Maya Kannadi(2007)
Maya Kannadi (transl. Mirror of Illusion) is a 2007 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Cheran and produced by Subbu Panchu. Cheran stars as Kumar alongside Navya Nair as Maheswari. The film follows a barber from Thiruvannamalai who moves to Chennai with big dreams and learns harsh lessons about life. It features cameo appearances by R. Sarathkumar, Arya, and Malavika. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The film received mixed reviews, with critics praising its honest portrayal of middle class struggles but noting a lack of completeness compared to Cheran's earlier works. It was released in April 2007.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 14 April 2007
- Director
- Cheran
- Language
- Tamil
- Runtime
- 3h
- Rating
- 5.8/10
Storyline
Kumar leaves his small town for Chennai with dreams of a better life. He works as a barber and starts building castles in the air. Maheswari, a woman working in another parlor, shares similar desires. Together they face the harsh reality that dreams can be illusions.
“Life is not a mirror of illusions”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Maya Kannadi
Cast reunions in this film: Ilayaraja & Bharathi Kannan (3 films together), and Cheran & Ilayaraja (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Maya Kannadi' translates to 'Magic Mirror' in English, reflecting its themes of illusion and self-reflection.
- This was the only film produced by Subbu Panchu, the son of legendary producer Panchu Arunachalam, who passed away shortly after its release.
- Director-actor Cheran cast himself in the lead role after the original choice, actor Prasanna, reportedly walked out of the project.
- The film features a cameo by actor Sarath Kumar in a pivotal courtroom scene, which was a rare appearance in a Cheran-directed movie.
- Music composer Ilayaraja recorded the film's background score in just a single day, which was unusual for his detailed working style.
- Despite critical praise, the film had a modest box office run, partly due to competition from big commercial releases that year.
- Actress Navya Nair's character was noted for its departure from her typical roles, portraying a more modern, urban woman.