Movie: Pokkiri Raja
Direction: Ramprakash Rayappa
Cast: Jiiva, Sibiraj, Hansika Motwani
Music: D Imman
Cinematographer: Anji
Editor: V J Sabu Joseph
Genre: Comdey, Action
Rating: ∗∗½
What is it about: It’s a story of a young lad, who has a sickness of yawning. This becomes a plague in his life taking away his job, love and happiness. How the protagonist overcomes the sickness and what unravels during the course forms the crux of the story directed by Ramprakash Rayappa.
Why it’s disappointing: This film had a terrific plot, if at all had executed with little caution would have been a wonderful outing for the audience and the director. It gets confused with comedy and fantasy and divulges in to stupid clichés which makes most of the comic scenes stale. At times it does irritates you, when presented on screen. And that too when you see Jiiva making a fool of himself, it irritates you even more.
The film had a very weak back story for the protagonist, which even the animated sequence couldn’t help. Building a premise on something which could not hold it later, was a wrong move done by the director.
The film tries its best to incorporate fantasy element, which is well appreciated but doesn’t sustain the flavour and drags it out for more than two hours.
Its high time Hansika should take those Tamil lessons and at least make an attempt to match up that lip sync. And an acting which could be convincing, because looks will fade, talent will remain forever.
Jiiva was wasted in a role, which couldn’t perform well due to ill characterization. If had given a deeper thought would have been a landmark role for him.
Music by Imman is slightly getting tiring, as it didn’t even sound like him. Songs can’t remember, music nothing to rave about. The excessive background score just gets you every time it’s on screen.
What to watch out for: The comedy in the film works in parts, which makes it quite bearable to sit through for more than 2 hours.
Yogi Babu as Mojo, makes a good case as the funny friend. He is one of the saviours of this film, who tickles your funny bone at periodic intervals.
That is followed by Ramdoss as Munusu, he did a commendable job and is one of the rising comedians in recent times. He has a great timing for comedy and can be counted among the potential ones.
Sibi Raj as Guna was a good one, even with little lack in characterization Sibi manages to take it forward with his witty performance.
There is a brief CG sequence in the film, which was done pretty well by the makers.
Verdict: Ramprakash seemed little lost in making this comedy a fantasy, which wanders little too much without a direction. This makes “Pokkiri Raja” a less plausible and a forgettable one.
