Tamil Film Industry is seeing a glut of newcomers who have been able to showcase their talent with tremendous exposure to world cinema. Only a handful have been able to make a mark, Sri Ganesh tries his hand with 8 Thottakal.
The movie does not waste any time and gets loaded straight away. The suspense begins quite early and helps the viewer stay focussed it is only as it progresses that the movie starts taking faltering steps. It does have moments of brilliance but also times when it goes on a mono mode with long diatribes. The lengthy scenes can be taxing at times and in a movie that is built on suspense is a major let down. Not to forget the useless songs that should have been very well avoided.
Vetri, the hero of the movie pulls down the movie with his wooden expressions and is a certain misfit in the character. The character perhaps demanded some sense of solemness but Vetri takes it too far. Aparna Balamurali as the female lead has very little to do and looks a character strictly designed for songs and as a partner for the hero. Bhaskar is a revelation in his role but at the same time towards the climax gets a bit tiring. Nassar is a regular in his police officer role and others do a decent job.
Dinesh the cinematographer has done a good job, while the songs though not required is not listenable too. The background music borders on being average while the dialogues are quite good. The editor should have worked harder, or must have compromised with the director. Director Sri Ganesh needs to be appreciated for eking out very good perfomances from the cast and to his taste. His writing though inspired from a various movies as he comes clean with the sources at the beginning of the film, could have been a lot tighter.
8 THOTTAKAL – ETTAVILLAI !!
2.5/5
B.U.Shreesha
