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Review

Saravanan Irukka Bayamaen review: This horror comedy has too many flaws to laugh away

Release Date: 12 May 2017 / Rated: U / 02hr 06min


Cinestaan Rating

Manigandan KR

Director Ezhil seems to have completely lost the plot with his latest film.

Director Ezhil, who has delivered several laugh riots including Manam Kothi Paravai (2012) and Velainnu Vandhutta Vellaikkaran (2016), seems to have completely lost the plot in his latest film, Saravanan Irukka Bayamaen.

Ezhil, like so many other Tamil film directors, seems to be influenced by the fact that a vast number of films succeeding at the box office in recent times have been horror-comedies. It may have been this thought that led to Saravanan Irukka Bayamaen transforming into a horror-comedy as well. What Ezhil seems to have forgotten is that the success of a film depends not on its genre, but its content.

Saravanan (Udhayanidhi), a youngster in a little town is appointed state head of the breakaway faction of a little known political party, thanks to the goof-up of a drunk photographer. This sudden turn of events forces Saravanan's uncle Kalyanam (Soori), a man who was originally picked to head the state unit, to flee to Dubai.

In Dubai, where he is forced to tend to camels, Kalyanam learns of Saravanan's quick progress through the party and fumes. He holds Saravanan responsible for the troubles he has been put through and decides to  return home and plot Saravanan's downfall.

Meanwhile, Saravanan continues to run the party at a building owned by Kalyanam's elder brother Selvaraj (Livingston), who is away. But as luck would have it, Selvaraj too chooses to return to the town along with his family, which includes his daughter Thenmozhi (Regina Cassandra), forcing Saravanan to vacate the place.

Saravanan and Thenmozhi, sworn enemies from the time they were kids, waste no time in going at each other's throats. This hate slowly turns into love. Unfortunately for him, she still looks at him as the enemy. To add to his troubles, Kalyanam, who is looking to cause trouble for Saravanan all the while pretending to be a well wisher, joins hands with Thenmozhi.

It is at this time, that suddenly Saravanan receives support from a spirit, which occasionally possesses Thenmozhi. The spirit we are told is that of Fathima (Srushti Dange). Fathima, a friend of Saravanan, dies after a criminal she brings to book chooses to exact revenge. The director also adds the plot of Fathima being in love with Saravanan before she died.Meanwhile, Thenmozhi, to Saravanan's annoyance, agrees to wed Rajadurai (Chaams), the son of a ruffian Veera Singam (Mansoor Ali Khan).

Does Saravanan win Thenmozhi's hand? What happens to Kalyanam's plans about the downfall of Saravanan? The film answers all these questions.

The film has flaws right from the start. The plot is unrealistic and devoid of logic. There are far too many characters and developments, with quite a number of them being either unrealistic or unnecessary. All of this could have been forgiven had the comedy sequences clicked. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen. The few that work are either due to Yogi Babu, Soori or Chaams.

The film has a good background score by D Imman, and some decent cinematography by K G Venkatesh. However, their good work alone cannot make up for a lot of other lapses. Ezhil has disappointed with this film.