#AskBR

Baradwaj Rangan answers your questions on Michael Madana Kamarajan, a 1990 Tamil language comedy film directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. The film also feature a large ensemble cast alongside Kamal Haasan, Urvashi, Rupini, Kushboo played the female leads, while Manorama, Delhi Ganesh, Nassar, Venniradai Moorthy, SN Lakshmi, Jayabharathi, R. N. Jayagopal, Nagesh, Praveen Kumar and Santhana Bharathi #AskBR
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The Film Companion is a web channel intended to promote Indian cinema through films review, interviews, discussions, video essays and analytical compilations. It is intended primarily for the purpose of encouraging informed discussions, criticism and review of cinema and towards such purpose the programs use short extracts of cinematograph films, sounds recording and photographic works. These clips and extracts are of a minimal nature and the use is not intended to interfere in any manner with their commercial exploitation of the compete work by the owners of the copyright. The use of works are in compliance with the fair dealing exception provided under Sec. 52 of the Copyright Act, and we asset our use of the works under the exception provided for criticism and review.

[@rickdalton2412]

Crazy Mohan and Ulaganayagan! No one can replace their combo when it comes to Comedy!!

[@arun_gaming1426]

Really want to see interview between kamal and rangan..!! That would be just awesome

[@abrahamgideon]

Even in the segment where 4 Kamals are running around where all of them are supposed to be Madan you never mistake one for the other because of the amazing body language - only Kamal can pull if off !

[@rickdalton2412]

Thank you so much sir on behalf of Kamal sir fans.! Brilliant!

[@patmclaughlin107]

Singeetam Srinivasa Rao was from Nellore, my home district. Fantastic director.

[@vennilachandrashekar1972]

Vera level movie, there's no movie like this ever. It's one of the greatest movies of kamal haasan and indian cinema.

[@Rotterandy]

there is a small moment even in MMKR which makes your eyes swell. Thats when santhana barathi's character asks michael in the end "naan un appa illaiya? enna kai vittudathey michael..enaku yaarume illa"...that brief moment was very emotional

[@naveenprasanthsa3749]

Exactly bro I too had felt that moment

[@cinematheater2609]

@@naveenprasanthsa3749 totally agreed I had that feeling

[@Sachin_C10]

he's a bad guy in the kadha Kelu song in the movie, he's having a change of heart at the end as he realises he might lose his only son in Michael.

[@TejasBansode-MovieAficionado]

Bhim Boi Bhim Boi :D Loved this movie, where can I stream Kamal's movies? Saw this one on prime video.

[@KarthikVijapurapu]

The humorous dialogue translated into Telugu very well. The Kameshwaran character humor although very Chennai centric did really cross over into Telugu due to the dialogues and SPB's dubbing.

[@sindhujavenkatesh4819]

You should just sit down and do a series of interviews with Kamal! I've always been a big fan of your writing but you are just as great in the videos ! :)

[@italinose]

Excellent views and explanations! I particularly enjoyed learning the editing aspect of how all the four characters were introduced in the movie (money > fire > money lender). Never really thought about it even after watching it n number of times. However, I am not sure whether I agree with your explanation about the climax being a let-down. Sure, we don't have the patience in watching it right now. But keeping in mind the audience viewing four lookalikes on the big screen for the first time, I personally feel it would have awed the people with the technicality and chaos happening in that house. Well, I am not here to argue with a national award winner :) I thoroughly enjoy your work sir.

[@prabhunet]

This film never gets old ....

[@kevindina]

Great.. Now I am gonna watch this movie again..

[@karthik.sridhar]

2 years late but wanted to say, Naagarahaavu, a 1972 Kannada movie had a song (Baare Baare) almost fully shot in slow motion. The Hindi remake of this movie, Zehreela Insaan also had a song, O hansini, which was also shot mostly in slow motion. Both movies were directed by Puttanna Kanagal and are probably the first instance of slow motion in Indian cinema.

