Thaanaa Serndhu Kootam: a light hearted entertainer and a Pongal treat

By Mythily Ramachandran

Surya’s ‘Thaanaa Serndhu Kootam’ is a clear entertainer  with its right mix of action, romance and humour.

Directed by Vignesh ShivN, TSK borrows its core plot from Bollywood film, ‘Special 26’ but is tailored neatly  to suit the Tamilian palate. 
ShivN’s  good writing and screenplay that never sags lends it an originality.  Clean humour dominates along with foot tapping music from Anirudh.

The story is happening in the 80s when unemployment was an issue to reckon with. Educated middle class and lower class young men lose out on jobs despite being meritorious, due to a corrupt bureaucracy that thrives on greased palms.

Iniyan (Suriya) aspires to join the CBI (Central Bureau Of Investigation) where his father (Thambi Ramiah) works as a clerk. But he is humiliated by the Bureau Chief Uthaman (Suresh Menon) who does not see eye to eye with Iniyan’s father and is obviously not keen on employing Iniyan.

When Iniyan’s close friend also dreaming of a police career takes his own life out of frustration, Iniyan steps into a new role. Protesting against the system, Iniyan plans a heist with five others.

For Suriya, it’s a role that he can sleep walk in- of course he is given those ‘mass hero’ moments with dances and action stunts-yet ShivN ensures that nothing is over the top.

Ramya Krishnan as Azhagu Meena, one of the con artists in Iniyan’s team might remind you of Anupam Kher’s role in ‘Special 26,’ but as the story rolls, Meena finds  her own identity. Kudos to ShivN for envisoning  a female character in place of Kher’s role. If Krishnan’s Sivagami from ‘Bahubali’ left us in awe,  her Azhagu Meena is a joyful experiment-revealing another side of the talented actress.

Unlike Kajal Aggarwal, who played arm candy to Akshay Kumar, Keerthi Suresh’s role is filled with amusing moments. Look out for the scene where she proposes to Iniyan.

Humour is a major strength here unlike ‘Special 26.’ There are several laugh aloud moments. Anand Raj as the Minister whose house is raided by this con team sets the tone with his ‘mind talk.’

Besides, ShivN has a detailed back-story for Iniyan  and his motives for organizing the heist, making the story far more convincing than the original.

While ‘Special 26’ gave the feel of a racy thriller with its background music playing continuously, Anirudh’s peppy numbers makes you sit back and relax.

Even if you have watched ‘Special 26’, ‘TSK’ is worth a watch. It’s not another remake. TSK is a sweet Pongal delicacy.