Endrendum Punnagai

My review: Endrendum Punnagai

With interesting star cast, hummable songs and glossy visuals "Endrendum Punngai" promised a lot before its release. But all these positives gets spoiled by poor screenplay which fails to keep the audience in its leash. Hence due to lethargy of the screenplay where nothing much happens for long stretches it is difficult for anyone to sustain their interest. As a result in the end it becomes an arduous watch. I. Ahmad is the writer-director.

The genrelessness which is the wont of the Indian film industry in general and Tamil film industry in particular has spread its tentacles even into these type of movies which on the face of it appears to be a romantic-comedy. But like the commercial mass masala movies here too the makers get recourse to family sentiment, forced-in comedy, professional rivalry. Hence the romantic-comedy which the makers advertise the movie to be is scarce. 

Movie meanders along with no direction whatsoever in the first half. Scenes go on and on with endless chattery with almost every other scene someone bemoaning about marriage. When the intermission point promises some scope for something that might happen in the form of a story in the second half , it gets more tiring and labouring. When the movie moves into melodrama towards the end, it becomes unbearable. 

Except for the three male leads  rest of the characters are poorly etched out. Even the character of Thrisa, the lead actress is half-backed. Andrea's is purposeless while Nasser is used shoddily. Jiiva who is already on a long lean patch will continue to remain in that after this movie. May be he can put all his faith in his next movie "Yaan" to get him out of this rut he finds himself in. Trisha who has been almost non-existent for a long time gets to perform well in a poorly etched out role. Vinay who's credentials have always been under scrutiny once again fails to grab the eyeballs. Santhanam continues in his downward spiral. Sad to see Andrea restricted to such shoddy roles. 

Harris Jeyaraj has nothing new to offer. All the songs have the deja vu effect. "Kadal Naan" is the best of the album. "Vaan engum nee minna" is a typical Harris number. Madhie's cinematography makes the movie technically grand with glossy and sleek visuals. 

On the whole, "Endrendum Punnagai" fails to bring smiles on the face of the audience. It is a boring fare which needs a lots of patience and time to sit through it. 

Bottomline: Plastic smiles. 

2/5