Pudhu Pettai

Its gangster flick season in Kollywood. After Thotti Jaya and Pattiyal, Pudhupettai covers the negative side of Tamil Nadu-it's underworld network. This film was released on May 26 2006, and not 2005.

Directed by critically-acclaimed director Selvaragavan, Pudhupettai also depicts the harsh reality of the life of an underworld don. Kokki Kumar, the protagonist, leaves home when his father murders his mother and joins the company of a gang of drug-dealers and brothel-runners. His transformation from a scrawny innocent chap to a notorious gang leader is cinematic and clichéd in some ways.

The events unfold in periodic flashback from Kokki Kumar's cell. The film contains lots of interesting characters- a prostitute who falls in love with the protagonist, a friend who betrays his leader for the sake of his sister who becomes accidentally married to him, a rival gang leader who never gives up and a string of politicians who will do anything of their own free will. Kokki's almost downfall is narrated well and his fatherhood comes off as a clean and believable sentimental arena.

The climax induces some laughter-which comes off as unexpected and thus, not a bad move for the director. Although the film does meet expectations in some ways, it falls short of a few things that arise due to the director's desire to carve the film differently from other typical gangster flicks. I'm surprised the rating was PG-13 in Singapore. It should have been at least NC16. Otherwise, the movie is anticipated to meet critical success. Violence has been making waves in many recent films and Pudhupettai is no exception. Blood is so common in the film that you get used to the sight of red everywhere. However, bloodshed is justified in this film compared to the others.

The ending is also handled in a believable manner. This film may very well be based on a true story. Reality bites, especially in the life of a gangster who is a wannabe-politician.

Dhanush has obviously worked his heart out for the movie. Yet, he seems to overact in a few scenes that makes us wonder is his character is slightly insane. Of the 2 heroines, I found the Sonia Agarwal character more interesting though the prostitute character gets the more accolades. Yuvan Shanker Raja has 2 catchy numbers-Pul Pesum and Vaariya. The theme music is quite familiar-survival of the fittest-which also happens to be the tagline of the film. How that tagline is suited to the movie, I have no idea.

I really enjoy gangster flicks and can't wait for the next one, titled "E" to arrive.

An apt movie replicating the real south Indian gangsters.

Selva Ragavan had did a good home work on making this movie .People think gang leader should have huge built body, which is actually not. Most of the gangsters are brutal in behavior but looks thin and lean. Kokki Kumar's noxious behavior in this film is very well framed in to different scenes.

A gangster film never looked this good and real. The Energy and raw power brought in to this movie is admirable. Even though it imitates minute things from "City of god", Selva Ragavan has shown his own signature in Pudhupettai.

It is one of the best gangster movies after Nayagan in south Indian movie.

This is certainly for the kind of audience who love to watch reality in cinema .

-Arun DX...

I am not a Tamil guy I m just a cinema lover.What a movie that too in 2006 I must say this movie is a way ahead of its time.Dhanush acting was top notch and treat to watch.

People would say this movie is more of a realistic one but the thing is that there is a bit of poetic expression in many scenes that breaks many stereotypes and are enjoyable. Dhanush rules the screen such that inspite of his body language, the viewer will accept him as a gangster once the script gets the pace. Unlike other gangster flicks where the lead will come up from the slums and all that drug trafficking stuff, this one gets into political world that too in a realistic manner.

Technically of a higher class where the cinematography and the use of colour palattes and lights help much in expressing the multiple moods of the film. Music is just out of the world with multiple grooves and much experimental tunes that hit the right chord well.

With a world class script and a director like selva, this is a timeless masterpiece that would inspire young filmmakers. One problem is with the excessive bloodshed that would not be appropriate for family audiences. Except for that this is one of those movies a cinebuff will long to see again and again

Selvaraghavan has managed to picture a movie that careens past the usual reality check in films and perches itself atop a hill. A gargantuan talent that has been latent in Dhanush has been exposed. The veracity and his luminous capability to scintillate his dialogues with authenticity is what implodes the shell that the film initially cocoons itself in. The movie wings itself into a political drama that unflinchingly emanates a feeling of relativity. The movie bludgeons relativity to such boundless extents that by the end of it, the viewer is sure to have a sure shot idea of how politics in India works. Kudos to Selva Raghavan for creating a gangster film that saunters happily past the line designed for success and it is a film not to be deigned with.