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'London' A rip-roaring comedy

By P. Sreekumaran
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

If you are down in the dumps, then you must watch ‘London’. It is a rip-roaring comedy and ipso facto, the best anti-dote for depression. You will come out refreshed and your drooping spirits lifted.

Of course, it is a carbon copy of the Malayalam movie Kakkakkuyil directed by that master of comedy, Priyadarshan.

In

a way the title ‘London’ is a bit misleading. For, except a few scenes including a song sequence, the rest of the film has been shot in Chennai.

To justify the title, there are some shots of the London Bridge, Oxford Street and Kensington area.

But one must give it to director Sundar. It may leave the intellectually inclined cold. But the ordinary masses will lap it up. In fact, they have accepted it.

That much is clear from the way it has been received at the box office.

If Kakkakkuyil had megastar Mohanlal and Mukesh (a perfect foil for Lal), in ‘London’ you have Prashanth and Pandiaraj to tickle your ribs.

Story:

Sivaraman (Prashanth) is in London in search of a job. There he runs into conman Kathir (Pandiaraj). Their doings take them through a bank robbery committed by Manivannan and his girl friend Mumtaz.

But things take an ugly turn, much to their chagrin. Consequently, the duo have no option but to take up a new avatar as Saravanan, the long-lost grandson of a rich but blind couple (Vijaykumar and Srividya).

Sivaraman and Kathir take full advantage of the blindness of the couple and gain their confidence. As if this rip-off is not enough, there is Anjali (Ankitha) who claims to be the real Saravanan’s lover.

A retinue of relatives, a drunken manager (Delhi Ganesh), a lawyer (Vadivelu) his wife Baby (Nalini) complete the picture. It is a laugh riot and situational comedy at its best.

The remainder of the movie tells you how the skein of mistaken identities is unravelled. Needless to say, it is happy denouement.

Be warned. You won't find ‘London’ logical at all. But then director Sundar wants you to leave your logical and critical faculties back home. Only if you suspend them, can you enjoy the fun flick.

No doubt, the triumvirate of Prashanth-Sundar.C-Vadivelu have come up with a 'clean ace', to put it in tennis parlance.

The movie does not have a villain as such. That is a refreshing change.

Acting wise, Prashanth has done well as Sivaraman, closely followed by Pandiaraj. The duo get on like a house on fire.

But Vadivelu beats them all hollow with a thoroughly funny delineation of the lawyer's role. In the fun extravaganza, Mumtaz gives him admirable support.

Music director Vidyasagar has done as competent a job as he is expected to do. The tunes are fast-paced and go well with the mood and temper of the film.

In the final analysis, ‘London’ is fun. So, watch it with your family. You will find it a hilarious experience.

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