[@01sskk04]

Some of the Crazy Mohan hilarious dialogue should have been mentioned like "Catch my point?" "Nyabagam vechikiren. Naanum yengeyaavadhu adchi utturen"

[@abrahamgideon]

Even in the Kameshwaran intro - "Naane iruka seriya pochu vera oru rowdya irunthu iruntha velliay behalam aayirukum" - cracks me up every time.

[@bigbossman7020]

Tamile vaarathaya ungaluku??....Tamil padam thane ithu..tamilaye sonna Nalla irukum la..

[@107rainbow]

Very good analysis, Sir! Thank you so much for it. The video brought out some interesting facets which I had not paid attention to like the recurrence of the digit 4, the laptop and the Sri Rama Jayam on the windshield along with the mirror scenes. I personally think that the film should not be remade. Kamal's fluidity and commitment need to be appreciated for this movie

[@maiam2133]

Amazing one... 🙏.. Aandavar

[@anujajaganathan9571]

Hi, loved this podcast. Can you also do one on yesteryear ensemble comedies like Kadhalikka Neramillai or Bama Vijayam? These two movies in particular have remained in my mind as the earliest examples of laugh out loud comedies in which everything sort of comes together- the acting, the screenplay, even the music which even today resonates with a lot of people.

[@sambumanipriyachennai3879]

when veniladai moorthy says adhan enaku worry ah iruku ..kushboo instead of saying kavalapadatheenga pa...She will say "Worryaagatheengapa" nice word play

[@suryaprakashm1136]

He ended the video rightfully. Classics should be allowed to remain classics. I miss this pure actor Kamalhasan. Gone are days where Kamal is just an actor who just brings incredible nuances and variations to those characters. I just want him to act as a actor with good directors for few films now. Tamil Cinema badly need more Kamal(Actor) films.

[@Skandawin78]

@ 06:03 kameswaran's laughter reminds me of Mozart's laughter in Amadeus movie(1984)

[@Skandawin78]

Loved that maligai kadai of crazy mohan in this movie . Those rounded glass jars in which certain candies and chips are kept reminds of the life in the 80s and 90s when I was a kid and during the course of time I have witnessed how the traditional 'nadar' maligai kadai has transformed into modern departmental stores. Also how sadly plastic bottles and plastic covers have replaced glass bottles ( aavin was delivered in glass bottles) and old newspaper wrapping in which sugar, rice ,salt were delivered.🤔

[@dineshmdheena4819]

Sir Vishwaroopam and Uthama villian

[@Sachin_C10]

Honestly the performance of Kamal Haasan in this movie is in my top 3. It's that good! Not at all an easy job to pull it off. All 4 of the quadruplets were magical. Meryl streep is great but come on man!!! It's Kamal Haasan of all people & he's in his league at top.

[@phunsukh2810]

I still feel Kamal Hassan is far underrated than any other actor in India. For me too, this is one of his top performances!!

[@Sachin_C10]

@@phunsukh2810 yes without a doubt.

[@itsmenagz]

Great analysis, keep rocking BR #AskBR Your videos are treasure to us.

[@mohunrr]

I am a graduate in cinematography but from day one (1982), I have been only with television. I am amazed the way you analyze the screenplay and wonder if I have learnt anything at all!! Especially the 'Sriramajayam' sticker on the car (do you think it was intentional or is it your reading??). Similarly the way you analyze the link from each one of the characters of MMKR. Henceforth, I have to look at each scene from a different perspective!! The best scene in MMKR I loved is the one in which Kameswaran confronts Urvashi with the grocery list and how he is 'tamed.' I was eagerly waiting for you to discuss this particular scene which one can watch repeatedly and enjoy every time. On another note, why are you shooting your video with handheld camera?

[@harishkd1]

Singeetam sreenivasa rao is a Proud TELUGU

[@bhavanashankar6454]

Another fascinating thing about the movie is none of the four Kamals had any mother or mother figures. Wonder why that decision was made

[@Vj-ig2tr]

Baddy , Film Geetanjali has a slow motion song.. heroine solo song..guess it was released on 1989 :)

[@jerinjacob633]

About that quesion in 10.59 , Mammotty pulls of different slangs and accents amazingly and he have done 3 distinct accents in Paleri Manikyam and won the state award as well.

