3 / 4 STARS
DIRECTOR: S. EZHIL
ACTOR: VIJAY
ACTRESS: SIMRAN
MUSIC DIRECTOR: S.A. RAJKUMAR
STORYLINE:
A modernized remake of Charlie Chaplin's wonderful silent film "City Lights."
Kutty (Vijay) works at odd jobs and wants to be a music director. So he sings often, making up songs, at functions and otherwise. Rukmini (Simran) happens to hear one of these songs, and falls in love with his voice, but unfortunately, whenever the two meet, circumstances make it look like Kutty is a rowdy. In the middle, Kutty lives up to his "rowdy" reputation by unwittingly spilling acid in Rukmini's eyes, rendering her blind.
Kutty performs penance by taking care of her, but she never knows that "her" Kutty and the rowdy are one and the same person. He gives up everything for her eventually, even going so far as refusing to cry in front of her when his mother (who we never see) dies. Eventually, he donates his mother's eyes to her so that she may see again, but due to more unfortunate circumstances, when she regains her eyesight, he has been falsely imprisoned in Pune.
Rukmini, now able to see again, studies hard and becomes Collector. When Kutty finally comes back to her after his jail term, she remembers him only as the "rowdy," and not as her lover, and so she throws him into the back of a police vehicle and is about to send him away.
COMMENTS:
Why a three? It's not a spectacular storyline, as anyone can see; the plot is filled with ridiculous twists and unbelievable situations. But "Thullatha Manamum Thullum" has some elements in it that make it well worth seeing. Mainly I'm thinking about the music and the dance. S.A. Rajkumar surpasses all expectations with a rousing music score, including such songs as "Innisai Padivarum," "Palapalukkuthu Puthunottu," "Thoduthoduneneve," and "Megamai." Street dancing has also never before been so well-choreographed, and really showed off Vijay's dancing skills.
S. Ezhil's direction, also, is not overly grating and sentimental, so it's a fun movie to watch. This is one of the three Vijay movies in history I enjoyed watching so far, along with "Poove Unnakaga" and "Kadhalukku Mariyathai."
Dhamu, Jagadesh, and Vayapuri perform the comedy track.
NOTE ON THE MUSIC:
Excellent excellent music. All the songs in this movie are great. "Innisai Paadivarum" (both versions) and "Megamai Vanthu Pogiraen" are melodious; "Palapalakkuthu" is plain fun; "Iruvathu Godi Nilavugal" and "Thoduthoduvenevae" are also great. The music is excellently done, propelling S.A. Rajkumar among the likes of A.R. Rahman and Ilayaraja.
RECOMMENDATION:
Watch it in the theater if you can.
VIJAY VANNIARAJAN