Film: Enkitta Modhathe
Cast: Natty, Rajaji, Parvathy Nair, Sanchita Shetty, Radharavi, Vijay Murugan
Director: Ramu Chellappa
Set in the late 80’s, the film revolves around two painters and cut-out artists of fi lm posters; one is a Rajinikanth fan, and the other is a fan of Kamal Haasan. Elements of friendship and betrayal are weaved in this breezy entertainer. Politics in Tamil Nadu has always been associated with cinema and Enkitta... involves political elements too, albeit in a different way.
The frenzy of the fans when a fi lm of their idol is released, the hostility between the rival associations, at times leading to chaos and arson, is touched on. Ravi and Perumal from Thrunelveli (Natty, Rajaji) arrive to earn their livelihood as cut-out artists. Though the Rajini and Haasan fans are constantly at loggerheads with one another, this doesn’t affect the relationship between the two of them. However an incident would occur that would alienate Perumal from Ravi and make him cross to the rival camp. Both Natty and Rajaji perform their respective roles with effortless ease.
The time period of the story’s setting gets a feeling of authenticity by the passing remarks of events of that period like MGR’s passing away, or the release of a particular fi lm of Rajini or Kamal. There is the love- angle, where Ravi falls for Perumal’s sister Maragadham (Sanchita), while Perumal develops a soft corner for Jayanthi a local belle (Parvathy). In the neatly etched screenplay every element is well integrated, blending with the rest in a coherent whole. The rising status of the two friends as cut-out artists and of how it ruffl es the feathers of the local politician (Radharavi effortless in his portrayal) who owned a theater forms the rest. The songs are peppy and suitably placed. Taking just about 128 minutes of viewing time, the fi lm is a breezy and a fairly pleasant outing.