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EDITOR'S PICK
`Vathikuchi`:
true commercial entertainer (IANS Movie Review)
Rating: ***
A little bit of romance, action, comedy, suspense and few heroic moments make a
good entertaining film of standards that can attract audiences from all
categories. Debutant Kinslin`s slick crime-thriller with ignorable cliches
passes with distinction in becoming a truly commercial entertainer for the
masses. What works in the favour of the film, despite stiff criticism from the
elite class audiences, is the offbeat presentation of a simple story.
Sakthi (Dileepan), a share auto driver, likes to go out of his way to help
strangers without any hidden agenda. Over the course of time, his helping
tendency only grows stronger to the level where he confronts injustice and in
turn earns the ire of three baddies.
Cut to his routine life - he is madly in love with Leena (Anjali), who likes to
receive all attention, but wouldn`t reciprocate. As he tries desperately like
any sane lover would do to impress her, the film shifts gears and introduces a
series of events that would propel Sakthi into combat and self-protection mode.
With three baddies after his life, how does Sakthi save himself from the
clutches of death? This forms the rest of the story.
The film kicks off convincingly with a pinch of suspense quite early on in the
narrative. Three characters expressing their misfortune and pointing fingers at
the same person, who they aspire to kill. What I really loved in this film is
the fact that the script is not written keeping in mind a hero and three
villains. The director very intelligently allows a series of events to let the
character pit against each other allowing a revenge sort of story to develop.
One of the common criticisms was that the story needed a familiar face instead
of Dileepan. I beg to differ by saying that it`s a story about a common man
rising against anti-social activities. We can`t expect a common man to be Shah
Rukh Khan or Aamir Khan, can we?
Dileepan was apt for the role and he pulled off some adrenaline pumping action
sequences, while struggling at the same time in the romantic portions.
While the first half of the film is short and crisp, the second half is where
the film loses a grip on the narrative and starts pushing viewers into boredom.
It`s tough to highlight which part can be chopped off in the second half as most
of it appeared necessary. The climax was engaging despite its extended running
time, one couldn`t ignore few shortcomings.
In the acting department, we have mixed performances from a bevy of known actors
such as Sampath and Jayaprakash. Jagan may have looked weak as the insurance
agent-turned-bad guy, but his character is akin to several stories we read in
the papers every day. Kinslin deserves some appreciation for churning out
characters that are plausible.
Anjali needs to pull up her socks and start demanding different roles because
she is starting to get repetitive despite her talent.
Cinematography by Gurudev is not extraordinary, but good in few action
sequences. It is best experienced when seen on screen, than explained. Ghibran`s
music, especially the background score, elevates the movie a notch. However,
little would anybody have noticed that the background score in the climax atop a
mountain, is reminiscent to music from Pirates of the Caribbean.
Stunts by Rajasekhar definitely deserves a loud applause for he makes it an
engaging action flick at regular intervals.
With occasional speed breakers, Vathikuchi is entertaining.