Film: Thillu Mullu
Director: Bhadri
Cast: Shiva, Isha Talwar, Prakashraj, Suri, Ilavarasu,Kovai Sarala
It was a film that was a major box office success, for its well-crafted screenplay and its humour. Golmal, the Amol Palekar-starrer was then remade in various languages including Tamil, where it was titled Thillu Mullu. Now the film returns, after about three decades, with Shiva reprising the ‘dual’ role played with elan by Rajinikanth in the Tamil version. The director, while staying largely faithful to the main incidents and happenings, has tweaked it a little with some superficial changes to adapt it to a contemporary context.
A situational comedy with some sparkling lines, the film is about Pasupathy who is in dire need of a job, and of the lie he tells to land one. The lie helps him gain the confidence of his eccentric employer, and endear Pasupathy to him. To cover up the lie, Pasupathy has to spin many more yarns with his family and friends supporting his stories. At one point, he conjures up a twin, Kandhan, a karate master, and even a fake mother. But when Kandhan falls in love with the boss’s daughter Janani, matters spiral out of his control.
Shiva sports two different looks here. One of the sober, god-fearing Pasupathy, always in khadi attire. The other, the blue-eyed karate master Kandhan whom the boss hires to teach his daughter the martial art. It’s a role right up Shiva’s sleeve. The actor plays it effortlessly in his own inimitable style. Prakashraj livens up the scenes as his quirky boss.
Debuting in Tamil is Isha Talwar, fitting in suitably as Janani and getting her lip-syncing right.
The actors seem to be enjoying themselves, passing on some of the merriment to the audience. There are some genuinely funny moments. Like the scene where Kandhan gives karate lessons to Janani. Kovai Sarala is hilarious in the scene where she has to play mother to the ‘twins’. But her ‘double act’ in the slum doesn’t quite jell. A couple of songs from the earlier version find their way here. But their picturisation fails to make any impact. The first part of the film moves at a fast pace, while the second half tends to drag a little. It picks up momentum towards the end especially where Santhanam makes an entry and causes mix-ups.
The Verdict: Breezy and fun-filled, Thillu Mullu keeps one entertained for the most part.