Director Vijay’s romantic capers have usually been aesthetically framed, soft feel-good entertainers. Here too the director has attempted to make a romantic saga weaving in elements of love, misunderstanding, separation and a possible reunion. But what we feel is a sense of Deja Vu almost throughout. A feel, that we have seen it all before, and that it’s only differently packaged here.
It opens on Arun and his friends passionate about staging plays, but finding no takers. Arun decides to put their passion to good use. He starts a business -- Unnal Mudiyum Thambi (UMT)-- which helps out dejected lovers to get the girls they have fallen for. It’s an interesting scenario where the group hires some junior artists and stage some situations where the girl ultimately finds herself falling for the guy she had earlier ignored. The director here could have used some imagination in varying the situation each time a guy approaches the group for help. But it’s the same repeated ones we get to see. The story takes a turn when Santhosh, a businessman (Navdeep) approaches Arun to help him get Maya, the girl he was smitten with. And it’s about what happens when Arun realises that Maya was his old love. Maya seems almost a dud, for not realising that the group around her in various situations was the same one in mild disguises. It’s a long flashback to the past in Kochi which depicts the Arun-Maya campus romance. The duo falling for each other while playing messenger for others, is a situation we have seen in various films. The reason for their parting lacks conviction. There is a ridiculous episode here. Where Arun, a good batsman but a novice in hockey, volunteers to substitute for an injured player when an inter-college tournament is on. And on being questioned on his skill replies nonchalantly, that he would have no problem as ‘both games are played with the ball’. And proves it by winning the championship for his college! Vikram Prabhu handles his role deftly, with the right expressions and demeanour. Keerthy, pretty and talented, is a delight to watch. The film’s key strength is Neerav Shah’s cinematography, each frame a visual delight.
The screenplay could have done with more punch and some originality in the situations. It’s leisurely pace is another deterrent. With nothing much exciting or refreshing in its scripting nor in its narrative style, the film is at the most a mildly pleasant watch.