Attakathi is yet another movie about love - that oft-repeated subject in Indian cinema. There have been numerous films and there will be many more on this theme, but does Attakathi provide a different take on love or is it the same ‘run of the mill’ boy meets girl stuff?

In the outskirts of Chennai, we see Dinakaran aka Dheena. He is a tutorial student due to repeated failures in clearing English in his Class 12 exams. He has his group of friends named ‘Lovers Boys’ and you guessed it right, their only job is to go on the footboard of buses and try their luck with every other girl they see. While his friends get lucky in love, Dheena is repeatedly snubbed and after awhile he becomes totally averse to love. But, when he meets his first love, Poornima, again the flames are rekindled. Will he get lucky in love for a change this time around? Watch the flick to find out.

The transition of Dheena from a naïve tutorial student to the roguish ‘Route Thala’ of his college is cool. The makeover changes are also noticeable. When he encounters his first love again, the conflicts that he goes through are also well portrayed.

The standout aspect of Attakathi is its light hearted treatment. Most of the scenes make you smile even though the story as such is minuscule. The scenes are also repetitive as there are so many episodes in the bus. That said, the karate episode in the first half stands out for its solid humor.

The hero, Dinesh, has made a good debut but he is a bit conscious given the fact that it is his debut. He seems to be a natural and is a promising find.

The parents of Dheena are a riot with their loud demeanour. All the friends are the typical filmy ones who would go to any lengths to help the hero in matters of love.

It takes awhile for us to realize who the real heroine is, as there are so many girls (Divya, Nadhiya, Amudha) in the first half but finally we realize that Poornima is the one. Nandita, as Poornima, is cute and the typical homely girl next door.

The songs by Santhosh Narayan are on the mark  - be it the rustic Aadi Pona, the gaana Nadukadalula, the peppy Va Routu Thala or the melodic Aasai Or Pulveli. The BGM has the accordion prominently.

The cinematography by P.K.Varma isn’t out of the ordinary as the film’s setting is earthy and realistic. The film goes at a sluggish pace at times due to the repetitive scenes and when the movie gets serious, it stands out oddly.

But just when we feel that the movie is resolving on a familiar path, we get a pleasant shock. Watch out for that.

To conclude, Attakathi will make a mark among the young male populace due to the subject. It is realistic; light hearted and turns out to be quite a ride, with its share of speed bumps.

Verdict: It’s a roller-coaster ride