‘Puli’ fails to make the roar one expected from a Vijay film

Weak script, poor characterization and bad editing makes ‘Puli’ a big disappointment

For all the noise it made, ‘Puli’ fails to make the leap into viewers’ hearts.
Chimbu Devan’s script was well loaded for a Vijay fan: Marundheeran, a larger than life hero, his beautiful lover, Pavazhamalli, (Shruthi Haasan)  two side –kicks (Thambi Ramiah and Satyan) to become the butt of the hero’s jokes and a villain, Thalapathy Jalatharangan (Sudeep) to egg  Marundheeran into action duels. Besides, there is Bollywood’s diva, Sridevi making a comeback into Tamil cinema, in a queen’s role and the glamorous Hansika Motwani her daughter. Yet ‘Puli’ fell down like a pack of cards.
Devan’s story touted as a fantasy tale for children lacked conviction. After all children ask questions mind you.
Marundheeran who is introduced as a simple guy and not a bravado to take on the powerful Vedhalams, (a clan of people with super human powers) saves his people from their tyranny by merely holding tightly onto  a Vedhalam chief’s leg. How ridiculous can that get?
And when Marundheeran’s lover, Pavazhamalli is abducted by the Vedhalams, he risks his life to find her. Of course he will eventually  (remember this is a Vijay film) but before that he has to cross an ardous path and the guide on this journey is a huge turtle known for his wisdom.
‘Puli’ reminds viewers of ‘Bahubali,’ in many ways. The story opens with a baby floating down the river and is rescued by a villager. And he turns out to be the rightful heir to a kingdom which has been confiscated by an evil chieftain. So that brings Vijay in a double role (more treat for fans). But the actor fails to impress in this role. His poor character sketch and bad hairdo a big letdown. 
Just how much of a children’s film is ‘Puli’ you wonder. The nuptial night jokes centred around Thambi Ramiah’s character is certainly not for little ones. What’s funny about licking the back of a frog now and then?
After waiting eagerly for Sridevi, the actress makes an appearance in the second half. She plays a queen under the spell of her chieftain. Sudeep as the baddie is ok.  ‘Puli’ drags real slow. The editing could have been crisper. Except for the ‘Yendi Yendi’ song sung by Vijay and Shruthi Haasan, none of the songs linger in the mind. 

What you will love though in ‘Puli’ is the breathtaking visuals shot by cinematographer Nataraj Subramaniam. The colour palette is vibrant. T. Muthuraj’s sets are a pretty picture too. In the special effects section the turtle and the bird Soora are a delight. If only Soora had a more chirpy voice and less adult sounding.

‘Kaththi’ barely razor sharp, woos Vijay fans with its double treat

Why is it that the prisons in Indian films are so easy to break out from?

And, why are cops reduced to a dumb force that seeks help from a jailbird?
Tamil film, ‘Kaththi’ opens with that premise. 
When a dreaded criminal escapes from Kolkata prison, the cops approach jailbird Kathiresan, (Vijay) to help them nab him.
And they justify their action with a Tamil proverb that goes like this: ‘mulla mullalethan edukkanam.’ (A thorn can be pulled out by another thorn).
Kathiresan is happy to oblige. He gives chase to the criminal with cops following him and eventually the criminal is caught.  But then Kathiravan goes missing. Before the cops realize it, Kathiresan reaches Chennai and surprises his friend Satish. Now the search for Kathiresan is on and with that, Murugadoss’ story gets rolling.  
To evade police arrest, Kathiresan decides to fly to Bangkok, but at the airport, the pretty looking Ankita (Samantha) stops him on his tracks when she borrows his pen. Kathiresan tears his ticket to Bangkok. 
Time now for a song. 
So Kathiresan goes singing and dancing right there at the airport. Giving him company are co-passengers and flight stewards. 
Don’t forget that the impossible is possible on our Indian screens. 
Now, that the love angle has been established, what’s next? 
Pop in the emotional quotient.
 Murugadoss brings in Jeevanandham, a look alike of Kathiresan, who is injured in a shooting while driving his van. 
And appropriately, Kathiresan and his friend are witness to the shooting. They rush Jeevanandham to a hospital in time. 
Next, the twist in the tale.
Kathiresan decides to switch places with Jeevanandham, a much loved social activist who is striving for the welfare of farmers in his village.
Subsequently, Jeevanandham finds himself in Kolkata prison when he regains consciousness while Kathiresan is enjoying the hospitality and love at an old age home that Jeevanandham managed. 
Bring in the villain next.
Viewers are introduced to Bollywood’s Neil Nitin Mukesh. A business tycoon, he is eyeing the very land that belongs to Jeevanandham’s villagers, where he plans to set up a factory. But then Jeevanandham is the thorn in his plans.
‘Kaththi,’ is an ideal Vijay film. You pay for one Vijay starrer and fans get to watch two Vijays: the sober looking Jeevanandham and a  messiah of the poor. The second role is Kathiresan, a petty thief who wins hearts with his cool attitude.
What perks up this masala laden narrative is the second half when Kathiresan in a change of heart takes on the mantle of Jeevanandham.
Playing a one man army, Kathiresan goes around beating goons, even taking on twenty and more. Like I said, anything can be conjured up on the Indian screen.
That one scene where Kathiresan addresses the media putting across in statistics the woes of farmers and their suicides makes audience sit up.   He also makes a dig at the media for their unsympathetic attitude in their quest for sensationalism. 
As for Samantha, she is pure eye candy with hardly any scope to perform.  All she does was oscillate  between a happy face and a sad face. Neil Nitin Mukesh also does not have much of a characterization, besides his sarcastic laughter and arrogant attitude. 
Catch Murgadoss in a brief appearance too. Comparisons with his earlier films is inevitable, especially when ‘Kaththi’ was looked forward to.  ‘Gajini’ even with its gruesome violence had a solid story with excellent characterization which was matched with splendid performances. That is missing here. Music was a another plus for ‘Gajini.’ ‘Kaththi’ s music hardly lingers in the mind. 
Even ‘Thupakki,’ his last film with Vijay was enjoyable and a story that convinced the invincibility of the hero.
Recently there was another small film, ‘Kurai Ondrum Illai,’ that also spoke on farmers and their suicides. Taking up their cause, it exhorted MNCs to include them in their technological stride. Sadly it did not get its due although it had a more realistic tale.
This ‘Kaththi’ is not razor sharp in its telling and could do with a whetstone in the form of a better story.