Film: Adra Machan Visilu
Director: Thiraivannan
Cast: Shiva, Naina Sarwar, Srinivasan, Mansoor Ali Khan, Jangiri Madhumitha, Singamuthu, Balaji, Sentrayan
With Powerstar playing himself but with an exalted status of a superstar, and Shiva essaying his ardent fan, the film is meant to be a laugh riot with a relevant message. Satirical in it’s take, the plot depicts the extent to which fans can go in their adulation of their favourite stars and the apathy of the stars towards their fans whom they take for granted. While the message is strong, it’s the laughs that refuse to flow.
The plot centers round three guys from Madurai who are ardent fans of Powerstar, the superstar. From the low-income section and with barely any money to sustain themeslves, the trio spend whatever they get on activities related to their favourite actor. Their punch lines eulogising their favourite star go like, ‘Cellphonuku Thevai Toweru..Tamilnaduku Thevai Poweru” and ‘Arisi aracha maavu..Power moracha saavu’!.
Taking the suggestion of a well-intentioned cop (Rajkapoor) that they could try to earn money and settle down in life by distributing Powerstar’s new film, the trio set to work on it. Befriending the star’s manager (Singamuthu) and meeting Powerstar, who, without even a moment’s thought, agrees to their proposal, are episodes far from reality. But then, in films of this genre, it’s unreasonable to expect any form of realism or logic. The trio releases the film using money begged and borrowed. But when they face a crisis and the star they revered ridicules and humiliate them, they decide to teach him a lesson. If you thought that the lackluster screenplay would pick up momentum here, you’re mistaken. The whole scenario that follows — the star’s manager at a hospital in a coma; the ranting and raving of his wife; and the supposedly comic antics of the doctor there (Mansur Alikhan) — is a gruelling test of your patience.
There is the love track where Shiva’s longtime girlfriend (played by chubby pretty Naina who has a problem with lip sync), caters to his financial needs. Shiva plays his role with a deadpan face like he had essayed his earlier characters. There are a couple of dream songs-dance numbers, but hardly any choreography attempted here. Shiva has never shown any inclination to let down his defenses and get over his inadequacies by making a go at the song-dance-routine.
Irrespective his role, Powerstar’s characters have always been that of a man who makes a joke of himself and has laughs at his expense. And this continues here. So his antics as a superstar, most of them off-colour and unbearable, are unlikely to be taken seriously by the superstars of our screen! Crude and loud with the message on your face, the film is clearly meant for the lowest denominator in the audience.