| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| VALMIKI
MOVIE REVIEW |
|
| Review
by : Behindwoods review board |
|
Starring:
Akil, Meera Nandan, Sruthi Nair
Direction:
G. Ananthanarayanan
Music:
Ilayaraja
Production:
Vikatan Talkies |
|
Old
habits die hard, that is how
the central character of Valmiki
manifests himself in the movie.
A smalltime crook, pick pocket,
swindler, cheat, or whatever
you want to call him –
he is on the wrong side of the
law. Life offers him many chances
to change for the better, but
he is not able to embrace change
that comes into his life, until
he has to pay a very heavy price
that leaves him devastated.
That is the essence of Valmiki.
Akhil plays the local conman,
who doesn’t miss the slightest
chance to make a buck or two,
ready to do anything. That is
when he meets Meera Nandan.
There is no love at first sight,
but he manages to hoodwink her
off her necklace without her
knowledge. The circumstances
lead her to think that he is
a good man who saved her from
a tough situation. Love happens
in due course. Meanwhile, there
is another lady in the life
of Akhil, though he doesn’t
quite realize it. She (Shruthi
Nair) thinks that Akhil has
a soft corner for her and secretly
hopes to marry him. But, both
the ladies are unaware of his
devious and unlawful ways in
life. But, a man cannot hide
his real face and character
forever especially from women
and it is not long
|
|
|
|
|
before both the ladies realize that he is
not the kind of person with whom one can
hope to have a family. Meera Nandan gives
him a piece of her mind and walks away while
Shruthi Nair gives up the desire of her
heart. All is lost for the small time crook!
He never cheated in love, he never wanted
to. But, it is his ways in life that caught
up with him. Just when he thinks that there
is no hope, returns Meera Nandan hoping
to reform him, to give him a chance. And,
when he genuinely wishes and decides to
change, fate strikes a cruel blow. The little
hope that he had of a life full of love
is gone. Does he live a reformed life or
does he return to the darkness of crime?
Watch Valmiki to find out.
Petty criminals being reformed by beautiful
women, love and a few sermons have been
said quite a few times. It is the presentation
that has to score here, but it falls short
of expectations. The director (Ananthanarayanan)
has not handled things as deftly as he would
have liked to. The events on screen are
not really engaging; one can feel one’s
mind wandering off from the theater. There
are quite a few scenes that appear like
staged plays instead of having the finesse
of cinema. Having said that, Valmiki is
not a bad movie. It has got its heart in
the right place, to tell a good story without
too many frills. The director has not resorted
to adding too many extraneous elements which
is commendable. But, he could have made
the proceedings a bit more interesting.
Akhil
is ideal for the role. The young man can
feel good about a job well done. Meera Nandan
does not really get into the character and
it is rather a detached performance. Shruthi
Nair gets a glamorous song and a few scenes,
nothing less.
Knowing
that it is Ilayaraja’s music, one
had expected something more special. The
BGM is strangely absent at many places.
Most of the songs don’t bear the Maestro’s
stamp. A couple of songs Poo sirikkuthu
and kooda varuviya are pleasant. Azhagappan’s
camera is pleasing in a couple of songs.
Valmiki is a movie that remains faithful
to it central plot. But, the director could
have spruced up the narrative and made things
more interesting. The lack of verve in the
screenplay weighs down the film.
Verdict:
Crime never pays!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
