras (Central Station, Wall Tax Road) and imagine boating in the then pristine pure Cooum! What a welcome change to our eyes and a stark contrast to its present deplorable condition. Hats off to the director for his painstaking efforts to portray these scenes! The director stands apart in breaking away from the clichéd way of opening the movie sentimentally. In fact, he begins with a mourning scene.
Music director G V Prakash needs to be specially commended for his music and background score though some of the tunes get repeated. The songs are sure to be hits amongst the youth.
V M Haneefa as the translator does a good job and provides comic relief in an otherwise serious drama. His role is so natural that you enjoy his scenes. It is sad that he is no more. We have lost a good character artiste in him M S Bhasker, Nasser and the English commander who comes as the fiancé of Amy have essayed their roles neatly.
 Carole Parker (old Amy) moves you at the end when she recaptures the good old days of her stay in Madarasapattinam. Special mention should be made of costume designer Deepali Noor and editor Antony who have done impeccable work in a period story saga. The length of the movie could have been curtailed a little.
Otherwise Madarasapattinam is a perfect prelude to the Madras week to be celebrated next month.
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