Tamil director Hari’s Diwali offering Poojai, adheres religiously to his filmmaking formula. From the moment the screen opens till the last scene, there is action and gore. You know what to expect.
Vasu (Vishal) is a loan shark making a living in the markets of Coimbatore and with our first introduction to Anna Thandavam, (Mukesh Tiwari) a contract killer posing as a respectable businessman, Hari prepares the stage for the battle.
Poojai, contrary to its title, has aruvaals (sickles) flying all the way, (you had better duck) and is predictable to the core.
The story gathers steam after Anna Thandavam’s plan to kill the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Sathyaraj) goes awry. Vasu saves the cop. Now the foremost question in Anna’s mind is ‘who is Vasu?’
Love blossoms between Vasu and Divya, (Shruthi Haasan) a young woman he meets in a mall. They break into duets at the slightest instance, taking viewers with them to exotic locales.
Did I mention the guest appearance of singer Andrea in a song sequence? Going by the trend, Tamil films seem to be incomplete without a drinking scene, so Vasu and friends find an excuse and with that they put on their dancing shoes. The result is a song sequence with Andrea.
Slapstick comedy does little to tickle the funny bone here. Where is the humour in Soori bashing up his junior, Black Pandi, at regular intervals? This Soori joke has been done to death and it’s time he pulled out something else from the box.
Melodrama, another ingredient in all Hari stories, exists in good measure. With a large family, Vasu takes up cudgels for their welfare even travelling all the way to Patna to avenge his mother’s death.
It is a Vishal show all the way and the actor gives an impressive performance. But the story is nothing new. Radhika’s performance as Vasu’s mother is worthy of mention. Shruthi Haasan’s expressions are certainly improving with each film. If you love action and are a Vishal fan, then this one is right up your alley.
