Do you know what a ‘manja pai’ is?
This yellow cloth bag was used in the sixties when plastic carrier bags were unheard of.
With the arrival of plastic, the manjai pai was quickly forgotten.
Tamil director N. Raghavan’s debut film, Manja Pai, is a metaphor for those bonds we take so much for granted in the pursuit of money today.
“And in the race we lose these relationships,” said Raghavan, former assistant of Tamil director Sarkunam.
The relationship in question here is the bond shared between a grandfather and his grandson.
Vimal plays the grandson who is working in the city and Rajkiran, remembered for his roles in Tamil films Sandakozhi and Thavamai Thavamirundhu, plays the grandfather.
When this grandfather pays his grandson a visit, his rustic habits and mannerisms not only become an object of ridicule among neighbours but also lands the grandson in embarrassing situations.
“It is a family story laden with sentiments,” continued Raghavan, whose love affair with cinema goes back to his childhood days, when he used to help his father, a theatre operator in Madurai.
“The magic of the celluloid world fascinated me and I yearned to become a film maker someday,” he remembered.
Lakshmi Menon is paired opposite Vimal. Kadhal Saravanan, known for his comedy roles will be seen in a significant part.
Manja Pai is Sarkunam’s first production venture under the banner ‘A.Sarkunam Cinema,’ which he runs with his brother, A. Nandha Kumar.
About his role, Vimal said: “I was initially a bundle of nervous while shooting with a veteran like Raj Kiran sir, but thankfully we bonded well on the sets.”
Tamil director N. Lingusamy who is the co-producer said: “I watched the film with my children and at the end of it, I found them in tears. They were reminded of their grandfather.”
N.R. Raghunanthan has composed music and Masani is the cinematographer.
Will Manja Pai deliver the message that it is carrying?