So far, Sundar.C's movies have fallen into one of two categories. On one hand
we have his comedies which started off strongly with
Ullaithai Alli Thaa but have become increasingly
silly and mindless, as was the case with
Unakkaaga Ellaam Unakkaaga. On the other hand, he has also given us sentimental
movies like Azhagarsaami . Personally, I have found
the latter to be more tolerable. This time he has made a love story and comparing it
to his recent string of movies, it looks like he might be better at this.
Anbu(Prabhu Deva) is a professional dubbing artiste who can mimic the voice of
anyone. He falls in love with Jyothi(Anjala), his sister's friend, but soon learns
that Jyothi is in love with Gautham(Karthik). Disaster strikes when Gautham
dies in an accident, which also leaves Jyothi temporarily blinded. Since she is
in no condition to hear of Gautham's death, Anbu begins to speak in Gautham's
voice, convincing her that her lover is alive and well.
Subtlety and romance are not words I normally associate with Sundar C but Prabhu Deva's
feelings for Anjala have been expressed so well that I had trouble believing
that it was Sundar behind the camera. The song sequence where Prabhu Deva imagines
rain centered over him is delightful. The way he imagines himself and Anjala in
various poses depending on the way he arranges their slippers is very imaginative
while there are spontaneous laughs in the way his plan of letting the air out of her
scooter tyre goes awry. The scene where he brings a single rose while Anjala
is overwhelmed by loads of rose petals from Karthik is poignant and directed very
sensitively.
These initial portions are enjoyable with lots of mimicry, fun, song and dance.
Prabhu Deva succeeds in creating a likeable character whom we can sympathise with
and his mimicry scenes, like the way he consoles his sister, are enjoyable.
But showing Anjala's parents as uncaring and unloving is unnecessary and is never
touched upon or even indicated later in the story. The storyline of Prabhu Deva
having to 'be' Karthik is brought in well. But the movie does begin to drag after this
though with sequences which make it clear that Prabhu Deva is in love with Anjala
coming one after the other. Since we already know this, these scenes are
meaningless.
The ending portions are again unnecessarily stretched with needless
complications being brought in. The change of heart of Anjala, which is the
whole point of the climax, is rushed through and unconvincing while Prabhu
Deva's decision seems stupid instead of earning sympathy. But the climax on
the stage is well done though.
As in Nageswari , Vivek starts off strongly with his
comments about the devotees dressed in black. The comedy track is centered
around him facing danger from water and his encounter with the old man is
very funny. But the following sequences are rarely funny with the one where
another man is at the receiving end being particularly distasteful. Vivek does
regain some lost ground in the final sequence where he accompanies another man
in the rain. His Guna-like rounding of the hospital room is also a nice
piece.
Prabhu Deva is at ease in both the playful and serious portions of the movie.
Anjala looks pretty but struggles to show emotions on her face. Karthik
irritates in his cameo with his hyperactive dialog delivery and movements.
Karthik Raja does a Deva with his Kingda..., which bears a lot of
resemblance to Yappa Yappa Iyappa... from
Ezhaiyin Sirippil. But Kavidhaigal Sollava... is a catchy melodious
number.
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