| Mazha | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Lenin Rajendran |
| Written by | Lenin Rajendran |
| Based on | Nashtappetta Neelambari byMadhavikkutty |
| Produced by | G. Harikumar |
| Starring | Biju Menon Samyuktha Varma Lal Thilakan |
| Cinematography | S. Kumar |
| Edited by | Beena Paul B. Ajithkumar |
| Music by | Ravindran |
Production company | Millenium Cinema Productions |
| Distributed by | Murali Films Aakash Films Thanoof Films |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Mazha (transl. Rain) is a 2000 IndianMalayalam-languagedrama film written and directed byLenin Rajendran based on the short storyNashtappetta Neelambari byMadhavikkutty. It starsBiju Menon,Samyuktha Varma, andLal. The music was composed byRavindran. The film won fiveKerala State Film Awards, aNational Film Award, and aSouth Filmfare Award.[1][2][3]
Mazha tells the love story of Bhadra (Samyuktha Varma) and hermusic teacher, Sastrigal (Biju Menon). The film begins with teenager Bhadra coming to learn music under Sastrigal and getting infatuated with him and his singing in Sivapuram. The story describes her character and behavior in a nice mood. In her teenage years, Madhura is a beautiful village inhabited by Tamil Brahmins, including the shasthrikal. She falls in love with her music teacher (shasthrikal) because of her young age and curiosity towards his music.
The story runs in the surroundings of the famousMeenakshi Amman Temple in Tamil Nadu. Bhadra's creative talents for poetry start to flourish under his influence. Sastrigal is not much aware of Bhadra's love and considers her only as his talented student. Coming to know about Bhadra's infatuation, her parents take her with them, and Sastrigal is obliged to marry his fiancée(Sindhu).
Bhadra becomes a doctor (like her father) and is married to Chandran (Lal) who is a computer engineer. Chandran happens to see her diary one day and the relationship goes for a toss. Of course, there are no names in the diary. So he goes on to doubt every male in her life – including the elderly senior doctorThilakan. He becomes a victim of his drinking and dies of a related illness.
In the end, Bhadra sets out in search of Sastrigal to Madurai where she discovers that Sastrigal also has lost much – his wife is amental patient. The final shock is when she finds out that Sastrigal has lost his beautiful voice due to cancer.
The film's soundtrack contains nine songs composed byRavindran. The lyrics were byBharathiyar,Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri,O. V. Usha,Yusuf Ali Kecheri, andK. Jayakumar.
| # | Title | Singer(s) | Raga(s) | Lyricist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Ithramel Manamulla" | K. J. Yesudas | Mohanam | K. Jayakumar |
| 2 | "Manjinte" | K. S. Chitra | Bageshri | K. Jayakumar |
| 3 | "Geyam Harinaamadheyam" | K. J. Yesudas, Arundhathi,Neyyattinkara Vasudevan | Charukesi | Yusuf Ali Kecheri |
| 4 | "Himashaila" | K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chitra, Arundhathi | Neelambari,Kharaharapriya,Kalyanavasantam | Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri |
| 5 | "Vaarmukile" | K. S. Chitra | Jog | Yusuf Ali Kecheri |
| 6 | "Aashaadham" | K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chitra | Amrithavarshini | K. Jayakumar |
| 7 | "Paarukkulle Nalla Naadu" | Neyyattinkara Vasudevan | Jonpuri | Bharathiyar |
| 8 | "Aaraadyam" | Asha G. Menon | Mohanam | O. V. Usha |
| 9 | "Himashaila" | K. J. Yesudas | Neelambari,Kharaharapriya,Kalyanavasantam | Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri |
Despite positive reviews, the film was a commercial failure.[4][5]
According to Arun ofThe Indian Express, "it's due to the phenomenal success ofNarasimham. Its massive success cast a gigantic shadow that devoured the entire Malayalam film industry. Well almost "TheNarasimham hangover is terrifically strong and it has, at least for the moment, killed the prospects of good films. I don't see any other reason for the failure of well made female-oriented films likeMazha andMadhuranombarakkattu."[6][failed verification]