| Mugaputhagam | |
|---|---|
| File:Mugaputhagam.jpg Release poster | |
| Directed by | Atlee |
| Screenplay by | Suryaa Balakumaran Priya Mathan |
| Story by | Atlee |
| Starring |
|
| Music by | Vishal Chandrashekhar |
| Cinematography | George C. Williams |
| Edited by | T. S. Suresh |
Production company | MAS Studio Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 21 minutes and 22 seconds[1] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
Mugaputhagam (transl. Facebook) is a 2011 Indian Tamil-language short comedy drama film co-written and directed by Atlee and starring Sivakarthikeyan, Sathish, Suryaa Balakumaran, Karna and Sneha Murali.[2][3]
Plot[edit | edit source]
The short film starts off with Murali talking to Kavitha aka "Bujju", an unknown woman that he met online, and coming to the spot they agreed to meet on his motorbike. A perpetrator named Sathish tells Murali how he catfished him using his Korean phone that had voice changing options. Murali is later attacked by Sathish and his goons at the Velachery railway station. When Sathish's men ask him if Murali will turn them over to the police, he tells them not to worry.
Jeeva Murali and Aarthi Manohaar meet via Facebook. Jeeva hangs out with his friends, Sathish, Surya and "Courier" Karna, who each aspire to fall in love and Surya even unsuccessfully tries his luck with a Chinese girl named Jing Chak. One day, Aarthi agrees to send Jeeva her photo, but he is dumbfounded when she sends him a random girl much to the amusement of his friends. After Jeeva's friend, Sathish, reads a newspaper article about Murali's incident, Jeeva receives a phone call from Aarthi asking Jeeva to meet up at the backside of the same railway station that Murali was attacked. For safety purposes, Jeeva brings a thug who decides to bring other henchman he knows in other to protect him. To Jeeva's surprise, when he turns around Aarthi is in fact standing behind him. Jeeva asks her why she didn't send her photo the other day, and she tells him that some things are better told in person. Aarthi's friend reveals to Jeeva that Aarthi is in fact blind.
Cast[edit | edit source]
- Sivakarthikeyan as Jeeva Murali
- Sathish as Sathish, Jeeva's friend[lower-alpha 1]
- Suryaa Balakumaran as Surya
- Karna as "Courier" Karna[lower-alpha 1]
- Rajendran as Thug
- Sneha Murali as Aarthi Manohar
- Priya Mathan
- Ramesh Thilak as Sathish, Murali's perpetrator
- Sree Kumar
- Chantarang Meesuk as Jing Chak
- Vignesh
- Sugunathan as Henchman
- Tamil
- Kutty
Production[edit | edit source]
Atlee, who felt that Sivakarthikeyan (of Vijay TV fame) would be a good actor, called him to act in Mugaputhagam. The film was initially conceived as a feature film before it was made as a short film.[5]
Themes and influences[edit | edit source]
The short film highlighted the effect that Facebook had on the youth by showcasing male perpetrators catfishing unsuspected men by posing as women interested in romantic relationships.[6][7][1] The theme of putting "spotlight on crimes around women followed by wishful justice" was followed in Atlee's future work.[8] The short film also highlighted how one shouldn't be ableist in love.[1]
Music[edit | edit source]
The music was composed by Vishal Chandrashekhar under the stage name of Nandha.[9]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tea Kadai Paruvam" | — | — | 3:12 |
Release[edit | edit source]
The film was screened at AVM Studios in Vadapalani, Chennai on 14 February 2011 with Balakumaran (whose son Suryaa acted and co-wrote the film) appearing as the chief guest.[10]
Reception[edit | edit source]
A critic from CDTV.in rated the film 3.5/5 and wrote, "Mugaputhagam is a variety concept embedded with essentials like comedy, friendship, love and all other aspects necessary for a good entertaining film".[11] A critic from the UK-based Thamarai wrote, "This has to be one of the best Tamil short films on the net".[12] The short film was also positively received by the audience on various social media due to having a 'strong message for the youth'.[1][13] In 2024, Scott Campbell of Far Out wrote that this short film "outlined that he [Atlee] was more than ready to strike out on his own".[14]
Notes[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Bhaskar, Arushi (7 September 2023). "Ahead of Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan, meet director Atlee whose massy entertainers redefined Vijay's superstardom". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 11 April 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ↑ "Mugaputhagam by Atlee". CDTV.in. 14 May 2011. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025 – via Weebly.
- ↑ "Happy Birthday, Atlee!: Shortfilm director to a popular Indian filmmaker: Look at the magical journey of the talented director". The Times of India. 20 September 2021. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ↑ "Mugaputhagam - Official Trailer HD". A for apple studios. 26 December 2010. Archived from the original on 23 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Frank speech of Endhiran Assistant Director Atlee with CDTV". CDTV.in. 8 February 2011. Archived from the original on 24 February 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2025 – via Weebly.
- ↑ "Birthday Special: Atlee's best films to watch after Jawan". Filmfare. 21 September 2023. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ↑ K, Janani (21 September 2023). "Assistant director to being Ambani's guest, Atlee's growth is a huge inspiration". India Today. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ↑ Nair, Divya (1 August 2023). "Decoding Atlee's Recipe For Blockbuster Cinema". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ↑ Template:Cite Instagram
- ↑ "Writer Balakumaran pays visit to "Mugaputhagam" screening event at AVM Studio in Vadapalani". CDTV.in. 14 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2025 – via Weebly.
- ↑ "Mugaputhagam by Atlee (Featured review)". CDTV.in. 9 April 2011. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025 – via Weebly.
- ↑ "Mugaputhagam (Facebook)". Thamarai. 12 April 2011. Archived from the original on 23 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ↑ "From Short Film To Big Screen Hits, A Look At Atlee's Success Journey". News18. 13 July 2022. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ↑ Campbell, Scott (2 April 2024). "How Atlee Kumar has become one of India's greatest filmmakers". Far Out. Archived from the original on 26 February 2025. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
External links[edit | edit source]
- Mugaputhagam on Moviebuff.com
- Mugaputhagam on YouTube