Malaikottai () is a 2007 Indian Tamil-language action film written and directed by Boopathy Pandian. The film stars Vishal, Priyamani, Devaraj, Ajay, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Urvashi. The music was composed by Mani Sharma, while the cinematography and editing were handled by Vaidy S and G. Sasikumar respectively. The movie was remade into Bengali Bangladesh as Jaan Kurbaan (2011).
Plot
Anbu is a happy-go-lucky engineering student who lives with his family in Pattukottai and has fun with his friends. One day, Anbu gets into a fracas with a local politician and his henchmen while trying to save his friend, where he gets arrested and has a case registered against him. The local court gives him a conditional bail, provided that he signs the register in a Trichy police station. On the way to the police station, Anbu sees a college girl named Malar and falls in love with her. The police station, where Anbu has to sign daily, is handled by his uncle Inspector Kandasamy, whose ex-lover Kamala is the constable at the station. Anbu kindles his uncle's love life and makes merry at Malar’s college, leading to funny situations.
Meanwhile, Trichy is run by a powerful politician named Palani and his brother Guna, who have killed the local RDO in cold blood, watched by a huge crowd of onlookers. While trying to save Malar from a situation with Palani, Anbu ends up getting the wrath of Palani and his brothers. Although Malar's mother wants to move away from the city, Anbu and his aunt convince her to stay and makes Anbu as her protector. After seeing his care, Malar slowly falls for Anbu. Palani causes problems for Anbu, but Anbu overcomes them and gets Palani killed by Kandasamy in an encounter. In the aftermath, Malar and Anbu graduates from college and they get married.
Cast
Vishal as Anbu
Priyamani as Malar
Devaraj as Palani
Ajay as Guna
Ashish Vidyarthi as Kandasamy
Urvashi as Kamala
Azhagu as Anbu's father
Kadhal Dhandapani as Politician
Mayilsamy as Idimutti Kannan
Ponnambalam as Kukkala Bhaskar
Poovilangu Mohan
Ajay Rathnam as RTO official
Aarthi as Malar's friend
Deepa Venkat as RTO's wife
Rekha as Malar's mother
Nirosha as Kandasamy's wife
G. M. Kumar as Pazhani's Righthand man
Manobala as Bhaskar's aide
Ashwanth Thilak (special appearance) Kanal Kannan as Mattu Sekar (special appearance)
Production
Shooting for the film commenced on 12 May 2007, at the Kumbakonam Mahamaham tank with picturisation of a song on Vishal.
This was followed by shooting near the Srirangam temple, Tiruchirapalli central bus stand, Kollidam bridge, Thiruvaiyaru court and near the Cauvery bridge in Tiruchirapalli.
Soundtrack
The music was scored by Mani Sharma. The track "Yeh Aatha" is a remix of the same-titled song scored by Ilaiyaraaja for the 1982 film Payanangal Mudivathillai.
Release
The satellite rights of the film were sold to Kalaignar TV.
Reception
Critical response
Malaikottai received mixed reviews from critics.
Rediff wrote that "Director G Boopathy Pandian probably thought he had the next best story since Ben-Hur, and fell prey to the ever-present Director's Folly". Sify wrote the film as "big let-down". Behindwoods wrote as an "average masala-mix entertainer". The film was dubbed in Telugu as Bhayya.
Box office
The film grossed 15 crore. The movie was declared a super hit at the box office.