Udhayan Movie Review

After 'Vamsam' in which he played a soft-spoken rural youth who believes in family values, Arulnidhi has opted to go the other way in 'Udhayan', donning a dual role in a city-based subject.

Directed by Chaplin, the movie seems to be a recycle of many successful commercial films of the past. The storyline is no doubt pretty old but the debutant filmmaker has executed it well with a taut screenplay.

Arulnidhi has utilised the opportunity well giving his best in romance and stunt sequences. But the young actor has to improve a lot in dance. He needs to pick it up fast, if he is really serious about making it big in filmdom.

Vasanth (Arulnidhi) works as an assistant manager with a bank in Chennai. Mukundhan (Santhanam) is his colleague. Clear in his thoughts and actions, Vasanth is admired by all. A fun-loving youth, he falls in love with a young girl Priya (Praneetha). He straightaway urges her to marry him.

Coming to know of the affair, Priya's father who works as an auditor with a dreaded underworld gang seeks their help to separate his daughter from Vasanth. The gang spots Vasanth. They get shocked. They allege that it was he who attacked their master a few months ago. In act of revenge they stab Vasanth. In the meantime, one Ayyanar (Ashish Vidyarthi) comes searching for Vasanth.

A flashback reveals that it was a case of mistaken identity. Vasanth has a younger brother Udhayan (Arulnidhi) and their father is Ayyanar. The younger sibling is bubbly and ready for any fight in their village. The latter part is about how Vasanth sets all things right.

Arulnidhi is impressive. Praneetha is adequate. She is bubbly and gets a chance to dance for a couple of duets in the film. Santhanam is as usual in prime form evoking laughter with his one-liners. Ashish Vidyarthi does play a decent part in the film.

The film begins on a lighter vein and goes the action-packed clichéd way. But the climax twist is interesting. Vijay Milton's camera is a plus while Manikanth Kadri's couple of tunes are ok.

On the whole, 'Udhayan' is trendy and stylish. Chaplin has laced commercial elements in a good mix. However, a predictable story with a 'nothing new to offer' feel mars the flow.