Imsai Arasan 23-aam Pulikesi - A Review

Munkurippu: There will be a recap post for the month of July soon.. Before that, I wanted to give this review because, films normally stay in my memory for very less time ;-)

Lollu, Nakkal, Nayyandi, Rousu... Vadivelu is very famous for all these as a comedian. In his maiden venture as a hero, he maintains the same trend and more than these, he has tried some serious acting too...

Imsai Arasan 23-aam Pulikesi is a film that stands distinctly out of all genre of films made in today's cinema. Never before there was a film made similar to this, and I feel, never in near future there can be a successful attempt of making such a film. Simply because such films can be made once in a blue moon only.

The film may seem to be draaging, over done or even turn to be a mokkai at few moments. But the rest of the film which is a total and thorough entertainer keeps the audience glued to the seats.

Performance wise, Vadivelu has proved that he is perfectly fit to do a hero role that too in a double act. While the role of Pulikesi is in a perfect comedian mould, he has managed to get the audience serious in the other role of Ukkirabuddhan. Though in many scenes he seems to be imitating MGR or Sivaji, the audience really enjoy watching him.

The supporting cast of Naazer as Villain, Tejashree and Monisha as the pairs of Vadivelu's two acts, Sriman as Ukkirabuddhan's assistant and others have done their roles adequately. Manorama was plainly irritating in yet another crying mother's role!!! The brilliant sets and excellent picturisation give you an exact effect of watching a period film.

Songs were just loud noises in the theatre, though very few went out for popcorns and a dhum :-D Nevertheless, the first song "Aadivaa" and the romantic ;-) number "Aasi kaniye" were good to hear. Songs had clear inspirations from many old movies in terms of orchestration and picturisation. Guess it was an intentional move.

There are a few instances of dialogues for which the whole theatre bursted out in laughter:

"Neengal iruvarum serveergal enbadhu enakku munnare theriyum.. Enakku eppadi theriyum? Nalla kelvi.. Rettai kuzhandhai kadhayil veru eppadi thiraikadhai amaikka mudiyum?"

"Karadi kaari thuppia Pulikesi mannare umadhu mugathil kaari thuppi vittar enbadhai solli unnai avamaana paduthuven"

"Ennadhu? idhu nee seidha sangiliya?? Idhai mudhalileye solla koodadha?"

And certain scenes like the war scene with Vallavadevan, the hunting scene in the jungle etc. The details.. You must watch to enjoy!!!

The sequences of Akkamaala and Gapsi, comments on government workers("9 maniyil irundhu 5 mani varai vetti pozhudhu poka sambalam, arasaanga udhyogam endru peyar veru") and many others were a clear take on present scenarios. And the Ten Commandments at the end surely gave a feel of Shankar's movie.. Short and sharp.. upto-the-point dialogues. Kudos to the writer!!!

It is a rare phemomena that a period film in today's era that too with a comedian donning the role of a hero, gets so much of appreciation from the public- women and children in particular. Vadivelu has succesfully done what top heroes could not achieve through their action flicks and romantic entertainers- he has pulled back ladies crowd from TV sets to theatres :P

Hats off to the director Chimbudevan and Producer Shankar for giving us the biggest entertainment of the year till now :-)

Pinkurippu: I don't think this film will get out of my memory for quite some time :P