Madha Gaja Raja review: Vishal, Santhanam lift this popcorn entertainer that relies on old-school template

Sundar C’s Madha Gaja Raja, featuring a stellar cast, has been lying in the cans for over a decade.

When the makers announced that the movie was finally hitting the screens for this Pongal, many cinephiles didn’t bat an eyelid as its release was pushed several times in the past.

However, the postponement of the much-awaited Ajith-starrer Vidaa Muyarchi became a blessing for the action comedy. The film has also surprisingly managed to garner some hype in the eleventh hour.

Also Read: Vishal and Sundar C’s ‘Madha Gaja Raja’ to release after a decade

Synopsis

A happy-go-lucky guy turns a wedding into an exciting get-together with his old friends in a village but little does he know that his friends’ lives have turned miserable because of a cunning entrepreneur who is set to don a politician’s hat.

He lands in Chennai, locks horns with the dreaded businessman and asks him to undo the wrongdoings that led to his friends’ downfall.

Meanwhile, the unexpected entry of two girls into his life makes things complicated.

The question of whether he would be able to sort out his friends’ problems forms the crust of the film.

Highlights and drawbacks

The film was completed more than 10 years ago and hence it wouldn’t be fair to judge the cinematic liberty and commercial aspects the makers relied on from today’s point of view.

Sundar C’s potboilers often follow a tried-and-tested template; Madha Gaja Raja is no different. A daring hero who is ready to sacrifice anything for his friends, beats up goons black and blue, and attracts beautiful girls and dances like a dream.

Throw in a bunch of comedians, a set of confusing conflicts that are entertaining and a cold-blooded antagonist. This pattern, though done to death, works in parts here, thanks to the racy screenplay.

Even though the plot is predictable and action scenes offer nothing new, the comedy sequences bring the house down. Some double entendres and crass comedy raise our eyebrows but the film was made for the audience a decade ago.

The movie is a nostalgic ride to the time when Kollywood was unapologetically dependent on those ‘popcorn moments’ that drew crowds to theatres.

However, the hero-villain confrontation falls flat. The plot thickens only towards the half-point. The makers manage to entertain us until then though.

Also Read: ‘Rathnam’, a formulaic run-of-the-mill drama is late by two decades

Performances

Vishal oozes energy in action and dance sequences. He justifies the mass hero image he shoulders and receives ample support from other actors in crucial episodes.

Anjali and Varalaxmi appear as regular female leads and perform what is expected from their respective characters. Film buffs are likely to enjoy the appearance of the late Manivannan in the scenes in which he appears while the late Manobala is a riot in a few episodes in the latter half.

However, it is Santhanam who entertains the audience with his popular one-liners and impressive chemistry with other actors. His comic timing which movie buffs have been missing ever since he bid adieu to side-kick roles continues to win hearts.

He single-handedly lifts a few sequences and provides ample laughs. Sonu Sood, however, is wasted in a role that lacks scope.

Final Take

If Madha Gaja Raja works to an extent, it is because of the old-school template that Kollywood filmmakers have put on the back burner for quite some time.

The fast-paced action comedy serves every ingredient that is considered quintessential under the festival outing category. The movie has scenes that leave you squirming but ticks all the boxes for a leave-your-brain-at-home entertainer.

(Views expressed here are personal.)