Palaivana Cholai – lacks elements of original version

Production: R. Radhakrishnan
Direction: K.S. Dayalan
Star-casts: Nithin Sathya, Abhinay, Sathyan, Sanjeev, Karthika, Chams and others
Music: Bobby

Years back, our own ace filmmaker Robert Rajashekar had delivered a fantabulous film titled ‘Palaivana Cholai’ with Suhasini, Rajeev, Vagai Chandrasekhar, Thyagu and Janakaraj in lead roles. The film happens to be an evergreen classic with its heart-touching tale of friendship and emotional bonding of relationships.

Now, we have K.S. Dayalan remaking the film with the contemporary adaptations of projecting youngsters with present traits. In simple terms, the remake fails to engross due to lack in certain quotients where the filmmaker attempts to adapt the script to present day scenario.

Over here, Suhasini’s role is enacted by Karthika while the youngsters’ characterizations are performed by Nithin Sathya, Sanjeev, Abhinay, Sathyan and Chams…

The film is about group of friends: Ramana (Sanjeev), Yuvan (Abhinay), Aadhi (Sathyan), Prabhu (Nithin Sathya) and Iniyan (Chams) residing in the same colony... Being the son of a rich business, Yuvan is a devil-may-care youngster while Ramana is a responsible person who keeps striding with hard work for the sake of getting his sisters married. Aadhi is an ambitious youngster who wants to be a famous filmmaker and Prabhu is an auto-rickshaw driver while Iniyan is a struggling lawyer.

With these guys not able to hit the bull’s eyes in their respective lives, Priya (Karthika) enters turning their course in an unexpected manner. She carries out her earnest efforts of eliminating their unfavorable position by encouraging them. She throws a great light on them thusly transcending their lives. Meanwhile, Aadhi fans in love with Priya and intends to propose her unaware about a shock that’s ahead.

Priya is almost nearing her death, since she is affected by a heart problem.

Will the friends able to save her life or leave things into the hands of fate? Watch the rest on screens.

Firstly, the very interesting theme earlier conceptualized by Robert Rajasekhar provides substantial support to the film. But, Dayalan commits a mistake by delineating the youngsters in a clichéd way that we have witnessed in many films. As a matter of fact, a girl entering into the lives of good for nothing youngsters and transforming their lives has been witnessed over the screens more than 100 times. Imagine this! The original version of ‘Palaivana Cholai’ was made in 1981 and it’s almost 28 years that there have been many films inspired by this film.

Karthika does a great job and steals the show. The actress is well known for presenting herself with a powerful performance in all her films. She has to continue acting in more films…. Nithin Sathya does justice to his role and has matured a lot. Sanjeev doesn’t get enough scope to perform well and ditto to Satyan. Musical score by Bobby is mediocre and doesn’t look appealing.

Finally, the new version doesn’t seem to be a loyal remake and it may be a onetime watchable movie for this younger generation.

Verdict: Below average…
Richard Mahesh