TV Times

TV Times

‘Kurumbu’ focuses on love and friendship
By Ramesh Kandasamy
Kurumbu is the latest Tamil movie to hit the screens in Sri Lanka with Naresh, the Telugu hero (son of the director EVV Sathyanarayana) replaying the role he did in the original Telugu version Allari. Director Vishnuvardhan has taken strains to attract the youth while Ra. Krishnaa who has done a tremendous job especially in song sequences handles the Camera work.

Ravi, (Naresh) a simpleton and Appu (Niktha) grow up together since childhood, and they are close friends. Enter Ruchi (Diya), a hep care-free girl who moves into Ravi and Appu’s neighborhood. Ravi immediately falls for her and though initially Ruchi gets irritated by Ravi’s gestures finally gives in and their relationship begins to go smooth. Not revealing her love towards Ravi, a heartbroken Appu helps Ravi to get closer to Ruchi. But Ravi soon finds out that Ruchi is not a right match for him and he finally realizes that his true love lies with Appu.

Naresh portrays the innocence, playfulness and vulnerability of Ravi very well. Diya fits perfectly in the role she produces a lot of oomph. Nikitha is the more sensible one who plays a contrasting role to Diya who radiates a lot of charm and performs rather well in her debut film. Nasser, Meera Krishnan, Nirosha and others did justice to their roles.

Yuvan Shankar Raja’s music is impressive and is sure to make new waves among the youth. There is a sense of déjà vu throughout. Similar subjects have come earlier in films like ‘Bhadri’ , ‘Piriyadha Varam Vendum’ and ‘Parthein Rasithein’ (all a rehash of ‘My best friend’s wedding’). Only they were softer feel-good romances with the friendship-factor highlighted. But here it’s the glamour-element that is emphasised, some off-colour scenes and lines creeping in.

A couple of songs too have been picturised keeping this mood in mind (the film carries an ‘A’ certificate). The dalliance and flirting between Ravi’s mother and Ruchi’s father is supposed to generate humour. But it doesn’t and only serves as an unsavoury distraction.

Nikita (has done films in Telugu and Malayalam) is the softer character, with an engaging smile. Quite in contrast is model-turned-actress Diya, with her dimpled smile, radiating a lot of oomph. As Ruchi the extrovert,
Diya carries herself admirably, comfortable in her tops and minis, uninhibited and confident in her debut performance. Venturing into her first Tamil film, is producer Akkineni Indira Anand with her banner Indira Innovations.

Her production house has produced some successful films in Telugu, and some off beat films too like the Santosh Sivan directed ‘Terrorist’. The supporting cast has Nasser, Nirosha, Pyramid Natarajan, Meera Krishnan, R. S. Shivaji, Lakshman, Baby Apsara, and Ramya Krishnan. Shot in and around Chennai, ‘Kurumbu’ is a youthful film that centres on love and friendship.

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