Uneasy mix of humour and fright a horror show
RAMKI, the popular actor from the 1980s, makes a comeback in the horror thriller Masani, directed by the duo Padmaraj and LGR.
The film boasts an impressive supporting cast that includes Akhil, Sija Rose, Iniya, Sarath Babu Roja, YGMagendran, Manobala, Uma Pathmanabhan, Devan and Chitti Babu.
Masani tells the story of a village community that wants to build a statue in its temple. The sculptors they hire are driven away by a ghostly force and the villagers have to face the truth about an ugly incident in the past when bigotry and class differences resulted in humiliation, pain and death — and a troubled spirit looking for peace by avenging the pain of a previous life.
Akhil and Rose are adequate in the lead roles, but it is Iniya who impresses in her role as Masani. Ramki makes an impressive comeback, looking as good as he did in his heyday.
Although Om Prakash’s cinematography is a visual feast, it is not enough to save the film.
The problem with Masani is a sorry attempt at comedy. The result: scenes of horror that resemble comedy and scenes of comedy that are better described as horror. The attempts to make the film scary are both clichéd and laughable.
Masani is a dated and unimpressive film that was poorly conceived and badly presented.
It had a good and moral story to narrate, but its stunted vision and outdated ideas make the film an ordeal.