Film: Biriyani
Cast: Karthi, Hansika Motwani, Premgi Amaren, Nassar
Director: Venkat Prabhu
Aimed at the youth, Venkat Prabhu’s Biriyani falls flat and struggles to make an impact with the audience with a nonsensical love story and even worse thriller plot. Making it quite difficult to comprehend, the makers seemed to try a comedy-thriller, but film takes off with too many twists without even establishing its lead characters. The director’s attempt at infusing some comedy as well, fails, with crass jokes on women that are almost nauseating to watch.
The story follows Sudheer (Karthi), a playboy, who charms his way into the lives of women. Friend and constant sidekick Parasu (Premgi Amaren) is frustrated at how all women fall for Sudheer instead of him. TV reporter Priyanka (Hansika) makes an entry, and the lead pair hit it off, but things soon fizzle out after she finds him with another woman. Perhaps to justify Hansika’s paycheck, the relationship gains momentum again, but the on-and-off relationship is both confusing and annoying, failing to establish a love story at all.
In another angle, the CBI are trying to pin down business tycoon Vardharajan (Nasser), who is involved in a granite scam case. Vardharajan and Sudheer’s paths cross and the two end up becoming suspects in a kidnapping. What follows makes for the rest of the film.
A steady stream of alcohol in the film accompanied by a lacklustre, and at times confusing, story line makes the audience wish they were under the influence. Sudheer’s playboy attitude and his pursuit of multiple women is far from convincing, and is neither funny nor entertaining. His ruthless bashing up of people single-handedly also seems like a sham.
The third hero in the movie -- the alcohol -- was perhaps unnecessary unless the director forgot to establish that Karthi and Premgi are actually alcoholics (a bottle features in most every scene), which in reality, would’ve made better sense for the story (or the lack of it). While the makers were perhaps trying to portray them as young men who like to have too much of a good time, the presentation is very over-the-top. They are also seen drinking and driving on multiple occasions, not the best message to send out.
The only place the movie scores is in terms of its glamour quotient and sparks of humour. Cinematography by Sakthi Saravanan is efficient. Music is decent and picturised well.
What could’ve salvaged the film was a stronger script that would’ve exploited Karthi as an actor better. Hansika is also wasted in an inconsequential role. Premgi fares much better, but at times goes overboard. However, Nassar, as always, puts in a fine performance as the business tycoon. Mandy Takhar sizzles in her small yet pivotal role.
Biriyani as a whole, does not have much to deliver apart from a few moments of humour and a couple of entertaining songs. The love story, the action sequences, suspense and the sentiment falls way below expectations and is completely unconvincing. The climax is chaotic and ends abruptly. Watch at your own risk.