Chanakya Tamil Movie
"Chanakya" is a cracking good movie that recalls Sarath's previous movies in the same genre.While the film caters to the devote fans of Sarath Kumar, it will never fail to please every one.
Sarath Kumar is solid in the lead. He successfully pulls off once again in what he is best at: expose corrupt politicians, ineffectual cops and reprehensible government authorities. Namitha looks buxom and is featured as a girl interested in frolicking, and her only job is to hook up with Sarath.
Vadivelu's comedy helps a lot to maintain the tempo.
The story goes like this.
Ganesh (Sarath Kumar) is an auto driver and a kindhearted man, who goes out of his way to earn money to help the poor and the needy.
Ganesh likes to be in limelight.Knowing well that the media would sensationalize anything that is to do with popular people in the city, he kidnaps a businessman, and in another instance he implicates and submits himself to the police for a murder of an MLA that he does not commit. While he draws maximum publicity in the media, he creates a miserable life for the police. By his repeated pranks, Ganesh establishes himself as a person crazy only for publicity.People begin to call him 'Publicity' Ganesh.
Devanayaki (Namitha) owns a restaurant, and several autos run in her name in the local area. She is head over heels in love with Ganesh. She goes about wooing him. In most of her screen time she is singing and dancing with Ganesh.
Meanwhile, Anjali (Laya) approaches Ganesh to act in her ad films in return for handsome money. But in true sprite she plays an undercover to investigate Ganesh's past.
Ganesh has a sorrow past. His past life and the reason for his current deeds are told in a flash back.
Ganesh's father (played by Sarath Kumar) is an upright person. He works as a clerk in a collectorate in a coastal village. A natural disaster strikes that area, and leaves many homeless in its wake. To ameliorate their problems, government allocates Rs. 20 crore to help the affected people rehabilitate.
But the local assistant collector (Vincent), the local MLA, and the local SP together siphon off the grant, even while pretending to protect the best interest of the people.
Ganesh's father comes to know about the trio's involvement behind the heist, and vows to expose them to the public.
But the 'representatives of authority' frames false charges and deceitfully turns the public outrage against the clerk. In a melee, Ganesh's family is burnt alive. Ganesh escapes to the city, and avenges the death of his family.
How Ganesh deceptively orchestrates the killing of the shenanigans is told lucidly in the remaining part of the story.
Director Venkatesh must be commended for his efforts. The highlight of the movie is its climax. But he cannot take pride for it as it is not his own. It is shamelessly lifted from the Hollywood movie "Phone Booth"
Music director Srikanth Deva has scored hum able music, which plays to gallery. Madhu Ambath's camerawork is skillful. Panchu Arunachalam has penned the story.
The movie will won't linger in your mind for more than a minute once you've left the cinema but you will be hard pushed not to enjoy the ride while it lasts.