Monday Oct 08 2007, Chennai

An attempt for an emotional thriller

Directed by - Vasanth

Produced by - C. Shankar, R.S. Senthilnathan

Music by - Yuvan Shankar Raja

Casts - Padmapriya, Prithviraj, Nithinsathya, Nasser, Raghavan, Suhasini

Banner - Kaivallya

Director S.M.Vasanth’s Saththum Podaathay has come as a relief amidst a lot of films that revolve around routine formulas.It tells you the story of a man who becomes a burden to his family because of alcoholism.The problem is handled with care and maturity with the director has opted to depict the man as a troubled one rather than an evil force.

Rathnavelu (Nithin Sathya) is an impotent due to alcoholism.He hides the truth when he marries Bhanumathi (Padmapriya).Rathnavelu’s perverted behaviour makes Bhanu’s life a hell.The inevitable divorce takes place and here enters the soft spoken and pleasant Ravichandran (Prithviraj), who slowly pursues the girl to marry him.The ex husband, who pretends to be a genuine person, is determined to make their life hell.

The rest of the story narrates what happens to the three.Vasanth should be lauded for coming out such a story based on a strong theme.He narrates the story without too many gimmicks.The unfolding of the problem is depicted naturally.The bondage between the protagonist and the girl too is pleasantly portrayed.

There are quite a few loopholes in the script that tries to thrill you by abduction and cruelty.The abducted drama is not convincing.The post abduction scenes are redundant and hence the narrative becomes stale after a point.The embroidery clue is convincing.But the soft natured hero, who doesn’t have any suspicion about the ex husband or the death of his wife, coming to a conclusion that his wife is alive by just seeing the embroidery is just too much to digest.

The initial scenes too are not well crafted.The ‘Ravi-Chandran’ game adds much need fun to the movie but it is stretched too far.The meeting of Ravi and Rathnavelu is cinematic.The last song doesn’t fit the narrative at all.These kinds of titillating songs are something such films can do without.

The characterisation is noteworthy.The contrast in the natures of Rathnavelu and Ravi is quite interesting.The tender nature of Bhanu is worked out well.Following his master’s (K.Balachandar) legacy, Vasanth has carefully etched the small characters as well.

The mortuary staff and the librarian are two such characters.Vasanth must be appreciated for not depicting the Rathnavelu character as a villain.He has shown a rare maturity not to depict medical problems as villainy traits.The music is one of the high points.Apart from the tuneful songs with lot of variety, the junior Raja has done the background score remarkably well.

His music has made up for the inadequacy of the thriller element in the narrative.Performance wise, Nithin Sathya steals the show by depicting the gray character with aplomb.The young man has handled the complex character with ease.Prithviraj, as a charming hero with full of compassion and enthusiasm is flawless.However, he must take guard against becoming predictable.

Padmapriya is impressive in a meaty role.She handles varied emotions with amazing ease.Though she looks aged and tired in the initial roles, she grows as an actor as the film moves on.Her appearance too is better when she wears less make up and simple costumes.Vasanth had told in one of his interviews that the movie would be a Shakespearean story told in Hitchcock style.

Though ‘Saththum Podaathay’ has poetic touch with some element of thrill, it falls short of being a perfect poetic thriller, thanks to some scratchy scenes and slow pace.The movie would have been a perfect entertainer with better editing and more careful execution.