Jiiva , the most talented hero amongst his contemporaries, badly in need of a commercial break has joined hands with Deekay who gave the laugh a minute rollercoaster ride ‘Yaamirukka Bayamen’. The teasers suggested an adult comedy on relationships and whether ‘Kavalai Vendaam’ lives up to its expectation remains to be seen.
The film opens with Divya (Kajal Agarwal) speaking to her friend Shilpa (Shruti Ramakrishnan)about her wedding to Arjun (Bobby Simha) and explains in detail to her (actually to us, groan!) about her ex-husband Aravind (Jiiva) her childhood sweetheart whom she intends to divorce as they are not compatible. Arvind is straight out of another Jiiva film ‘Endrendrum Punnagai’ who drinks and has fun all the time with Natty (RJ Balaji) and Bala Saravanan. When Divya approaches Arvind he agrees to sign the papers providing she lives with him for one week as a good wife to which she agrees (!!!). Enter husband to be Arjun and Jiiva’s love in waiting Deepa (Sunainaa) and what should have been another rollercoaster ride from Deekay turns out to be a half baked half hearted fare.
It is a cake walk for Jiiva to play Aravind and he does so with consummate ease and is quite comfortable letting other players hog the limelight most of the time. It is Kajal Agarwal, who is in every single frame and she has given a fairly good account of herself, be it mouthing double entendres with a glint in her eyes, romancing and emoting as well. The most underwritten role is reserved for Bobby Simha and he sleepwalks through it. R.J. Balaji is once again a scream and he literally makes people jump out of their chairs in the police station scene and the scene in which he mistakes Shruti’s special gesture towards him. Bala Saravanan is a perfect foil for Balaji especially when countering him and his own scene is when he gets kicked on the unmentionables by dozens of people. The rest of the cast including Mayilswamy, Shruti Ramakrishnan, Sunaina, Jangiri Madhumitha and Manobala are apt for their roles and what is more each features in atleast one adult comedy scene and scores.
Cinematography by Abhinandhan Ramanujam is the biggest plus of ‘Kavalai Vendam’ as the pleasing locales of Kodaikanal and Ooty are caught in lifelike frames and the colours needed for the genre is perfectly splashed. Promising music composer Leon James background score is peppy but his songs don’t make an impact in the theater. T. Suresh provides clean cuts.
As proven by him in his debut, comedy of an adult nature is Deekay’s forte and credit to him that most of his comedy scenes and dialogues hit the target. With a good ensemble cast Deekay could have done much better, but his inconsistently paced screenplay, especially after the interval block is a big let down. Another case of a good idea (although inspired from ‘Sweet Home Alabama’) that falls prey to bad execution.
Verdict: Go for it as genuine loud laughter is guaranteed in the few comedy scenes
