Film Review:''Vaanathai Pola''

THE LIGHTER moments are some of the best portions of Oscar Films' ``Vaanathai Pola''. The younger Vijaykanth and Ramesh Kanna who work together at a roadside hotel where Senthil is the owner, provide healthy comedy that evokes hearty laughter. Vijaykanth excels in comedy and Ramesh Kanna has all the makings of a good comedian.

Vijaykanth dons the dual role of brothers. Livingston and Prabhu Deva are the other two younger brothers, the inspiration obviously being the Ramayana. The story is that of love that is the binding force among the brothers, and the ordeals they face. The others in this star-studded fare include Meena, Kousalya, Vineetha, Sabitha Anand, Anju Arvind, Rajiv, Devan and Kazan Khan.

Melodrama plays a major role here. Sentiment and sibling love fail to appeal after a point, when they reach implausible levels, as in ``Vaanathai Pola.''

When the older Vijaykanth (Vellaichami) returns home after being insulted by Meena's father, the younger one (Muthu) is able to make out what would have transpired at Meena's place, by just looking at his brother's face.

He says that words are redundant between them and that he would clearly understand his elder brother's feelings, even if he did not utter a word. In the climax, the same Muthu looks absolutely happy and cheerful totally oblivious of the fact that his brother looks forlorn and depressed and is in abject sorrow!

S. N. Lakshmi as the grandmother is hilarious and adds levity to the film as a whole.

Prabhu Deva and Kousalya form an energetic, sprightly pair. There is noticeable improvement in Prabhu Deva's histrionic abilities.

A word about the costumes of the lead pair - they are garish to the point of hurting the eyes.

The songs of S. A. Rajkumar give the feeling that they have all been heard before. Again the re-recording - particularly the music in a couple of places sounds like the ``Goods Vandiyilae'' number heard a few years ago in the film ``Kunguma Chimizh.''

A film needs a climax and a climax needs villains. In keeping with this formula, Ananda Raj, Devan and Kazan Khan are there to do the job. But they seem to be unnecessarily thrust in the fray.

Vikraman is a director from whom the audience expect much and whether he lives up to it in ``Vaanathai Pola'' is a big question. The answer, of course, is obvious.

MALATHI RANGARAJAN

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