Maha Prabhu

Maha Prabhu is a 1996 Indian Tamil-language masala film directed by A. Venkatesh, making his directorial debut. The film stars R. Sarathkumar, Sukanya and Vineetha. It was released on 26 January 1996.

Plot
Dhamodaran sells black cinema tickets alongside his friends Sedhu and Vicky. Dhamodaran is known to be an angry man thus he promises to his mother Vellaiyamma to avoid violence. Jothi, Dhamodaran's cousin, is deeply in love with Dhamodaran.

Shanmugavel, a corrupt politician, is an influential man and even the police cannot arrest him for his crimes. His son Bhaskar spreads terror among the college students. Eswarapandiyan, an honest police officer, is determined to arrest Shanmugavel. Later, Uma, Eswarapandiyan 's wife, is killed by Shanmugavel and Eswarapandian is left for dead.

Thereafter, Mahalakshmi moves into the house opposite to Dhamodaran's house. Mahalakshmi is an orphan and becomes a college lecturer. Dhamodaran falls in love with her but Mahalakshmi advises him to first become a decent man. Dhamodaran then becomes a mechanic and he also changes his behaviour. In the meantime, Bhaskar loses the college's chairman election mainly due to Mahalakshmi, who supported the other contestant. After seeing Mahalakshmi and Dhamodaran's love, Jothi sacrifices her love and she decides to marry another man.

Soon, Dhamodaran clashes with Bhaskar's henchmen to save his lover Mahalakshmi. When Bhaskar tries to undress Mahalakshmi, Vellaiyamma interferes and she is pushed into a sewer. Mahalakshmi then sets herself on fire. Dhamodaran comes too late and discovers their dead bodies. He then turns berserk and kills Bhaskar. Dhamodaran is later arrested by the police and Shanmugavel challenges Dhamodaran to kill him.

Eswarapandiyan then saves Dhamodaran from the police. What transpires later forms the crux of the story.

Production
Despite the film I Love India (1993) failing at the box-office, star Sarathkumar decided to collaborate again with the same producer for another film which eventually became Maha Prabhu. The film marked the directorial debut of A. Venkatesh and it was reported to be based on a real life event which happened when he worked as a reporter for Maalai Malar.

Soundtrack
The music was composed by Deva, with lyrics written by Vaali.

Reception
D. S. Ramanujam of The Hindu wrote, "The action sequences are tightly edited (Lenin and V. T. Vijayan) and framed (camera: T. Vijayagopal) right from the start and the screenplay of the director, backed by his dialogue,  make it  worth  the time".

Legacy
Senthil's dialogue "No Comments Simbly Waste" entered Tamil vernacular, often used by people when tired of responding to questions.