Favorite Tamil Love Stories - II

Poove Unakkaaga

Regular readers of my reviews know that I'm a big fan of feel-good movies. And Poove Unakkaaga is the only film that I can think of that ends as a feel-good movie inspite of not just one, but two, love failures. An ode to love from Vikraman, the resident feel-good director of Tamil cinema, the film succeeds in placing love on a pedestal that few other movies have managed to reach.

There's little romance in the first half as the film focuses on the feud between the two neighboring families. But there's no shortage of laughs as Vijay interacts with both families and tries to re-establish the friendship between them. In typical Vikraman style, his plans are simplistic but sweet and the families' actions as they try to bond with their long-lost grandson are hilarious. Sangeetha adds to the fun once she arrives and her tiffs with Vijay and Charlie deliver more clean, hearty laughs.

The film delivers a double-whammy at the intermission point and I remember being completely surprised by both of them. Its only then that the movie jumps into the romance between Vijay and Anju Arvind. It is a very sweet one-sided affair and Vijay's romantic acts perfectly reflect the actions of a boy hopelessly in love (I love the number that plays in the background in those scenes).

The film gives a new dimension to love by saying that a lover's happiness lies in seeing his lover happy, however it may make him feel. The fact that Vijay's actions to unite the two warring families are a result of his wanting Anju Arvind to marry her lover, gives his love a lasting, immortal touch. His monologue in the climax is one great line after another and makes a number of great points about the divinity of his love. As he walks off into the sunset, our heart is filled with admiration for him and his love. Sangeetha too maintains her dignity right till the end, instead of being transformed into a lovelorn girl rushing after Vijay.

Poove Unakkaaga succeeds in giving love the respect it deserves.