Film: Ego
Director: Sakthivel
Cast: Velu, Anashwara, Bala, Vellai Pandi, Revati Paati
The film is about two petty thieves who encounter an uncomfortable situation and try to extricate themselves from it. Meanwhile they try to make the best use of the situation for their own gains.
Though there is a lead pair, there is no romantic interlude as such. In fact after their earlier not-so-pleasant encounter in a train, actress Gomathi disappears for about half the film. She re-appears later, creating complications in the life of Easwar.
After which the duo (the title is formed by the first letters of their names) are at each other’s throats, indulging in games of one-upmanship and trying to project each other in an unfavourable light.
Meant to be a comic entertainer, the film does have it’s fun moments. But these moments are few and far between. And they are mainly generated through the dialogue, and also partly due to the antics of Bala who plays the hero’s buddy.
A promising comedian in the making Bala makes the best of his role. Gomathi runs away from home to meet her lover Kishore. Easwar and Bala chased by some goons, are on the same train. The duo at a point miss the train.
Easwar’s bag of money is left on Gomathi’s seat. And Easwar comes into possession of Gomathi’s ring. The complications arise when Easwar to claim his bag and return the ring goes to Gomathi’s village, and is mistaken for Gomathi’s lover. Making the most of his mistaken identity, Easwar gains the confidence of Gomathi’s family, hoping to steal from the household.
Gomathi’s return, and her trying to prove Easwar an impostor makes the rest. The director takes a dig at stereotypes in Tamil films, but caters to it himself. Gomathi’s family is a huge joint one; her uncles are thugs; there are fearful looking henchmen who take up arms at the slightest provocation; and Gomathi’s father the local bigwig, who trusts a stranger with the locker’s keys.
The man refuses to believe his own daughter’s words that Easwar was an impostor and Kishore her lover. The way Gomathi’s father tries to resolve the issue, lacks basic logic. The ending is rather abrupt. Fresh faces, both Velu and Anashwara fit adequately in their roles.
Verdict: The film comes with no expectations, and at it’s best is an average entertainer.