Vibrant yet Gruesome. Review on Pudhupettai Movie

This is a movie with no subtle theme, everything said or done on the screen is done with aggression and reality. Well that’s how a gangster’s story should be done. With all the profanity and violence, I am surprised the movie managed to get released with a U/A certificate. The movie reminds me of novels like 'The Sicilian', where an otherwise normal character becomes a hero in a split second action and is glorified throughout the rest of the story.

Music

Most of us would be familiar with the psychedelic soundtrack that Yuvan Shankar Raja has composed for the movie. However one sad thing for some is that many songs don’t feature in the movie including ‘Oru naalil Vazhkai’. I feel that SelvaRaghavan has picturized the songs better than what he did in 7/G or Kaadhal Kondaen, esp. Variya, Enga Area and the Orchestrated piece.

Story

‘Kokki’ kumar (Danush) is a schoolboy who lives in a raucous neighborhood, the abode of gangsters and fishermen. Kumar’s father (also a gangster) kills his wife in a quarrel. Kumar makes a very narrow escape when he comes to know that his father is going to murder him too.

Having fled from home, Kumar resorts to begging. He mistakenly gets picked up by the cops, along with a dope selling gang in the same area. This gang is lead by Anbu, a local don, who is also a part of a political party. Anbu has a wide range of business including drugs, murder, prostitution and political crimes. This makes way for his entry into the gang, where he stays as a handyman, selling dope, cleaning up and sticking party notices.

Kumar’s life takes a sudden twist when, he displays a moment of sheer courage by killing another don Murthy’s brother with bare hands, the event, neatly picturized , explains why the movie is captioned ‘survival of the fittest’. It becomes the talk of the town and the elated Anbu then makes Kumar hide with his gang of hitmen.

Kumar starts learning the new trade. Kumar who had always been Anbu’s blue eyed boy, ever since he killed Murthy’s brother, suddenly gets estranged with him because of his love with Krishnaveni(Sneha) a prostitute who works for Anbu. Anbu then orders Kumar’s execution. Kumar having no place to hide goes back to his father, who now accepts his son, considering his reputation. Having hidden long enough, Kumar then kills Anbu in a cunning plot where he acts like apologizing to the don. Anbu’s patron (referred to as Thalaivar), a bigwig of the opposition party, is furious with Kumar and orders his men to knock him. He also challenges Kumar, that if he lives the night, he will be the sole master of Anbu’s area. Kumar lives, to become Anbu’s replacement. Anbu’s gang now works under Kumar.

Kumar then makes enemies with his best friend Mani, by marrying his sister Selvi (Sonia Aggarwal). Mani deserts Kumar to work for Murthy. The rest of the movie is just a fierce battle for political power by ‘Kokki’ Kumar. After his wife’s death Kumar abandons his son and has revenge on Murthy. The movie then ends with ‘Kokki’ Kumar making an election speech in his campaign for elections.

After watching the movie I felt really satisfied for having watched a movie that had elements of reality with good performances from all actors and a neat screenplay.

There was many a scene that established SelvaRaghvan among the top class of directors.

I would certainly recommend this movie to you, if a gory yet good storyteller wouldn’t bother you.