Muthal Mariyathai

This is one of cult classic of Tamil Cinema. Bharathiraja exploits the script for the best possible limits , added with Sivaji's , Vadikarasi and Radha's performance makes this rare combination. Taking a very unsual storyline for its times, handling with sensitivity in shoestring budget, Bharathiraja showed that he is master in this art . Story of Mid age man , unhappy with his marriage , seeks happiness in every small thing in the world, when a new firecracker enters the village, unknowingly he falls for her. Circumstances shows why line between right and wrong is always bleak. Nothing more can be said about the music of Illayaraja and Malayasia Vasudevan , that helped absorb every feeling the movie generated embed into your minds.

A very newbie Radha, who did typical dancing around Tree roles, was an exceptional with cute facial expression and boldness in ensuring she generates interest in the Old Man and shows the attraction in a natural and cute way also showing why such relationships are possible. Returning from retirement, Sivaji's acting and facial expression showed why he is considered the best actor of all times. His joyful Innocence in the initial playful scenes with Radha to the bold scenes where he shows his anger, Sivaji's verstality came out best in this movie. Man of verstalite There was so much that Sivaji had to offer which the Tamil Cinema never used. Last comes the best, the most underrated Actress of all times , Vadivukkarasi , though she was in her late 20s/early 30s probably during this movie, executed this role with so much rigor and passion with outstanding dialogue delivery ever by anyone. Something that probably came naturally to her, but her casting ensured, you cannot always define every circumstance between right and wrong, why life can be complicated. Bharathiraja showed how a movie can really move you emotionally , the pace of the movie builds up the emotion, however the everything falls in natural manner ,at the right pace, one could imagine how well this script was written. The Slang coupled with the Nativity of the villagers really takes you to the 80s setup of the movie. Showing his master touches, are many scenes, be it the one why Sivaji takes the Arwal angerily towards the end, and his bird cage drops , showing tradegy will happen. His love for his small bird Kuyil , also Radha's name. When kids run ,splashing water on Vadivukkarasi's face erasing her bindi , showing Satyaraj was her hidden lover. There are unlimited such mystery tied into the script. A masterpiece movie, one of best 10 movies in Tamil cinema.

Muthal Mariyathai is easily one of Bharathiraja's best films. It portrays a relationship of a middle aged married man with an young girl. A tricky proposition, but delicately handled.

The film tends to drag at places, but is a must watch. The music by Ilayaraja is the soul of the movie. As for the rerecording, one needs to watch this film to know what a genius Ilayaraja is.

Coming to the performances, Sivaji & Radha are terrific. In fact, radha has matched sivaji which cannot be said of any other actress,save savithri. Seems she acted only for 11 days for this film.

She missed out on the national award to suhasini (Sindhu Bhairavi), maybe because her voice was dubbed.

As for Sivaji, this is one of those very very few films where he does not overact. Seems the director told him before the shoot "Sir, please come & stand before the camera, that is enough".

Bharathiraja has kept a very tight leash on sivaji, something which his earlier directors, save bheemsingh (to some extent) did/could not do.

It is a pity that sivaji, in his later stages did not do similar movies & instead chose to do run of the mill stuff.

The one actress in this film, who did not get credit was Vadivukarasi. As the paan chewing venomous wife of sivaji, she is fantastic. Janakaraj too has done a good job.

There is a nice cameo by sathyaraj nearing the climax which is the turning point of the film. Debutants deepan & rajani are adequate.

One of the best tamil films of all times.

This, in my opinion, is definitely of of the classics of Indian Cinema. I had watched this movie couple of decades back, and I still remember how I was blown away by the content and presentation of the movie. The performances by Sivaji Ganeshan and Radha were terrific, and Radha was so close to winning the national award for this (which in that year went to Suhasini for her performance in Swati I think). Bharatiraaja, in his inimitable style extracted terrific performances from everyone to present the human emotions so well.

As I reminisce, I express my appreciation to the artists specially Radha and Bharatiraaja, who brought this movie to the world.

Ravi

How can one even begin to describe this gem of a movie? For those who don't know Chevalier Shivaji Ganesan, he is the greatest Tamil actor and one of the greatest actors ever born. He, of course, didn't belong to the school of method acting and comes from a stage background and hence often his performances have been termed over the top (in many cases it is true as well). However, he is an actor who is possibly one of the very best to learn from. I have heard that his films are used in teaching acting in schools.

By the time this movie was made, Shivaji was past 50 at least and had grown considerably in the lateral dimension ;) So it was a challenge to write roles for him that would do justice to his talents. After a long time, Muthal Mariyathai offered him a meaty role and boy did he deliver! He turned in such a restrained performance that this in itself deserves a lifetime achievement Oscar! To everyone's surprise, Radha, a young actress then, and Vadivukkarasi matched him frame to frame in their roles. The movie is about the life of a middle-age leader of a village where farming is life. Shivaji, unhappily married to Vadivukkarasi, rediscovers his life when he meets Radha. What follows is one of the most poignant, beautiful and restrained love story that is bound to move any viewer. There are a few subplots that are not always needed. But the movie is a testimony to some of the best performances of some of the best performers in Tamil film industry, including the best of all, Shivaji. Check it out if you can! It is a TOTAL MUST-SEE! 10 out of 10!

I just finished viewing this movie and Iam all praises for this one. A great actor and a great director get together and the rest is history.

The movie is all about a middle aged man and a young beautiful girl, set in a village, and the romance that blossoms between them. This leads to trouble as the elderly man, played by Sivaji, is a big wig in the village and he is already married though unhappily. He carries a dark secret in his bosom which is revealed at the end of the movie.

The songs are great, set to folk tunes, the direction is excellent sensitive and portrays human emotions beautifully. The natural locales are very pleasing to the eyes. Kudos to the Raja duo - Bharathiraja and Ilayaraja. Now coming to the acting part and that is the essence of this movie. Sivaji carries this movie solely on his able shoulders. His acting makes up at least seven stars of the total ten. As to the criticism leveled against him that he "overacts", this movie is a smashing rebuttal. The adage that you are capable of 'overacting' only if you are capable of acting, is proved by his movie. Sivaji's histrionics are controlled and measured. Every scene explodes with his brilliance. No words to describe his talent. He arguably is India's greatest actor . This movie is a proof of the fact that how a great actor like Sivaji in the hands of a great director like Barathiraja can make movie-magic. The storyline is quite unique for its times, though there are some distracting sub plots. This is inevitable especially in those days where the director is forced to keep an eye on the box office jingle.

To summarize a great movie worth watching at least thrice !