Meiyazhagan

''Meiyazhagan'' () is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language drama film written and directed by C. Prem Kumar. It is produced by Jyothika and Suriya under 2D Entertainment. The film stars Karthi and Arvind Swamy in the lead roles alongside Rajkiran, Sri Divya, Devadarshini, Jayaprakash, Sriranjani, Ilavarasu, Karunakaran and Saran Shakthi.

The film was officially announced in February 2023 under the tentative title ''Karthi 27'', as it is the actor's 27th film as a lead actor, and the official title was announced in the following May. Principal photography commenced in November 2023 and was predominantly shot in Chennai and Kodambakkam before wrapping by late-February 2024. The film has music composed by Govind Vasantha, cinematography handled by Mahendiran Jayaraju and editing by R. Govindraj.

''Meiyazhagan'' released worldwide on 27 September 2024 to critical acclaim with praise for the lead performances (especially Karthi and Aravind Swamy), storyline, Govind Vasantha's background score, emotional scenes and Premkumar's screenplay and direction while there was minor criticism for its runtime. An 20-minute shorter version was released on Netflix which received equal praise.

Plot

In 1996, Arulmozhi Varman "Arul" bids farewell to his hometown, Thanjavur, after his ancestral house is partitioned amongst his relatives. Arul, his father Arivudai Nambi, a school teacher, his mother Valliyammal "Valli" and his older brother relocate to Madras with a heavy heart.

Twenty-two years later, Arul's younger cousin, Bhuvaneshwari "Bhuvana", invites him to her wedding. Unable to decline, he plans to attend the reception in Needamangalam, intending to depart immediately after the ceremony. He takes a train to Thanjavur and he visits his ancestral home, whose memories makes him nostalgic. Arul plans to purchase their rented residence in Chennai and shares the idea with his wife, Hema. During his bus journey to Needamangalam, Arul meets a bus conductor, Jagadeesan "Jaggu", a former student of his father, who drops Arul near the Needamangalam Railway gate, from where the marriage hall is nearby. At the venue, Arul reunites with Sudalamuthu, alias "Sokku Mama", who is overcome with emotion upon learning that his parents have not come. Arul becomes saddened by his cousin Latha's tale of her troubled marriage.

Arul meets an unfamiliar relative with a contagious, childlike smile and infectious enthusiasm who affectionately calls Arul "Athaan" (). Initially, Arul finds him bothersome, but the relative persists and speaks with Hema over the phone. Neither Arul nor Hema muster the courage to ask about his identity. Arul gifts Bhuvana, the bride, beautiful gold jewellery, and their heartfelt reunion touches everyone in the marriage hall. Bhuvana's groom, Giridharan, also acknowledges his affection for Arul. Despite Bhuvana's pleas, Arul clandestinely leaves the reception with the relative, intending to leave without attending the wedding. However, the relative delays Arul, making him miss his bus and convincing him to stay overnight; the relative invites Arul home.

Arul meets Nandhini, the relative's pregnant wife. After a shower, the men share beers. In the backyard, the relative proudly introduces Arul to his Kangeyam bull named Dhoni, a veteran of Jallikattu competitions. Seeing him affectionately refer to the bull as his "son", Arul is surprised (seeing the affection in his heart for everyone). Arul discovers his old bicycle left behind in Thanjavur twenty years ago at the mysterious relative's house. The cycle holds sentimental value, as the relative's father, Santhanam, used it to sell saris. It has also been their family's reliable mode of transportation, earning its place as a cherished "god" in their household. Arul is overjoyed to see his bicycle being meticulously maintained, and they both stroll to the Vennaaru dam. Nandhini's husband shares the news of his impending parenthood and plans to name their child Arulmozhi after his Athaan. This revelation further deepens Arul's emotional connection and guilt for not knowing his relative's name.

Upon returning home, Nandhini's husband requests Arul to forgive those who deceitfully grabbed his ancestral property. He asks Arul to finally address him by his name and bless his wife, unborn child and him before leaving the following morning. Arul, moved by his relative's selfless nature and overwhelmed with guilt for still not recognising him, slips away before dawn. En route to Thanjavur, he recollects Kovilvenni and makes an impromptu visit, and while sitting there peacefully, he reflects on his journey.

