Film- Peiya Kaanom
Director- Selva Anbarasan
Cast- Selva Anbarasan, Meera Mithun, Kausik, Sandhya Ramachandran, Kothandam, Madurai Mani, Tarun Gopi.
A horror comedy, the plot revolves around a film director who sets out to Kodaikanal with his unit to shoot his first film, a horror flick. Eerie happenings disturb the film’s shoot, the encounter with the ghost of a woman leading to some weird experiences for the crew. That it’s the work of a debutant is evident all the way through, both in its amateur writing and in the shoddy execution.
The film falls short on all fronts, with hardly any redeeming factor in it. Playing the film’s director is Selva Anbarasan himself and though it’s a sloppy scenario he has created, he plays the harassed director with some sincerity. The ghost that appears helps the team in various ways to complete their shoot. Played by Meera Mithun, the ghost has hideous makeup. Looking like a zombie who had got out on the wrong side of the grave probably through some thorny bushes, it has a rasping gravelly voice to boot. The back story of a former heroine having had to face the brunt of a local zamindar’s sexual advances, and of the tragedy that followed, hardly connects. Nor does it bother one when it is revealed as to why she chose to help the director complete his film. The unit call her ‘Paatty’, though she looks far removed from a grandma figure.
Surprisingly the film has a very amusing portion. And that comes after the film ends and the title cards scroll up. Where, on one side in montage shots are depicted newspaper clippings, memes etc. of the alleged controversies that the film and its lead actress had got embroiled in, and the harassment faced by the director while the shoot was in progress. Hilarious in its take, the director reveals a great sense of humour here. Had he revealed this funny side of his in his screenplay etching too, it would have worked to the film’s advantage.
With neither horror nor comedy going for it ‘Peiya Kaanom’ is a film better forgotten.
Malini Mannath
Malini Mannath 