All the actors in the film are new, except for a few who make brief appearances. The director, also making his debut - although he has handled a couple of advertisement films - makes even 'Sholamalai bus' a star in Madurai-Theni via Andipatti.
The lead pair Aravind Vinod and Srithika board the bus in Madurai to go to Theni. The journey brings them close, and the young man actually proposes to the girl but she does not reply. They alight at different places. The hero goes in search of her, manages to find her house, meets her parents and expresses his wish to marry her.
Be it the girl's father, who is stingy, the mother who shouts with or without reason, the conductor (Rajkumar) who dreams of making it big in the film industry a la Rajinikanth or the hero's uncle who comes in the end, all the actors essay their roles spontaneously. And, the artists' potential has been well tapped by the director. The only minus is they are too loud.
As for acting, Srithika has opened her innings with a good performance. Her smile and eyes speak volumes. Aravind Vinod, however, has a long way to go.
S.P.S. Guhan's camerawork is commendable, although the transfer from digital to reel shows in some places. JV's music certainly enhances the film, and a couple of songs linger. The dialogue by Suralipatti Sivaji and Rathibala is adequate. The director deserves a pat for an absorbing climax.
Madurai- Theni via Andipatti
Genre: Romance
Director: Rathibala
Cast: Aravind Vinod, Srithika, Rajkumar, Singamuthu, Kumarimuthu, Muthukalai and a host of new faces.
Storyline: About a pair that meet in a long-distance bus and the love that blossoms.
Bottomline: The director scores!