Padikathavan

The pre-release publicity campaign of the film was that it was a laugh riot, but actually the film is in the action genre with a larger-than-life hero who is uneducated and has a tremendous sense of humour.

There is nothing new in director Suraaj's story which seems to have been etched out of various earlier films including Run. It may sound strange, but there is a scene in the film where the heroine Tamaannaah smitten by the hero Dhanush sees him all around her (on Television, newspaper etc) as her mind plays games with her. Two days back we saw the same scene as Nayanthara's saw Vijay in her imaginations in Villu!

Radhakrishnan(Dhanush) alias Rocky is an 10th fail youngster who is looked down upon by his father (Pratap Pothen), as the rest of the family of brothers, sister and sister's-in-law consists of all educated and well placed people. Our hero's main job is to idle away his time in a mechanic shop with his group of friends (Mayilsami, Nellai Siva and others). 'Padikathavan and 10th failed' as his father refers to him, doubles up as a petty goon when his family members are in trouble.

One of his friends suggest that he falls in love with a highly educated girl, so earnestly he looks around by hovering around women's colleges. So he falls in love with Gayathri (Tamaannah) a rich girl who after a few misunderstandings and dream songs falls for him.

Meanwhile there are some goons after her, as her father is SamarasingaReddy (Suman) a deadly don in Andhra. Our hero saves her from her dad's rival (Sayaji Shinde) and follows to her home in Hyderabad, where he realizes that another Tirunelveli goon Kasi Anandan (Atul Kulkarni) has put a prize on his head!

In the first half, the light hearted comedy of Dhanush is thoroughly enjoyable, especially his one liners and dialogues like Enna mathiri pasangala partha pidikathu. Parka parka thaan pidikkum. However in the second half there is crude comedy of Vivek, especially the scene where Vivek dressed as a woman in a temple pond is pawed by two other comedians under water!

The dialogue that Suman mouths that those who are educated think only of themselves while the uneducated have consideration for his fellowmen is in bad taste especially when the government policy is for total literacy.

Dhanush is in top form as he has never danced so well and has improved a lot in action (the climax fight is outstanding) and comedy while keeping his boy-next-door image intact. He has scored in the first half with his subtle comedy and clever one-liners that gets him the maximum claps.

Tamannaah is pure eye-candy but the romance between the lead pair lacks chemistry. Fine actors like Sayaji Shinde, Suman and Atul Kulkarni and Prathap Pothen are wasted in insipid roles. The songs of Mani Sharma are peppy numbers which will appeal to the masses. The one, picturised in Swiss Alps is hummable

Watch the movie as another mass entertainer.

Source: Sify.com