Middleclass Madhavan

Prabhu seems quite comfortable in playing roles where he is the middleclass man fighting against all odds and leading a comfortable life for himself and his family. After 'Budget Padmanabhan' the same team comes together again in 'Middleclass Madhavan'. Produced by K.R.G., directed by T.P. Gajendran, Prabhu has Abhirami teamed up with him this time. After a glamorous debut in the Arjun starrer 'Vanavil', this actress, from Malayalam films, plays the role of a traditional housewife here.

In the cast are Radhika Choudhry, Visu, Dharani, Manivannan, Vivek, Vadivelu, 'Kaakka' Radhakrishnan, Radhabai, Nambirajan, Master Kausik, and Revati Shanker. The film has music by Deena, editing by Ganesh, artwork by G.K., and stunts by Peter for whom this is his first independent venture in stunt chorography. A wholesome family entertainer with humour weaved in, shooting for this film started in Chennai recently. Songs are to be shot at locations in Vishakapatnam and other places.

While Abhirami plays the role of Prabhu's lover, Radhika Choudhry and Dharani play Prabhu's sisters. Some scenes were shot on the lead players recently. Madhavan is a lawyer who belongs to a middleclass family. The onus of getting his two sisters married is on him. He had put aside some money for the marriage of his two sisters, Neela and Mala. One day he goes to a jewellery shop and buys some pieces of jewellery for his sister's marriage. As he comes out of the shop, he finds that the whole area is in chaos. A political leader had been imprisoned and his party-men were disturbing the peace of the place. Some rowdy elements were taking advantage of the situation and were trying to get their hands on whatever they could. Someone snatched away Madhavan's bag of jewellery. A helpless Madhavan could only stand there and moan over the loss of his hard-earned money. Prabhu played Madhavan and his sisters were Dharini and Radhika Choudhry. 

Yet another scene was shot on Vivek and Radhika Choudhry. As Neela puts, 'Kolam' in front of her house, a cart comes and stops right in front of the house. A man dressed in the royal garb gets down and enquires whether it is the house of lawyer Madhavan. As the man jumps out of the cart, he falls on a plant that almost falls on Neela. The man rushes to Neela's side, the plant falls on him, and he on Neela. A passer-by watches this in amusement, and lifts the plant off them. Neela asks in anger as to whom the man had come to see. The stranger says that he had come to see lawyer Madhavan, and walks straight into the house. Vivek played the man in the royal garb, and Radhika Choudhry played Neela. Directing them was Gajendran and canning the shots was cinematograhper Raghunath Reddy.

A wedding-night scene was also shot on Prabhu and Abhirami. Madhavan marries Abhirami, because she had promised to give him money for his sister's marriage. On the wedding night as he eagerly approaches Abhirami, she stops him saying, "You have two unmarried sisters in the house. And it would be only proper that we celebrate our wedding-night after we got the duo married." Madhavan realises she is right and the duo spend the night separately. Abhirami fitted in her role so perfectly that the director who saw the rushes of the shot portions complimented her on her performance.

Comments from the artistes:

Says Abhirami, " I play an orphan who marries Prabhu. It is a soft character."

Says Vivek, "I play a character which traces its ancestry to kings, then to diwans, down to my present state where I can't even afford a cup of tea."

Says Radhika Choudhry, "I am not from Chennai, but working in this film gives me a sense of belonging. The atmosphere is so lively. Prabhu is a fantastic person and is just like what a head of the family would be."

Says Vadivelu, "I play a youth who was physically abused in his childhood by his parents and grows up with vengeance in his heart. You'll laugh throughout the film."

And what does the director have to say? "The benefits from the government mostly reach the lower classes. It is the middleclass that is always most affected. It is this class that has dreams and desires but goes through a tough time. My film reflects all this."