Maal
{{Short description|2023 Tamil film}}
{{No plot|date=October 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Maal
| image =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Dinesh Kumaran
| writer =
| producer = Shivaraj R
Karthik MB
| starring = {{plainlist|
- Asraf
- VJ Pappu
- Jey
}}
| cinematography = Shivaraj R
| editing =
| music = Pathmayan Sivanatham
| studio = Kovai Film Mates
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=y|2023|09|22}}
| runtime =
| country = India
| language = Tamil
}}
Maal is a 2023 Indian Tamil-language film directed by Dinesh Kumaran and starring Asraf, VJ Pappu and Gowri Nandha in the lead roles. It was released on 22 September 2023.
Cast
- Asraf as Kathir
- VJ Pappu as Gowtham
- Jey as Jey
- Saikarthi as Karna
- Gowri Nandha as Yazhini
- Dinesh Kumaran as Philips
- Gajaraj as Gajaraj
- Dilip Balasubramaniyam as Sankar
Production
Maal featured predominantly newcomers barring Gajaraj and Saikarthi, who had previously worked on Hara Hara Mahadevaki (2017) and Jagame Thanthiram (2021). Actress Gowri Nandha, known for her role in Ayyappanum Koshiyum (2020), shot for the film in March 2021.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/gowri-nandha-it-was-exciting-to-give-my-voice-for-a-character-in-tamil/articleshow/81614424.cms?frmapp=yes&from=mdr|title=Gowri Nandha: It was exciting to give my voice for a character in Tamil|newspaper=The Times of India |date=21 March 2021}} The film was shot in Coimbatore and Tanjore.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ottplay.com/interview/exclusive-maal-has-four-entwined-storylines-that-connect-to-a-chola-era-idol-says-saikarthi/90c5cce7fb734|title=EXCLUSIVE! Maal has four entwined storylines that connect to a Chola-era idol, says Saikarthi|website=OTTPlay}}
In September 2023 the OTT platform aha announced that the Tamil film Maal would premiere on the streaming platform on September 22.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2023/sep/21/maal-to-premiere-on-aha-47836.html|title=Maal to premiere on Aha|website=Cinema Express}}
Reception
The film was released on 22 September 2023 on the aha streaming platform. A critic from OTTPlay wrote "debutant director Dinesh Kumaran's Maal is an idea that's good on paper, but completely falters in its execution", adding that the film is "let down by a weak screenplay, average performances and amateurish filmmaking".{{Cite web|url=https://www.ottplay.com/review/maal-review-this-hyperlink-drama-by-a-bunch-of-newcomers-fails-to-deliver-the-thrills/1231a06593174|title=Maal Review: This hyperlink drama doesn't deliver the thrills|website=OTTPlay|access-date=5 October 2023|archive-date=3 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003002640/https://www.ottplay.com/review/maal-review-this-hyperlink-drama-by-a-bunch-of-newcomers-fails-to-deliver-the-thrills/1231a06593174|url-status=live}} A reviewer from Dina Thanthi noted that the film was "low on logic" but had some "high moments".{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailythanthi.com/Cinema/Review/mall-cinema-review-1065186|title=மால்: சினிமா விமர்சனம்|date=3 October 2023|website=www.dailythanthi.com|access-date=5 October 2023|archive-date=5 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005224558/https://www.dailythanthi.com/Cinema/Review/mall-cinema-review-1065186|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemainbox.com/new-movie-reviews/maal-movie-review-820.html|title='மால்' திரைப்பட விமர்சனம்|first=’மால்’ திரைப்பட|last=விமர்சனம்|website=www.cinemainbox.com|access-date=5 October 2023|archive-date=2 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002152657/https://www.cinemainbox.com/new-movie-reviews/maal-movie-review-820.html|url-status=live}}
References
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