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full shows, record turnout, laugh
riot and that’s Imsai Arasan!! |
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If
there is one movie, which has come
a surprise winner, it is none other
than Imsai Arasan Irupatthi Moondram
Pulikesi. The film had been creating
news even when it was being made.
It carries some unique features. |
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It
marks the debut of Vadivelu
as a hero and that too a double
role to boot. The film was produced
by Shankar, known to be a man
with the Midas touch. The story
combined elements of old Tamil
cinema with slick parody of
modern political establishment.
The film faced some resistance
from the Animal Welfare Board
which caused the release to
be held up. Finally, when it
hit the theatres, it has been
enjoying a good opening and
running to houseful shows. |
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What’s
the story?
A good laugh is worth a million.
Grandmother’s adage has
come true again with Vadivelu’s
Imsai Arasan. The film is unique
in the current trend of action,
romantic or sentimental fare.
It is a full-length comedy.
It portrays a hare-brained king
and how his goof ups make life
miserable for his subjects.
Vadivelu plays a double role
– one as a bluffer and
another suave. Running as a
thread throughout the film is
a parody on the present day
politicians and their shenanigans. |
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The
story of Imsai Arasan is an oft-told
one of lost and found. Pulikesi, the
wayward prince of Chozhapuram is a
dimwit who revels in carnal pursuits
neglecting his royal duties. The chief
advisor, Rajaguru, schemes to dethrone
the prince. The Rajaguru has also
committed a deplorable act in the
past – to throw away a twin
of Pulikesi. Why? The royal astrologer
had predicted that the twin would
be more intelligent. As fate would
have it, the boy survives and returns
at the appropriate time to expose
the evil intentions of the Rajaguru.
He takes over the reins of the kingdom
and they all lived happily ever after. |
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Violent
films helping Imsai Arasan
Now, if you wonder
at why the film has made such
a difference to a sulking box
office trend, the reason is
not far to seek. In the past
couple of months, one must admit
that there has been a surfeit
of films in which violence was
glorified. Dons scheming to
get each other’s neck,
goons on the prowl, blood and
gore, mushy romance caught amidst
all the mindless action and
unimpressive music – these
have been the sad exhibits which
Kollywood has to show so far
this year. |
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So,
when we were told that there would
be a full-length comedy, naturally
the audience interest was heightened.
Vadivelu has been steadily building
up his repertoire as a dependable
comedian. Not for him the sermonizing
and reformist zeal of another contemporary.
Nor does he have a sidekick to punch
on screen. He portrays the underdog
and wins our sympathies. It was quite
natural that he was chosen for the
title role of Imsai Arasan. In a lighter
vein, in most of his comedy tracks,
he is a victim of his own imsai antics. |
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It’s
Shankar’s touch to politics
The film has several positive
aspects. The most important
one is of course, Shankar’s
penchant for poking fun at politicians
and their corrupt ways. The
director, Simbudevan, has penned
the screenplay in which the
era of the royals meshes beautifully
with the dialogues on present
political situation. But where
the film fails is in packing
in too much of social consciousness.
This takes away the impact.
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Also
the humor is more due to the external
settings of the film like the royal
props, costumes and lighting and there
is not much rib-tickling humor in
the dialogues. Continued
on next page >>
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