Kaalai Tamil Movie
This film is the second directoral venture of Tarun Gopi. His first, Vishal-Reema Sen-starrer "Thimiru" brought him recognition as a promising young director. His latest "Kaalai" featuring Silambarasan shows he is clearly bogged down. Except for the change of cast, Gopi could not do much to make "Kaalai" any better than "Thimiru". Simbu is the same Simbu with his typecast stunts and dances.
Here is the story…
Young Jeeva (Silambarasan) is the grandson of Seema of Theni. When she was five years old, she kills five persons and goes to jail. She comes out of prison turning nastier than before. She is now a hard-core 'dada' and she is feared as well as revered by people in her place, Theni, where she is engaged in all activities which the law forbids. The local police throw up their hands. A police officer, also named Jeeva (Lal), comes down heavily on Seema with all his might and cunningness and finally burns her alive.
Meanwhile, a rowdy, also named Jeeva, becomes a thorn in the flesh of police officer Jeeva and he is after his daughter Vedika, who loves Seema's grandson, a tough guy in the college. While Vedika wants to keep the rowdy off her with the help of Seema's grandson, he wants to take revenge on her father for killing his grandmother. How he fulfils his task is the crux of the movie.
Three characters have the same name of Jeeva. The director might have thought by doing so, the suspense would be intense. But it resulted in confusion. With his usual stunts and dances Silambarasan helps Tarun Gopi salvage the film. His more than life image is unrealistic if not out of place.
Vedika exudes glamour and performs well in duet songs shot in exotic locations.
Seema is a veteran and she lives the character as Simbu's grandmother and Theni's 'godmother'. Sangeetha plays Simbu's aunt and she plays an important role which somewhat enlivens the proceedings. One can see in her shades of Shreya Reddy's style in "Thimiru".
Lal as the police officer is adequate. Santhanam-Simbu comedy creates no impact.
G.V. Prakash's music is just average. His background strains are jarring. R.D. Rajasekhar's camera work is admirable.
So much for "Kaalai"!!
