Dhanush kick starts the summer releases of Tamizh movie releases for the year 2011. Among the huge bunch of young heroes in Tamizh cinema, he is one of the most profitable and hot in the trade, whether critics or viewers like it or not. Most of his recent movies were successful or at least managed to recoup back the cost of production. His last flop was Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram and that was way back in 2007, 4 years ago !! Over the duration of all these years, Dhanush has really improved and matured a lot as an actor and the recent classic Aadukalam was a testimony to this statement. Coming back to this Maappilai, it is the second time Dhanush is joining hands after the success of Padikkathavan and this time it is a direct remake of his father-in-law's super hit classic. It is a great pressure for Suraj to remake a Superstar's film and that too with the real life son-in-law of Rajnikanth, so comparisons are bound to happen. Judging by the final product, it looks like Suraj has let us down with a below average film which only sparkles in bits and pieces.
Coming to the performance, Dhanush is the pivot of the whole film and he has excelled in his character. Be it the bashful and temperamental guy in the flashback or the soft-natured boy next door personality in the current track, he did a commendable job. It is evident that he has grown into a very good actor (and it was cheeky by Vivek to say that in the movie itself!!) and his comedy timing was fantastic. Not only in comedy but he oozes class and calmness when the scene demands of his character and he had brought out those expressions effortlessly. Be it his marriage hall-intro scene or his confrontation scenes with Manisha Koirala, he pulled of the job well. The biggest disappointment in the film is of course no one else other than the veteran Manisha Koirala. A favorite among the elite directors, Suraj should be given the thumbs down for giving her a poor character which looks only like a dumb caricature in the end. How can he create such a weak characterization for a great performer? The true essence of the original was the interesting and intense confrontation scenes of the mother-in-law with her son-in-law and this movie fails to create even 10% of the zing the original had. Besides that Srividya was too good in the original with her voice modulation and body language. Hansika Motwani has nothing to do other than look like a mini-Kushboo and muster a few dialogues. Vivek with his bunch of friends such as Cell Murugan, Sathyan and Balaji evokes laughter in some scenes and tires us in certain others though the veteran comedian rocked in the second half of the film. Manobala as usual makes a clown out of himself, though the "Yen Uchi Mandayile" episode was hilarious. Ashish Vidyarthi, another talented actor was also wasted here.
Technical wise the film has nothing much to boast about. The editor should have done a better job in cutting down some unnecessary scenes. Mani Sharma dished out average songs with Aaru Padai and Ennoda Raasi being the pick of the lot but the songs picturization were poor although Dhanush has danced really well. Too bad Mani Sharma is churning out the same type of fast beat "thullal isai" songs and even though he can deliver really good melodies (songs of Shahjahan & Youth) and his background music was too loud and clichéd.
Suraj has to take the blame for coming up with a low in quality masala film and how in the world he can take the credit for story when everyone knows this is a remake?? Although he did come up with funny and naughty one-liners for Dhanush especially in the second half, the overall script was bad with many loopholes and also short in logic, particularly the climax (though it was funny).
Final verdict is Suraj made a pretty bad remake of the original Maappilai and it only sparkles in bits and pieces. Without Dhanush, it would have been a total time waste.
Rating: 2/5 stars
BY:TAMIL
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