Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara Movie Review
Director: Gokul
Cast: Vijay Sethupathy, Ashwin, Nanditha, Swathi. Soori
Vijay Sethupathy's Gokul directed Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara (IAB) is a good fun ride. It is a comedy film laced with black humour and works due to its smart writing.
And director Gokul has entrusted the film to Vijay Sethupathy, the most solid of actors at the heart of this zany comedy. His character name is Sumaar Moonji Kumar, but he is certainly not 'sumaar' but is simply 'super'.
IAB is based on a series of comical incidents that happen in one-day. Kumaravel (Vijay Sethupathy) is a typical lower middle class youth who mainly lives in TASMAC bars. His friends and neighbours have nicknamed him Sumaar Moonji Kumar (Average-looking Kumar) and he is crazy about Kumudha(Nanditha), the girl staying opposite to his flat. It is one-way love and her father has sought the help of Annachi (Pasupathi) the local boss to find a solution and teach Kumar a lesson.
On a parallel track Bala, another alcoholic (Ashwin) a smart bank salesperson is always under pressure from his boss (MS Bhaskar) and his possessive girlfriend Renu (Swathi Reddy) . One night the life of the principal characters gets entangled leading to the climax. The story isn't complicated, but has enough mild twists to keep you entertained with some really funny dialogues.
The film works largely due to Madhan Kharky's dilouges and Gokul's packaging and perfect casting. Vijay Sethupathy is superb in his drunken stupor and the way he expresses his love for Kumudha and climax belongs to him. Ashwin is equal foil and puts up a scintillating show. The heroines Nanditha and Swathy are perfect match and are aptly cast. The supporting cast of Pasupathi, MS Bhaskar and Soori rocks big time and makes it a laughathon.
The other plus points are Mahesh Muthuswamy's camera and Siddharth Vipin's music which is in mood with the theme of the film. On the downside though the film is only 2 hours and 23 minutes, in the second half, it drags a bit.
IAB is rooted in the real and the contemporary, with a clever new approach and stylish telling. And with some sharp performances by a strange cocktail of characters and a tight script, it is a jolly good entertainer with a subtle message. Like Sumaar Moonchi Kumar says repeatedly "Kumuda is happy", we are also HAPPY!
