Having travelled with him as script writers since his small screen days and written for some of his films too, the duo of Murugan and Anand turn directors for Santhanan’s second ‘heroic’ venture Inimey Ippadithaan.
While the actor’s earlier film Vallavanuku Pullum Ayudham was a remake of a successful Telugu flick, this one is an original script. Again, what is appreciable is that the writer-director duo has framed a well-rounded script, which would have suited any romantic hero.
The script, while allowing Santhanam to indulge in his usual comic routine, also gives him space to try out varied situations and expressions. And the actor does it with fair competence. His dance movements are more fluid and he is quite comfortable in the romantic scenes.
The plot revolves around Seenu who aspires to have a beautiful life partner. He rejects various marriage proposals, scouting around for his dream girl. These early scenes are typical Santhanam style with the actor in his elements.
Seenu’s life takes a turn, when he instantly falls for the pretty Maha (Ashna, who had paired with him in his earlier film too), after he gets a tight slap from her. Seenu hounding her with his love, and the way in which he brushes aside her various admirers are amusing moments. Though not entirely original, the manner in which he manages to get her to disclose her cell phone number gets the laughs.
Berated, humiliated and rejected by her continuously, a disheartened Seenu consents to marry Akila (Partibhan’s discovery and a Nayantara look-alike), an alliance arranged by the two families. Twists and turns are brought in at regular intervals which helps sustain interest and momentum.
The interval block where Seenu gets into a verbal appeasement act, juggling the calls made by the two girls, is hilarious. There are other similar moments. Like the scene at the restaurant, where Seenu nearly gets caught between the two girls. The heroines fit in suitably. Santhanam looks trim and watchable as he goes through the various nuances of his character. We get to see a refreshing subtle side of the actor where he essays moments of Seenu’s vulnerability and distress.
The screenplay is neatly crafted, the narration has a smooth flow. The dialogue sparkles with wit, the humour decent. The supporting actors fit in suitably. Like Thambi Ramaiah as Seenu’s uncle whose good intention to streamline his nephew’s affairs of the heart backfires many a time; and Fefsi Vijayan as Akila’s father, a military man who impromptu breaks into a delightful ‘lungi dance..’. The end is a cute, funny one.
The film delivers much more than what one would have expected and is a pleasant watch.