‘Madha Gaja Raja’ movie review: Vishal, Sundar C’s fun, largely engaging throwback to masala cinema of the past

We are three Tamil films and one pan-Indian title into Pongal cinema mania this year, with two more big-ticket releases on the horizon. Yet, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that one of the most interesting Pongal releases this year might actually be Madha Gaja Raja — masala cinema master chef Sundar C’s long-delayed comedy entertainer, releasing after 12 years. If you’re however an audience familiar with Sundar C’s brand of cinema, Madha Gaja Raja is a delightful throwback — it tells you a thing or two about the commercial cinema of our past; why a Pushpa 2 works in 2024; why filmmakers used to take big gambles with comedies; and why heroines being embarrassingly used as mere sex symbols have diminished. Madha Gaja Raja Director: Sundar C Cast: Vishal, Santhanam, Sonu Sood, Anjali, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar Runtime: 133 minutes Storyline: A young man stands up for his friends and takes on a business tycoon, while also navigating a love triangle The storyline is simple; Raja and his three childhood friends — played by Santhanam, Nithin Sathya and Sadagopan Ramesh — reunite at the wedding of their favourite school teacher’s daughter. So, perhaps most of what glitters about Madha Gaja Raja isn’t the film itself, but the mindless fun of watching something that as a whole could only exist in your past.