Arul shares with Hema his emotional encounter with the relative, expressing regret for not knowing his name despite the pure love and care shown. He struggles to purchase a house but receives help from his boss. Arul's daughter, Jhanvi, recognising her father's emotional connection during his trip, discovers the relative's phone number, makes a call, and hands the phone to Arul. Nandhini's husband offers the remaining ₹25 lakhs for Arul's house. Arul asks about his identity, and Nandhini's husband is heartbroken upon this realisation. He provides clues, leading Arul to recall the nickname "Potato", which he had affectionately given him during the summer vacation of 1994.

As memories flood back, Arul refrains from revealing his discovery over the phone but rushes to Needamangalam, stopping at the temple to request an offering through the flower vendor he had met earlier. Arul arrives at Potato's house and knocks on the door, but receives no response. Finally, Arul calls for "Meiyazhaga(n)", and the relative immediately opens the door, overwhelmed with happiness at Arul remembering his actual name.

Cast

Production

Development

Five years after the release of '''96'' in 2018, C. Prem Kumar was reported to collaborate with Karthi for his upcoming directorial. Production would reportedly begin after the actor completed filming for ''Japan'' (2023) and 2D Entertainment, headed by Suriya and Jyothika, were reported to produce the venture. That July, cinematographer P. C. Sreeram confirmed the project. Including his inclusion, he also announced the inclusion of Govind Vasantha and Arvind Swamy. However, on 24 May 2024, Sreeram was revealed to have been replaced by Mahendiran Jayaraju due to reasons unknown. In addition to Mahendiran, editor R. Govindraj, production designer Rajeevan, art director S. Ayyappan and costume designer Subhashree Kaarthik Vijay were revealed. The film's official title, ''Meiyazhagan'', was announced the same day.

Filming

Principal photography began with an inaugural puja ceremony on 9 November 2023 in Chennai, while the first schedule commenced on 17 November 2023 in Kodambakkam. Filming wrapped by 24 February 2024.

Music

The music and background score is composed by Govind Vasantha, in his third collaboration with Prem Kumar after '''96'' and '' Jaanu'' (2020) and second with Karthi after '' Thambi'' (2019). The soundtrack album was released on 31 August 2024.

The album received critical acclaim towards listeners

Release

Theatrical

''Meiyazhagan'' released worldwide on 27 September 2024.

Home media

The post-theatrical rights of the film were acquired by Netflix. It began streaming there from 25 October 2024.

Reception

Critical response

''Meiyazhagan'' received critical acclaim with critics who praised the lead cast's performances (especially Karthi and Aravind Swamy), storyline, Govind Vasantha's background score, emotional scenes and Premkumar's screenplay and direction.

Kirubhakar Purushothaman of ''News18'' rated the film 4/5 stars and wrote "Meiyazhagan is more of a character study than a typical film about the bromance of two contrasting individuals. Prem Kumar once again imagines a utopia, embodied in characters like Ram, but it may not resonate with everyone." Rakesh Tara of ''ABP News'' rated the film 3.5/5 stars and noted "Arvind Swami And Karthi starrer may not have the flashy elements of typical commercial cinema, its rich storytelling and strong performances make it a standout film. 'Meiyazhagan' is rich with nostalgia and emotion, portraying themes of loss, connection, and healing. Its exploration of family values, the passage of time, and the importance of reconciliation make it a must-watch for those seeking depth in cinema."

Gopinath Rajendran of ''OTTPlay'' gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote "''Meiyazhagan'' is a film that truly holds the meaning of beauty in each of its frames. Brimming with emotions that get hard to put into words, Karthi and Arvind Swamy brilliantly shoulder the film with their simple yet nuanced performances. There is enough meat to chew, but Prem Kumar serves you with a neatly told narrative, very much like how the delicacies are served on the banana leaf in the delta kalyanam Arulmozhi and the relative visits." Sudhir Srinivasan of ''Cinema Express'' gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote "''Meiyazhagan'' is a sweet, sensitive film. It’s a story about stories, about forgotten memories and quiet reflections".

