Satham Podathey Tamil Movie

Director Vasanth's new film, 'Satham Podaathey' is a romantic thriller featuring Prithviraj, Padmapriya and Nitin Sathya (of the Tamil film, 'Chennai 600028') in the lead roles.

For Ratnavelu (Nitin Sathya) it was love at first sight, when he accompanied his friend to meet Banu (Padmapriya), a prospective bride at her house in Kanchipuram. While the friend rejects Banu on the grounds that she was 'too pretty' for him. Ratnavelu marries her.

Unknown to all is the fact that Ratnavelu is an alcoholic and this has rendered him impotent. He has also been to jail for killing a child while driving drunk. Ratnavelu is a member of AA (Alcoholic Anonymous) and regularly attends its meetings conducted by the church priest, played by Nasser.

The young couple seems to be happy but the marriage is not consummated. Banu longs for a child. They adopt a little girl and Banu is happy, but not Ratnavel. The child's presence is a reminder of his inadequacy. He forces Banu to return the child.

Trouble starts when Banu learns of the real reason for her husband's impotency. When she confronts him, she is beaten up. With a supportive brother (Raghav) their marriage ends in a divorce. Her brother brings her to the city to start life anew. She meets Ravichandran (Prithviraj), a software engineer. Love blossoms again and the couple tie the knot.

By a strange quirk of fate, Ratnavel enters their lives. Does he take this development quietly?

In 'Satham Podaathey' the director has explored a new theme with a message for many youth addicted to alcohol. Remarriage and child adoption are other issues woven into the story. While the first half is entertaining, it is only in the second half that the thrill begins.

Padmapriya as Banu looks fresh and convincing as the woman next door. Her expressions are natural. Ratnavel as her possessive husband could have worked better on his expressions. In some scenes, you do find it missing. Prithviraj is his usual spontaneous self. Raghav as Banu's brother does leave an impact. You can't understand how Premji of Chennai 600028, fits in the story. If it was to lend a lighter moment, it did not serve to hear his same old tag line, 'Enna koddummai saar.'

Yuvan Shankar Raja's music, especially the song, 'Paesugiraen' lingers in the mind. And among the song sequences, the picture of Prithviraj and his group in white against a green backdrop is great cinematography. A decent story for the family.

You hear the final word on the story as you read on screen that the film is based on a true story that happened in Andhra Pradesh. Now that is a chilling fact. But then art imitates life.