Producer: Anthony
Director: Arpudan
Cast: Shaam, Nithya Das, Samiksha
Music: Karthik Raja
 
Films with campus milieu are as old as the hills. ‘Manathodu Mazhaikalam’ is also a college campus love story. It’s all about close friendship that a boy and a girl share. Director Arputhan has tried to portray it in a different way by even giving way for commercial elements but slow narration has made it predictable. It also has scenes with shades from other films.

Shiva (Shaam), a popular guy in the college lands behind the bars for no fault. His fair-weather friends are no where to be seen on sensing the trouble. His college mate Sathya (Nithyadas) feels pity on him and bails him out of the trouble with her father’s help. Shiva comes to know the act and starts feeling a soft corner for Sathya. Their friendship grows even after college. Their parents decide to put them in wedlock, mistaking that they are having affair. The duo rejects the proposal. So, Sathya marries Karthik (Jayasuriya) and Shiva marries Shruthy (Samiksha). But their affection for each other continues even years after marriage. The rest of the film is on the consequences that come out of this relationship.

Shaam plays the role of an energetic college student in the film. He looks fresh and his performance is fine but he needs to improve in expressions. Malluwood girl Nithyadas has done well in this Tamil debut. She has a good role to play and she has done good job as Shaam's friend, philosopher, guide and college mate. Samiksha has poured in enough glamour into it. Karthikraja’s music is soothing especially the songs “Puthithai Piranthom” and “Ayiram Vanavil”. Raghav's cinematography is also good.

Old theme and slow pace are the flip sides of the film. However, you can still enjoy watching the film. Give a try!