Balaji Shaktivel scores yet again with a sensitive portrayal of a group of 9 school students who go on to join the same college pursuing BA History. Its a testimony to the narrative skills of the director who has mananged to give a gripping emotional rider, with a simple story.
Just when you thought its run of the mill college stuff, you are in for a pleasant surprise. You begin to wonder it can't get more realistic and earthly than this. Though this may not match upto the directors previous hit Kadhal, this yet will be another feather in the cap for director Balaji and Shankar's S pictures production. Shankar (S Pictures) is another producer in the mould of Prakash Raj(Duet Movies). S Pictures previous productions Kadhal, Veyil were milestones in their own way.
Sobana (Tamanna), a new comer to the town joins the same class as a temporary student due to certain circumstances, while she waits for her admission at the Birla Academy, Delhi. Though the group avoids her at first because of her rich Bangalore upbringing, they go on to become a bunch of 10 closely knit friends.
Just when you think the narration is sagging, the director gives his emotional touch to the proceedings. Its really amazingthat Balaji has mananged to extract performances with new comers who are either in school or just into college in their real life.
Kayalvizhi (Hema) is the God Mother of the group, who firmly believes that there cannot be any love between friends, the female protagonist who is always there to guide and help the bunch. Ramesh (Bharani) is the wayward guy who just loves to have fun, and only Kayal can control him. The hero of the movie Muthu (Akhil) is a well built athelete. Considering that he
is just a 11th standard student he has done a remarkable job of underplaying his role.
The story moves through the day to day lives of these group of students, with beautifully woven incidents. Do Sobana and Muthu express their feelings to each other? Do they get to unite in the end, makes the rest of the plot. The climax is quite unconceivable and it leaves a lump in your throat considering that its a true incident that happened in 2000 in Dharmapuri.
Tamanna looks refreshing as a salwar clad soft girl and clearly makes impact with her naunces and emotions. Akhil as the athelete fits the bill prefectly. Especially, the scene where she waits eargerly on her scooter for Muthu to come to the bus stop (the song from tea shop - Unparvailyil oru ayiram from yester super hit movie Amman Kovil Kizhakaale is special
directorial touch) and also when she shows her anxiosness for Muthu when he gets his legs hurt in a college cultural brawl and asks the doctor if he would get well soon and he is a sports person, at the same time showing her furstration towards Kayal because of whom they end up in a brawl. Another highlight is when she gets a new set of sports shoes for Muthu and tell
him that he needs to win in his life too.
Muthu, when he runs all the way from his home to the main road, just when his sister tells him that Sobana had come in search of him and had just left - you feel for him.
The highlight would be the perefect mix of rustic background through Cheliyan's camera work and Joshua Sridhar's music. Na. Muthukumar is simply superb in 'Indhu Sariya Thaavara' and 'Unarugil Varugayil' [one line is 'Idhuvarai sertha inbam thumbangalai unudan pakirdha thudikindraen']. The lyrics in Unarugil touches you. Both the songs have an earthly
picturization. Cheliyan and Joshua Sridhars work are a highlight. The built-in comedy sequences gel well with the narration.
The flip side is, the climax is inadequate. The background score is pretty ordinary towards the end. One makes you wonder why would such a nice narration come to a tragic end. When Sobana tells Kayal about her feelings for Muthu, and just when you change you opinion about Kayal unfortunately both of them end up in flames. Its like a beautiful bouquet made, is crushed
instantly!! A feel good movie with an undeserving end.
A good watch, if you are sick of the run of the mill college stuff and want something refreshing.
