Mazha

Mazha
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Lenin Rajendran
Starring	Biju Menon Samyuktha Varma Lal Thilakan
Music by	Ravindran
Cinematography	S. Kumar ISC
Release dates	2000 (2000)
Country	India
Language	Malayalam

Mazha (Malayalam: മഴ, English: The Rain) is a 2000 Malayalam film directed by Lenin Rajendran starring Biju Menon, Samyuktha Varma and Lal. The film is based on the short story Nashtappetta Neelambari by Malayalam novelist Madhavikkutty.

Plot

Mazha tells the immaculate love story of Bhadra (Samyuktha Varma) and her music 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 the teenager Bhadra's characters and behavior in a nice mood. At her teenage time the madhura is a beautiful village having a lot of Tamil Brahmins, the shasthrikal is also one of them. Bhadhra falls in love with her music teacher (shasthrikal) because of her teenage nature and curiosity toward his music. One incident, that makes Bhadra feel love towards the shasthrikal is..... Bhadhra falls downs into the pool of temple accidentally... at that time the shasthrikal gets into the pool and gives a rebirth to Bhadra.

The story runs in the surroundings of the famous Meenakshi 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 took her with them and Sastrigal is obliged to marry his Murappennu (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 off to doubt every male in her life – including the elderly senior doctor Thilakan. He becomes a victim to his drinking and dies of 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 a mental patient and the final shock is when she finds out that Sastrigal has lost his beautiful voice due to cancer.

Cast

• Biju Menon as Sastrigal
• Samyuktha Varma as Bhadra
• Lal as Chandran
• Sindhu Shyam as Sastrigal's wife
• Thilakan as doctor

Awards

National Film Awards 2000

• National Film Award for Best Lyricist : Yusufali Kechery

Kerala State Film Awards 2000

• Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress : Samyuktha Varma
• Kerala State Film Award for Best Lyrics : O. V. Usha
• Best Background Score : Baiju P
• Kerala State Film Award for Best Singer : Asha G Menon
• Kerala State Film Award for Best Sound Recordist : N.Hari Kumar

Asianet Film Awards 2000

• Best Actress  : Samyuktha Varma
• Best Lyrics  : O V Usha & Jayakumar
• Music Direction : Ravindran
• Best Female Playback Singer :K S Chithra
• Voice of the year :Asha G Menon
• Best Supporting Actor : Biju Menon

Filmfare Awards South

• Best Malayalam Actress  : Samyuktha Varma

Reception

Mazha lacks the commercial elements, much like other movies from Lenin Rajendran. The film was critically acclaimed and the acting of the lead charatcres gained recognition. The music by Ravindran was well accepted and the songs like "Ashadam Padumpol", "Ithramel Manamulla Kudamullapoovukal", "Varmukile Vaaname", "Geyam Harinamadheyam" and "Aaradyam Parayum" were well received by music fans.

The song "Aaradyam Parayum" won Asha G. Menon the Kerala State Film Award for Best Female Singer in 2000. The song "Geyam Hari Nama Dheyam" won Yusufali Kechery the National Film Award for Best Lyrics in 2000.Samyuktha varma got kerala state best actress award for her performance.

Sound Track

The film's soundtrack contains 9 songs, all composed by Ravindran. Lyrics by Bharathiyar, Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri, O. V. Usha, Yusuf Ali Kecheri and K. Jayakumar.

External links

• Mazha at the Internet Movie Database
• Oneindia Article