Valiyavan Review: No Strong Points

The last time I watched Jai on screen, he was fervently trying to become a Muslim. He frequented mosques, wore whites and a neat skull cap, and even had a colourful little number to mark his integration into the religion. Just to wed a woman who he thinks (by a sheer twist of fate, really) is Muslim. Valiyavan has touches of Thirumanam Ennum Nikkah. Where he tries hard to be something else. All for love.

Or perhaps, it’s just Jai. And the kind of scripts that seem to find him these days.  As Jai wastes yet another movie away trying to be a popular hero, it is difficult to forget that he is the guy that debuted in Chennai 28 in a role that was anything but flashy, yet managed to find that pulse. Here though, it’s all big brands (partly thanks to Andrea Jeremiah) and heroics, a mother with whom he jokes about women (not someone who wallops him with a broomstick), and a generally affluent lifestyle.

He also tries to be funny.

*****

Jai’s recent ventures have been mindless and only mildly entertaining.  There was Vadacurry – held aloft by RJ Balaji and Thirumanam Ennum Nikkah – which had some fundamental flaws . Now, this M Saravanan directorial that seems doomed from the moment Andrea Jeremiah passionately declares her love. At the fifth minute.

It is difficult for a romance to work backwards. And that’s just what Valiyavan tries to do. Sweet nothings, first; technicality later. When Andrea (Subiksha) declares her love – quite intensely at that – to Jai (Vinodh) as soon as the movie begins, there’s some general incomprehension. Jai seems just as perplexed – for he doesn’t know who she is.

And then, the story begins.

M Saravanan, whose earlier movies include the laudable Ivan Vera Mathiri and the refreshingly different Engeyum Eppodhum is hardly present. Both IVM and Engeyum… were packed to the brim. They had engaging scripts with a a lot going on. Parallel tracks; action; believable romance. Valiyavan though, has none of that. There’s just an insipid romance, some soporific drunken scenes, too many songs, and humour that is not funny at all.

Also, there’s Ashwin (a Ganesh Venkatraman look-alike), a corrupt boxer – six packs and very little muscle – just as unathletic with clothes, and without; Andrea Jeremiah, as the stylishly mysterious stalker girlfriend who sets Jai some tasks to win her hand, and a really stupid sub-plot.

Then there is the scene where Ashwin sits on Jai’s hotdogs, ketchup on Ashwin’s pants, he flies into a rage, knocks down Jai, and makes his father wipe all the mustard sauce (and ketchup) off his …umm arse. Jai can’t stand the humiliation, and swears vengeance. Director Saravanan wants powerful emotions here, so he brings a crowd of onlookers …and Jai’s mum (Anupama Kumar); the former stares, the latter cries.

Quite unfortunately, this is no spoof.

*****

The Valiyavan review is a Silverscreen original article. It was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the movie. Silverscreen.in and its writers do not have an advertising relationship with movies that are reviewed on the site.