Merku Thodarchi Malai

Right from the opening shot till the end credits roll, this is a technically slick movie and makes you hooked with a compelling narration aided by stupendous cinematography. For just the breathtaking camerawork, this movie is worth a watch. Though the performances of the new actors are very natural, a director like Bala would have made them emote still better. And Lenin has intelligently not filmed their expressions in close-up. Last but not the least, the maestro's score that some critics have been disappointed with. In my view as a layman, his score as always quite effectively connects the movie with the viewers. It is silent at many places, functional at a very few places(including the marriage song), brilliantly intense during the latter half(including the beautifully composed/rendered Andarathil song. The maestro has used a Thara Thappatai movie sequence BGM in the prelude/interludes of this song). In my personal view, this is a Bala-movie minus the violence he is known for forcefully thrusting in his movies. MTM will definitely leave lump in your throat when you come out of the movie hall. Must visit movie amidst the mindless mayhems we have been be exposed to.