[@Shobita-u6j]

Great video!

[@lalithaprasad1662]

I mean, Sivaji Ganesan has done his part in "pure" comedy form in Bale Pandiya in 1962! Even the plot is very similar where there's a con Sivaji Ganesan and two brothers who look the same(Sivaji Ganesan). Three characters played by Sivaji Ganesan. if you watch the film - you can see there are many scenes and writing which COULD have inspired some in MMKR. Also, as Nothern Diaries Digital Media (below) mentioned in the comments - Navarathri. 10 characters; all so unique, and excellently developed. All potrayed by Sivaji Ganesan in 1964!!! I just wish you give credit where it's deserved.

[@austinstunner3601]

Lalitha Prasad - Actually the core plot is taken from a Pakistani movie that Kamal had seen, got impressed by it, bought it and expanded the story along with Panchu.Arunachalam & Crazy. No one has mentioned the name of the original so far including Kamal. But in the title credits, the core story (மூலக்கதை) would be mentioned as Khader Kashmiri.

[@geniusfollower]

BR, will you please do a video on Vettaiyadu Vilaiyadu? It is such a different and unique Kamal film, in that its not a Kamal film at all. Its a Gautam Menon film that had Kamal in it.

[@22raj]

Lovely, thanks a lot. Hope more of thia comes our way

[@ganeshswaroop1723]

One other brilliance in screenplay of this movie is, all 4 kamals in the climax are clean shaven which made the making easy..

[@anilkumar-zi6wj]

Sir explain Sagara sangamam movie

[@vinodmenon2825]

No words ❤

[@kanki7037]

I thought there will be more about the director.Please do a video about Singeetham Srinivasa Rao's films .His style in choosing and making films.

[@badrinathnarayanan2785]

Actually the store in which crazy mohan sits as maligai Kadai owner is real. Its shanti stores in devanathan street mandaiveli. Crazy mohan being a famous resident of mandaiveli would have got them to shoot there.

[@palaniappankarthik]

The story has a nice logic. I am not sure that many have noticed it. Kameshawarn, Raju and Micheal tries to disguise themselves as Madan during each stage of the movie. Due to which they all get united finally.

[@ravishingravi]

Surprised that Bharadwaj doesn’t know of Naya din nayi raat and perfomance of 9 roles by Sanjeev Kumar.

[@srivlr]

With regard to sequel, Nala Damayanthi is kind of extension to kameswaran's character. I guess kamalhassan had a plan to make a full length movie based on kameswaran character. It didn't materialize. Then he cast madhavan into that movie

[@dixondavid9526]

Kalayanaraman also need your review

[@kqed1715]

Hey Ram

[@tejasrajganapathy3462]

NAMMA AANDAVAR ULAGANAYAGAN KAMAL HAASAN

[@vigneshbalachandran1374]

#AskBR please do a video for Vikram (1984)

[@ghostdoc95]

BR sir please do a video on the failure of classics like Aalavandhan, anpeshivam etc

[@saiashwin26]

I feel like you are downplaying Singeetam's contribution to the film.There are many scenes with really good staging, for example when madan tells rajan that they should switch roles and that no one should know about it, in the center of the frame there is a closed door in deep focus which kind of gives a suspenseful feel as though someone might be intruding.Had he done the staging differently without the door, the conversation would have felt safer and this suspense would have been missed.

[@Indians30]

Hi Mr Bharadvaj, Can you please let us know who is the best actor in India??? I consider Kamal Haasan as the best actor in India.

[@NorthernDiaries]

I can kind of see Vikram pulling off these four characters. But yes, maybe classics should be left alone. Also, Sivaji Ganeshan played nine characters in Navarathri. All nine of them were in the same shot reacting to each other at the end of the film. I was always amazed at the acting and technicality of that scene.

