'Idhayam Thiraiarangam' (Tamil)
Director: Ramki Ramakrishnan
Cast: Anand, Swetha, Manobala, Kavitha
With his debut directorial venture (Vivek starrer 'Solli Adippen') lying in the cans, set designer-turned-director Ramki Ramakrishnan (aka SAC Ramki) picks up the megaphone for his new venture 'Idhayam Thiraiarangam'. Ramki scripts and designs the sets apart from co-producing the film. How a blind faith in astrology can cause havoc in the life of humans forms the focal point of the plot. The maker manages to convey the message, though his plot and treatment leave much to be desired.
The central character is Appu (Kavita) a heartless loan shark,who from a low beginning rises to be a wealthy woman, thanks to her deep faith in her family astrologer. Afraid of losing her wealth, she follows the astrologer’s instructions blindly. Even if it means indulging in kidnapping and murder, and parting with her own son. And when the love affair of her daughter Maha with Kannan, a mechanic, threatens to thwart her ambitions, she goes all out to destroy him. It’s a stereotyped characterisation of Appu, matched by a dramatic over-the-top performance by Kavita. Debutant Anand as Kannan and Swetha as Maha are just about adequate.
The incidents and events are crudely depicted, the treatment old fashioned. There are a couple of twists, which however make no difference to the insipid feel of the film. Incidentally, the film was earlier titled 'Naanum Enn Kadhalum', the censor certificate displayed in the opening of the film retaining the old title. The chase scenes towards the finale add a bit of a thrill, which the rest of the film couldn’t generate. But the predictable ending is a spoiler. 'Idhayam...' offers nothing novel or exciting for the viewers.