Film: Kallappadam
Director: J Vadivel
Cast: J Vadivel, Sreerama Santhosh, Gaugin, K, Naren, Lakshmi Priya
This may not the first film to have a plot centered on the struggle of aspiring filmmakers. But what makes it unique is the different and the refreshing take the debutant director (a former assistant to Mysskin) takes on his theme. Also, the fact that the technicians of the film don their real life profession on screen. Four struggling technicians — Vel an aspiring director ( Vadivel), Santhosh a cinematographer (Santhosh), Venkat an editor (Gaugin) and K, a music composer — aspire to make their first film. But after various failed attempts to get a producer, a frustrated Vel hatches a plan to get the finance to launch his debut venture.
The quartet are all naturals, and confident. The editing (Gaugin) is crisp, the cinematography (Santhosh) captures the mood effectively. The songs are peppy and the background score enhances the feel (K). On a parallel track there is Leena (Lakshmi Priya) married to a top producer (Naren), a mean and stingy guy. Leena with her lover plans to get back at him. How Vel and his team hoodwink the producer who had time and again humiliated Vel, is smartly worked out.
Singampuli gets a lot of space and makes the best of it. Lakshmipriya gets a substantial role. Slickly directed, the maiden celluloid journey is worth an experience.