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Director: Bharati Kannan
Cast: Prabhu Roja, Karan, Sithara, Udaya, Vivek, S.S. Chandran
Thulasi
Naicker is a much-respected man. A much-envied one too, for his
family is utterly devoted to him. A confirmed bachelor, his
family consists of his younger brother Varadappa Naicker, the
latter's wife and their two children. He had not got married
unable to forget the comely rustic belle (Roja) who had given up
her life for his sake, decades back.
Thulasi Naicker is a truthful man and it was this very quality in him that led to the rift between him and his brother. Naicker had known about his nephew's fondness for wine and women, but had hidden the matter from the rest of the family. But when a marriage alliance comes for the nephew and Naicker is asked about the youth's character, he cannot lie. The girl's family backs off, and his sister-in-law egged on by interested parties, holds Thulasi Naicker responsible for the family's humiliation. More such misunderstandings are created, the rift widens and the duo part ways. Of course, the elder one gives away all his property and wealth to the younger one and walks away.
The
director, like the audience, seems to have had enough of filial
bonding, and takes recourse to the caste factor to pep up his
narration. The younger brother's daughter falls in love with
their car driver. The duo elopes chased by two groups belonging
to two different castes. The lovers take refuge in their uncle's
house. And it is then that Thulasi Naicker utters his first lie.
Poor man. He blinks, contorts his face and swallows hard before
he can bring himself to utter the lie that the lovers are not in
his house, all in order to save their lives. And he never
recovers from the strain of it. And when Varadappa Naicker
realises his brother's worth and rushes in to beg forgiveness it
is only to see his dead body.
'Pongal' sees the senior heroes
playing their age, but with some reservations. So, if Vijayakant
had a dual role, the 'young' one balanced the 'old' character,
Prabhu gets a tiny 'flashback' of his younger days with Roja. But
the irony is that the 'old' Prabhu seems to have a younger look,
while the 'young' Prabhu seems to have an aged look! Karan tries
desperately to look the aging dignified younger brother, but does
not succeed. Bespectacled Udaya (son of producer - director
Azhagappan) makes a promising debut and is paired with the fresh
looking Vindhya ('Sangamam' fame). Vivek's comedy track is weird,
but provides some welcome relief.
Malini Mannath