[@yaaro4471]

Northern Diaries Digital Media Vikram ?? Funny don't do comedy ; he can't do comedy

[@TheSkundertaker3]

I don't understand what is with vikram that is so special (only according to foolish fans) thinking that he can replace films done by kamal!

[@lragul7815]

@@yaaro4471 His story selections were very poor. If he chose correctly, he beats kamal.

[@SathishKumar-pw9fu]

@@lragul7815 he beats kamal? on what basis ? is he muli talented like kamal? actor,classical dancer,writer,screenplay,singer..etc...kamal's capacity is his brain.Vikram's capacity is just what director says...i too admire vikram's and surya's work ethics and dedication and acting skills...but kamal is beyond that...moreover vikram never excel in comedy his acting method built for seroius roles indeed he perform excellently in sethu,kasi,pithamagan anniyan ,I etc....it's the truth

[@ilayarajapriya2029]

Very rare hero can do comedy filam

[@AK-yq3cx]

Please do a #AskBR on 7aum arivu

[@austinstunner3601]

BR - Actually the core plot is taken from a Pakistani movie that Kamal had seen, got impressed by it, bought it and expanded the story along with Panchu.Arunachalam & Crazy. No one has mentioned the name of the original so far including Kamal. But in the title credits, the core story (மூலக்கதை) would be mentioned as Khader Kashmiri. Do u know the name of the original?

[@Sachin_C10]

Baradwaj Rangan sir: Climax is inspired by Gold Rush. The Internet: Kamal completely copied the climax and stole from Gold Rush (They don't even know what that movie is & don't know if such a movie exists)

[@srinivascnu6977]

Sengeetham being a telugu guy did amazing tamil film

[@wesleywesley4464]

Wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow

[@sjjagdish9494]

mr.br not only mmkr is a scripted comedy drama...there are other kamal films such as kadhala kadhala, magalir mattum...pancha thanthiram also often seems to be scripted comedy drama...

[@harishkd1]

Singeetam is a telugu guy

[@tsmuthu200]

Aagi pattam is a love portion for Micheal. He is the only village guy. May be those portions are taken

[@rubikscube647]

Where can I post my questions? @FilmCompanionSouth #AskBR

[@hksportsat9]

Twitter

[@rjharikumar6555]

You can also ask him on his blog if you don't have a Twitter account.

[@sasipad75]

I think best female actress was the role of Paatti. She outperformed all others actresses.

[@rubikscube647]

@HariKrishnaDaggubati @RJHariKumar : Thank you.. :)

[@VijayKumar-eq9ou]

Mr BR you consider Mr NT RamaRao Jr for ulaganagans replacement in this movie . He can able to pull it off these four roles very easily than Our Andavar Kamal sir . I just want to say you , you ppl might have not seen his potentiality , mr JR NTR can do any kind of a role . The thing is directors should have a clear vision about what they are going to film n convince him .

[@nitishhs5536]

Give some credit to SSR also,it's not only kamal all the way !

[@Astuukkkkkkkkkkk]

Raju and Michael are my favorite character. Kamaeshwaran and Madan are for Peter uncles :)

[@arvindks4986]

When BR speaks Tamil lol :D

[@prsnheretodo]

15:08 సొమ్మొకడిది సోకొకడిది

[@harishkd1]

Common BR every actor can act ... every actor acts different. Characters in every movies .. common be logical

[@Rbssaran]

My attention span is so short. Some crisp editing would make the stuff wonderful and helpful!!

[@anbarasir3923]

Beembhai beembhai beembhai beembhai.....

[@Indians30]

Today's comedy films are just doing some shit for the sake of comedy

[@bhaskaranmahesh]

Am I the only one who feels panchatantiram is the best comedy film ever! I saw mmkr much later, mainly because many claimed it to be the funniest film! But I felt it is no where near panchatantiram! Probably it also depends on the generation we belong to!

[@neoblimbos]

The closest well made recent comedy classic was ITAB, Idarkku Thane Aasai Pattay Bala Kumara"

[@bigbossman7020]

tayavu senji tamilaye pesunga sit..ithu Tamil movie tane