Set in Theni, Theni Maavattam revolves around the rivalry between two bigwigs of a village.
It’s unfortunate consequences and one man’s efforts to set right the situation and bring peace and prosperity to his village form the core of the plot.
There’s nothing much for a viewer in the earlier part, the happenings are routine and often seen ones. What is appreciable is the debutant director’s effort to convey a relevant message through his protagonist.
The latter, after initiating a green revolution in his village and across the state with the help of agriculture students and the latest technical know-how, turns waste and barren lands into fertile tracts.
The rivalry between Ramasamy (Mahadevan) and Easwari (Aishwaria, with her hoarse voice and menacing postures suiting the role) forms the earlier scenes.
Resenting the man’s rightful ways and his clout over the villagers, Easwari does not let go of any chance to put him down. And when Ramasamy refuses a lucrative offer from a company which wants to buy his agricultural land to set up a factory, Easwari takes up the offer.
The scenes are predictable and uninspiring. There are quite a few murders committed by Easwari, but the cops are nowhere seen in the picture. Ramasamy’s murder, and his son Velan (GK) taking up his cause go on expected lines.
On the positive side, apart from it’s message, the director has kept the momentum fast. The scenes flow in quick succession and it’s just about two hours of viewing time. A couple of the fight-chase scenes are thrilling ones.
The lead cast is a lackluster one, with neither the heroine nor the hero having any screen presence.
Debutant GK doesn’t quite fit the role of Velan, looking a tad too old for it. But he’s the producer of the film. And if he wants to fulfill his celluloid dreams and cast himself as the hero, who can grudge him that!