Aadhalal Kadhal Seiveer

Actor Vishal had spoken very highly about Director Suseenthiran’s Aadhalaal Kadhal Seiveer (AKS) a few weeks back in an interview to Behindwoods and our expectations about the movie naturally shot up.

 

Suseenthiran is known for quality movies such as Vennila Kabaddi Kuzhu and Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai. He has always been choosing diverse subjects in each of his movies and now he has based his latest movie on a teenage romance, set in an engineering college in Chennai. Selvaraghavan had towed a similar line, a decade back in Thulluvadho Ilamai but his setting was a school. 

 

Here, Suseenthiran has not just stopped with showing the rosy side of such hormone-driven college romance but he has also focussed extensively on the striking realities and grim consequences that arise from such a romance. 

 

The first half has its share of fun thanks to some lively characters in the college such as Arjun (earlier seen in Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Yeppadi), the guy with a feminine voice and

the reference to Mankatha Ajith’s salt ‘n’ pepper hair. Arjun keeps the mood light amid the tension around, with his spontaneous comments. The girl who plays Manisha’s best friend Jenny, is another important character and she adds a different angle to the proceedings. 

 

The way teenage lovers coolly resort to lying, to save their skin at home is again enjoyable. But we get the feeling that save romance, nothing else is on their mind. We might also wonder if ‘crossing the limits’ is something which is so easy for this generation’s youngsters. 

 

The running time of the movie is a crisp 106 mins and the screenplay is unwavering. The gripping family drama really takes the movie along, post the intermission and the finale is sure to leave a lump in your heart as we are shown the unfortunate little victim of this entire episode.

 

The casting in AKS is mostly on the mark with Jayaprakash and Thulasi as the heroine’s parents, investing their heart and soul into the movie. Under intense duress, both these actors mirror how parents would react in real life. Jayaprakash brings out the concern and helplessness in his body-language while Thulasi stands as a pillar of support for her troubled daughter in the end. Poornima Bhagyaraj as the hero’s mother doesn’t have much of a role compared to Thulasi. 

 

The way both the families react to the crisis on hand and how people respond to the same situation in a different manner, are nice lessons in human behavioral dynamics. This brings out some really engaging drama in the second half.  

 

The hero Santhosh Ramesh could have been a lot more spontaneous. Manisha Yadav plays the vulnerable and the emotionally fickle college girl pretty well and this is an extension of her role in Vazhakku Enn 18/9. She too has some scope to improve. The chemistry between the lead actors could have been more sparkling. 

 

Yuvan Shankar Raja proves why he is the ‘Little Maestro’ in the finale of the movie and the little pathos song sung by Yuvan himself, will surely move you. The little child that comes in these scenes is a delight to watch though it’s really heart-wrenching as well. Great work by the team in capturing all the myriad reactions of this child in a candid manner. 

 

Among Yuvan's songs, ‘Mella Sirithal’ is well-choreographed and comes in the title credits. ‘Thappu Thanda’ has been aesthetically shot too. He has composed some extra songs for the BGM score of the movie and they gel seamlessly with the screenplay. 

 

The cinematography by Soorya is functional and shines through in the songs particularly.

On the whole, AKS is a ‘slice of life’ tale topped by a really impactful climax. Teenagers and their parents ought to watch this one, for sure.