Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

DEFTLY HANDLED: Polladhavan

Parallel flashbacks tracking the hero’s and the villain’s version of the past is quite an innovative narrative style — ‘Virumaandi’ had it, and now Group Company’s ‘Polladhavan’(A) follows the pattern. The switch-overs move on without confusion. At no point does ‘Polladhavan’ sag. Writer-director Vetrimaran has slogged over his screenplay and the result shows. Editor V.T.Vijayan’s handiwork is an evident plus.

A mature looking Dhanush is another great advantage. Gone is the lean and lanky look, and so this time round when he beats up the goondas it appears quite believable.

Prabhu (Dhanush) is a happy-go-lucky young man mad about motor bikes. He turns responsible once his dad (Murali) gets him one. He secures a job and enjoys it more because he has to travel through the city on his bike and meet his firm’s clients. That’s when Fate intervenes in the guise of the underworld don’s (Kishore Kumar) brother, Ravi (Daniel Balaji). Prabhu’s bike gets stolen, and from then on it’s snafu.

Dhanush is apt as the fun-loving man hopelessly in love and later as the incensed young man who refuses to give up easily. Deliberate or inadvertent, Dhanush’s dance movements have traces of Rajinikanth’s expressions!

Divya stars opposite him and is more an adornment in the cast. The item number is an ingredient you could do without in an otherwise neatly packaged product.

In recent times you’ve not seen a more dignified villain than Kishore Kumar. The Kannada actor excels in the role. Malayalam cinema’s veteran Murali is another who effortlessly walks away with the acting honours. And after ‘Vaettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu’ it’s a big break for Daniel Balaji — he puts the opportunity to good use. But here too he’s almost a psychotic case.

Be it a wide canvas or a cramped middle class household, R. Velraj’s camera details matters well. Na. Muthukumar’s interesting lyric and G.V. Prakash Kumar’s tune meld for the ‘Minnalgal’ duet, the music of which is used in the background of the lead pair’s romantic interludes. The singer’s range is the lowest possible, (the purpose beats you!) and the number bears much similarity to the track ‘Smack That …’ (Akon). All the re-mix does is, flood you with memories of the great original (‘Engeyum …’).

The hero’s passion for motor bikes and the bloody repercussions form the crux of ‘Polladhavan.’ But how come the bike which he and his girl friend abandon midway to flee the menacing hoodlums, is found at the doorstep of his house a little later? Confusing! At times, the gore brings ‘Pudhupettai’ to mind. But unlike it, ‘Polladhavan’ sustains your interest till the end.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail