Nagaraja Cholan MA, MLA explained
Nagaraja Cholan MA, MLA is a 2013 Indian Tamil-language political satire film directed by Manivannan. A sequel to Amaidhi Padai (1994), it stars Sathyaraj in his 200th film, reprising his role as Nagaraja Cholan from the original, alongside an ensemble cast including Seeman, Manivannan, his son Raghuvannan, Mrudula Murali, Komal Sharma and Varsha Ashwathi.[1] The film, featuring music composed by James Vasanthan, was produced by Ravichandran and K. Suresh under the banner of V House Production[2] and shot in Coimbatore and surrounding areas in one single schedule. Unlike the original, Nagaraja Cholan MA, MLA opened to mixed reviews.[3] It was Manivannan's 50th and last film as a director and actor, as he died a month after the film's release.[4]
Cast
- Sathyaraj as Nagaraja Chozhan & Rajagopal
- Manivannan as Ex-MLA Manimaran, the sidekick and ex-officio owner of Nagaraja's illegal properties
- Seeman as a farmer and farmer rights activist
- Raghuvannan as Gangaikondaan, Nagaraja's son who was later the acting chief minister
- Mrudula Murali as Shenbagavalli, Gangaikondaan's wife
- Komal Sharma as school teacher Kamalini, Seeman's fiancée
- M. S. Bhaskar as Kumbakonam Kootha Perumal MLA, the leader of the party in ruling coalition who merges his party with the ruling party for Nagaraja Chozhan to become CM
- Varsha Ashwathi as Amudha, Nagaraja Chozhan's mistress who was initially Manimaran's mistress
- Sujatha Sivakumar as Kamalini's widow mother and Seeman's sister
- Ansiba Hassan
- “Oorvambu” Laxmi as Journalist
- Vaiyapuri
- K. P. Jagannath
- Krishnamoorthy
- Rajkanth
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by James Vasanthan.[5]
- "Kannadi Papa" — Pooja
- "Malamele" — Palaniammal, Mahalingam
- "Mamanukku Ennadi" — Nancy, Vasudha, Sarayu
- "Suda Sudathan" — MK Balaji
- "Viraivil Vidiyum" — James Vasanthan
Critical reception
Sidharth Varma of The Times of India gave the film out of 5 stars and wrote, "If you are familiar with Nagaraja Cholan as a ruthless politician, who rose from being Ammavasai in Amaidhipadai, this movie will definitely disappoint you...his resurrection after almost 20 years ends up a failed attempt to build on the character...The movie is a pale shadow of the original, except for the few scenes involving Cholan and his trusted aide Manimaran".[6] Baradwaj Rangan wrote for The Hindu, "The film seems to be some sort of science fiction, unfolding in a parallel dimension even as the events in Amaidhipadai were taking place. But this isn't the real problem with Nagaraja Cholan MA, MLA. If Manivannan wants to take a hit character from a hit film and spin a new story around him, that's his prerogative — except that the story, this time, doesn't stick".[7]
Notes and References
- Web site: October 9, 2012 . Nagaraja Cholan MA, MLA replaces Amaidhi Padai . 1 January 2013 . Behindwoods . 18 December 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121218113126/http://behindwoods.com/tamil-movie-news-1/oct-12-02/amaidhi-padai-nagaraja-chola-ma-mla-09-10-12.html . live .
- Web site: 10 October 2012 . Manivannan's 50th movie Nagaraja Cholan MA, MLA . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121012235726/http://www.sify.com/movies/manivannan-s-50th-movie-nagaraja-cholan-ma-mla-news-tamil-mkkilLgfghd.html . 12 October 2012 . 1 January 2013 . Sify.
- Web site: May 11, 2013 . Nagaraja Chozhan MA, MLA fails to impress! . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130619023148/http://www.in.com/news/entertainment/tamil-movie-review-nagaraja-cholan-ma-mla-fails-to-impress-50213176-in-1.html . 19 June 2013 . 11 May 2013 . in.com.
- Web site: 15 June 2013 . Tamil actor-director Manivannan passes away . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150714182257/http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130615/news-current-affairs/article/tamil-actor-director-manivannan-passes-away . 14 July 2015 . . 8 July 2015 .
- Web site: Nagaraja Chozan M.A., M.L.A. (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230619045901/https://music.apple.com/us/album/nagaraja-chozan-m-a-m-l-a-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1331942621 . 19 June 2023 . 19 June 2023 . Apple Music.
- News: Varma . Sidharth . 13 May 2013 . Nagaraja Cholan MA MLA Movie Review . . deviated . 8 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150305055800/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movie-reviews/Nagaraja-Cholan-MA-MLA/movie-review/20024325.cms . 5 March 2015.
- News: Rangan . Baradwaj . Baradwaj Rangan . 11 May 2013 . Nagaraja Cholan MA, MLA: The party's over . . live . 29 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210304055047/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/nagaraja-cholan-ma-mla-the-partys-over/article4705969.ece . 4 March 2021.
