Director: Velraj
Cast: Dhanush, Amala Paul, Saranya, Samudhrakani, Surabhi
Rating: ***1/2 Three and a half
Dhanush has chosen a befitting script for his 25th milestone film and in the company of his favourite cinematographer turned filmmaker Velraj, who has churned out a mass family entertainer with Velai Illa Pattadhari. The movie deals with the contemporary burning issue of unemployed graduates in our country and here precisely engineering students.
Raghuvaran (Dhanush), an unemployed civil engineering graduate belongs to a middle class family comprising of his doting mother (Saranya Ponvannan), enraged father (Samudhrakani) and a younger brother Karthik (Hrishikesh), an IT guy who has a cushy job. Raghu’s dad continuously humiliates him calling ‘Thanda Soru’ (useless fellow). Being a straight forward person, Raghu finds it difficult to adjust in other impertinent jobs which are offered to him and waits for his visionary career.
Enters Shalini (Amala Paul), a dentist by profession and his new neighbour and there develops a friendship between them. Over a period it blossoms into love. Meanwhile, a personal tragedy strikes Raghu and how his life takes a new leaf after the incident forms the crux.
Though there is a heroine and several other characters in VIP, the movie solely belongs to a single man – Dhanush. He is the life and soul of the film and his performance of a frustrated unemployed youth who faces humiliation from the society is rock solid. Amala Paul looks cute and has played her role to perfection in a limited scope. Saranya and Samudhrakani have done commendable jobs. Vivek who appears in the second half tickles the funny bones. Surabhi in cameo fits the bill.
The movie moves at a scintillating pace with good dose of comedy, punch dialogues and breezy romance, but the same cannot be said post interval. The cat and mouse game played between Dhanush and debutant actor Amitesh (in a villainy role), reminds you of Rajini –Sathyaraj starrer Mr Bharath. Though Amitesh fits the role of stylish rich businessman in terms of looks, he has a long way to go by way of acting.
Anirudh in the combo of Dhanush has created the musical magic both in songs as well background score once again. Though the second half could have been tauter with crisp editing, Velraj has made an earnest effort to weave a simple story with plenty of enjoyable moments devoid of clichéd ‘kutthu’ numbers and double entendres. VIP is a wholesome entertainer worth a watch.
