Dharma Prabhu movie review: Lacks the punch

Director: Muthukumaran

Cast: Yogi Babu, Ramesh Thilak, Radha Ravi, Rekha

Comedy actor Yogi Babu, the toast of Kollywood takes solo hero avatar with Dharma Prabhu. A socio-fantasy comedy satire, did he succeed in pulling it off independently?

It is a story of Lord Yama (Radha Ravi) who is tired of ruling Yama Loham for one and half lakh years. Since he falls ill, he wants to retire. While Chithraguptan (Ramesh Thilak) the accountant of Yama is next in line to adorn the throne, much to everyone’s surprise, Yama and his wife Ayyo (Rekha) makes their playful son Dharma Prabhu (Yogi Babu) to succeed the thrown. A disappointed Chitraguptan hatches a plan and takes Dharma Prabhu to earth, and makes him commit the mistake of saving a little girl and in a chain reaction saves yet another evil politician (Azhagam Perumal). This angers Lord Shiva (Naan Kadavul Rajhendran) who vows to destroy Yama Loham. Jr Yama pleads Shiva to reconsider his decision, as he was ready to rectify his mistake. Shiva orders Yama  to take the life of the politician in seven days and restore normalcy in Yama Loham.

We have seen comedian Yogi Babu part of several healthy and good comedy in many films. Here most of his humor comes out of either body shaming himself or the people around him. And why does he speak the local ‘Madras slang’ and addresses everyone including Lord Shiva singularly without respect. Ramesh Thilak in a full-fledged role is adequate. Then there’s a passable brief romantic track between Sam Jones and Janani Iyer.  In the name of political satire, the director has touched upon several contemporary issues and jokes on politicians and even a reference to Rajini’s political entry.  While few of the gags work, rest of them falls flat. Though the film had all the potential of an engaging entertainer, it falters due to its incoherent storyline and slackly narration.