RUMMY MOVIE REVIEW

Vijay Sethupathi, one of the biggest revelations in recent times, is back on screens with Rummy, directed by Balakrishnan K. He shares the screen space with the likes of Iyshwarya, Gayathrie, Soori and Inigo Prabhakaran.

The tale is set in 1987, with Vijay Sethupathi and Inigo playing college mates. While Inigo falls in love with one of his class mates, Vijay Sethupathi gets attracted to another village belle. The oppositions that they are faced with and the ensuing consequences, is Rummy in a nutshell.

For those looking to see Vijay Sethupathi in a full-length role, Rummy will prove to be a disappointment as the actor is more like a second lead here. He shines anyway, with his brand of realistic and relatable acting. Inigo Prabhakaran is the main lead and he is put through the typical drill of fight sequences and song-dance routines. He comes through unscathed thanks to his earnest portrayal. But does he have the screen presence to pass off as the lead hero?

Soori sports nerdy glasses and brings about some healthy chuckles with his antics. Two such instances are when he brags about his seniority to a third year girl student at the college, and when he grabs the answer paper in a hurry at the exam hall and says to the invigilator “Answer lam muttikittu nikkudhu Sir”. Soori has reached a level where the mere sight and sound of him are enough to send the audience into laughter mode.

Iyshwarya has big, expressive eyes and she is a dusky beauty who emotes well too. She has a weighty role and does it well. Her chemistry and vibes with Vijay Sethupathi are spontaneous and vibrant. But, there is a certain lack of clarity about her role till the decisive moments of the second half. The pretty Gayathrie pairs up with Inigo and is competent.

Imman is the single biggest highlight of the movie with his lilting melody tracks and mighty impressive background score. This young musician continues to grow from strength to strength. But, the elaborate song routines aren’t very interesting on screen and the director could have made it more interesting for the viewer. That said, Prem Kumar’s camera traverses some scenic countryside locales during these sequences.

The 80s period has been emphasized with the references to Silk Smitha’s raging popularity in that era. The Rajini factor and ‘Oliyum Oliyum’ also find a place in the scheme of things as the director tries to portray the period authentically.

Ultimately, the biggest drawback of Rummy is its laborious pace and its familiar premise.The conflict element in the movie has been shown countless times in yesteryear movies and there is nothing new on offer. Also, at a time when Vijay Sethupathi commands such popularity and attention, Rummy does nothing to capitalize on that and instead relegates him to the background.