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Darker Shades of Civil Work

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Film - Poriyaalan

Director - Thanu Kumar

Cast - Harish Kalyan, Anandi, Ajay Raj, Mohan Ram, Achuta Kumar

Directed by debutant Thanu Kumar who has apprenticed with Vetrimaran, the plot revolves around a civil engineer and the challenges he faces in opening his own construction firm. With elements of friendship and romance weaved in, the film depicts the seamy side of the real estate business.      Saravanan, frustrated with his job, decides to go independent with his own construction firm with buddy Prabhu, unaware of the dark side. The duo have to contend with the slippery Shastry, a mediator who finds them a site to build on. They soon find themselves fighting not just for their lives but for their family’s  honour too. The narration could have been tighter and crisper. The film has an insipid love angle and the songs seem redundant and intrusive. Harish Kalyan handles the role of Saravavan with subtlety. But at times one does get the feel that the enormity of his problem hasn’t quite dawned on Saravavan. Debutante Anwandi has a presentable screen presence, but could have been projected in a more favourable manner.         Ajay Raj as Prabhu and Achuta Kumar as the loan shark leave an impact.But the surprise package is Mohan Ram as Shastri. The narration goes into thriller mode in the second half and keeps one engaged, spiraling to a fitting finale. One expected much more output given the team backing the debutante.

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