Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Padikkathavan Movie Review


Movie : Padikkathavan
Genre : Action
Cast : Dhanush, Tamannaah, Prathap Pothan, Sayaji Shinde, Suman, Atul Kulkarni
Director: Suraaj
Music : Manisharma
Produced by : P.Venkatrama Reddy, B.Bharathy Reddy
Banner : Sun Pictures


Story:
Hailing from a family of well-educated persons, Radhakrishnan alias Raki(Dhanush) could not complete his 10th Standard. His friends advice him to marry a well-educated girl to hide his illiterate image. He meets Gayathri(Tamannaah), an aeronautical student, helps her and proposes his love to her instantly. Gayathri refuses initially but later falls in love when he saves her from the goons of Chinna Reddy(Sayaji Shinde). When Gayathri is attacked for the second time, her father Samara Simha Reddy(Suman) comes to her rescue and takes her away to their native place Andhra. Raki learns about the tussle between Samara Simha Reddy and Chinna Reddy and goes with Assault Arumugam(Vivek) to Andhra to marry Gayathri.

Raki saves Gayathri once again from the goons of Chinna Reddy in Andhra and gets the consensus of her father for marriage. While Raki goes to railway station to return to Chennai to bring his family for marriage, he is attacked by the thugs of Kasi Anandan(Atul Kulkarni), a Tirunelveli Dada. Raki understands from Samara Simha Reddy that he unknowingly killed Kasi Anandan’s brother while he had been to Tirunelveli for his sister’s exam. Raki meets Kasi Anandan and explains him that he unknowingly killed his brother and seeks apology. But Kasi Anandan invites Raki to fight with him and if he conquers, he will be freed from his clutch. Raki wins the battle and marries his sweetheart.

Analysis:
First half of the film looks realistic and suits Dhanush viz. Prathap Pothan pricking Dhanush for not completing his 10th, Dhanush doing odd jobs for everyone in family, his love with Tamannaah, etc. If we assume that the story would go a full circle and the family would realize the worth of the son one day, we are mistaken. After the entry of Suman and the story shifts its locale to Andhra, it looks like a telugu film and the subsequent scenes are unrealistic and illogical. Dhanush family does not come into the picture at all after the few scenes in the beginning. Climax reminds us the climax of ‘Run’ film.
As far as the performances are concerned, Dhanush has given his best in comedy, fight and song sequences. But wishing to give a hat trick after the success of Yaaradi Nee Mohini and Pollathavan he has not tried anything new and his performance resembles his previous films Pollathavan and Sullan. Eventhough Dhanush has improved his physique significantly it is hard to believe that he can take on a whole lot of thugs at the same time(Dhanush please be realistic in your future ventures). In a commercial plot, Tamannaah just delivers what is expected of her. Vivek’s wig and his looks resembles lyricist Vairamuthu. His comedy track begins on a different note but he irritates when he tries to pass off as a woman. Comparing to the director’s previous comedy track in Thalainagaram and Maruthamalai, this is below average and ‘Padmashree’ Vivek also does not claim this as one of his best.
Big Villains Suman, Atul Kulkarni and Sayaji Shinde(why he shouts aloud?) are wasted in small roles. Director Suraaj promises initially in some scenes with twists viz. in the introduction of Atul Kulkarni, sudden murder of Atul Kulkarni’s brother and when we learn Sayaji Shinde men are following Tamannaah & not Dhanush, etc. but he fails to keep the momentum going and drifts into illogical and unrealistic route. Mani Sharma's music as well as re-recording, A.A. Venkatesh's camerawork and Thalapathy Dinesh's stunts add value to the film.

Final Comment:
First half of the film is OK but the second half tests your patience. If you are not able to see Padikkathavan movie in theatre don’t worry a lot. It will soon be screened on your favorite satellite TV (SUN TV).

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