It was disappointing to see an obviously talented actor like Parthiban acting in movies like Kundakka Mandakka. But there was atleast the hope that he was doing so just for the sake of a paycheck so that he could absorb the losses on commercially riskier but artistically more satisfying projects like Kudaikkul Mazhai. But Pacha Kudhirai dashes that hope to the ground. Weak in story and banking mostly on sleaze, it is a major disappointment.

Pachamuthu(Parthiban) is a man devoid of all humanity. He has no hesitation using his words or his hands to hurt anybody, including his close friends and relatives, and so is both hated and feared in his own neighborhood. He sets his heart on marrying Poovu(Namitha) the moment he sets eyes on her, even though she is all set to get married. He achieves his goal through dubious means and naturally, she is devastated when she learns what kind of a person he really is.

Parthiban has tried to fashion the protagonist here on the same lines as the hero in his first film Pudhiya Paadhai. So for the most part, we have a hero for whom love and affection have no meaning. He is a man who is ready to sell even his soul as long as he gets a few rupees for it. But the characterization here seems forced and artificial and isn't very consistent. Rather than seeming stonehearted, he seems perverted. Parthiban tries too hard to make us dislike him and that doesn't always work. Rather than disliking the character, we end up disliking the director who shaped him in this way!

But the rowdy atleast manages to keep the movie a little interesting. His transformation, while being too abrupt and not too believable, also makes him(and hence the movie) boring. He becomes a regular do-gooder hero, working for the good of the people and fighting with the bad guys. He doesn't get any memorable bad guys to go up against either. For instance, one of the 2 main villains gets introduced in a suitably gory fashion but then loses all credibility within a few scenes when he is beaten up by a bunch of kids (these 2 scenes also illustrate some abrupt shifts in the tone of the movie, which is very jarring).

The movie is a godsend to fans of Namitha as Parthiban keeps her in various states of undress for most of the movie, his camera voyeuristically feasting on her from various angles. Unfortunately, owing to the situations and the way they have been handled, most of these come across as vulgar and exploitative rather than sensuous. It is very clear that most such scenes exist to titillate rather than to add something substantial to the story. The vulgarity also hides the few good ideas(like Parthiban's superimposition on objects in her room when he sees her first) that rear their head at a few places.

Parthiban has no trouble playing the hardened rowdy as he has enough targets and opportunities for his sarcastic lines. Namitha proves that simply getting a meatier role doesn't translate into a good performance. She does get to do more than usual but she has a lot of trouble getting her expressions right in the heavier scenes. Latha Rao looks too young, inspite of the makeup, to play Parthiban's mother. 'Kaadhal' Dandapani makes a detestable villain but isn't given enough opportunity to make it a memorable role.