Film: Dhilluku Dhuddu
Director: Rambala
Cast: Santhanam, Sanaya, Anandraj, Saurabh Shukla, Karunas, Rajendran
It has all the trappings of a typical horror-comedy that is meant to generate laughs even as it sets out to scare one. There is the remote haunted mansion, vengeful ghosts hovering around and a group of people trapped in the mansion and at the mercy of the ghosts. But like most films of its genre, that in recent times could neither induce fear nor laughter, this one too falls flat. None of the ingredients seem to be working to advantage, the genuine fun moments very few and far between. And this is unfortunate considering the comic talents that form the cast. With Santhanam leading the brigade, there is Karunas, Rajendran without whom a film is never made these days, Anandraj with his new found affinity for humour, Singhamuthu, Karthik and Manohar. With the script not quite having the punch and the fritz, the actors just go through the motion having their own fun, but not quite connecting to the viewer.
The film opens in 1940 with a colourful build-up of a backstory that promises some thrilling moments to come. Where a king cuckolded by his wife who begets a son from a lover, unleashes his fury on her and the boy. The vengeful queen sells her soul to the devil before she meets her death. Setting the right tone, this prologue promises some exciting moments to follow. But unfortunately, this angle is not touched on later, when towards the end the vendetta-driven ghosts of the mother-son make their play. The narration moves to the present. Where, a Buddhist monk is brought in to purge the ghosts from the mansion. It’s only towards the end of the film that he manages to make some headway in his pursuit. On another track we are introduced to hero Kumar . Played by Santhanam, Kumar hovers somewhere between the ‘heroic’ and the ‘comic’, and is unable to make a convincing job of both. Though Santhanam, with his new makeover and a trimmed physique does cut a stylish picture. Kumar’s love affair with the wealthy Kajal (Sanaya) is opposed by her status conscious father (Shukla). His daughter adamant in marrying Kumar, the father plans a move which would take Kumar out of his daughter’s life. This brings the two families to the remote mansion and Kumar at the mercy of a hired killer (Rajendran). The scenario where the dummy ghosts set up by Rajendran meet with the real ones had the potential to turn into a hilarious affair, which doesn’t happen. Kumar’s foray into the astral world to free Kajal from the spirit that possessed her, gives a sense of Deja vu. Dhilluku Dhuddu is at the most a promising debut from a debutant maker.