Yawn!

Rajitha

This film is director Ezhil's third offering after a stunning debut with Thullathaa Manamum Thullum [Vijay-Simran], and the more mediocre follow up Pennin Manathai Thottu [Prabhudeva and Jaya Seel].

This time, Ezhil has succumbed to that virus that seems to be sweeping filmmakers on either side of the Vindhyas -- the "happy family syndrome".

Time was when you had family dramas -- in other words, a large family, a succession of crises, and a final resolution that tells you the moral that a united family is a happy family, or a woman's place is in the home, or woman is the adhesive factor in a happy family, or whatever.

Now that has changed. Instead you have this lawn and a large family all dressed up and posing for group photographs in every other frame, when they are not singing and dancing and sitting down to elaborate dinners.

Tamil flick Poovellam Un Vaasam is one such -- and a bit of a mix of Niram (the Malayalam superhit that reappeared in Tamil as Piriyaatha Varam Vendum and Telugu as Nuve Kaavali).

Two families live in adjoining houses in a common compound. They are so close, magazines actually do cover stories on their friendship. Ajit and Jyotika are the young ones, and Yugendar (son of singer Malaysia Vasudevan) is the villain. Briefly told, Ajit and Jyotika, having grown up together as best friends, realise they are now in love. Yugendar, who wants the girl, manipulates things so that misunderstandings crop up between them.

The misunderstandings then spread to the older members of the family, tears flow copiously, everyone goes on a renunciation spree, more tears grow... and it all ends with the family photograph.

This film had everything going for it -- a lavish producer in R B Chowdhury who actually built two houses, in grand style, instead of opting to put up a set; a more-than-decent starcast comprising veterans Sivakumar and Nagesh, Bombay import Sayaji Shinde (as Jyotika's father), debutant Yugendar, the phenomenally popular comedian Vivek (teaming up with Kovai Sarala), saleable stars in Ajit and Jyotika, music by Vidyasagar...

Trouble is the story/script/screenplay which, in a word, is insipid. To the point where, when the movie crescendoes with the two once-close families splitting amidst high drama, you put a polite hand up to stifle a yawn.