INTRO: The much awaited Balu Mahendra movie is here!
Balu has given many good movies such as Moodram Pirai and Moodu Pani. His excellent
cinematography is evident and are trademarks in all his movies. So with plenty of
expectations and enthusiasm, I sat down to watch this movie. Did it meet the mark? Not
quite. Read on for my findings.
SYNOPSIS: Raman (Vignesh), a poor teacher, is thrown out of his job. His best friend,
Abdullah (Karan) is offered a teaching job in Ooty although he has set his mind on going
to Dubai. Facing fierce opposition from his father, Abdullah comes up with a plan. He
trades places with Raman, who now goes to Ooty as Abdullah. There he meets Hajiyaar
(Sivakumar) and his daughter Aishah (Aswini). He boards with Anuar (Charlie) and begins
his career. Later on he discovers love with the Hindu pannayar's daughter Eswari Rao. The
rest of the story relates the problems faced by Raman and the complications that begins
when Abdullah joins him in Ooty.
(still from Movie - Ananda Vikatan)
EVALUATION: Having started out quite interestingly, Balu just didn't manage to keep up
with the tempo, and just plots along. I realised this when typing out the sypnosis of the
movie - there is nothing significant to tell! Raman Abdullah ends up as a movie among the
hundreds of masalas Madras churns out every year. There is the usual dosage of love songs,
fight sequences good-hero, best-friend, nasty-villain trio, and the grand finale - when
after a huge fight, everything is sorted out. Come to think of it, it's not even a good
masala (as compared to say, Sakala Kala Vallavan) as the story-telling is tedious and the
movie, slow-moving. Definitely not one of Balu's better movies.
MUSIC: Ilayaraaja's music is the high point of the movie and saves it from utter disgrace.
The Ilayaraaja of the 80's can be seen in this movie with good numbers such as
Muthamizhey, muthamizhey (SPB & Chitra), Sembarathi pennoruthi (SPB & Chitra) and
Yen veetu jannal (Arun Mozhi & Bavatharani). The title song, usually sung by IR
himself in most movies, is however sung by religious singer, EM Haniffa. This song, Un
mathama, is also quite catchy.
CONCLUSION: See this movie without high expectations and you will probably not be
disappointed. One of the few recent movies that can be watched with the family.
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