'Porkodi Patham Vaguppu’ (Tamil)
Director: Pazha Suresh
Cast: Praveen, Brinda, Angamuthu, Balasingh, Rajashri
Set in a rural milieu, ‘Porkodi Patham Vaguppu’ depicts the happenings in the life of star-crossed lovers Shiva (Praveen) and Porkodi (Brinda). Though the duo is from different economic, social and caste strata, appreciably it’s not these differences the director uses as hurdles to a love affair that had barely blossomed. It is some negative elements in the village who conspire for their own selfish ends against the duo, that the scenario turns predictable.
The earlier scenes which depict the background of the couple have a smooth natural flow. Shiva’s father, a prosperous arrack brewer, is indifferent to him; his stepmother scheming and nasty. While Porkodi’s father is addicted to the bottle, he had promised his daughter’s hand to a worthless nephew of his. The scenes of Shiva shyly expressing his love for Porkodi, and she hesitating to reciprocate, have a realistic touch. Aware of her family situation, Porkodi gently brushes away all his loving overtures. It is at this time that the negative forces in the form of Shiva’s lecherous, vendetta-driven father enters the fray; the story spiralling to an unfortunate climax.
Debutants Praveen and Brinda fit suitably in their roles. The director makes a half-hearted attempt to take on the issue of alcoholism. And Shiva and his friends hatch a plot with the women, to give the men a taste of their own medicine.
But the move backfires. And it is the women who inadvertently fall victims, leading to a ‘tipsy’ group dance. The film boasts of no big names in the cast and crew. A small budgetted film, it boasts of no high production values either. At just about 100 minutes viewing time, its a simple tale, fairly neatly narrated. But with the script lacking punch and novelty, there’s not much of appeal to a viewer. At the most ‘Porkodi...’ is a promising effort from a debutant maker.