There are both pros and cons when making a political satire. While the goings-on in TN politics ensure that there is no dearth of targets to lampoon, the number of films we've had in the genre means that there are not a lot of new ways to do the lampooning. Irandu Mugam runs into that problem and the lack of depth in the way it handles its subject compounds the problem. So it seems both jaded and superficial.

Parthasarathy(Karan), the son of a caterer, has long dreamt of becoming a minister. He is in love with Pavithra(Suhani), who is the niece of the Opposition leader Dheivanayagi(Anuradha Krishnamoorthy). Sarathy catches the CM's eye when he mimics the latter and from then on, begins to quickly rise through the ranks of the ruling party, eventually reaching his goal by ending up as the Environment minister. While Thamizhan Siva(Nasser) isn't too happy with this initially, he has a change of heart when he sees that Sarathy could be his puppet. Sarveswaran(Satyaraj) is an honest, conscientious IAS officer who is assigned to work under Parthasarathy but the minister's corrupt ways soon disillusion him.

Irandu Mugam takes the same route as most political satires by making its protagonist a man with political ambitions and loose morals that allow him to do whatever's needed to achieve those ambitions. So, as Karan goes from being a humble caterer to a powerful minister, we are witnesses to the corruption in TN politics, the games played at the party conventions and how easy it is to manipulate people by flattery and/or deception to achieve one's goals. None of this is ofcourse news to us and furthermore, Karan's rise is so fast and unrealistic that the film at times seems like a spoof rather than a satire. So the film doesn't offer anything new and what it does offer, we never take seriously.

While we are used to seeing Satyaraj in the protagonist role, here he is a spectator looking in from the sidelines. That doesn't mean that he doesn't get the chance to indulge in his usual shtick though. He takes periodic shots at politics and the sad state of government officials and as always, he also steps outside the political arena to target godmen, television game shows and Rajnikanth (he has only good things to say about MGR ofcourse). Like the satiring of politics, we've seen Satyaraj do this too many times and so it simply looks like a retread of his previous roles.

The film follows the template of similar satires with respect to Karan's character. The plan employed to achieve this is transparent right from the beginning and so things don't get as emotional as they should. The steps Karan takes after his change are also as superficial and sudden as his political ascent earlier and the climax is brought about through an age-old ruse(though the way it is achieved uses a slightly advanced technology). But it takes the safe route as it does manage to show both the CM and the opposition leader in a good light.

Satyaraj goes through the motions in yet another film that only requires him to take cracks at some easy targets. Karan, who seemed to be having an unswing in his career a couple of years ago, is back to starring in B-graders. He has some fun as the ambitious, corrupt youth but doesn't bring anything new to the role. Among the supporting cast Anuradha Krishnamoorthy brings some dignity to her role as the opposition leader.