‘Oru Kal Oru Kannadi’ (Tamil)
Director: M Rajesh
Cast: Udhayanidhi Stalin, Hansika Motwani, Santhanam, Saranya Ponvannan, Azhagam Perumal, Sayaji Shinde
He has a penchant for humour that was revealed in his two earlier films (‘Siva Manasule Shakti’, ‘Boss (E) Bhaskaran’). And now director Rajesh ventures into his third film, this time too a comic romantic fun-filled entertainer. Debuting as a hero is producer Udhayanidhi Stalin, this too his home production. Paired with him is the bubbly Hansika. And there is Santhanam at his best here, holding up the film whenever monotony sets in.
Uhayanidhi coudn’t have chosen a better launch vehicle. For, his Saravanan is a breezy light role that is not just suitable for him, but doesn’t tax him much either. There are no heroic stunts called for, nor any great demand for emotional histrionics. Comfortable in his character the debutant plays it with flair. What he needs to improve is his dancing skill, his steps that seem like he had been forced to do them under duress.
It’s a thin story line, but it’s the director’s entire packaging that makes it enjoyable for the most part. Gags and one-liners follow in quick succession, though some seem quite forced.
Udhayanidhi plays Saravanan as an usher in a theater, though we see him more on the roads, ogling girls at traffic signals. Sarvanan’s derogatory comments on the plain looking ones, however, are clearly off colour and in bad taste. It’s at one such traffic signal that he spots Meera and follows her all over the place. She finally agrees to be his friend, he hoping friendship would soon turn to love.
Meera was a trainee-stewardess for an airlines. And unlike the hero she at least gets to do some work-related scenes. Cute and bubbly, Hansika’s penchant for comedy makes her ideal for the role. As the relationship takes a roller coaster ride, Saravanan’s friend Partha comes to the rescue of his friend. The hero oscillating between friendship and love, almost botches up both.
Santhanam as Partha is the key strength, and the film wouldn’t have been what it is without his immense contribution. The chemistry between the guys is far greater than that between Saravanan and Meera. And when Meera finally gives her nod, it seemed like it was for no other reason than because all her other options had failed her!
The director takes a light ribbing at his buxom heroine through the scene at the cafe, where an obnoxious suitor ridicules her for her overweight and dressing sense. A hilarious scene, Udhayanidhi’s expression and reaction here are right on the mark. Saranya as Sarvanan’s ‘motivating’ mother is a delight to watch. But unwanted is the whole episode of the estrangement between Saravanan’s parents.
The cameos by Arya, Andrea and Sneha are neatly fitted in.
Harris Jayraj’s songs seem more like left-overs from his earlier films. The film could have been cut to a crisper length than its more than 150 minutes of viewing time. ‘OKOK’ may fall short of the director’s earlier films. But nevertheless it’s a fairly enjoyable fun ride.