Inimey Ippadithan (From now on, it’s like this) - Templated Discourse!

Santhaanam can’t get any verbal than this - the title says it all. His stance as a “hero” from now is set to become a norm for all his forthcoming movies. For Kollywood that has seen a bunch of villains turning into heroes (e.g. Rajinikanth, Sathyaraj, Raghuvaran, Nasser), comedians turning into heroes is relatively new, especially with the success story of Sivakarthikeyan in recent times. In the 80s it was Bhagyaraj who often doubled up as a comedian and the leading man who can romance, fight and feel when it was needed. But his extraordinary hand at coming up with some mind blowing screenplays did justice for his characterization. So now it is Santhanam who has taken the plunge with grit and audacity with some calculated steps to climb the ladder to the next level of fame.

The plot was an ordinary (or so to say a “safe-bet”) triangular love story where Santhanam has to decide between his love interest and the bride that was chosen for him by his parents. Till the last moment he fails to decide and the climax decides his fate in the most uncanny way which was totally off the turf for a mainstream hero. The uncanny climax was possible only due to Santhanam’s image as a comedian and that I would say was a silver lining and the light at the end of an almost dark tunnel. Though it hardly adds any value for this movie, it does give hopes of utilizing Santhaanam in much more effective roles in the future and he can be handed over some uncanny lead roles like the ones that his counterpart in Malayalam, Dileep is doing.

The movie ardently sticks to its wicket and draws a safe boundary that encompasses ‘sarakku’ and figure formula. The banalities like a crude father (Naren), a doting mother (Pragathi) and a cool uncle (‘Thambi’ Ramayya) with some cronies (VTV Ganesh and company) were there to add to the “guy with a perfect setting” ethos. The heroines were contrasting enough - one with a mind of her own (the raunchy Ashna) and the other one, a more conservative Akhila. Essentially there was nothing new. Santhaanam had to chase behind anyone of them and so he has chosen Ashna for the first half.

I felt the problem of Santhaanam romancing with the heroines was largely due to the fact that we often relate to the underlying comedian in him, who was so convincing in so many other movies. When the same man begs for our tears with some weak predispositions we tend to think twice as his brand value sounds so different. We have never seen him exchange romantic looks nor has he taken enough pains to shake his hips and legs for mainstream songs nor has he dressed with a hero’s tag all over. We can't help a smirk or two escaping from our lips at times when Santhaanam is upto all these things.

The overall package by the debutant director duo Muruganand (Murugan + Anand) was somewhat awkwardly summed up but managed to draw in our attention thanks to Santhaanam’s comic timing and some mildly orchestrated debaucheries which was also irritating at times. But who cares if the movie doesn’t give you a great payoff when it doesn’t even beg for your attention in the first place?

Verdict: Below average

Rating: 2 / 5