Wikipedia

May Maadham

May Maadham (transl. The Month of May) is a 1994 Indian Tamil-language romantic musical film directed by Balu and produced by G. Venkateswaran through GV Films. The film stars Vineeth and Sonali Kulkarni, with music by A. R. Rahman. It is based on the 1953 American film Roman Holiday.[1] The film was released on 9 September 1994.

May Maadham
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBalu
Written byBalu
Crazy Mohan (dialogues)
Produced byG. Venkateswaran
StarringVineeth
Sonali Kulkarni
CinematographyP. C. Sreeram
Edited byB. Lenin
V. T. Vijayan
Music byA. R. Rahman
Production
company
Release date
  • 9 September 1994 (1994-09-09)
CountryIndia
LanguageTamil

Plot

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Sandhya lives under the strict control of her businessman father Rangarajan, who raisers her as disciplined, homely girl and arranges her marriage with a US-based businessman who genuinely loves her very much. Upon discovering that her future husband is bald, Sandhya tricks him into buying a coconut drink and flees by boarding a moving train.

The train takes her to Madras, where her bag is accidentally picked up by Shekar's assistant, who finds a thousand rupees inside and spends it all at a night party. Sandhya arrives with a policeman and confronts Shekar, who is unaware that his assistant mistakenly picked up the wrong bag and is unaware that the money is missing. When Sandhya demands her money back, Shekhar's assistant admits to spending it at a party. Shekhar promises to repay her back. He takes her to a hotel fora a meal but slips away without paying, leaving Sandhya to work through the night to cover the bill.

The following day, Shekhar who is a photographer, is hired to shoot a wedding. Sandhya shows up and destroys his film roll, getting him fired and leaving him without money. To repay her, Shekar sells his old, barely functioning car and directs the buyer to Sandhya directly.

A fashion studio spots Sandhya's photo and contacts Shekhar's employer, offering money to bring her in. The employer approaches Shekar with the offer, and Shekhar sets off to find Sandhya. He locates her serving tea to locals, where she has already mande a circle of new friends.

When Sandhya notices a large cutout of her photo displayed in front of the fashion studio, she confronts Shekhar about how it got there. The exposure puts her at serious risk, as her father Rangarajan is actively searching for her into a marriage against her will. As they approach the fashion studio, she spots her father inside and immediately pulls away, and the two flee to a parte of the city far from where they had been staying.

Shekar takes her to the Mahabalipuram temple and shows her a mouth-shaped opening in the rock, telling her that anyone who speaks the truth can place their hand inside and withdraw it safely. He demonstrates it himself, pulling his hand out and starling Sandhya as a prank. Moved by the moment and emotionally warmed by Shekar, Sandhya decides to try it herself, but the hand becomes stuck and she falls unconscious. A horrified Shekar rushes her to a hospital.

As they leave after the check up, Rangarajan is waiting outside. He tells Shekar that Sandhya has a serious condition requiring costly treatment that only he can afford, and that once she recovers, he will allow her to marry Shekar. Shekar agrees, and Rangarajan takes Sandhya home with him.

The next day, however, the house is being prepared for a wedding engagement to someone else entirely. Rangarajan sends a wedding invitation Shekhar, making it clear her never intended to honor their agreement and wants Shekar to understand his place.

Devastated, Shekhar is urged by his assistant to seek out a captain, a man who turned to heavy drinking after his own love failure. The captain agrees to help and flies Shekar to Sandhya's house by helicopter. Shekar confronts Rangarajan directly, accusing him of going back on his word and arranging Shandhya's marriage to another man. An enraged Rangarajan draws a revolver, but Shekar walks away to helicopter. At that moment, the US-based groom steps forward, lowers Rangarajan's hand, and tells him to let Sandhya be with the man she loves. The film ends with the helicopter flying away and Shekar and Sandhya celebrating their marriage back in the own neighborhood.

Cast

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Production

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Ajith Kumar was initially considered to play the lead role before Vineeth was cast.[4] The film remains Sonali Kulkarni's only Tamil-language film to date.[5] She was encouraged to audition by Mani Ratnam.[6] A part of the song "Madrasa Suthi" was filmed in Marina Beach.[7][8]

Soundtrack

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The soundtrack was composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu.[9] Rahman initially considered including a rap song at a time when the genre was still emerging in India, but ultimately scrapped it, feeling it did not suit the overall score.[10] The song "Margazhi Poove" is set in the Hindolam raaga,[11] while "Enmel Vizhundha Mazhaithuli" is set in Kapi.[12]

In a 2018 interview, Vairamuthu recalled that after he had completed most of the lyrics for "Margazhi Poove", Rahman asked him to write additional lyrics for "a short tune that plays between the BGM". Vairamuthu felt it was impossible to fit words into the tune, but Rahman insisted. Though reluctant, Vairamuthu accepted the challenge and found the perfect lyrics: "Venba... Paadivarum Vandukku/ Senthaen... Thandhuvidum sempookkal/ Konjam... Paadavarum Pennukku/ Sandham... Thandhuvidum Mynahkkal".[13] Rahman later reused the songs in the Hindi film Love You Hamesha (2022).[14][15]

All lyrics are written by Vairamuthu; all music is composed by A. R. Rahman.

