Gone are the days when many movies used to fight for audiences every year during Pongal. The year 2009 is witnessing just three films this Tamil festive occasion. Vijay's 'Villu', Dhanush's 'Padikkathavan' and Ravi Krishna's 'Kadhalna Summa Illai'.

Let's  now take a look at these three films with a bird's-eye-view perspective.

'Villu' which released two days ahead of Pongal to cash in on the expectations factor has had a tremendous opening. A stylish Bond-like Vijay doing what he does best…. fighting and dancing…. has been wooing audiences to theaters quite dramatically. But then the film has met with mixed reviews and the storyline seems to be as stale as ever as is the case with many Vijay films of late. This factor may work against the film in the long run. But then Vijay has fans (impressive numbers at that) and if they are happy with just the action and song sequences, the film might go on to run a hundred days.

Prabhu Deva seems to have been impressed by the Hindi film 'Soldier' and has used the storyline tinkering it to suit Vijay's mass appeal. As the day's roll on we'll know if the film can sustain its good opening.

Next in line is Dhanush's 'Padikkathavan' which is expected to be a laugh riot. Dhanush seems to be very clear in his approach while choosing scripts. At a time when almost every actor wants pompous dialogues, larger-than-life appeal and extraordinarily macho screen presence, this thin actor has understood very well that the meeker he appears on screen initially the greater audiences relate with him. Once the initial tone is set, he has no problems in adapting himself to the 'hero-is-born' approach. This facet has worked so very well with him that he is actually on a hat trick. His earlier films 'Yaaradi Nee Mohini' and 'Polladhavan' were huge blockbusters.

In a nutshell one can expect a completely different kind of film when compared with 'Villu'. 'Padikkathavan' has the potential to work very well at the box office.

'Kadhalna Summa Illai' is also releasing this Pongal. Starring Ravi Krishna and newcomer Sharvanand, the film is about a journey undertaken by two young men on motorcycles and the way one of them learns all about life. The origin of the film's story also takes us back on a journey. Kadhalna Summa Illai' is the remake of a Telugu film 'Gamyam' which in turn is the remake of a Spanish film 'Diarios de Motocicleta' which was also released in English as 'The Motorcycle Diaries' which in turn in based on the novel 'The Motorcycle Diaries: A Journey Around South America' written by Argentinean author Che Guevara. Whew….that's a long journey.

The producers of this film would obviously be hoping that 'Kadhalna Summa Illai' becomes as successful as 'Gamyam' was in Andhra Pradesh. It is left to Tamil audiences if they like journeys or not. So, that will take a while to decipher.

Three very different films for audiences to choose from and as anybody can guess it is Vijay's 'Villu' which has its nose ahead. But then who is going to finish the race with victory? (If Dhanush is reading this article, he's going to hear voices of the past …. a la Simbu in 'Manmadhan') With many Tamil films proving to be unpredictable at the box office in 2008, the entire film industry is waiting with bated breath to witness the fate of these Pongal-release films.

Soon to be released films include Arya's 'Naan Kadavul', Vijayakanth's 'Engal Aasaan', Madhavan's 'Guru En Aalu', 'Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu' with a debutant hero and 'Kulir' with a bunch of newcomers. The success factor of the Pongal-release films would be largely playing on the minds of the people behind the soon to be released films. So, let's see how 2009 welcomes the Tamil film industry.

All said and done….one has to remember that there is no business like show business.