May 29 2012
Kalakalappu
When director-turned-actor-turned-director Sundar. C returned to direction with Nagaram after a rather long stint as hero, the gangster-themed, serious film came as a surprise since the director had earlier been known for his comedies like Ullathai Alli Thaa and Naam Iruvar Namakku Iruvar. But with Kalakalappu, his 25th film as director, he returns to familiar territory with a film where comedy trumps everything else. The film won’t figure among our best comedies but has enough laughs to keep us engaged.
Seenu(Vimal), who hails from Kumbakonam, is struggling to run his restaurant Masala Cafe, which has been with his family for generations. Helping him run the place are his aged cook and the cook’s granddaughter Maya(Oviya). Further problems are created by the new Health Inspector Madhavi(Anjali), who threatens to shut the place down. Seenu’s brother Raghu(Shiva), recently released from jail, joins Seenu and the two try to come up with some ideas to turn things around. Meanwhile, a cellphone with some diamonds stashed inside its nondescript cover as part of an insurance scam, is on its way to Kumbakonam.
Comedy always works better when it blends in with the story and revolves around characters that we care about. That helps Kalakalappu start off strongly as Vimal struggles to keep his restaurant afloat. His encounters with Anjali, particularly before he gets to know who she really is, are a lot of fun and the fun continues as they fight with one another. Shiva’s romance with Oviya is quite dull by comparison as it develops quite uneventfully but his timing and dialog delivery make up for that and he makes us laugh whether he is brainstorming with Vimal or romancing Oviya.
The importance of a story to base the comedy on becomes apparent once Vimal goes to save Anjali from her impending wedding. Though Santhanam makes his appearance with a lot of fanfare in the rather familiar role of Anjali’s suitor, the track itself has no link to the main story and the film’s comic momentum dips. Episodes like the election and the campaigning feel tacked-on with unnecessary characters and aren’t very funny. Though Shiva’s track moves the story forward back in Kumbakonam, it lacks comedy elements.
But the film regains its comic footing as the track with the diamonds merges with the main storyline after going through its own twists and turns. A cleverly choreographed, hilarious car chase where its not always clear who is chasing who, marks the start of some good, old-fashioned slapstick fun and the fun continues as a dog causes some damage, a policeman starts imagining himself to be some famous policemen in Tamil cinema and a bag of diamonds changes hands multiple times.
Vimal sticks to his low-key acting style and dialog delivery but that works here since there are enough actors around him to go over-the-top. Shiva employs his familiar deadpan dialog delivery to great effect and gets most of the laughs. Anjali shows traces of her Engeyum Eppodhum character initially as she takes control of her romance with Vimal but Iniya barely makes an impact. Santhanam, in keeping with his current popularity, is introduced with fanfare but isn’t given much good material. Ilavarsu has a lot of fun in a few disguises as he goes on the run from the police and makes us miss him when he disappears.
18 responses so far
Iniya? Hope you meant Oviya. Although this movie is based on “Soul Kitchen” it was ribticklin nevertheless
It is copied from Soul Kitchen (German movie) directed by Fatih Akin.
This fella used to copy from Bollywood movies no. Am wondering foreign pilims dvd lam ivanukka yaaru kaamichu irupa nu
nice review, bb…like u said, it was fun even if it wasn’t hilarious…i was surprised how the second half dipped in humor despite santhanam’s presence…santhanam playing the loser suitor is wearing thin (he was a lot funnier in kanden kadhalai)…i think santhanam should quickly reinvent himself because he’s becoming repetitive and predictable…the zingers will take him only so far…he’s in almost every movie that gets released…he has to watch out otherwise the overexposure will shorten his career like it did in the case of manivannan and even counds-senthil though they lasted longer…
BB, its oviya & not iniya in the below line.This movie is a super duper hit in chennai.
“Anjali shows traces of her Engeyum Eppodhum character initially as she takes control of her romance with Vimal but Iniya barely makes an impact.”
Komala
BB, It’d be nice if you review Leelai. I heard that its a refreshing college love story.
Komala
Thanks for the review. But unfortunately, it is not showing here in Edinburgh. So I will have to wait for it come in the dvd. Is it funny enough to warrant a dvd buy (at a cheaper price may be
)?
BB – a couple of new movies, I saw recently with new faces, which impressed me inspite of some teething troubles
01. Vinmeenkal, with the hero afflicted by cerebral palsy and the various people in his
life. Pandiarajan in one of his better roles.
