Film: Ponmaalai Pozhudhu
Starring: Aadhav Kannadasan,Gayathrie
Director: AC Durai
Producer: Amirtha Gowri
Banner: AG Creations
Music: C.Sathya
Both the films pretty much deal about
the attitude of modern-day youth in love, friendship, sex and their
relationship with their parents.
"Ponmaalai Pozhudhu" is a lazy attempt
on a theme that needed mature performances and equally good screenplay.
Despite trying to not sound preachy, it fails to keep the audiences
hooked due to its dragged narration.
The film highlights the thin line that
divides infatuation and love. It highlights how an increasing number of
today's youngsters consider infatuation and love as one and the same.
Simultaneously, the film also focuses on the role of parents in their
child's upbringing, especially their teenage sons and daughters.
I loved the fact that the film subtly
gives more importance to parenting than merely focusing on the teenage
romance of its protagonists. It points out that most youngsters resort
to doing what they are not supposed to do since they have been opposed
by their parents. It instantly reminds us of our days as youngsters and
when we did things that were considered taboo by our parents.
To underline the importance of
parenting, director Durai creates two extremely opposite father
characters of the boy and girl, respectively. Aadhav's father is an
understanding parent who satisfies every small need of his growing son,
while Gayathrie's father doubts every action of his teenage daughter.
Unfortunately, PP lets its viewers down
with a flawed execution. The time it spends to make its lead characters
understand their emotions and come to terms with themselves, is a long
wait and so not worth it. One wishes the film was shorter. The songs
could have been done away with as they were not just a distraction, but a
complete turn off.
Aadhav and Gayathrie hit it off as an
aimless young pair, but miss the energy to create ripples with their
performances. Kishore and Anupama Kumar as Aadhav's parents are the best
characters in the entire film. Scenes between them were a treat to
watch, while the scenes featuring Kishore and Aadhav, despite being
melodramatic, were powerful.
Music by C. Sathya doesn't even qualify
to be called average. The jarring background score only added to the
woes of the viewers, who were already bored by the film's narration.
Sadly, "Ponmaalai Pozhudhu" would only be remembered for its flaws even though it has some plus points.