Sathum Podaathay leaves Tamil fans with some hope that all is not lost with Tamil cinema.
Featuring youngsters Prithvi Raj, Padmapriya and Nitin Satya in strong roles, Sathum Podaathay dares to break new ground (for Tamil cinema, that is) with an offbeat story.
Sathum Podaathay is a commendable effort by director S.M.Vasant in eschewing the sordid practice of picking big stars like Rajnikant, Vijay or Ajith, adding superfluous comedy from Vadivelu or Vivek, throwing in a pretty face like Trisha or Shreya and, as an afterthought, weaving in a wafer-thin story line into the whole package.
Predictably, most Tamil films bomb because they are given the cold shoulder by fans sick of seeing the same old baloney with different names.
Apart from the story, Sathum Podaathay’s appeal lies in its fresh faces who can act.
Sathum Podaathay is also refreshing for sparing Tamil movie fans of that ridiculous nonsense of the ubiquitous fight scenes where the hero bashes a million opponents simultaneously.
Ratnavel (Nitin Satya) is an ex-alcoholic and impotent hockey coach who marries a pretty lass Bhanu (Padmapriya) without disclosing his problems. When Ratnavel starts abusing Bhanu physically and she subsequently gets to know of his betrayal, the marriage ends in divorce.
An incensed Ratnavel swears vengeance on Bhanu for leaving him and exposing his weaknesses to the world.
Bhanu is shattered by the traumatic experience of her marriage but subsequently finds happiness in a software engineer Ravichandran (Prithvi Raj) and they get married. But their happiness is shortlived when Ratnavel bumps into Ravichandran and learns who he is. Ratnavel now charts a sinister and ingenious plot to get Bhanu into his lair.
Director S.M.Vasant, who also takes credit for the story, screenplay and dialogs, has managed to wring out strong performances by the troika of Prithvi Raj, Padmapriya and Nitin Satya.
We were delighted with Prithvi Raj’s performance in Mozhi. And this actor from the neighboring state of Kerala delivers the goods in Sathum Podaathay. Veteran actors like Ajith ought to take lessons in acting from Prithvi Raj. This young lad is that good.
Padmapriya, again from Kerala, is a fine actress and easily leaves the current crop of most Tamil heroines – the Trishas, Nayantaras and Asins – in the dust.
Four of the finest actresses in present-day Tamil films – Navya Nair, Meera Jasmine, Bhavana and Padmapriya – hail from Kerala.
The third leg of Sathum Podaathay is Nitin Satya, who as the psychotic character obsessed with Bhanu, throws in a decent performance.
Sathum Podaathay has some flaws including a dragging and meandering script in the second half, unwarranted songs and a strange inability in building up Ratnavel’s deranged character into a more chilling figure.
But even with all its flaws, Sathum Podaathay is a fine entertainer compared to the manure that the Tamil movie industry shovels at its fans in the form of movies like Sivaji, Pachaikili Muthucharam, Mayakkannadi, Unnale Unnale and Aalwar.
Sathum Podaathay – Fine Entertainer added by SearchIndia.com on
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Padmapriya Janakiraman
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Born Kerala, India
Years active 2003 –
Padmapriya (Popularly known as Priya) an upcoming actress in Malayalam and Tamil. She is a Tamil born in Kerala.
Padmapriya is an established actress in the South Indian cinema. She loves Reading, Travelling, Classical Music, Cooking, Swimming and Dancing. Padmapriya is a pure vegetarian and loves good food.
She is the daughter of Brig (Retd) V.K. Janakiraman and Mrs. Vijaya Janakiraman
She is a daughter of tamil parents, born in Hyderabad, so please do not make statements if you do not know. Thanks.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
What is your point? So, where was this young lady born – Kerala or Hyderabad? At the top, you say Kerala but towards the end it’s become Hyderabad.
In any case, if Padmapriya’s father ever entrusts us with the task of finding a groom for this talented actress, we’ll make sure to look only for boys with Tamil parents. Happy?
I have read some raving comments about this film by Vasanth by some people, it is really interesting,
Because, that sire prithviraj only mouths dailogues in malayalam, does not know to speak a good tamil.
But he wants to be paid salary of a tamil hero, how is that.
They people does not care to learn tamil nuances, talk in English in fuctions related to tamil films. You people are talking highly of such persons.
Please give me a break.
Think of our identity,”which is tamilians” the language tamil, if everyone start to talk in english in our motherland. So pause and think before giving exalted status to people.
Then, coming to the film, it is a crass movie, we can always judge what is going to come, and then romancing by the protagonist to the heroine ( prithviraj to padmapriya) is so unreal that it stinks.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
1. You say Prithviraj “does not know to speak a good tamil”
But then you do not know to speak a good English to use your kind of English. So what? You are still posting comments here.
We believe acting goes beyond speaking the language of the movie. Sure, you have a valid point when you suggest that actors should learn to speak the language rather than having their dialogs dubbed for them by a native speaker. After all, they are paid so well and they ought to work harder.
2. Tamil Nadu is your motherland? The last time I looked at the map, Tamil Nadu was still part of India. I went to the restroom for just two minutes. Did Tamil Nadu secede from India during my brief absence?
That is okay, I was really pissed off when a person said that talented people come from other side of the western ghats, read kerala. For that only that comment. Thanks.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Narayana, Narayana!
Okay, English is just a language, it is not embodiment of world’s knowledge. I am trying to make a point and it is understood, that is the need.
When I say Tamil Nadu is my motherland, it is only that.
I am an Indian national and hold a Indian passport, but that does not mean that I should not love my State of Tamil Nadu.
For your information, My ancestors were from western Karnataka, Tulu speakers, but for the last 500 years, we are in Tamil Nadu, we have adapted to that state.
I really love my state. Any complaints.
SearchIndia.com Responds:
Good to know that you love Tamil Nadu!
haha hahahahahahahaha
SearchIndia.com Responds:
???????????
@ if Padmapriya’s father ever entrusts us with the task of finding a groom for this talented actress, we’ll make sure to look only for boys with Tamil parents. Happy?
and @ Tamil Nadu is your motherland? The last time I looked at the map, Tamil Nadu was still part of India. I went to the restroom for just two minutes. Did Tamil Nadu secede from India during my brief absence?
but i just realized it isnt as funny when i copy/paste it..!