02. Sevarkkodi
Have got the following movies :
01. Padam Paarthu Kathai Sollu – watching it now. looks interesting. again a lot of new
faces.
02. Leelai
03. Pathirama Paarthukkunga
A friend of mine told me a gist of the car chases in Kalakalappu and I was quite reminded of Azhagaana Naatkal. I still have a very vivid memory of the car chases in that film. Some of the best slapstick moments in a Sundar C film!
i am so glad u mentioned azhagana naatkal, sandya…i too thought of that scene during kalakalappu…this one was nowhere near as funny as that one…i loved the way mumtaj would faint everytime senthil would say, “i love u!” and also the ponnambalam-delhi ganesh conversation…that was one of sundar’s best comedies, marred by poor songs and lack of publicity…
Ram, I think the problem also was because Sundar C had already saturated himself with Mettukudi, Naam Iruvar Namakku Iruvar, Unakkaaga Ellaam Unakkaaga.. which all pretty much reflected his biggest hit, Ullaththai Allithaa. By the time, Azhagaana Naatkal came around, there were no takers for that genre (let alone poor songs and publicity!).
I also think Sundar C started burning out after his 90s stint. Moreover, there were folks like KSR who made films like Pistha, Panchathanthiram, Thenaali and Edhiri (which have similar comic themes in them!). Who can forget Mouli’s submission: Pammal K. Sammandham?!
I guess the true Sundar C actually hides in films in Azhagaana Naatkal. Rather unfortunate we got such a good film that got buried because of its timing and the minuses you mentioned, Ram!
Arvind, yes its Oviya. Slipped up at just one place I think
Haven’t seen or even heard of ‘Soul Kitchen’. So no idea how close this is.
avanthika, Sundar. C has copied from all languages. Rishi, for instance, was based on a Chinese movie I think. London was from Malayalam, Ullathai Alli Thaa from Bollywood. So ella language movies-um kamikka aal irukku
ram, yes Santhanam’s getting quite repetitive already. He’s been lucky to get some good directors recently but wonder how much longer he can do the same roles & get away with it.
Komala, Leelai’s on my to-see list. So review will come soon I hope.
kuttybear, its definitely a rental for me. not enuf laughs or smartness to warrant multiple viewings.
ram/Sandya, strange but I remember absolutely nothing about azhagaana naatkal. I did see it on the big screen but am drawing a blank on all the scenes u guys are talking about!
venkit, heard some good things about Vinmeengal and I do plan to watch Leelai. But haven’t heard of the others on ur list. Another movie I’ve heard some positive things about is Raatinam but haven’t found it online yet.
Alaghana natkal was damn funny movie….I love the climax chase scenes, and pandiyarajan’s cameo bit. But the boring romance, sentiments, songs played spoils sport otherwise enjoyable movie. This is was Karthik’s last film as a solo hero, didint remember any other film of his released after that.
I thought London was copied from English movie “A Fish called Wanda”. Was there a Malayalam movie on the same storyline.
I just saw the movie. I have to respectfully disagree with your opinion of Oviya. I thought she was chirpy and beautiful. The Anjali that I liked in AngadiTheru and Engeyum Eppodhum is no more. She has switched over to being a new glam actress. Of course, in a Sundar C movie, actresses have to flaunt their assets.
I haven’t seen Azhagaana Naatkal. Guess there is no way to find it online, since it is an older movie.
Venkit, it is available on Youtube, but in as good a state as what can be termed as “Camera print that used to be available in VHS over two decades ago!”
Arvind – The Malayalam movie was directed by Priyadarshan and had MohanLal and Mukesh. But I liked the Tamil version better. I wouldn’t say the movie was copied from “A Fish called Wanda”, but indeed the main thread of the robbery was a straight lift.
BB – after reading about your not recollecting anything about Azhagana Naatkal, I googled and got this old review of the film done by you. Interesting that all the things discussed by Sandhya and Ram are the highlights of the review.
Enjoy – http://www.bbthots.com/reviews/2002/anaatkal.html
skandadeva, looks like I definitely need to refresh my memory on ‘azhagaana naatkal’.
Arvind, there was 1 track based on ‘A Fish Called Wanda’ but London was a copy of Malayalam movie ‘Kaakkakkuyil’.
venkit, I felt Oviya’s role was too bland. I can’t recall a single scene she was in. That’s why I said she made no impact.