Coming Soon - Pattiyal

[ Pic Courtesy Sify]

For any director who makes a successful debut, the second film is considered the acid test. It is the film where he has to prove that the first film was no flash in the pan and that he can consistently deliver on his promise. Tamil cinema has seen both cases - directors who slipped up in their subsequent movies after an initial hit and slowly slipped into oblivion; and directors who went on to follow up their first hit with more successes and cemented their position as good directors.

Pattiyal director Vishnuvardhan has had a slightly different track record than either of these. His first film Kurumbu was a disaster. A remake of a Telugu hit, it was cheap, vulgar and had an overactive hero who got on our nerves. But he recovered nicely to deliver a big hit with his second film Arindhum Ariyaamalum. The film was completely different in theme, tone and handling when compared to his first film. It mixed romance, sentiments and action cleverly and smoothly handled a complete shift in tone between the first and second halves. A few other things clicked too, with Arya becoming a sensation(and the latest pin-up boy) and Yuvan Shankar Raja delivering a hit soundtrack, and the film hit the bull’s eye at the box-office.

He is again attempting a completely different genre for his third venture Pattiyal. This time around, he is tackling the Chennai underworld and the publicity stills and pre-release word of mouth point to a raw and gritty take on it. The fact the film has gotten an ‘A’ certificate is further proof of the violent nature of the film.

In the lead are two heroes who could really use a hit. Arya, after a dream start with both Arindhum Ariyaamalum and Ullam Ketkume becoming hits, faced big flops in both Oru Kallooriyin Kadhai and Kalaaba Kaadhalan. With unkempt hair and a beard, he definitely doesn't look like pin-up material here. Bharath too, after being launched by Shankar in Boys, had a string of hits like Chellame, 4 Students and Kaadhal before February 14 put the brakes on his run. Paired with them are Pooja, the really pretty girl who is yet to find the right kind of break, and Padmapriya, the homely heroine of Thavamaai Thavamirundhu, who, based on the publicity stills, seems to be going in for a change of image. Yuvan has helped out Vishuvardhan even more this time around. The soundtrack is youthful and lively and has both great fast numbers(Dei Namma... and Namma Kaattula...) and catchy melodies (Edho Edho..., Kannai Vittu... and Poga Poga...).

The film is being released this Friday at IMC6 and I am definitely looking forward to catching it on the big screen. It’s been a while since a movie that was eagerly awaited lived up to its expectations and went on to be a big hit. Lets hope Pattiyal breaks that trend. In other words, Pattiyal pattaiyai kelappumnu edhirppaarpom :-)