Sundar C has a penchant for comedy capers that are low on logic but high on entertainment. Chinna is unlike Sundar C's film, which is not just very serious but also lacks his trademark humour. However thanks to a fast narration and good performance by Sneha, Chinna manages to leave an impression with the audience. The storyline reminds one of movies like Kadhal Kondein and Guna.
The movie begins with Gayathri (Sneha) who reaches Rameshwaram from Chennai to do a research work on sea corals. She comes across a gangster Chinna (Arjun), who lives by sword and bullets.
On coming to know about his past (he is said to be a schizophrenic), Gayathri develops sympathy on Chinna and slowly gravitates towards him. As days go by, she develops an affair with him.
Meanwhile, coming to know of her love with the gangster, her parents persuade her to give him up and return home. Eventually, Chinna lands up in prison for a murder which he commits to save Gayathri from trouble.
After Chinna lands up in prison, her Gayathri's parents force her to marry a engineer Vikram ('Whistle' fame Vikramadhitya).
Vikram and Gayathri reach Ooty to begin their newly married life. Now enters Chinna, who is let free from prison. He comes to Ooty only with a sole aim of getting Sneha back in his life. The rest is Chinna's violent and desperate attempts to get her back (not even hesitating to commit a few murders for accomplishing his mission).
It's Sneha all the way in the film. She has given a matured performance oozing glamour in a couple of songs. She has shown fine understanding of a difficult role.
Arjun, too, does not lag behind. It is a different kind of a role for him. In a psychologically complex character (suddenly such roles are the in-thing on Kollywood), he shows some refreshing adaptation. Unlike in other movies where he flexes his muscles, in Chinna Arjun has scope to perform.
Vikramadhitya plays the second fiddle well in the movie. Riyaz Khan, Manivannan, Vijay Kumar, Mansoor Ali Khan, Livingston, Ponnambalam and Aarthy are the supporting cast.
The music of Iman is a major let down while other technical aspects pass muster.
Sundar C is usally cast in a mould. He has tried to come out of it in Chinna. Though the final outcome is not totally satisfactory, you should applaud him for making a try.
A plausible romantic thriller in the end is Chinna.