'Pandi Oliperukki Nilayam' (Tamil)
Director: Rasu Madhuravan
Cast: Sabarish, Sunaina, Soori, Thambi Ramaiah, Karunas, Singam Puli
His forte has been sentimental family dramas set in a rural milieu, his plots centred around the joint family system, human relationships and values.
And now, Madhuravan shifts from his comfort zone to a love saga. 'Pandi Oliperukki...' revolves around an orphan who runs a sound service centre, and falls in love with the daughter of the local bigwig. But the director seems clearly out of his element here, the screenplay meandering, the narration insipid.
It’s Sabarish’s second film after an impressive debut in Markandeyan. But here the actor does not get a chance to re-establish his credentials. Pandi, apart from being ambiguously etched, is lacklustre. The actor futilely tries to play his role with some conviction. Also, in the second half, Pandi has very less to do. For, the screen space gets arbitrarily scattered among the horde of characters and comedians that are a part of the plot. The opening has Pandi running to save his girl Valarmathi, who seems to be in some trouble.
Next, when we get to see him, he’s lost his mental balance. This, he himself admits to a group of school students who surround him, and to whom he narrates his love story. But apart from the dirty outfit and shabby look, Pandi speaks with clarity. His characterisation goes for a toss here.
From Pandi’s narration, we get to know of his love for Valarmathi, who is the local moneybag’s pert daughter (Sunaina, wasted in a lacklustre role). How did the duo overcome family opposition, not realising that there was danger lurking ahead? The finale is abrupt and not much of a surprise.
Valarmathi’s family, shown to be dangerously protective about her, suddenly does a volte face,the change of attittude totally lacking conviction. There are innumerable characters but not one that is well fleshed out. And there are more than a handful of comedians, but not a single laugh. While Karunaas gets a comedy track that is totally humourless, Suri’s antics and jokes are stale.
Probably, the only watchable moment in the film is the impressively choreographed climax fight set in an Emu farm. 'Pandi...', with nothing novel or exciting to offer, is forgettable fare.