Vidiyum Munn

My review: Vidiyum Munn

"Vidiyum Munn" marks the debut of one of the most promising team of the year in Tamil cinema. Helmed by Balaji K Kumar, who has "written" ?! ( story and screenplay are blatantly ripped off from the British movie "London to Brighton" ) and directed the movie ably supported by Sivakumar Vijayan's top class cinematography and Girish Gopalakrishnan's excellent background score. The young team of technicians are wonderfully supported by the cast led by Pooja and Malavika Manikuttan, supported by talented support cast. 

Balaji K Kumar comes across as one of those movie-makers who rely on their script rather than stars for their movies. His faith in his written material is so astounding that he has made this movie with only Pooja being the known face with other small time actors and largely fresh cast making up the rest. After Mysskin and Sasikumar, both of whom exhibited excellent visual sense in their first movie itself (Chithiram Pesuthadi and Subramanyapuram respectively) Balaji K Kumar comes across as one with good visual sense. Also he seems to have his own style and way of movie making and that he has managed to present the same in his very first movie without any compromise is very difficult to emulate. 

Though the movie is a faithful remake (or will it be right to call plagiarism since I didn't see the producers rightfully to have bought the remake rights ) of "London to Brighton" Balaji K Kumar has adapted well to suit our cultural backdrop, landscapes and milieu. The writing is so powerful that not even at one moment that you feel disengaged. All through the two and half hours one is glued to the seat, fully focused on the screen wondering what would happen next and how would the two female protagonists get away from the mess that they find themselves in. When the climax twist is revealed the relief that everyone in the auditorium feels is palpable. Therein lies the victory of the writer-director.

Sivakumar Vijayan's cinematography is top-notch. Each and every frame is of high standards. Movie has its own tone and treatment. At many instances one mighty even get pleasantly surprised by the quality of the frames. Sivakumar, along with Balaji are the ones for the future and sure would go places. 

Pooja has had a dream comeback after a long gap of almost 4 years ("Naan Kadavul" being the last one). The gamut of emotions that her character goes through which Pooja has successfully internalized and then enacted results in the audience empathize with her character. Malavika Manikuttan is a revelation. The way she has portrayed her character that which is caught in between her innocent childishness and the loss of childish innocence forced by the circumstances she gets into is excellent. Though there is ample scope to overdo the same she has stuck a dream balance. Among the support cast Amarendaran as Singaram is top notch. With his body language, dialogue delivery and unique style, Amarendaran is brilliant.     

Balaji has taken up a sensitive issues of child trafficking, prostitution and  and pedophilia in the most respectable manner possible. Not even a single frame is aversive. Also there is no preaching or taking up sides or painting things or people black and white. By sticking to reality and the natural course of action that actions tends to take and occur, Balaji's "Vidiyum Munn" comes out as a whiff of fresh air. 

On the whole, "Vidiyum Munn" is excellently executed thriller with Balaji K Kumar asserting himself as another promising movie-maker who seems to believe in his script more than the stars. Movie deserves 4/5 but I go with 3.5/5 mainly due the duplication of the content. 

Bottomline: A promising movie from a promising team. 

3.5/5