Sundar C is probably one of the most proficient directors in the tamil cinefield today.
He churns out movies regularly and news items always talk about him being involved
in two or more projects at any time. Unfortunately, quantity and quality are not the
same thing. Ever since the breezy comedy classic Ullathai Alli Thaa, his products
have been on the downslide on the quality scale with attempted comedies like
Unakkaaga Ellaam Unakkaaga being even further dips in the
graph. His latest venture with his favorite hero Karthik, though not as moronic as
some of his earlier movies, still doesn't point to any change in direction in the
quality of his movies.
Kannan(Karthik) is an architect, who is working hard to finish work on a temple in his
village. He falls in love with Parvati(Divya Unni), who is working there. Meanwhile, an old
woman, Ranganaayagi(Manorama), in a neighboring village is awaiting the arrival of her
grandson from America. Circumstances force Kannan to pose as the visiting grandson. Though
initially planning to stay for a short period, the woman's love makes Kannan stay on. The
woman's niece Rajeswari(Raasi) falls for him while Parvati also arrives at the house.
The movie chugs on merrily until the concluding portions. As long it treats issues
lightheartedly, the movie is atleast entertaining, even if it doesn't offering anything
novel or special. But the climax proves to be its undoing. It alters the tone of the movie
and looks like it belongs in another movie. It is violent and bloody and offers an
unsatisfying solution in the name of sentiments and an unexpected ending. Easily one of
the most miscalculated endings in recent times.
The theme of an impostor entering another home and winning over the hearts of the people
in the house has been seen several times before and Sundar doesn't strive to offer
anything new. Ofcourse Karthik has to be completely goldhearted(never mind the fact that
he is hiding news of the grandson's death from the grandmother and impersonating him!).
So we have scenes like Karthik and Manorama feeding each other and Manorama bequeathing all
her wealth to him. The scene where Karthik fulfils her longtime wish is the only sweet one.
There is also the village 'thiruvizha'(has there ever been a rural movie without one of
these?!) which Karthik promises to help hold.
The love triangle involving Karthik, Divya Unni and Raasi isn't developed fully. The initial
romance between Karthik and Divya has some nice moments like the first scene where she
describes herself to him. Later, the couple of scenes where Karthik ends up conveying
the wrong impressions to Raasi while trying to talk to Divya are believable. But the
happenings are completely predictable and Sundar doesn't sway from the expected path
even once. He does so in the climax but considering solution he offers, we wish he hadn't.
Inspite of Koundamani and Senthil, the movie lacks any real laughs. The pair sure has fallen
a long way from Karagaattakkaaran . There are a couple of places
where some 'kadi' jokes find their mark but the comedy landscape is quite barren otherwise.
The introduction of the second Koundamani(in the form of a brother for Karthik's friend)
decreases the laughs by half instead of doubling it. So you can guess what happens when
a third Koundamani in introduced in the form of the brothers' father in two scenes.
Karthik has nothing much to do in the light role. Divya Unni, a Malayalam import, looks
extremely sweet. Her acting talents aren't stretched too much but she performs well enough
in the limited role. Raasi(previously Manthra, who has apparently undergone a name
change since her stint in the Telugu world) doesn't have much to do.
| 
