Director: Cheran
Cast: Murali, Parthiban, Meena, Malavika, Manorama, Vadivelu.
His first film 'Bharati Kannamma' was centred round the caste factor. 'Porkkalam' was a sympathetic look at the plight of the handicapped. 'Desiya Geetham' was about people in villages who do not even have the basic amenities of life. This film is about the country's poor and the unemployed falling an easy prey to conmen who entice them with promises of employment abroad. Sensitively narrated, it is a well intentioned film that is fairly entertaining too. Only the failure of 'Desiya Geetham' seems to have made Cheran go in for compromises. Like the lengthy comedy track of Parthibhan-Vadivelu. So spontaneous in 'Bharati Kannamma', here the comedy looks forced and overdone. Some of the songs too seem an intrusion.
Murali and Parthiban, strangers to each other, find themselves in the same situation, when the agent who promised them employment disappears with their cash. Dreading return to their families, who have sold everything to make their dreams come true, the duo make a pact. Murali goes to Parthiban's house as his buddy from Dubai. And slowly gets the family back on its feet. Some of the scenes, like Murali building his hotel by making money selling fast food to poor peasants in the fields, seem a little far-fetched. Ditto Parthiban, who endears himself to Murali's mother and his sisters. With a loan from the bank and by selling milk to the co-operatives, he helps the family through its financial crises. The truth does come out, but by then the two families have nothing to complain about.
Parthiban tries to fit in with the character, but his tendency to overact sometimes robs it of its seriousness and consistency. In his recent roles, there is more of Parthiban than the character he plays. Murali successfully brings out the helplessness and the vulnerability of the character. Rajiv as the police officer who dins some sense into the duo, cuts a neat cameo. Meena has a mature role and handles it well. Vinu Chakravarty suddenly enters the scene almost at the fag end of the film, looking crestfallen and apologetic. One is left wondering why Parthiban at that stage introduces him as his father. No further explanation is given.
'Vettrikkodi Kattu' is a well-intentioned film and fairly entertaining too. It may not be as neatly scripted and as good as Cheran's first two films. But it proves that he is on the right track.
Malini Mannath
