Review: Pugalmani could do with better content
Pugalmani seems to have an affinity for the number 13. While his earlier film was titled 13aam Pakkam Paarkka, this one has Friday added to it. But unlike his earlier work which was pure horror, this one is horror blended with comedy. The plot revolves around the myth of Friday the 13th being inauspicious and of how the hero Saravanan (Mouli) deliberately chooses that particular day for his wedding.
The location is a wedding hall haunted by ghosts. The owner Ramakrishnan (Ramji) wants to dispose of it for it was here his sister Rasathi (Shravya) and relatives lost their lives in a fire accident and since then the place is haunted by their spirits.
Ramakrishnan is told that a marriage conducted at the venue would appease the ghosts and rest their souls. Not realising that his sister is in no mood to be appeased and would thwart every attempt to conduct a wedding there, he goes about his plan. The early scenes depict Ramakrishnan sending Saravanan and his team of three workers to clean and paint the hall. The quartet reaches the place at night and experiences some supernatural happenings.
Whatever little humour is generated here is thanks to Bhaskar, Chams and Vyapuri. The special effects are loud and on-your-face kind. Thumping noises, non-stop screeching and screaming sounds, ghosts with bloodshot eyes and some sans legs or heads adorn the screen. The inevitable flashback to the vendetta-driven ghosts is there, as Ramakrishnan narrates the tragic story of his sister to the quartet. But to the director’s credit, he keeps it crisp and neatly etched.
Shravya as the headstrong Rasathi plays the ghost to the hilt. And revelling in her moments as the possessed Mallika is the film’s second female lead Suja Kumar. As the hero’s fiancee and having less to do, she perks up when Rasathi’s ghost takes possession of her body.
The film has less of the humour-quotient and more of the horror element. The director seems like he wanted every element to be loud. And going by it, Selvaraj’s camera adopts various gimmicks to create an eerie ambience and infuse fear. There are just two songs (Tajnoor), both situational. That is, if one doesn’t take into account the innumerable bits of old Tamil hit songs pushed in. An average entertainer, the film could have done with better content and definitely with more style.
Film Vellikilamai 13am Thethi
Director Pugalmani
Cast Ratan Mouli,Shravya, Suja Kumar,
M S Bhaskar, Chams, Vyapuri, Ramji