Sarabham – a so 'twisted' thriller
that ends up confusing even the director!
Cast: - Naveen Chandra, Aadukalam
Naren, Salony Luthra
& the Crew: - S/SP/Direction- Arun
Mohan, D.O.P – N.A. Music – Britto Michael
Producer: - C.V.Kumar
Yali Also known as Vyala or Sarabham* or Vidala in Sanskrit,
is a mythical creature seen in many Hindu temples, often sculpted onto the
pillars. It is known as a Logogriph in English. Yali is a motif in Indian
art and it has been widely used in south Indian culture.
Descriptions of and references to Yali’s are very old, but they became
prominent in south Indian sculpture in the 16th century. Yali’s are believed to
be more powerful than the lion/Tiger or the elephant.
*Honestly I am unable to
understand the significance of the title in relation to the premise of this
film. Unless the director has titled it as a simile to the heroines character in
the film!
Story,
Back drop Screenplay:-
Most
of the first half of this film can never be called a
thriller but at best can only be termed as a ‘Crawler’! The hero (Naveen
Chandra) is an architect/engineer who is working on a plan to construct a mega
amusement complex for (Aadukalam Naren) the managing director of a business
conglomerate. The hero is only interested in making money and high style
living. Naren has huge personal issues in bringing up a drug addicted daughter
(Salony Luthra) in a double role one good the other bad.Eager to get the mega
project Okayed Naveen meets Naren but to his dismay Naren not only insults
Naveen but shelves the project. A
frustrated Naveen gets sozzled and prepares to break the glass panes of Naren’s
beach bungalow (sic and juvenile). At this point of time Salony decides to run
away – spoiler – She forces herself on Naren and decides to spend the night in
his apartment. They decide to form a partnership and hatch a ‘kidnapping’ plan
in an effort to get a ransom of 30 crores from Naren. In fact any day reading an
‘Enid Blyton’ book will be far more exciting and thrilling than this half of
the film’s badly conceived and executed kidnapping plot.
The
second half is devoted to Tamil cinema’s new found syndrome which I shall term
as the ‘Murukku’ twist syndrome! In this half the director saturates the story
with so many twists and re-twist’s that after a while your mind simply refuses
to comprehend even the basic premise anymore.In
fact I consider it my bounden duty to help you understand this film so let me summarize
the happenings in the second half without revealing much. Not that my efforts
are going to save this film. I will anyway give it a try 1. The kidnapped ‘good’
girl is killed 2. The dead ‘good’ girl and the father come back to haunt the
hero. 3. The dead ‘bad’ girl is not actually the ‘good’ girl who is alive. 4. The
hero tries to get out of the trap by once again kidnapping the ‘good’ girl 5.
The hero kidnaps the ‘good’ girl who is alive but she is actually the ‘bad’
girl 6. The ‘good’ but ‘bad’ girl finally reveals herself to the father and the
hero.7. The ‘bad’ girl becomes the ‘good’ girl once the ‘bad’ father dies. 8.
The hero by saving the ‘bad’ girl who is now the ‘good’ girl lives happily ever
after as a ‘good’ boy.
Whew!
Thank god! I was finally able to explain this film’s premise to all of you clearly.
After all that is the job of a good critic. Isn’t it? Now that you have
understood and gained clarity you will really be able to sit back and enjoy this
‘twisted’ thriller!
Regarding
performances and technical aspects the less said the better as it will only
serve to further embarrass the cast, crew and the producer.
Bottom
line: - A thriller so twisted that the
director’s visualization turns into a ‘Garrote’
to simply strangle and kill the premise!
Finally
a quote:- "
If the director has something to say, he should do so quickly but not keep on
trying until the viewers start yelling to make him stop".hC
Until
next time,
Director
Haricharan
4/8/2014
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