2 / 4 STARS
DIRECTOR:
ACTORS: VIJAYAKANTH, PRABHU DEVA, LIVINGSTON
ACTRESSES: MEENA, KOUSALYA, ANJU ARAVIND
MUSIC DIRECTOR: DEVA
STORYLINE:
The underlying storyline is of four brothers (two of whom are played by Vijayakanth, and the others being Prabhu Deva and Livingston). The oldest brother Vellaichamy (Vijayakanth) being far older than his other brothers has taken care of them since they were very young -- he loves them dearly, more than he loves life. He works hard for them. Eventually, his hard work pays off and the middle brother Livingston studies to become a police officer, and the youngest brother Prabhu Deva studies to become a doctor.
Eventually, all three younger brothers must face the test of love and the audience must wait and see whether the family will break up because of the entrance of the women (Meena for younger Vijayakanth, Anju Aravind for Livingston, and Kousalya for Prabhu Deva). Their sibling love triumphs, though.
The ending is composed on the fact that Vellaichamy and Kousalya's father detest each other; Kousalya's father refuses to let his daughter marry Prabhu Deva unless Vellaichamy promises him something: he must leave his brothers and never see them again.
Will Vijayakanth go or will the younger brothers' love keep him with them?
COMMENTS:
If you can sit through the beginning fifteen minutes which is overladen with sentiment about the older Vijayakanth working so hard for his brothers, you're actually in for an okay ride. Ramesh Kanna's comedy impresses again. And the story moves just fast enough to keep us watching (if not totally interested). My only quibble is that instead of spending so much time on the Vijayakanth-Meena love story, Vikraman could have given more time to Prabhu Deva and Kousalya, whose love is skimmed over. Prabhu Deva has proven himself a versatile actor lately and is good for a lot of laughs-- we might have been more interested in his story than in Vijayakanth's.
There's a whole string of actors going through this movie including Rajiv playing a semivillain.
My other comments? Prabhu Deva, start dancing again! He's in a dance drought, it seems. And Vijayakanth, stop acting like such a "thyagi." He's always sacrificing everything in every movie.
This movie was a humongous hit in India, running nearly a year. It's not that good.
NOTE ON THE MUSIC:
The music was a pleasant surprise. Lots of the songs were pleasing to listen to. For some reason, "Nathiyae" was a hit with the youth audience.
RECOMMENDATION:
Watch it on video.
VIJAY VANNIARAJAN