2.5 / 4 STARS
DIRECTOR: VASANTH
ACTOR: SURYA
ACTRESS: JOTHIKA
MUSIC DIRECTOR: YUVAN SHANKAR RAJA
STORYLINE:
Director Vasanth must've made a deal with the director of "Jodi," for the two have managed to make movies with the exact same storyline-- let me assure you, though, Vasanth's "Poovellam Kaettuparr" is the far better venture.
Vijayakumar and Nasser were once friends and both music directors. An incident in their past, though, turned them into bitter enemies. Enter their children: Surya as Vijayakumar's son and Jothika as Nasser's daughter. Of course Surya and Jothika go on a trip North together, of course they clash at first, of course they fall in love. But one good thing about the movie: it seems fresh even though the path it treads on has been done many times before.
When they come back to South India, they decide the only way to get married is to gain the approval of the other's parents. So Surya goes to work in Nasser's house as a driver, and Jothika in Vijayakumar's house as a nurse to help Surya's mother (Ambika) who has a broken leg.
Will their love eventually surpass their parents' hatred?
Ko. Vay. Sarala makes an appearance as a forgetful doctor.
COMMENTS:
I can say one good thing about the movie, it's not very sentimental. Yes, I mean it. The 1990s have become the Era of Sentiment, but "Poovellam Kaettuparr" manages to remain, largely, a comedy. The two lead actors, Surya and Jothika, are also very likable.
One scene was hilarious-- Ko. Vay. Sarala gets confused by seeing Surya work at Nasser's house, and then seeing him with Vijayakumar. She gives a great performance, and for that has secured a Best Comedy Scene nomination for "Poovellam Kaettuparr."
Nasser and Vijayakumar give their usual performances which they will mimic almost word for word later in the year as Prasanth and Simran's fathers in "Jodi."
But, speaking overall, just good clean comedy doesn't make an excellent movie. The story wasn't in any way moving, and at the end, you feel that though it wasn't a waste of money by any means, it also wasn't one of the great movies of the year either.
Oh yes, "Aval Varuvalaa" Surya learned to dance. :)
NOTE ON THE MUSIC:
The music was very well written. "Poovellam Kaettuparr's" track featured more than 7 songs, and of these 6 I liked very much, even though "O Senorita" sounded very much like a Ricky Martin song. I personally thought "Iravaa Pakalaa" was an excellent song, but what was a really big hit was "CBI Angae." Yuvan Sankar Raja did great.
RECOMMENDATION:
Watch it on video. It's not a bad movie.
VIJAY VANNIARAJAN