Tamil Padam Movie review

First of all, a big round of applause for the director for introducing a new genre in Tamil film industry. Holly wood had it since long with movies like Hot Shots Naked Gun or Scary Movie series and Tamil television has beaten it to death. But a full length spoof running for more than two hours on big screen is really difficult to make considering the sensitivity of the industry people. Even Bollywood hasn’t tried a full fledged parody yet.

Thamizh Padam has done it nicely without hurting the sentiments or feelings of any body. Though only regular movie goers will identify every spoof still they will enjoy it even if it is of their favourite heroes. Director Amudhan has walked the tight rope very effectively.

The film starts with a mother giving birth to a child – our hero Shiva- on a rainy night in a typical village which detests male babies being born in the village. The ‘Nattamai’ of the village had already passed a decree to kill any male child born to any body in the village for a peculiar reason. The male children don’t stay in the village when they grow up. So the father asks his mother-Paravai Miniamma-to kill the baby. When the old lady is about to feed the baby with branded cactus milk in tetra pack the infant pleads with the grand mother to put him in a goods train so that he can reach the city and become a big man. Why a goods train? Because the infant knew all goods train leaving a village is destined to reach Chennai city.

Touched by the aspiration of the infant the old lady takes the baby herself to Chennai to help him achieve his dream. In Chennai Shiva grows at the spin of a cycle wheel up and spends time with his college going friends Nakul, Siddharth and Bharath – MS Bhaskar, Manobala and Vennira Aadai Murthy. Shiva who appears to be a spoiled child actually is an undercover cop like Pokkiri Vijay. He eliminates the city rowdies like Thirupachi Vijay using techniques of Ghajini Suriya, Anniyan Vikram and Appora Sahodarargal Kamalhasan.

Meanwhile on the other side of his life Shiva sees Disha like Kadhalikku Mariyadai Vijay and love strikes like Mozhi Prithviraj. Shiva expresses his love to her like Maounaragam Karthik. But Disha’s father doesn’t approve their love because Shiva is poor and doesn’t know who his father is. Humiliated Shiva decides to become rich and find his father in the village. He becomes rich in a jiffy like Annamalai Rajini and Sivaji Rajini. The love finally succeeds.

Then in search of his father Shiva lands in his ancestral village Cinemapatti like Winner Prashanth. Its a village where couples go to bed only when Vaidegi Kathirunthal Vijaykanth starts singing ‘Netru rathiri yamma’ at night. He searches his long lost father in the neighbouring villages Serialpatti and Thangachipatti nad Sentimentpatti in vain. Finally with very little help Shiva finds about his father from one of his associates. The associate gives him a CD of his family song which incidentally is the ‘Michael Learns To Rock’ number, ‘Someday someway’. Armed by the CD Shiva croons the song in public and he is united with his parents and sister.

Now back to the city. Shiva is entrusted with the tough job of finding the main switch of the rowdy gang called ‘D’ gang Chidambara Rahasiyam Delhi Ganesh. The thrilling, breathtaking tasks he undertakes to accomplish his mission and the real identity of the dreaded underworld boss of the ‘D’ gang in the climax sequences are going to be the shockers. When you see the film please don’t reveal the climax to others.

When you enter the theatre knowing the film is a spoof you don’t expect anything logical. The movie has followed every rule of a parody. It has sarcasm, typecast, making fun of scenes from serious movies, violence with no major consequences, obvious references to actions or names, lampooning with no purpose, casual scenes with many layers etc.

Shiva, introduced as Chandramukhi Rajini plays his part to his known character. His timing and dialogue delivery sets him apart. The rip offs from Dalapathy, Kakha Kakha, Vetaiyadu Vilayadu and many more don’t fail to tickle you. Shiva over shadows all other characters just like that with his witty presence in every frame.

Music by Kannan is another fine element in the film. The cryptic ‘O Maha Zeeya’ is very watchable on screen. Other songs also match the mood and genre.

Director CS Amudhan is welcomed with open arms. He has revealed that there are still some facets of cinema still unknown to many. A brave new attempt for which there will be many followers in the future.