It looks like Tamil cinema directors are finally realizing that life after marriage can be interesting enough to be the subject of movies too. Now the directors just have to understand how to make the subject realistic and interesting. Like the recent Anbe Vaa, Mercury Pookkal brings its leads together in marriage real soon and then looks at the problems they face as husband and wife. It just doesn't do so very believably.

Karthik(Srikanth) and Anbuselvi(Meera Jasmine) are rather unwilling participants in their wedding that is arranged by their dads. While Karthik doesn't think he is ready for marriage and has been dreaming of marrying someone very different from the village-bred Selvi, she wishes to continue her studies. But their plan to not interfere in each other's lives doesn't work too well either.

The movie treads the right path for a while. Since Srikanth and Meera get married real soon, we are not treated to contrived meetings and a lame romance between the two. Instead, the film keeps things interesting as the couple try to come to terms with the idea of being married and try to adjust to each other. While plot points like the two of them studying in the same college keep things light-hearted, the ego clashes of the lead pair's dads are captured well and the issues raised are serious enough to earn our interest.

But then the movie is dragged down by the plot point of Srikanth trying to consummate their marriage. As it begins to stretch that single plot point, it almost turns into a comedy and begins to resemble Middle Class Madhavan. This section of the movie also includes a completely redundant segment inserted simply for an unnecessary fight sequence and that further tests our patience.

The catalyst for the resolution of the movie's central issue comes from an unexpected source. It is smoothly brought into the movie, is quite unexpected when it happens and is quite sentimental. A moment's thought reveals that it is infact quite silly and instead of illustrating the power of love, it tells us something about infatuation. But it is powerful enough to make it a believable reason for Srikanth's change of heart and in the end, thats all that matters.

Srikanth hits the right notes initially as he spars with Meera and tries to make the most of his situation. But he then begins to believe that the movie is a comedy and begins to overact. Meera, on the other hand, is solid throughout. She is not given much of a chance to be playful and naughty, but is really impressive in the emotional scenes. 'Delhi' Ganesh and Mahadevan as the lead pair's dads provide solid support. Even as they deal harshly with Srikanth and Meera, they manage to convey the fact that they only have the couple's happiness at heart.