'Nellai Santhippu' (Tamil)
Director: KBB Naveen
Cast: Rohit, Bhushan,Megha nair, Devika, Thenappan,Saravana subbaih,Shankarguru Raja, Yogi Devaraj
It's about a youngster who is forced to take to violence after an unfortunate incident creates havoc in his life. He takes on the bad elements in the police force, and wreaks vengeance on the cops who to cover up for their mistake had tried to intimidate and silence him.
It's a debutant’s work, and this is evident throughout.
There is not much style to speak of, the film relying entirely on its content. But the weakly-crafted screenplay,and amateurish presentation, makes sure that its just about average fare. The performance too leaves much to be desired.
The two male leads are novices, and could have been guided better.
The early scenes depict the family of Santosh, a brilliant computer engineering student. We watch him as he is applauded for inventing a software that would send an alert signal the moment a terrorist enters the country (!). His love life, the finalising of his elder sister’s marriage to Prakash an investigative TV reporter, all form part of the scenario.
As the family basks in happiness, and the foursome are on their fun rides, Santosh’s life takes a turn. He is shot at by Sethu (Subbaiah) a cop, who mistakes him for a terrorist.
Realising his mistake and to cover up his blunder, Sethu aided by Khan his junior, and Raghavan his scheming senior (Thenappan), try to eliminate Santosh. How the youth gets back at his three tormentors forms the rest.
Appalling and ridiculous is the scene where the three cops blatantly intimidate the doctor at the hospital, where a seriously wounded Santosh had been admitted.
A big build-up is given to Prakash’s journalistic acumen and the power of the media. But when Santosh and he become the target of the cops, the media is nowhere in the picture.
There is the character of Annachi (Devaraj) a thug-wielding immense clout in the prison and dreaded by the jailer. As Santosh his cell-mate is tortured brutally by the jailer to force out a ‘confession’, Annachi is shown as being supportive and protective of him. It seemed like he would help the innocent youngster in his cause. But Annachi too after the heavy build-up, is given a brush off, and not seen again.
The murders are gruesome but not quite convincing, particularly that of Khan’s.
The Verdict: The knot did have the potential to turn into an engaging thriller, but fails.