Yennai Arindhaal Movie Review

Cast :  Ajith Kumar, Trisha Krishnan, Anushka Shetty, Arun Vijay, Parvathy Nair, Vivek and more.
Editing : Anthony
Music : Harris Jayaraj
Cinematography : Dan Macarthur
Written : Gautham Menon, Sridhar Raghavan, Thiagarajan Kumararaja
Direction : Gautham Menon
Production : Shri Sai Raam Creations
Distribution : M K Enterprises

When the supercilious Victor throws up an impeaching verdict against Sathya Dev saying “It looks like you are aged and there isn’t much you would be able to sway back as in past”, the theaters await the high-pitched massive punch from the protagonist. In contrary, it’s surprising that protagonist doesn’t hit back anything hard, but reasserts the statement, “It’s true, I am wondering why am not swaying back as before, but will happen soon.”

Gautham Vasudev Menon has embedded this film with naturalistic narrative spell that doesn’t try to maximize the larger-than-life image of Ajith Kumar, but delineate him in a much casually classic way of what the script actually demands.

Yennai Arindhaal (If you know me) as the title implies, the film is about the chronicles of Sathya Dev (Ajith Kumar), a honest cop. Everything begins with a flight journey for Then Mozhi (Anushka Shetty), who fervently falls in love Sathya Dev. As she envisages on proposing over a cup of coffee the very next day, things break loose out of hell and we are taken through a journey that traces the hidden past and actual identity of Sathya Dev.

A simple tale sans complications and a distinctly crafted screenplay interwoven with emotions stands out to be the most prodigious aspect of this film. What turns to be more intriguing is Gautham Vasudev Menon keeping away from exaggerating the characters and pulling things in a natural way. Well, the above cited conversational lines could be the best illustration. Each and every dialogues, emoting style and sketch of characterisations are resplendently pitched. And if you’re still precisely looking out for a better exemplification, it comes right with a much simplistic introduction of the protagonist. That’s a perfect way to blend the characters with the script, courtesy the screenwriters and script consultants that the auteur has credited blatantly in his interviews. The first hour encompasses the establishments of characters and few enthrallments on action and romantic vistas. In contrast, the second half clutches itself with intense thrill moments and at times, when you show up your wizardry with assumptions, the film surprise you with impulsive twists.

It’s really hard to deliver certain things with genteel, especially dialogues and it is in perfect sense here. Watch out for the scene where Ajith proposes Trisha and the lines that go the way ‘Let her be our only daughter. Of course, lots of trips to medical shops’. It’s really hard to convey it in elegant way, but is executed with right tone and treatment. On the pars, the glimpses of Nasser’s line to his son ‘Visit Himalayas once in a lifetime. Travel a lot. Come out of books. You’ll discover yourself’ is inspiringly stunning. Although, the film’s major backdrop is bound to action and thriller, we find spaces to involve some poignant elements.

The spotlighting attribute about Trisha proves that heroines need not appear throughout or shake legs for numbers, but a substantial role and decorous performance for a scope of just 30 minutes would make it more impactful. Anushka Shetty’s changeover is groovy. Vivekh gets his range to score brownie points in places. Arun Vijay leaves you speechless and his hard work is evident throughout the show, especially in penultimate sequences. Expressing the different shades of trust, anguish, passion, betrayal and retaliation, he keeps winning applause albeit his antagonistic role. Finally, it’s Ajith Kumar and he deserves the tons of appreciations for breaking the usual style and experimenting with unique role.

The musical score by Harris Jayaraj savours to everyone’s senses and his background score is stupendous. Seasoning every frame with creative placements of shots, cinematographer Dan McArthur grabs our eyeballs. Anthony usually prefers fast-cuts, but the transitions here are so soft that helps in enhancing the narrative aspect.

Bundling up an emotional tale with drama of twists and surprises, Yennai Arindhaal shows up as a groovy show with brilliant narration and best performances.