Tamil cinema abounds with movies where lackluster direction and treatment
have ruined material that probably sounded promising on the
drawing board. En Swaasa Kaatre and Kaadhalar Dhinam are two
recent examples that spring to mind. First-timer
Erajakumaran illustrates the opposite in Nee Varuvaai Ena,
proving that a strong script, a good screenplay and skilful
direction can rescue a movie which
depends on basically a
ludicrous theme. Taking a rather silly central point, he
weaves two vastly different but equally interesting love
stories around it, resulting in an end product that is
entertaining overall.
Ganesh(Parthiban), the product of a Mudaliar-Gounder
intercaste marriage, loses several prospective brides due to
this and spends his time dreaming of marriage. On a busride
to Chingleput to take up a promotion as bank manager, he is
involved in an accident. The scene shifts to three months
later when he finally shows up at Chingleput. Nandini(Devayani),
living in the house opposite his, showers affection on him,
giving him coffee, providing him with hot water, etc. But
when he with his parents, visits her to talk about marriage,
she rejects him. Revealing the real reason behind her
attachment to Ganesh, she tells him of her ill-fated love
affair with army officer Subramani(Ajith). Eager to send him
on his way, Nandini sends a letter in Ganesh's name to
Ganesh's home, accepting the latest girl they picked for him
and Ganesh returns home to find arrangements for his wedding
in full swing. Coincidentally, the girl turns out to be
someone(Suvalakshmi) he had dreamed of marrying during his
pre-Nandini days.
Even if the reason for Devayani having a soft spot for
Parthiban is overly cinematic, the director has the surprise
element working for him. The viewer is kept guessing about
the reason right till the last moment. The same factor is
seen again during the concluding portions of the movie. I
admit to being completely clueless about the way things
would proceed from the moment Parthiban finds out that he is
going to marry Suvalakshmi. I know suspense is not a term
one usually associates with tamil movies(a case in point is
the murder-mystery Malabaar Police where the requisite
suspense was virtually non-existent), especially a movie
like this. But the proceedings here are actually suspenseful
and unlike the typical tamil movie, tough to predict. The
resolution too is sensible and stands right up there with
the climax in Aanandha Mazhai for
elevating the quality of
the movie as a whole.
The director shows a flair for comedy with some funny
sequences and dialogs throughout the movie. Ramesh Khanna
worrying about the past of the house they stay in and Ajith
and his parents attending a feast in Devayani's house are
two notable episodes handled efficiently. There is also a
smaller scene where a man comes to the bank to make a
deposit that is funny solely because of the clever dialogs.
The script is a major strength of the movie with several
memorable lines. And the final dialog of Parthiban, though
rivalling Vijay's climactic discourse in Nenjinile for
longevity, includes many strong lines. One bad slip-up the
director makes is the scene where Parthiban drinks and
shouts in front of Devayani's house. Seen in several movies
and included probably to allow Parthiban to deliver some
dialogs in his trademark style, it is unnecessary, boring
and just cheapens the movie.
Parthiban plays a down-to-earth role with less of his
usual snide remarks. Ajith looks smart and comes in a role
that will probably make every girl wish for a husband like
him and every parent wish for a son-in-law like him. But
with his boyish looks, he looks more like a school boy in a
fancy dress competition when he wears the army dress.
Devayani looks jaded through most of the movie but impresses
as the innocent bride-to-be, in love with Ajith. Ramesh
Khanna, who appears in almost as many scenes as Parthiban,
has a strong role and makes full use of it(as he did in
Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen). Suvalakshmi has a tiny guest
role without any dialogs.
S.A.Rajkumar delivers a pleasant soundtrack with Oru
Devadhai..., Paarthu Paarthu... and Poonguyil
Paattu.... One song(starting with the Suprabatham
tune), with scenes of a spinning top, is innovatively
picturised. But he creates sort of a record for using songs
from other movies during various scenes!
