Set in a rural milieu, the film is about the idealistic differences between two families related by marriage, of how it affects the relationship between their respective progenies, and paves the way for bloodshed and destruction. The writer-director’s third directorial venture (‘Senathipathi,’ Thirumagan’), the film seems inspired by many old films. Particularly by Bharatiraja’s ‘Kizhakku Seemayile,’ of which incidentally
Ratnakumar was the writer. Its not just the old plot and style, this film lacks the emotional feel and the gripping narration of Bharatiraja’s films.
Pavan and Balaji who have played supporting roles in films earlier get to play the protagonists here. The duo is adequate, but all that melodrama seem to bog them down. They essay cousins Vallarasu and Chinnasami respectively, who share a great bonding. In love with each other’s sisters, the alliance has the approval of their respective families. Till an incident occurs which brings a rift between the two families, backfiring on the love lives of the cousins. The film opens in a tension-filled atmosphere, where Chinnasami, the two girls and the entire village, wait for the return of Vallarasu who had been convicted of murder. The man was out on parole and there was sure to be a settling of scores between the cousins. The happenings are narrated in a flashback, the story returning to the present where the finale is played out. The earlier scenes are lighter and breezy and more interesting than the latter part. The bonhomie between the cousins, the foursome’s fun rides on a single bike, and the role of the older women in patching up differences that crop up between the men, are all handled with fair interest by the director.
But it’s the latter part which steers towards the melodrama. Also, the whole way in which the problem is resolved leaves much to be desired. Singampuli as the domestic help gets more footage than his role warrants, his nonstop loud banter soon turning his comedy into a jarring affair.
The two female leads Priyanka and Sunulakshmi reveal themselves as actors of emotional potential. But the director who had depicted the women particularly Vairam (Priyanka) as strong characters with independent minds earlier, backtracks in the finale. Vairam in an earlier scene had revealed pluck and determination, when she berated her brother Vallarasu who was forcing her to give up Chinnasami and marry the man of his choice.
So the final move by the two girls to reconcile their warring brothers seems forced and unpalatable. ‘Sengathu Bhoomiyile’ has an old feel and an even older storyline. It probably would have appealed to an audience of a couple of decades ago.