Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Mathapoo
View on Wikipedia
| Mathapoo | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Nagaraj |
| Written by | Nagaraj |
| Produced by | S. Sudalaikanraja |
| Starring | Jayan Gayathrie |
| Cinematography | C.R. Maravarman |
| Edited by | G.K. Mahesh |
| Music by | Velayudham Sabesh–Murali (score) |
Production company | Vinayaka Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 160 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Mathapoo (transl. Sparkler) is a 2013 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film directed by Nagaraj and starring newcomer Jayan and Gayathrie.
Cast
[edit]- Jayan as Karthik
- Gayathrie as Pooja
- Geetha as Pooja's mother
- Sithara as Karthik's aunty
- Ilavarasu as Karthik's uncle
- Renuka as Karthik's mother
- Kitty as Pooja's father
- Pradeep Kottayam as Restaurant worker
- Vivek Rajgopal as Maali
- Senthi Kumari as Maid
- L. Raja as Police inspector
Production
[edit]The film was directed by Nagaraj, who previously directed the film Dhinamdhorum (1998) and wrote the dialogues for Minnale (2001) and Kaakha Kaakha (2003).[1][2] Jayan, a graduate of DG Vaishnav College, made his acting debut with this film.[1] Gayathrie of 18 Vayasu and Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom fame was signed as the main female actress.[3] Velayudham was signed as the music director of the film. He learned music from Veeraraghavan, M. S. Viswanathan's teacher.[1] Music duo Sabesh–Murali composed the background score for the film.[4] The cast and crew were finalized after eight to nine months. The film was shot in sixty days.[2]
Soundtrack
[edit]The songs were composed by Velayudham.[1] An audio launch was held on 24 April 2013 after being postponed from December 2012.[2] Several celebrities including K. Bhagyaraj, S. P. Jananathan, Balasekaran, Azhagam Perumal, Pandiraj, Suseenthiran, Sasi and Kalanjiyam attended the event.[3]
| Song title | Lyricist | Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "Adada Idhayam Parakiradhe" | Arivazhagan | Harish Raghavendra |
| "Avaarampoo Onnu" | J. Francis Kripa | Karthik |
| "Suda Suda Odum Kaatru" | Na. Muthukumar | Prasanna |
| "Unparvai Velichaththile" | Harish Raghavendra | |
| "Yaaridamum Sollaadhe" | Chinmayi | |
| "Nill Nilave" | Karthik |
Reception
[edit]The Times of India gave the film two out of five stars and wrote that "What makes this protracted film just that bit bearable are the supporting actors who makes us relate to the characters".[5] Behindwoods gave the film one-and-a-half out of five stars and write that "The excessively slow paced drama also gives a TV ‘mega-serial’ effect every now and then".[4] A critic from Maalaimalar called the film old.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Kumar, S. R. Ashok (4 May 2013). "Audio Beat: Sparkling notes". The Hindu.
- ^ a b c Manigandan, K. R. (24 November 2012). "Lights, camera, action, once again". The Hindu.
- ^ a b "This director is back after a 12 years break, Nagaraj, Mathappu". www.behindwoods.com.
- ^ a b "Mathapoo Movie Review Mathapoo, Jayan, Gayathri". www.behindwoods.com.
- ^ "Mathapoo Movie Review {2.0/5}". The Times of India. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ "Maalaimalar cinema :mathapoo". Archived from the original on 6 May 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
External links
[edit]Mathapoo
View on GrokipediaSynopsis and Cast
Plot
Mathapoo centers on Karthik, a young man who relocates from Trichy to Chennai to evade trouble with local rowdies, where he experiences a chance encounter with Pooja, who assists him during a moment of need.[3] This act sparks Karthik's immediate infatuation, leading him to pursue her romantically with persistent proposals for marriage.[2] Played by Jayan and Gayathrie respectively, the protagonists' interactions unfold against the backdrop of urban Chennai life.[3] Despite Karthik's earnest advances, Pooja maintains an aloof demeanor, repeatedly rejecting his affections even as her family expresses approval of the match.[4] Their relationship develops gradually through shared moments and conversations, revealing layers of Pooja's introverted nature and underlying sadness, which stem from a past traumatic experience involving a date rape attempt for which she was wrongly blamed by her family.[3] The central conflicts arise from these emotional barriers, including initial familial blame, testing Karthik's determination and forcing both characters to confront their inner struggles over the film's 160-minute runtime.[3] As the narrative progresses, the romantic drama builds toward a resolution that emphasizes emotional growth and self-acceptance for the leads, highlighting themes of understanding personal pain amid familial misunderstandings and healing.[4] The pacing allows for a deliberate exploration of their arcs, culminating in a poignant examination of love's complexities.[2]Cast
