sentences:  The film was initially slated to face a box office battle with several other big films notably Kamal Haasan's "Hey Ram", Mani Ratnam's "Alaipayuthey", Rajiv Menon's "Kandukondain Kandukondain" and Shankar's "Mudhalvan", but the delay of the first three gave "Taj Mahal" a possible leeway to become a success.The New Indian Express gave the film a mixed review citing that it was "vintage Bharatiraja at his best", while also adding that Riya Sen "shines in spite of an alien language and the totally strange cultural milieu in which she is placed".The reviewer adds that "song picturisation is brilliant and Revathy and Radhika, both favourite ex-heroines of the director, put up an impressive show."