Screenplay, a sixer
RULING WITH SENTIMENT: Muniyaandi Vilangiyal Moondram Aandu
Muniyaandi Vilangiyal Moondram Aandu
Genre: Family drama
Director: M. Thirumurugan
Cast: Bharat, Vadivelu, Ponvannan, Poorna
Storyline: It’s just a story of the jilted lover, till the hero gets to know his brother’s past.
Bottomline: Different, but woe! the climax!
The verdict is that Thirumurugan’s debut (‘Em Magan’) was no flash in the pan. Be it television soaps or full-length features this maker is emerging as a king of family (read father) sentiment. Along with it, he mixes romance, comed
y and action into a tasty cocktail called ‘Muniyaandi Vilangiyal Moondram Aandu’ (U). (But can you ignore the glitches towards the end?)
Full marks to Thirumurugan for apt casting! Actors big and small fit into their roles perfectly — even the supernumeraries on the college campus look so real! A fast, lucid screenplay and a substantial storyline with intelligent, unexpected twists are scoring points. Thirumurugan’s strength also lies in his choice of an ambience he is familiar with — the small town scene. Hence emotions are genuine and expressions sincere.
Muniyaandi (Bharat) is the apple of his dad’s eye. The anxious parents have already lost their elder son (The flashback segment keeps you glued.) and will not allow Muniyaandi to meet with a similar fate. But their task isn’t easy — especially after he falls for Madhumita (Poorna), the daughter of the town’s rich baddie. Clichéd, you could think, but Thirumurugan springs some admirable surprises, and riveting moments follow.
But the climax that leads to a pedestrian end is a dampener. Unnatural reactions in these sequences further mar matters. The villain is killed, and the hero’s upright father, with a pleased smile tells the son to bring the dead man’s daughter home as his daughter in law. The son is happy too. None is in the least worried about the girl having just lost her dad! And there’s absolutely no place for the police or the Law here!
It’s another laudable project that has come Bharat’s way. He handles the entire gamut of emotions skilfully, and with a well-toned physique to boot, he does a neat job in action and dance. Heroine Poorna is a worthy find. She is no glam dame here. She has a concrete part to play and pulls it off well.
Reminding you of Suman from certain angles, L. Raja, a director himself, makes a mark as the unscrupulous father of the heroine.
Tara is a surprise! A heroine not very long ago, she plays Muniyaandi’s mother and her telling eyes are an asset. But the performer who takes the cake is Ponvannan (who’s also a director), Muniyaandi’s dad. Wilting in fear without getting theatrical, he shows what mellowed portrayal is all about.
Humour, a hit
It’s not often that you see Vadivelu’s humour blending beautifully with the story. The comedian’s contribution in making the film worth watching is considerable.
Very unique in make-up and attire, his role of Sorimuthu Ayyanar is hilarity all the way.
Vidyasagar’s ‘Kombu Vitta Kaalai …’ tune and Vairamuthu’s lyric are highpoints but otherwise music in ‘Vilangiyal …’ is passé. Bhoopathy’s art presents a true-to-life town atmosphere and Bhasker Shakti’s dialogue is a winner too.
Whoever said sob story makers of the small screen cannot score on the big? Thirumurugan proves the premise wrong once again!
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
