Chidambarathil Oru Appasamy Movie Reviews

Thangar Bachchan has been under focus for allegedly demeaning actresses. In other words, he had targeted women. In Chidambarathil Oru Appasamuy,too, his target is again women. But this time around, there are bound to be no controversies as he has come up with a cloying sentimental movie that women, used to seeing maudlin tearjerkers on TV, would find it acceptable.

There are no Thangar's angst or underlying poetic pathos that one got to see in films like Thendral or Azhagi. Instead this is a family drama with the heroine Navya Nair and the music director Ilayaraja walking away with all the kudos. Though not in the league of his Azhagi, COA certainly leaves an impression on the audience for it carries a strong message rendered without much commercial compromise.

Though Thangar has disappointed as an actor, his directortial skills have been brought to the fore. The movie, which is a remake of a Malayalam hit Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala, will certainly appeal to the lady audiences. Navya Nair's matured performance and equally superb work by Ilayaraja especially in the background score adds much needed strength to this emotional melodrama.

The movie begins with Elangovan(Thangar Bachchan), a school teacher in Chidambaram leading a carefree life without any goal. He spends all his time boozing around and gambling with his friends without bothering about his wife Thenmozhi(Navya Nair) and his two daughters. Elangovan gets chided by his father(Pyramid Natarajan) and his father-in-law (Sundararajan). But he never mends his way. Once he gets caught by the police for visiting a nightclub and upon the inspector's advice decides to go to Sabarimala to worship Lord Ayyappa and takes up stringent fast.

He visits the holy shrine much to the delight of his family. Trouble erupts when he returns from Sabarimala and decides to continue leading the saintly life without bothering about his marital commitments. A sequence of events leads to Elango leaving his family and joining a mutt. Thenmozhi strives hard to educate her children. After a series of events, Elango realizes his folly and reaches home to seek apology with Thenmozhi. Whether the family gets reunited or not forms the rest.

Thangar as an actor has looks average. Be it romance or emotional sequences, Thangar disappoints as he looks constricted. Hats off to Navya for coming up with a mature performance. The irony is that the lady who had been accused of almost stalling the film is the one who has carried the film one her slender shoulders.

Sundararajan and Pyramid Natarajan in the supporting cast have given a commendable show.

Ilayaraja, as ever, gives the right background and shows, yet again, when it comes to background he is still the Raja.

On the flip side, the movie drags towards the climax as the director cannot come up with anything meaningful to keep the story going forward.

On the whole Chidambarathil Oru Appasamy is a movie for women folk with a strong message.