By Anand J [Email: cine@monsoonjournal.com]
[monsoonJournal.com]
Has Tamil Cinema evolved? Especially with movies like ‘Mozhi’ and ‘Paruthi Veeran’ one starts to wonder ‘May be it has’. With spiritful directors like Manirathnam, Shankar and a slew of talented young directors, film going audiences have started to feel that Tamil film Industry has come of age. But then the reality hits you hard with ‘Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram’.
The first question that crosses a viewer’s mind would be ‘Why did they make this movie?’ followed by a spate of other reasonable questions like ‘Are viewers mad?’ and ‘Why a remake?’
Parattai is the story of a youngster, Azhagu Sundaram, from a remote village in Tirunelveli, who reaches Chennai in search of a livelihood to support his mother after his father’s death. As fate has it, he becomes a gangster and gains popularity as Parattai, in a very short time. He then develops an aversion towards lawlessness and wants to return to his mother, and the peace of his village. Circumstances however conspire to prevent him from doing that.
Meanwhile, his mother follows him to Chennai, but finds it difficult to locate him in the huge city. And so it goes on. Doesn’t it already feel like a 1970’s lost and found story? The story is never consistent, at times it is about misled, helpless individuals and at other times, it is about the love between a mother and a son. Finally it boils down to a disappointing climax.
Director Suresh Krishna has relied on melodrama to make up for the story’s deficiencies. Poor performances add to the film’s low points. This movie is apparently a remake of a Kannada Super Hit movie ‘Jogi’ which won lots of appreciation. It defies logic when one thinks about how this storyline could have won laurels.
Archana’s performance is the biggest letdown. The national award winner could have chosen a better script for her comeback. She is believed to have fallen head over heels for this script since she was told that she would appear through out the movie. Looks like she has lost her touch with the Cine media. Dhanush, as the hero, does fairly well. Having played similar roles earlier, Meera Jasmine has perfected the bubbly bold character and provides some relief in her short role.
Debutant music director Gurukiran’s music fails to create an impression. The timing of the songs in the film add to the jarring effect; there is one point where two songs are almost simultaneous.
Cinematography and Editing are the only solace to the viewers. The movie goes into flashback quite often and it has been handled deftly. However, unnecessary attempts to excite, with tilted visuals and unwanted jerks, doesn’t go well with the movie.
Director Suresh Krishna has used Rajnikanth’s name, in and out of context, in a big to appeal to the superstar’s (who is also Dhanush’s father-in-law) fans, but that is as ineffective as everything else in the movie.
All in all ‘Parattai’ will evoke lots of ‘Korattai’ (Big yawns huh……)
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