Monday Oct 08 2007, Chennai

Pallikoodam kindles nostalgia

Directed by - Thangar Bachan

Produced by - Vishwas Sundar

Music by - Bharadwaj

Casts - Naren,Sneha,Shreya Reddy,Thankar

Banner - Viswas Films (p) ltd

Director cum cinematographer Tankar Bachchan has made ‘Pallikoodam’ based the story of his yet to be published novel ‘Kalavadiya Paguthikal’.Pallikoodam tells you the story of old students coming together to save their school in their villages.The director has effectively mixed some doses of love and a conflict into the story.The movie, however, fails to come up with a gripping screenplay to support a strong story line.Vetrivel (Narain), and Muthu (Seeman) are studying in the same school.

Vetrivel, the son of the village potter becomes an I.A.S officer and collector of Kancheepuram and Muthu, the son of the village carpenter becomes a director.There is Kumarasami (Thangar), the poor student of the class grows up as a labourer.Gokila (Sneha) is the daughter of the rich village landlord who also owns the school.

The young Gokila and Vetri shared a special bondage during their childhood.Kokila becomes the teacher at the same school.Her uncle spoils the school by his mismanagements.The school is facing the threat of being shut down by the Educational department.Kokila seeks the support of Kumarasamy, the old student of the same school.

He in turn ropes in Vetrivel.Muthu and other old students too come forward to revive the school.There is also Jhansi (Shreya Reddy) a nurse who comes to the village and sets up a dispensary.The boys develop a 'puppy love' for the stunning nurse.It is she who encourages Kokila- Vetrivel affair and faces the wrath of the villager's.

The love story of Collector Vetrivel (Chiththiram Pesuthadi fame Narain) and the teacher Gokila is pleasantly portrayed.The love in various stages of life is shown with a touch of realism.The scenes depicting the jealous and competition of the boys to grab the attention of the teacher are hilarious.The transition of Shreya (who appear glamouraously in the first half and being subjected to cruel treatment in the second half) is well conceived and executed.Though Narain and Seeman have done their respective roles well, it is Thankar Bachchan, who steals the show with his awesome rendition of a villager’s character.

Sneha, Shreya Reddy and (Thankar’s Pair) Meenal suit their roles well.The item number (a remix version of MGR’s song) featuring ‘Gana’ Ulaganathan and Suja looks as an aberration but the director has somehow given the justification for the song in the narration.Nevertheless, the effort falls flat.Bharadwaj’s music is soothing to the ears.All the four songs are tuneful.

Thankar Bachchan, who has taken up many responsibilities (story, screenplay, cinematography, direction, and acting), has done full justice in acting and cinematography.He has chosen a poignant subject but failed to come up with a coherent screenplay.The problem with the film is its slow pace in the first half.The scenes depicting the life of schoolboys have now become routine in village based films and hence they don’t hold our attention.The melodramatic element is overdone and the proceedings move on the predictable lines.

Moreover, the caste angle brought in to the narrative is unconvincing.The ‘Shreya twist’ looks contrived.Overall, the film passes muster with its nostalgic element and some good performances.