Pesatha Kannum Pesum
Monal’s last film

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This film has attracted considerable interest since it’s said to be the last film of heroine Monal who recently committed suicide. Sadly Monal is wasted in the film while Mamatha, a debutant, does a better job. Kunal as the fun loving romeo gives a good performance. Director Muralikrishna starts off with a good story but chooses a tame ending.

Kunal, who owns an ad agency, loves to play pranks. He jokingly tells his fiancee Monal that he and Mamatha who works with him are married. Heartbroken, Monal goes into depresion. When Kunal realises that his joke was getting too far, he asks Mamatha to reveal the truth but, to his surprise, she refuses. It is then learnt that her father was once a victim of Kunal’s pranks which ruined the former. It’s now revenge time for her. But soon Mamatha has a change of heart and the lovers are united.

The camera and music are average.

Netra Varay Nee Yaro
Oft-repeated tale

Director Sridhar brings a stale love story of a rich girl in love with a poor boy. The lead pair Hamsavridhan and Ruchitha try their best to pep up the proceedings but fail.

Hamsavridhan is a poor boy brought up by his mother Sujatha who works as a labourer. He manages to get a seat in the medical college. Mechanic Sreeman advises Hamsavridhan to act as a rich guy to impress city slickers. His classmate Ruchitha who is the daughter of politician Alex falls for him. He, however, spurns her love. Ruchitha gets even more impressed when she knows that Hamsavridhan is a poor guy. Things reach a climax when Ruchitha runs away to Hamsavridhan’s village to marry him. Alex comes with his goons to kill Hamsavridhan but he is told by Hamsavridhan that his mother and his studies are his main priorities and not love. Alex has a change of heart and the lovers unite.

The music by Deva and camerawork by Nithya are above average.

Thulluvadho Illamai
Mature attempt

Kasthoori Raja, who has directed around 15 films centered around subjects set in rural background, has, for the first time, attempted a city subject and has come out a winner.

The film is about three boys and girls from diiferent strata of life. Their domestic problems and the hard realities of life turn them into mature adults. And this has been brought out well in the film. Newcomers Dhanush, Abhinay, Shareen, Silpa, Ramesh and Gangeswari have performaned very well. Yuvan Shankar Raja’s music and cinematography by Ashok Rajan make the film a treat to watch.

Dhanush, son of a fisherman, now on leave from the army visits his school. Memories come back to him. He remembers the meeting with Shareen, the daughter of a rich man and how he was ragged by Abinay and his friends and how he was accepted by the gang. The friendly porno book seller who helps them out in many of their adventures. Abinay’s father’s extramartial relationship with the servant which leads to frequent clashes, Shareen’s father’s accusations hurled at her of having affairs with the boys, Dhanush’s father who thinks that his son is wasting his money and at every given moment is ready to beat him, Silpa, a drug addict, left in the care of the ayah since her parents are abroad, Ramesh’s father punishing him with cigarette butts for any mistake. All this led to their running away from home. Their motive is to shake up their parents and make them feel guilty for what has happened. Out on streets, they start facing hard realities. Corrupt cops, pimps and a life without money and roof make them realise the value of a sheltered life. Dhanush and Shareen have sex without protection. Rajesh is murdered by woman traffickers. They are bailed out by their principal Vijaykumar. When they return to the campus, the angry parents want them to discontinue their studies. But principal Vijaykumar comes to their rescue again. He puts the blame on the parents for the behaviour of the children. The guilt feeling between Shareen and Dhanush led to their drifting apart. The gang broke up. The film ends with Dhanush watching the same principal walking about in the campus like before and he wonders where his friends are.

The campus scenes, the growing up days and the awakening of the sexual feeling in them are all well captured by the director. Dhanush and Shareen have given very good performances. Kasthoori Raja must be credited for handling a mature subject without going into vulgarity.

—A P