The lead role of Karthik, a persistent young man who pursues his love interest despite repeated rejections, is portrayed by Jayan in his acting debut.[2] Gayathrie plays Pooja, an independent woman characterized by her aloof and unpredictable demeanor, which forms the core obstacle in the romance.[1] In supporting roles, Geetha appears as Pooja's mother, offering maternal insight that influences her daughter's emotional journey.[5] Sithara portrays Karthik's aunt, while Ilavarasu and Renuka play his uncle and mother, respectively, providing familial context to his personal struggles.[6] Additional minor characters, including friends and relatives played by actors such as Kitty and Senji, contribute to the narrative by highlighting the couple's internal conflicts rather than external familial opposition.[7] The casting emphasizes character-driven tensions, with the leads' portrayals underscoring self-imposed barriers in the relationship, as noted in contemporary reviews.[3]Production
Development
Mathapoo marked the return of director Thinandorum Nagaraj to feature filmmaking after a long hiatus following his debut Dhinamdhorum in 1998, during which he battled personal health issues stemming from addiction.[8] Nagaraj drew inspiration for the project from his own life struggles, including a pivotal encounter at a bar that reignited his passion, supported by friends who encouraged him to craft a non-traditional romance exploring contrasting personalities in love.[9] The film was produced by S. Sudalaikkan Raja under the banner of Vinayaka Productions, positioning it as a low-profile independent venture aimed at modest storytelling without high-stakes commercial expectations.[10][11] The script, penned by Nagaraj himself, originated from his intent to delve into themes of self-imposed romantic barriers, portraying a narrative where internal conflicts hinder connection between a simple girl and an ambitious boy, structured deliberately to accommodate a streamlined 60-day shooting schedule after an 8-9 month pre-production period.[9] Key crew assembly included the hiring of cinematographer C. R. Maravarman to capture the intimate urban romance and editor C. K. Magesh for post-production efficiency.[9][4] Additionally, Velayudham was selected as the initial music director to compose the film's songs, aligning with the project's focus on emotional depth.[4] Casting efforts brought in newcomers Jayan and Gayathrie for the lead roles to embody the story's fresh, relatable dynamic.[9]Filming
Principal photography for Mathapoo took place over a period of 60 days, allowing the production team to capture the film's romantic narrative efficiently within a modest budget.[9] Cinematographer C.R. Maravarman handled the visual aspects, contributing to the intimate portrayal of the lead characters' emotional journey in this low-budget drama.[12] The film's 151-minute runtime was edited by C. K. Magesh, ensuring a balanced pace that supported the story's focus on everyday romance and personal challenges faced by newcomers Jayan and Gayathrie.[1][4] As a small-scale production featuring debutant actors, the shoot involved logistical coordination to align schedules and performances, though specific challenges were not widely documented beyond the director's personal recovery from a nine-year hiatus.[9]Soundtrack
Composition
The soundtrack of Mathapoo features six songs composed by K. Velayudham, who serves as the music director. Velayudham, trained under Veeraraghavan—the music conductor to the renowned composer M. S. Viswanathan—crafted melodic tracks centered on romantic themes to suit the film's love story narrative.[13] His approach emphasizes tuneful melodies that integrate seamlessly with the story's emotional undercurrents, highlighting the protagonists' internal romantic struggles without dominating the proceedings.[13] The background score was handled by the music duo Sabesh–Murali, known for their work in Tamil cinema, which adds layers of dramatic tension to the non-song sequences and complements Velayudham's songs by amplifying the film's familial and emotional dynamics.[13] The audio launch took place on 24 April 2013 at Prasad Labs in Chennai.[14] The event was graced by prominent figures in Tamil cinema, including K. Bhagyaraj, who released the album, along with directors S. P. Jananathan, Pandiraj, Suseenthiran, and others such as Balasekaran, Azhagam Perumal, Sasi, and Kalanjiyam.[11][14] Lyricist Na. Muthukumar, who penned several tracks including "Suda Suda Odum Kaatru" and "Un Parvai Velichathile," was involved in the album's creation, contributing to its lyrical depth.[13]Track listing
The soundtrack of Mathapoo comprises six solo songs composed by Velayudham, with lyrics primarily penned by Na. Muthukumar.[13] The album was released on 25 April 2013 under the Saregama label in association with Vinayaka Productions.[15][4] The tracks, presented in their official order, are as follows:| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Lyricist(s) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suda Suda Odum Kaatru | Prasanna | Na. Muthukumar | 4:20 |
| 2 | Adada Idhayam Parakiradhe | Harish Raghavendra | Arivazhagan | 5:29 |
| 3 | Un Parvai Velichathile | Harish Raghavendra | Na. Muthukumar | 4:42 |
| 4 | Yaaridamum Sollaadhe | Chinmayi | Na. Muthukumar | 3:59 |
| 5 | Avaarampoo Onnu | Karthik | J. Francis Kripa | 4:28 |
| 6 | Nill Nilave | Karthik | Na. Muthukumar | 5:05 |
