Refreshing winner set in ad agency
ENDRENDRUM PUNNAGAI (9/10)
AHMED, who made his directorial debut in Vaamanan , returns with Endrendrum Punnagai, a breezy family movie with Jiiva, Trisha Krishnan, Vinay and Santhaanam in the lead roles. Others in the cast are Naaser, Andrea Jeremiah, Abhinay and Sriranjani.
Goutham (Jiiva) becomes a misogynist after his mother leaves his father (Naaser) for another man. He relocates to Chennai, where he meets and befriends Sri (Vinay) and Baby (Santhaanam). They pledge that none of them will marry.
Priya (Trisha) is assigned to work with the advertising agency run by Goutham, Sri and Baby.
Priya’s initial aversion to Goutham changes after a major spat between him and supermodel Sonia (Andrea Jeremiah).
When Goutham calls Priya to thank her for standing by him, she has an accident and the events that follow change the lives of all concerned.
Jiiva improves his acting prowess with each successive film. In Endrendrum Punnagai, he gives a spirited performance in the role of a complex character from whom many other actors would shy away. Krishnan, now in her 11th year as lead actress, shows that she still has many professional years ahead of her. Her portrayal of Priya is breathtaking. Naaser does a brilliant job as Jiiva’s father and Jeremiah impresses with her brief role.
It is truly refreshing to see a breakaway from themes of violence with a story that makes perfect family viewing.
Although not unpredictable, director Ahmed poses enough unanswered questions in the screenplay to keep viewers enthralled.
R Madhi’s cinematography is dominated by an innovative use of light in the first half and he experiments with unusual angles in the second.
Editors Praveen L Kanth and Shrikanth use unusual cuts in the transitions.
All the songs have memorable beats or melodies, albeit with the traditional sense of déjà vu one gets with Harris Jayaraj.
Ahmed has fashioned an entertaining family film with credible characters, a moving story and a superbly crafted screenplay. It is engaging, moving and truly memorable.