Director Radha Mohan is back after a long gap. All of his film have been critically acclaimed and come under the “decent” category. He has also resisted teaming up with star actors, perhaps to avoid making too much of commercial compromises. Even in this film Radha Mohan has come with Karunakaran, a reputable character cum comedy artist in the lead role. What does ‘Uppu Karuvadu’ has to offer as a new film? Read on.
Chandran (Karunakaran) is a failed filmmaker who is desperate for a chance to prove his worth. He finds a producer Neidhal Jeyaramam aka Ayya (M.S.Basker) the leader of a fishing hamlet. Ayya wants to launch his daughter Mahalakshmi (Nanditha) as a heroine and he chooses Karunakaran to direct her daughter’s debut film. Chandran takes up this opportunity and starts script discussion and rehearsals for his new film along with his associates. But Chandran toils a lot to mould Maha as an actress and make her fit into his lead character. Does Chandran gets the break he is yearning for and what happens to Maha is told in rest of the film.
Firstly, we would say, this is a lighthearted film and Radha Mohan has not gone for a serious subject like his previous film ‘Gouravam’. The settings of a film about filmmaking cannot be related by all. The characters are very less in number. But still with this limited scope Radha Mohan has given what would be expected from his film. The film makes us laugh heartily in innumerable occasions and also leaves a lump on throat at times. Pon Parthipan the debutante dialogue writer with his brilliant comic timing and ability to write touching dialogues has phenomenally helped most of the situations created by the script writer to hit the bull’s eye.
Though it is the dialogues that make us laugh and clap, we cannot miss to note and appreciate Radha Mohan''s contribution for the humor part. He has created almost every character with an inherent attribute that will provide ample scope to create humor. The Fishing hamlet leader is a wannabe poet. The (fake) Godman on whom he depends to take every important decision in life, wants to become an actor. The production manager (Mayilsamy) is the one who would manipulate every accidental noise as the divine approval for what he had just said is the best option. Chandran’s assistant director who is highly innocent and ignorant and cannot pronounce an English word correctly. The associate director (Chams) who utters a Thriukural for every situation in life. These are just examples.
The climax twist and the way it unfolds and the realistic ending also have the signature Radha Mohan style and we leave the movie hall with a sense of fulfillment.
If you expect thought provoking situations and dialouges and strong emotional content as in ‘Mozhi’ and ‘Payanam’ you will be disappointed. They are far and few in this film. But there are instances where the absurdities of cinema, groups protesting against films to gain publicity, rich people’s mad beliefs and self-conceit etc have been trolled and make the right impact. Radha Mohan touch is evident in these instances.
The film as a story and script has nothing new or interesting to offer except the smartness displayed in the climax twist. The film is highly predictable and depends on convenient turns. Clichés that are usually trolled in Radha Mohan films are take place in this film (Hero hailing from a poor family with a single mother and yet to be married sister, a rowdy getting refined for his lover).
This is not a film that one would watch for technical brilliance but the camera and lighting in many scenes make it look like watching a TV soap. We understand this as a budget constraint, but at a time when short films give a pleasant watching experience we expect that quality from a feature film from a professional filmmaker.
Performances lift this film to great level and almost all the actors have given their best. Karunakaran lives the character as usual without desperately showing us that he has put so much effort to look this character convincing. That is one of the huge plusses of Karunakaran as an actor and this attribute has come to fore in this film. Nandhitha gets a usual childish girl character but this is one of the most challenging roles she has acted so far. She has to perform many scenes in the film in two different ways (watch the film to know why) and one has to say that the young actress has pulled off this challenge credibly. M.S.Bhasker’s role is not just limited to comedy and the veteran excels in the climax where he has scope to emote. Mayilsamy, Chams and the actors who come as the fake godman and ignorant assistant director give their best to make us laugh. Kumaravel gets yet another serious and sane character amid funny characters in a Radha Mohan film. Narain and dance master Sathish get a bit lengthier and stronger role in this film and they have done their part convincingly.
Steve Vatz’s songs are limited in number and they neither make an impact nor give us pain. Re-recording is passable. Art Director Kadhir should be appreciated for lively presentation of the beach and fishing hamlet.
Verdict: Go, laugh and enjoy.
