Director - S J Suryah
Cast - S J Suryah, Nila, Santhanam, Santhana Bharathy, Urvasi, Sindhuri,
Mayilsami.
The film opens with producer-director-hero Suryah addressing the audience, giving a short gist of his narrative format, "to dispel any confusion related to the 'dual' roles of the hero and the heroine that appear in the second half of the film", he says. "They are the respective memories of the duo and I've given them human forms as their look-alikes," he adds.
And from this opening the narration takes on an unusual style as the director tries to depict the conflict in the life of Shiva and Madhu, a couple in a live-in relationship. Their love and togetherness, their little fights and squabbles, Shiva's possessiveness and insecurity as Madhu tries to strike out on her own in a joint business venture with Kishore, her friend's brother, all snowballing into a major fight and separation, both unwilling to let go their stand.
And what's a hero without some fight scenes! So there is the sub plot of a bigwig and his nefarious activities, exposed in a sting operation by Shiva who is a journalist. Put behind bars, the man emerges in the closing scenes to have his vendetta, when the couple are just on the road to reconciliation.
With his slightly unusual treatment, the director manages to maintain pace and interest for the most part. It's to Suryah's credit that he's depicted the live-in relationship in a
matter-of-fact, non-fussy way. Also the concept of giving human forms to the memories of the duo, depicting them as their look-alikes and visible only to them is a concept novel for Tamil audiences.
For some of the shots here, Suryah seems to have taken inspiration from 'Ghost'. The 'memories' disturb the minds of the duo with fond past thoughts of their good times, rekindling them, and at times bringing in some comic relief. Like in the scene where a puzzled Santhanam, playing Suryah's friend, helps a desperate Suryah push out of his house the invisible intruder Nila, visible only to Suryah's eyes. With small roles in earlier films, Santhanam comes into his own here.
Suryah does his fights and dances as good as any other hero. But the actor looks famished and emanciated here. Again, while he gets the best out of his artistes, he seems to be needing some guidance himself. Particularly, more control over his dialogue delivery and voice modulation, the loud throw of his dialogue jarring to the ears. Nila (a Ms India) is a pale version of Simran, and for a debut performer, aquits herself creditably.
There are some interesting cameos. Like Mayilsami who goes round the bend
trying to figure out the reason for Shiva's strange behaviour. And there is Urvasi, as the psychiatrist. Suryah's tryst with her is a hilarious piece of comedy, thanks to the actress' perfect time sense.
Rehman's tunes are nowhere near the peppy ones he'd given for Suryah's ealier film 'New', nor is the picturisation particularly impressive. Finally, what the film lacks is finesse, most scenes handled in a crude way. Also the director's penchant for double entendres is evident here too, some of the lines are censured (UA certificate), the muted
dialogue leaving jarring gaps. Suryah, through his character in the opening scene, takes pot-shots at himself and his penchant for the ribald, but that doesn't excuse him or help matters in anyway!
Ah..Aah (Anbe Aaruyire)
