Pongal releases are here and this is my first of them. When you have the team of Dhanush, Vetrimaran(Dir), Kishore, Velraj(Cinematography) coming back together after a gap of three years when they gave an amazing movie, Polladhavan(2007), expectations are bound to be sky high. And these guys along with the girls Taapsee(breath of fresh air in Tamil Cinema) and Sindhu Menon did not disappoint at all. It is a heart touching movie. Much like Polladhavan, the movie shows you a couple of scenes happening now and then it cuts back to the past showing you how it reached the current situation.
Rathinavel and Pettaikaran are two seasoned cock fighters, with Rathinavel being a well to do police inspector still indulges in it as its his family game played since generations and Pettaikaran who has been and still is the only one to always defeat Rathinavel. A lot of enmity ensues between these groups because of this as Rathinavel is desperate to get a win. Karuppu is Pettaikaran's prodigy and learns all the tricks from him staying most of the time at his place. Durai is the unofficial financer of this group running a bar in Madurai. There happens a police raid during one of these fights and every one in the Pettaikaran group suspects of Rathinavel doing this as he cannot defeat Pettaikaran. With that suspicion, they refuse to further participate or to play against Rathinavel. And while everyone was running, one associate of Rathinavel steals one of Pettaikaran's roosters, in search of which Karuppu goes and meets Ireene. This leads to him falling in love with her. Rathinavel using his police brain tries to pursuade Pettaikaran to play against him which Pettaikaran refuses bluntly. This leads to the death of one of Pettaikaran's close associates after whose death he wants to hold a tourney to raise funds where the prodigy defies the mentor and goes against his wishes planting the seeds of jealousy in his mentor... What happens next? Does this situation become better or worse, Does he get love of his life? Answers at a nearest theater...
Overall, the movie is brilliantly shot but we do have a couple of complaints, especially with the way the climax is handled, It leaves a person in a confused state of mind. You will get those questions too when you watch the movie. Also, the character of Rathinavel isn't seen in a single shot in the second half.
Technically, brilliant cinematography, background music, yathe yathe song, porkalam song aptly timed in the movie. Dhanush puts in yet another brilliant performance. Last time we saw a six pack performance from Dhanush in a Vetrimaran movie, here he completely steals the show with his innocence, honesty and has played his part to perfection. Taapsee as I mentioned already, is a fresh breath of air in Tamil Cinema, she is very cute, and has played her part well looking every bit of the Anglo girl she was to look very comfortably. She's got a great future ahead. Kishore, as we know is a very good actor and he hasn't disappointed. Another person worth mentioning is Jayabalan, who plays Pettaikaran. He's played the role of a jealous mentor very nicely.
Well, this is one of those few movies I heard claps(including mine during the intermission). Except for the climax, I liked the whole movie. Climax left me wanting for more, may be Aadukalam-2, what say???
Verdict: 3.75/5
