Ennodu Vilayadu movie review: Doesn't live up to expectations

Director: Arun Krishnaswamy

Cast: Bharath, Kathir, Chandini, Sanchitha, Radha Ravi

Lots were expected from Bharath’s Ennodu Vilayadu when the film was promoted as a new genre. The story - set at the backdrop of horse racing, betting and gambling - has not been touched for quite a while (if at all) in Tamil cinema.  Does it live up to the expectations?

Vikram (Bharath) is an accountant at a construction company and he is addicted to betting on horses. He lands in heavy debt as he loses constantly due to ‘horse fixing’ by the society bigwigs like Sharma (Yog Japee). He meets Minnie (Chandini) a guitar teacher and it was love at first sight for him. In a parallel track Sridhar (Kathir) comes to the city to join his job and stays at his sister’s friend Inba’s (Sanchitha Shetty) house as a roommate.

After few initial mix-ups, the duo begins to like each other. Inba’s family property is soon to go on auction for the non-repayment of the loan her father had borrowed. She needs 45 lakhs for it.

Meanwhile, Vikram is in desperation to repay his debts and a chance overhearing conversation on ‘fixing’ between Sharma and Nagulan (Radha Ravi), a millionaire who returns to horse race after a gap of five years comes as a boon to him. He decides to loot the money and hatches a plan accordingly. However, in a turn of events, the huge money sent by Nagualan to Sharma for backing out from the impending international race lands up at Sridhar’s car.

Vikram and Nugulan’s henchmen go about searching the car in the city. When Sridhar comes to know of the situation, he opts to use it to retrieve Inba’s house. All these characters meet at one point and who gets the cash and what actually happens at the race is the rest of the film.

Though the film starts in an interesting manner, the screenplay meanders. The focus from bets on horse races drifts considerably to clichéd romance. Bharath is just about adequate as there’s hardly any scope for him in the script. Similarly, Kathir, Sanchitha and Chandini do what was expected of them.

Veteran Radha Ravi who shines even in a small role hardly creates any impression. Similarly with Yog Jeppy! Technically, Yuva’s cinematography is good and Moses and Sudharshan’s music is okay. The film had all the potential to become an interesting thriller had the director Arun Krishnasway concentrated on the core theme and made it crisper.