TAMIL CINEMA:
Barely Acceptable: Kacheri Aarambam
Cast: Jeeva, Poonam Bajwa, J.D. Chakravarty, Vadivelu, Nisha Kothari
Music: Imman
Director: Thiraivannan
Jeeva, presently one of the more talented actors in Tamil cinema, delivers yet another commercial hit without bothering to worry about finesse. In the opening sequence, Jeeva lands up in the big, bad world of Chennai (haven’t we seen enough of that?) and takes up the job of an assistant to Vadivelu, who runs a shop in the Burma Bazaar locality.
Enter Poonam Bajwa, the heroine who accidentally saves Jeeva’s life from a road accident.
You guessed it. It’s love-at-first-sight for our hero, who decides to follow Poonam wherever she goes, not dissimilar to the way Madhavan chases Meera Jasmine in Run. Poonam’s deadpan expressions suggest there is some serious issue here.
Local don Sivamani (J.D. Chakravarty) fancies Poonam and harasses her. When Jeeva gets to know the reason for her panic-stricken silence, he attempts a novel solution. He joins Sivamani’s gang, wins his trust and then tries to topple him from his position. Once Jeeva’s machinations are evident, it’s a free-for-all between him and the terror gang, culminating into a bloody climax.
The initial sequences when Jeeva pens down his feelings and elopes from his house are enjoyable but the film drags as it moves into the second half. The film has sometimes resembles Tamizhpadam, a recent spoof. But for Vadivelu, the viewers would have found it very hard sit through the entire length of the film. Vadivelu and Jeeva’s comic portions have come off very well indeed.
Nisha Kothari, a.k.a. Amoha, who debuted in Saran’s Jay Jay opposite Madhavan a few years back, returns in a bold and new avatar. (Hint, hint.)
Chakravarty as the don has done what’s expected of him. The way he repeatedly gets fooled by Jeeva’s cheap tricks strains credulity. Ditto in the sequence when Jeeva, hit hard on the head by an iron rod, regains his consciousness within seconds to bash up the baddies.
Debutant director Thiraivannan shows ample evidence that he can’t make a commercial entertainer without sacrificing sense or logic.
Kacheri Aarambam is a barely acceptable only if you are willing to make a Faustian bargain, i.e., give logic the slip.
[Chennai Online]
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