Tamil
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Adi Paru Mangatha"Suneeta Rao, T. K. Kala and G. V. Prakash Kumar04:26
2."Palakkattu Machanukku"G. V. Prakash Kumar, Noel James, A. R. Rahman (backing vocals)04:37
3."Marghazhi Poove"Shobha Shankar, Chorus06:18
4."En Mel Vizhunda"P. Jayachandran, K. S. Chithra05:05
5."Madrasai Suthi"Shahul Hameed, Swarnalatha, G. V. Prakash Kumar and Manorama04:51
6."Minnalae"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam05:37
Telugu[16]
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Achampeta Mangatha"VennelakantiAnupama, Suneeta Rao, T. K. Kala and G. V. Prakash Kumar04:26
2."Madarasu Chuttivaste"Ghantasala RatnakumarSrinivas, Swarnalatha, G. V. Prakash Kumar, Noel David, Malgudi Subha04:51
3."Maanasa Veena"Sirivennela Seetarama SastryK. S. Chithra, chorus06:18
4."Edapai Jarina"Sirivennela Seetharama SastryK. S. Chithra, Unnikrishnan05:05
5."Palakollu Mavayya"Bhuvana ChandraG. V. Prakash Kumar, Gopal Rao04:37

Release and reception

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May Maadham was released on 9 September 1994.[17] Malini Mannath of The Indian Express wrote on the same day, "Despite its flaws, May Maadham is an engaging little film that is worth viewing".[18] Thulasi of Kalki appreciated the film for Sreeram's cinematography, Rahman's music, Mohan's dialogues and the cast performances.[19] The film was commercially unsuccessful, breaking GV Films' success streak that began in 1990.[20] The film was subsequently dubbed in Telugu under the title Hrudayanjali in 1998.[21]

References

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  1. ↑ "சுட்ட படம்" [Stolen film]. Cinema Vikatan (in Tamil). 14 March 2016. Archived from the original on 5 December 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  2. ↑ R, Aishwaryaa (11 June 2019). "Mohan is gone, but the craziness will go on". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  3. ↑ Sundaram, Nandhu (19 July 2018). "Karuthamma, Nammavar, Kadhalan, Nattamai – Tamil cinema offered its best in the watershed year of 1994". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 17 August 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  4. ↑ யுவராஜ், லாவண்யா (9 September 2022). "May Madham : 'அஜித் வேண்டாம்... வினித் போதும்...' மே மாதம் பிறந்தவரை புறக்கணித்து வந்த மே மாதம்!". ABP Nadu (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 9 February 2025. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  5. ↑ Pawar, Yogesh (6 May 2018). "Smita Patil's tree has grown". Daily News and Analysis. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  6. ↑ Bhopatkar, Tejashree (11 July 2021). "#BigInterview: Sonali Kulkarni: I was told, 'Dark girls don't look good on camera'". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  7. ↑ Raman, Mohan (24 August 2020). "#MadrasThroughTheMovies: A stroll by the Marina Beach & its landmarks". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  8. ↑ Aishwaryaa, R. (22 August 2025). "Marina beach in Chennai: silent witness to Tamil cinema's many moods". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 14 November 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  9. ↑ "May Madham (1994)". Music India Online. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  10. ↑ "Suresh Peters: Tamil considered me a pop singer, Malayalam rescued me". The New Indian Express. 23 October 2025. Archived from the original on 1 November 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  11. ↑ Mani, Charulatha (9 August 2011). "A Raga's Journey – Hindolam Highlights". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  12. ↑ Mani, Charulatha (7 December 2012). "Notes that intrigue". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  13. ↑ Suganth, M (5 September 2018). "When Rahman gives me a tune, I'll have to find both the melody and the words: Vairamuthu". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  14. ↑ Padmanabhan, Savitha (12 March 2001). "Chords & Notes". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 December 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  15. ↑ Venky. "Music review of 'Love You Hamesha'". Chennai Online. Archived from the original on 20 February 2003. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  16. ↑ "Hrudayaanjali (1999)". Music India Online. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  17. ↑ "May Madham". The Indian Express. 9 September 1994. p. 4. Retrieved 1 December 2017 – via Google News Archive.
  18. ↑ Mannath, Malini (9 September 1994). "Laugh-riot". The Indian Express. p. 6. Retrieved 1 December 2017 – via Google News Archive.
  19. ↑ துளசி (25 September 1994). "மே மாதம்". Kalki (in Tamil). p. 19. Retrieved 1 March 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  20. ↑ "No One Helped G Venkateswaran in His Tough Times, Says Producer KT Kunjumon". News18. 1 March 2022. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  21. ↑ "Hrudayanjali". indiancine.ma. Retrieved 14 December 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
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