The plot of Vadacurry is a spin on the race-against-time thriller we saw in Neram , but before you go in expecting more of the same — namely, sharply drawn characters, evocative location photography, scenes that segue neatly into the next and gather narrative momentum — you must know that the director, Saravana Rajan, was a former associate of Venkat Prabhu.
In other words, there is no use complaining about anything — that the villain lacks stature, or that the hero (Jai) is doomed to deal with a lifeless romantic track (with Swathi) even as he’s supposed to be neck-deep in danger, or that the entire first half is wasted on trivialities, or that a suicide attempt is tastelessly tossed into the mix and shockingly abandoned. In the Venkat Prabhu universe, plot comes last, the jokes first.
And this is where Saravana Rajan scores. Forget the fact that you’re watching a real movie and slip into “skit” mode — and you may find yourself possessed by the film’s spirit, thanks mainly to RJ Balaji, who has a high old time as the hero’s best friend. The scene where he reveals that he is a Sai Baba devotee is one for the ages. Or at least the two-something hours we are in the theatre.
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Film: Vadacurry
Director: Saravana Rajan
Cast: Jai, Swathi, RJ Balaji