It's about a simple youth who gets caught in the crossfire; a feud between two rival gangsters. What's different in 'Laadam' is the stylised way it’s presented, and the dark humour that runs throughout. This film is the director’s fifth venture.
For debutant Arvindan, it' is a challenging role to play Kunjithapatham, a simple small town youth in a city, who goes through a multitude of experiences within the 19 days of his stay there. The role needed quick change of expressions and body language. And the first-timer has risen up to the challenge, and played it like a seasoned veteran.
Kunji comes to the city for a job interview, and stays at his friend's house. His friend, who had defaulted in the repayment of a loan to a gangster, makes himself scarce. The thugs, mistaking Kunji for his friend, whisk him away to the den of the gangster Pavadai (a delightful Kota). Kunji’s big mouth, and his knack of putting his foot in it, land him in trouble. Pavadai, whose son had been killed by rival thug Vembuli (Jaiprakash), now wants Kunji to kill Vembuli's son Aditya (a sufficiently eccentric Dheeraj). Sandwiched between the two gangs, Kunji the 'cockroach' is stamped all around the place, and has to use all his wits to survive their harassment and nearly death.
There is Charmi, who plays Angel, a house burglar. Angel breaks into any home where the owner is away, enjoys all the comforts, and lives the life of the owner. And it's on one of these occasions that she happens to meet Kunji and becomes his supporter. With her constant blabber, quicksilver expressions and uninhibited body language, (the dubbing artist has to be commended here too), Charmi is a livewire on screen. It should get her a second glance from Tamil filmmakers.
The camera is extremely mobile, like it is in Solomon's recent film (Kokki). The light blue tone used almost throughout, gives it a surrealistic feel. While the plot has been borrowed from the Bruce Willis-starrer Lucky Number Slevin, the director has other inspirations too for some of the scenes. Like the one where Aditya forces his henchmen and Kunji to play a deadly game, with a stack of money as reward for the survivor. Each of them has to fire a revolver, loaded with just one bullet, at the one next to him (13 Tzametti).
The film is a smartly etched, bizarre dark comedy with a stylised narration. It’s different watch for those fed up of the routine stuff and look out for a change.
FILM- Laadam
DIRECTOR- Prabhu Solomon
CAST- Arvindan, Charmi, Kota Srinivasrao,
V. Jaiprakash, Dheeraj, Chittibabu, Nellai Siva
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