Film Review: Poovellam Un Vaasam

TWO NEIGHBOURS whose families are extremely close to one another, their wives who have very little to do except look well-attired, elders who personify diplomacy and a youthful bubbly pair which has not yet disclosed its love for each other - the scene is too perfect to last. And so enters the villain - misinterpretation and misunderstanding follow to make Oscar Film's ``Poovellam Un Vaasam'' reasonably interesting.

Even at the outset the director has to be appreciated for not providing a completely contrived comedy track for Vivek as is wont these days. It is there all right, but only to a palatable level. Vivek's dialogue is also not so full of similes as it normally is. And for once Kovai Sarala is not loud.

Chinna (Ajith Kumar) and Chella (Jyotika) are neighbours and their families are really close. The two are in love with each other, but fail to disclose it... and when they do it seems a bit too late, because Karna (Yugendran), their friend, has slithered himself into the relationship by then.

Ajith is natural and neat as a pining lover, a fun-loving college student and a caring friend. But he has to work harder on his soliloquies and sad expressions. As a jilted lover he cries out aloud on more than one occasion, but the only time the tears create an impact is when he and his father decide to sell the house and move away. Jyotika is bubbly and zestful. Her animus towards her father is rather difficult to digest until you understand that it is essential at a later stage for the story to be kept in motion. Even then such adamance is beyond explanation.Yugendran is a nice, new villain in the fray. Choreography for ``Chella Nam Veetukku'' and ``Pudhu Malar Thottu'' are particularly captivating. Dance, the credits say, is by Raju Sundaram and Brinda. It would be worthwhile to let the audience know the numbers each is responsible for.

Most of the songs are of the foot-tapping kind. Melodies that sound familiar at one point or the other but scintillating nevertheless. Also ``Pudhu Malar Thottu'' is a particularly fast- paced number that has pep and verve. Kudos to composer Vidyasagar. The ``Yukta Mukhi'' song alone strikes a jarring note.

If Shayaji Shinde as Chella's father shines in the scene when his friend's family leaves their home for good, Sivakumar as Chinna's father makes a mark when he tells his wife that his friend would soon come back to his fold.

Sentimental scenes involving Nagesh and V. S. Raghavan and also a few others are excusable exercises in melodrama, because thankfully they are within bearable limits. (Incidentally, has someone dubbed for Nagesh?).

Arthur A. Wilson's camera caresses beautiful locales in the ``Pudhu Malar Thottu'' song. Vairamuthu's superb lyrics are yet another plus point of ``Poovellam...''.

In certain scenes, in the close-ups, a particular artiste is shown displaying a strong emotion. The next second when all the artistes in the sequence come into focus you note the same face - now the emotion is more curtailed and calm. A point that has to be noted at the editing table?

The film reminds you of the Prashanth-Shalini starrer ``Piriyadha Varam Vaendum'' in parts, yet ``Poovellam...'' written and directed by Ezhil, has its appealing aspects too.

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