
ApunKaChoice.Com	IndiaExpress.Com CricketZone.Com

RSS

HOME | MOVIES | Mozhi | Mozhi review

Mozhi
story in pictures
Picture Gallery

'Mozhi' -A simple, touching movie

By P. Sreekumaran
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

The Radha Mohan-directed ‘Mozhi’ marks a magical moment in the life of Tamil heroine Jyothika. It is her swan song on the silver screen. No more will Jo adorn the big screen (it is a sad thought, indeed), having decided to call it quits in the wake of marriage to Tamil superstar Surya last year.

But, then, she is fading out in a blaze of glory. Two films in quick succession – Pachaikkili Muthucharam and now ‘Mozhi’ – have Jo at her best.

If

in ‘Pachaikkili Muthucharam’ she played a dangerous temptress, in ‘Mozhi’ she did the role of a deaf mute – to perfection.

‘Mozhi’ is a cinematic proclamation of the maxim that you do not need masala to make a good movie.

It is all that the average Tamil cinema is not. The film boasts of no violence, double-meaning dialogues, surfeit of glamour, meaningless comedy or larger than life protagonists. It is peopled with characters to whom you can relate to and empathise with.

The flick steals over you, suffusing you with a feeling of elation at having watched a flick whose hallmark is simplicity.

‘Mozhi’ is a musical love story that unfolds the love tale of a musician and a deaf and dumb girl, who cannot savour his musical feats! The universality of the theme of love that transcends all barriers has been narrated with a directness and honesty that compel admiration.

The story revolves round Karthik (Pritviraj) and Viji (Prakash Raj) close friends who make out a living as musicians. The duo find shelter in an apartment whose rules do not allow bachelors to stay there. No wonder, the twosome evoke the hostility of apartment secretary Ananthakrishnan (Brahmanandam), who tells them to vacate the flat at the earliest.

Karthi then runs into Archana (Jyothika) who impresses him with her guts and strength of mind. He falls in love with the girl who lives in the same apartment. Eager to be in her good books, Karthik befriends Archana’s close friend Sheela (Swarnamalya) and even learns the sign language. But Archana tries to discourage him. But the more she tries to shake him off, the more determined Karthi becomes to make her his wife. How he manages to accomplish his difficult mission is what the remainder of the film is all about.

It is Jyothika’s finest hour in reel life. Jo makes excellent use of her expressive eyes to convey a whole gamut of emotions. Anger, frustration, love, irritation, tenderness – the eyes express them all with telling effect that could be the envy of more seasoned artists than her.

Hero Prithviraj and friend Prakash Raj get along like a house on fire. Both excel in the comic scenes, with a perfect sense of timing. Between them they provide some of the best moments in the movie. Brahmanandam and M.S.Bhaskar give them solid support. Prithviraj proves that he is good at comedy, too.

Composer Vidyasagar is in his elements. Two songs, “Katrin Mozhi” and “Sevvanam Selaikatt” bear the Vidyasagar stamp.

For eyes tired of watching typical masala movies, ‘Mozhi’ affords a welcome diversion. The unmistakable ‘Mozhi’ message is: a simple movie simply told appeals to one and all. All credit to director Radha Mohan, Jyothika and producer Prakash Raj.

Eminently watchable.

[Mozhi movie] [Mozhi preview] [Mozhi picture gallery] [Mozhi cast & crew] [Mozhi trailers and videos] [Mozhi wallpapers]

Copyright 2008 ApunKaChoice.com. All rights reserved.