Avinash Ramachandran of the ''Indian Express'' rated the film 3.5/5 stars and highlighted "Karthi and Arvind Swamy's Meiyazhagan is the cinematic equivalent of that break in the journey of life. It doesn’t have to take you anywhere, but it does, and that’s why Meiyazhagan is a really special film." Latha Srinivasan of the ''Hindustan Times'' reviewed the film and opined "The film that stands out thanks to Karthi and Arvind Swami as they have engagingly brought Premkumar’s highly-nuanced story alive on screen." She termed it as a well-crafted emotional life story that slowly unfolds over 178 minutes but bemoaned the long runtime.

M. Suganth of ''The Times of India'' gave 3/5 stars and wrote "Despite the potential for overblown melodrama inherent in the plot, in ''Meiyazhagan'', Prem Kumar goes for a tone that’s somewhere between melancholy and heartwarming." Kaushik Rajaraman of ''DT Next'' gave 3/5 stars and wrote "Karthi's innocence and Arvind Swami's many emotions make us sit through this emotional roller coaster. Govind Vasantha has done his part really well with playing along with the story and the emotions of characters we meet. The live sync sound takes us closer to the landscape along with Mahendhiran Jayaraju's visuals. ''Meiyazhagan'' is beautiful in its own way and will pull the family audience to theatres."

A critic from ''India Today'' rated the film 3/5 stars and wrote "Director Prem Kumar's Meiyazhagan, starring Karthi and Arvind Swami, is a beautiful tale of self-discovery. However, the film's conflict is too wafer-thin to sustain interest for three hours." Tanushree Ghosh of ''Moneycontrol'' reviewed the film and noted "Arvind Swamy & Karthi breathe life to director C Prem Kumar's wholesome & deep characters, making us love men, who are vulnerable & kind, the ones this world and our films have forgotten all about. To watch this kind of bromance — seeing men being themselves around their favourite men, no pretence, no ego, just pure gratitude — on our screens, in an increasingly intolerant, hostile world that is forgetting what brotherhood once meant, is refreshing."

Gopinath Rajendran of ''The Hindu'' reviewed the film and opined "‘96’ filmmaker C. Prem Kumar gives us a thoughtful character study brought to life by some brilliant performances, and it’s a treat to watch the relationship between Arvind Swami and Karthi’s characters blossom into something gorgeous. Swathi p Ajith of '' Onmanorama'' reviewed the film and highlighted "'Meiyazhagan' takes its time, immersing viewers in its emotional landscape. It’s a slow burn, allowing moments to breathe and resonate, creating a rich atmosphere that lingers long after the credits roll." A critic from ''Zee News'' wrote "The director has succeeded in telling many things that happen in real life, such as the love of hometown, the anger that comes from property problems with relatives, and the joy that comes when you see your loved ones again."

Deleted scenes

A few days after the film's release the makers announced that they were shortening the length of the film by around 18 minutes due to audience feedback, and that the new trimmed version would play in domestic theatres starting from 30 September 2024. Foreign showings of the film still played the original untrimmed version, but the scenes stayed deleted as the film entered streaming.

This decision was met by mixed reviews from fans. Many felt that the scenes were too vital to be removed from the movie, and that they added a layer of depth that wasn't present in the new trimmed version. On the other hand, many critics and reviewers had previously stated that the long runtime of the film was one of their main criticisms, including the previously mentioned M. Suganth of ''The Times of India''.

The scenes in question were a continuation of Arul and Meiyazhagan's stroll at the dam. Before returning home, they stroll to a new spot where they continue their conversation, this time mainly discussing various socio-political issues.

Notes

References

External links

*
* {{Rotten Tomatoes

2020s Indian films
2020s Tamil-language films
2024 drama films
2024 films
Films directed by C. Prem Kumar
Films scored by Govind Vasantha
Films set in Thanjavur
Films set in the 1990s
Films set in the 2010s
Films set in 1996
Films set in 2018
Films shot in Chennai
Films shot in Tiruchirappalli
Indian drama films
Slice of life films
Tamil-language drama films
Tamil-language Indian films