Set in a rural milieu, it’s yet another plot that revolves around a caste-ridden village and its ‘aruvaal’ culture. A village where violence was the only way of settling scores with those who dared to defy the status quo. So when the village elder’s daughter falls for a youth from a different caste, it brings in tragic repercussions for the duo and for those near to them. Though the director has tried to bring in slight variations in the latter part, it only extends the monotony of the whole scenario, the script lacking emotional punch.
Rahul who was impressive as the cerebral palsy victim in Vinmeengal, plays Vetri, a car mechanic here. The role offers nothing challenging to the actor, and he is just about adequate. Meera Nandan as Thamizh, the daughter of a bigwig (Udaykumar), gets her expressions right. But what distracts the viewer is her make-up, patchy and overdone at times. The scenes where Vetri falls for Thamizh on seeing her for the first time to his relentless wooing of her and her reciprocation after initially resisting, flow smoothly. What lends some freshness is the character of Senthil, Thamizh’s little brother. Wise beyond his years, he, in his own way, tries to unite the lovers.
After a gory encounter between the eloping lovers and Thamizh’s father’s henchmen, Vetri finds himself in jail for murder. The story could have ended a couple of reels after this. But the narration plods on to a decade and more after the event. Where Senthil, now a strapping youth, is still determined to unite his sister and Vetri who is now out of prison.
The passing years, however, don’t seem to have brought in much change in the appearance of the lovers! Senthil’s character was fleshed out fairly interestingly in the earlier part. But it loses most of its sheen towards the closing scenes.
In an attempt to pep up the narration a little, an item number is forced in here. The climax scene where Senthil resolves the situation lacks both sensibility and conviction.
Poorly scripted, Sooriya Nagaram offers nothing exciting for the viewers.