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Ponniyin Selvan
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'Ponniyin Selvan' Beauty is skin-deep

By P. Sreekumaran
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

It does not have the razzle-dazzle of an Anniyan. Nor does it claim the stylistic sweep of the Rajnikant-starrer Chandramukhi. But the Radhamohan-directed Ponniyin Selvan's impact on the audience is no less effective. It is a simple story said in a simple and straightforward cinematic language. No wonder the film is packing them in.

The protagonist Venu (Ravi Krishna) suffers from an inferiority complex because of a burnt cheek in a childhood mishap. The chip on his shoulder lands Venu in all sorts of trouble. The guileless guy is a hard working youth who dotes on his mother Ponni (Revathy). The youngster has had to shoulder the family burden very early in his life. He rises to the occasion and gets his elder sister (Devadarshini) married off.

No

wonder, Venus endears himself to one and all. And that includes neighbour Kani (Gopika) who takes a fancy to him which blossoms into love soon. Guru (Prakash Raj) is a pillar of strength to Venu.

Like other youngmen of his age, Venu also wants to look handsome. A doctor suggests plastic surgery. There is no stopping Venu. What follows is the struggle to raise the money required for the operation.

As it happens so often, in the obsession for money, Venu losing his innocence and peace of mind. In the process he inflicts sufferings on his near and dear ones.

Does he succeed in achieving the goal? Well, the remainder of the movie is all about how he does it.

Radhamohan deserves kudos for coming out with a movie that has a simple but powerful message: beauty is only skindeep, what matters the most is contentment and a mind at peace with itself and with the world.

Ponniyin Selvan is refreshingly free from the crude comedy which has become the hallmark of later-day Tamil films. And that cannot be said about many films that come out of Kollywood these days.

Ravi Krishna's Venu is convincing. Ponniyin Selvan is an important milestone in his career. Ravi can be said to have come of age with the film.

Revathy's mother is good in patches. But Venu's ladylove Gopika and Prakash Raj are wasted.

Dialogues are a plus point of the film. The screenplay meshes well with the theme punctuated as it is with witty and crisp dialogues.

All in all, Ponniyin Selvan (the son of Ponni) comes as a refreshing whiff of fresh air. It takes you on a pleasant cruise down the river of sentimentality. You will enjoy it.

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