Pakka is set in dusty Tamil Nadu villages where thiruvizhas are the primary source of entertainment. And thus, the hero – Paandi (Vikram Prabhu) – is introduced in one such thiruvizha, in which he’s selling toys. He’ll soon meet Nadhiya (Bindu Madhavi), whose father is an influential man and the person organising the gala.
In what can be termed a big change from the routine in Tamil cinema, it isn’t Paandi who starts chasing Nadhiya and seeking her love. It’s Nadhiya, who, smitten by the toy seller in those few minutes of interaction, keeps going in search of him. From one thiruvizha to another. Yes, that’s for real.
- Director: SS Surya
- Cast: Vikram Prabhu, Bindu Madhavi, Nikki Galrani
- Storyline: A girl is in search of the man she loves
The first half is supposed to focus on their romance, but there’s no real poignancy. There’s just a superficial build-up to the characters and so, when Nadhiya goes around searching in one such thiruvizha , with love and hope in her eyes and a yearning-filled ‘Enga Pona’ number composed by C Sathya playing in her background, we have zero feelings for her.
Things sort of heat up in the second half when director Surya delves into the stories of ‘Dhoni’ Kumar (another Vikram Prabhu) and ‘Rajini’ Radha (a boisterous Nikki Galrani). There’s a little more investment in this romance, for there’s a constant one-upmanship between the lead pair who’re big fans of the cricketer and the superstar. But the songs serve as speedbreakers, and the comedy (by Soori and Sathish) barely manages to bring about the laughs. The incredulous climax doesn’t help things much as well. Pakka fails to create any kind of impact.