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Santosh Subramaniam - Movie Review |
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| Behindwoods
Movie Review Board |
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Starring:
Jayam Ravi, Prakash Raj, Genelia, Kausalya, Geetha,
Premji
Direction: Raja
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Production: AGS Entertainment Pvt Ltd |
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Love
stories, especially when served with a sprinkling of family
emotions and bonds, never fail to delight- they are evergreen.
Santosh Subramaniam is one such movie, it is a tug-o-war between
love and family, what to choose when faced with a choice and
who will compromise, or would there be a mutual understanding
- it’s a debate that’s been on for generations
and will go on for all that to follow. |
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Santosh
(Jeyam Ravi) is a lucky boy born with a silver spoon
in his mouth, his life lacks nothing. He has wonderful
caring parents (Prakash Raj and Geetha) and loving siblings
around him, life is great when someone looks at it from
outside. But within Jeyam Ravi is frustrated soul and
he pours his heart out to Anu Haasan (in a special appearance)
which is where the movie begins and ends! Why is he
frustrated? Well, that’s what the movie is all
about.
Santosh is not a rebel but he wants to meet a girl who
he loves and who will in turn love him and he is very
particular about it, no matter what. That’s when
he comes across Hasini (Genelia), a bubbly, vivacious,
ever smiling, innocent girl who seems to have friends
everywhere. In a way, she is the type of girl Santosh
has never met before and needless to say he is smitten.
He is not very good with girls and has to try a few
things before becoming a good friend of hers. He is
not in two minds, he knows very well that he loves her
but something is stopping him from telling her the truth
in spite of being pretty confident that she can’t
say a ‘No’ to him. But love cannot be hidden
or stowed away, it comes
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out. But families being families and fathers being fathers,
love is not easily accepted. Of course, Prakash Raj has a
very strong reason for doing so. However his son’s insistence
pushes him to think it over. Prakash Raj agrees to reconsider
but the decision has been already made in his mind. The sequence
of events that follow are very novel, unique and interesting.
That both Santosh and Hasini are from very different backgrounds
threatens to stand in the way of their relationship and it
very nearly does break them apart. But love is not easily
undone and the ending (as in all good love stories) is their
union. |
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What
Santosh Subramaniam has in addition to the routine
love story is the father-son relationship. It might
not be wrong to say that their relationship enjoys
more focus in the movie, especially in the second
half. Their bond is a complex one, with each one thinking
in the best interests of the other but ending up hurting
each other. It is in the final portions that Ravi
opens his mind and tells Prakash Raj about what is
in his heart. The climax is not only about the success
of the love story but also about how all members of
a family now fully understand each other.
As a movie, Santosh Subramaniam is a well made clean
family entertainer. Being the remake of a Telugu superhit
Bommarillu, the movie always had expectations but
one must not burden the movie with any preconceived
notions. Santosh
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Subramaniam talks about how love has the power to endear as
well as suffocate and that suffocation can turn into rebellion
if not resolved. It tells us that the only way to make a person
understand is by talking to him/her. If we love someone we
must tell them what we like or hate about them. Love is about
being honest and love is not only the feelings shared by a
boy and a girl, it could be between a parent and a child,
between two brothers, between friends, anyone.
Ravi as Santosh has done well, especially in scenes where
he cuts loose and lets pent up feelings and thoughts blow
out. Genelia has no trouble being the bubbly young girl, but
her innocence and antics sometimes look like immature childish
pranks. Santhanam, Premji and Sreenath as Ravi’s friends
light up a few scenes with their comic acts, they come and
go at many points without being there for too long. Sadagopan
Ramesh, debuting on the big screen as Ravi’s elder brother
doesn’t have much to do. Sathyan as the house servant
has some scope for comedy and makes use of it adequately.
Sayaji Shinde as Genelia’s father does a role that really
does not sit well on him, the casting could have been better.
But the real master is (though it may sound repetitive) is
Prakash Raj, he proves his class yet again.
Overall, Santosh Subramaniam is a movie that you will enjoy.
Yes, the screenplay does drag along a bit, especially a few
scenes between Ravi and Genelia could have been trimmed, especially
considering that the movie runs for three hours. The ‘Eppadi
Irundha’ song has been shot in picturesque locations
and is a visual treat. The camera and art too should be appreciated.
Watch Santosh Subramaniam for that ‘feel good’
feeling, overlook minor glitches.
Santosh Subramaniam- Well made family entertainer-conditions
apply
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