Vidharth returns to the big screen after a rather forgettable outing in Mudhal Idam. It was quite a surprise to see Kollaikaran coming out for Pongal in the face of some heavy duty competition. But then, Vidharth’s career defining hit Mynaa too came in the middle of heavy competition of Diwali 2010.

Kollaikaran; the title might suggest that the movie deals with the life of a bandit. But, Vidharth’s character is nothing like a bandit. He is a small time crook who steals small things like poultry and cattle mainly to get enough money for his small time indulgences like sunglasses, colourful clothes and liquor. He is oblivious to the fact that he has two sisters at home completely dependent on him; his waywardness knows no end. But, circumstances are kind and there seems to be hopes of a bright future for his sisters. But, he finds a way to muddle that up too. All this makes him one of the most notorious characters in the village and this image turns out to be his biggest enemy. What happens to the village’s Kollaikaran?

The initial portions of the film that portray the absolute waywardness of the central character are well shot, even though they have absolutely nothing novel. We have seen such things umpteen times since Paruthiveeran. However, Vidharth’s exuberant performance, dialogue delivery and some well scripted tongue in cheek humour keep things going. But, once the central plot kicks in, we are not able to detect similarities with other movies. The scripting has been done in a way that every character is very well defined, which is the biggest strength of the film. There are times when we feel angered by the irresponsible attitude of the protagonist; we even doubt whether he is a protagonist; that says a lot about the consistency of characterisation. Not only the main character, all others, like his brother-in-law, the temple trustee and all characters have been etched well. One only wishes that the violence in the climax was toned down a bit.

Vidharth lives up to the Mynaa potential in Kollaikaran. He has given a portrayal that is witty and strong whenever required. Sanchita, who plays his lady love, is adequate even though she does not get much to do. Other performers like Mohan Vaidya and Ravishankar also play their parts well. The technical departments are not top notch, but they have done a fair job when you consider the overall scale on which the film has been made. Debutant Johan’s music sounds good, but does not linger on in your mind.

Kollaikaran manages to make a decent mark mainly because of the screenplay by director Thamizh Selvan which gets its characterisation right. That, coupled with Vidharth’s earnest performance keeps the film sailing along quite smoothly without major hiccups. Looking at the width of the canvas that was offered to the team, Kollaikaran is a rather good effort.

Verdict: A limited, but well executed effort