Film-Vallavan Vaguthadhada
Director- Vinayek Durai
Cast-Tej Charanraj, Ananya Mani, Swathi Meenakshi, Rajesh Balachandiren, Vikram Aditya, Regin Rose, Aroul D Shankar.
A hit and run accident where a man is severely injured, is preceded and followed by a chain of events that creates havoc in the lives of many. The debutant director creates a scenario where each of the characters are driven by a desperate need for money.
As the narrative progresses, more characters get involved in this scenario. The accident-victim’s daughter Subha (Swati),who gets sacked from her job as a cab driver, the car she was driving getting stolen soon after; A private financier Kuberan (Aditya) from whom her father had taken a loan, the money missing after the accident; Agalya a con woman (Ananya) who uses relationships to make her own pile of money; Two petty thieves on the prowl (Tej,Regin) ; And a corrupt obnoxious policeman Neethimani ( Balachandiren,with his over the top act) who gets linked to each of the characters. It’s how this crazy scenario plays out, where the dominant motive is the lure of lucre.
The film has a feel of a James Hadley Chase novel. And in its betrayals and deceptions reminds one of ‘Johny Gaddar’. The narrative is non linear as it steers through the lives of the various characters. But at times, rather than being non-linear, it seems to move in bits and pieces.
The screenplay is divided into several ‘chapters’ with a caption for each. It seems more like a series of parables,with a take on the karma- factor. Where, as a voice over says, no one can escape the consequences of their acts.
The actors, relatively unknown faces, fit in suitably. There is a tone of irreverence almost throughout, as the director creates a dog-eats–dog kind of world, where greed and deception pervades and where finer emotions like loyalty, friendship and love go for a toss. Coincidences are one too many. The final chase and heist ,where Kuberan’s money on the move in a van, and coveted by many, plays out a tad too conveniently. It’s a pre-planned feel-good finale that the director resorts to. What’s appreciable is that Vinayek has managed to wrap up his storytelling in just about 104 minutes.
It’s a whacky scenario, and for a viewer satiated with formulaic plots, the film could be a fairly engaging diversion.
Malini Mannath
Malini Mannath 