1.5 / 4 STARS
DIRECTOR: MANOJ KUMAR
ACTORS: ARJUN, PRAKASH RAJ
ACTRESS: ABIRAMI
MUSIC DIRECTOR: DEVA
STORYLINE:
Arjun returns in full "Action King" form in Vaanavil. The story begins with Manivannan as a poor farmer who would really like his son Surya (Arjun) to be an I.A.S. officer. So Surya goes to North India to study for this, where he meets Prakash (Prakash Raj) and Priya (Abhirami). Both Prakash and Surya fall in love with Priya, but only Surya's love is reciprocated. Prakash silently becomes an enemy posing as a friend.
Many subplots later (including a 'suyamvaram' and a cameo role for Lakshmi), Surya visits Priya's home where he makes friends with Priya's sister (Uma). Through another subplot, circumstances become such that Uma commits suicide. Surya finds and murders the man who was responsible for this, and then is thrown in jail.
Prakash meanwhile has become an I.P.S. officer, and runs the jail Surya is in. Still posing as his friend, Prakash tries every way he can to get rid of Surya, who sits helpless in jail.
COMMENTS:
This seems to be the year for long convoluted plots. First there was this, and then there was Friends, which was similarly long and filled with subplots. "Vaanavil" is for anyone who misses "Action King" Arjun. For the rest of us, the movie is long, tiring, and not worth the patience. The plot shows bright spots (such as the details around Uma's suicide) but mostly, it's fight-song-subplot-fight-song-subplot. And of course, there's the obligatory patriotic speech delivered by Arjun when asked why he wants to become an I.A.S. officer.
Arjun acts well. He shows signs of the actor he was in marvellous movies like "Gentleman" and even the more recent "Rhythm." Prakash Raj overemotes as usual, but newcomer Abhirami, who is quite attractive, acts adequately.
"Vaanavil" would have been much better four subplots thinner and a good half-hour to one hour shorter.
NOTE ON THE MUSIC:
Nothing remarkable at all. In fact, at the moment, I can't remember a single tune.
RECOMMENDATION:
Arjun fans, wait for the video. All else, skip it.
VIJAY VANNIARAJAN