Vaaliba Raja finally hits theaters, more than a couple of years after it was completed. It marks the return of the lead cast of Kanna Laddu Thinna Aasaiya (2013). The earlier film was an amusing take on three friends who loved the same woman and vied with each other to win her affection. The humour being both intentional and unintentional, it didn’t bore audiences. So you’d expect a certain quality of entertainment when the team ventured into their second outing. But the film meant to be a rom-com disappoints at all levels.
Santhanam who played one of the leads in the earlier film is assigned a supporting character here. He plays Raja a psychiatrist who, for some strange reason, sports an unsightly hairpiece. One of his patients is Karthik a youngster who wished he could erase his disturbing past from his mind. Sethu as Karthik has a passable screen presence, but needs to work more on his expression. Almost the entire story is in flashback, as Sethu narrates the events of his life to Raja on the coach.
Karthik’s family comprised his dad a lawyer, his mom who was obsessed with TV soaps, an elder sister and her husband. The characters are supposed to be quirky, but apart from some juvenile antics, one never really gets to see any strange sides to their behaviour. In fact, the horde of supporting actors in the cast seem wasted in insipid roles, though Subbu Panju as the cricket addict and the hero’s brother-in-law manages to pep up the scene to an extent with his one-liners.
After we get to see Karthik’s family in action, we are then told about the real issue that has been hounding him.
Karthik had met Sweety (Nushrat), fallen for her and struck up a friendship with her. She had reciprocated in easy camarederie. But learning that the word ‘love’ was anathema to her, Karthik hesitates to express his feelings. Nushrat’s Sweety is bubbly and spirited. In contrast is Shalu (Vishakha) simple and understanding, and the girl his family had finalised Karthik’s marriage with. Karthik takes her into his confidence and Shalu agrees to help him in his cause. Its about how the equations change, confusing Karthick and leading to his trip to the pychiatrist.
The post-interval scenario opens with a song on Power Star (who was an integral part of the earlier film) doing a jig with a group of dancers. Nothing funny here either! The tale has a twist at the end. But it is too little too late to save the film.
Comedy is serious business. But with a lacklustre and unimaginative screenplay, the story falls flat and turns uninteresting. The film becomes a drag. The audience did pep up at one point and respond with whistles and claps. And that was when brief clippings from an Ajith and a Vijay film, integrated into the narration, were shown!