Achamindri movie review: Entertains for most parts with a large message

Director: Rajapandi

Cast: Vijay Vasanth, Radha Ravi, Samudhirakani, Saranya Ponvannan

Director Rajapandi who debuted with a taut action thriller Ennamo Nadakkudhu has chosen a message-oriented film Achamindri, taking a dig at the inequalities in our education system and still making it interesting.

The movie opens with the killing of a city collector (Thalai Vaasal Vijay) by the personal secretary of education minister (Radha Ravi) for exposing a corrupt educational institution.

Meanwhile, we are introduced to a small time pickpocket Shakti (Vijay Vasanth) and his gang (including Karunas and Devadarshini) who indulge in innovative ways to steal. Shakti falls in love with Malar (Shrushti Dange), one of his victims and the latter, after a few initial mix-ups, typical of a dumb Tamil film heroine starts reciprocating. Shakti gets into deep problems when he pickpockets a purse from a local thug who has nexus with criminal groups.

In the meantime, Sathya (Samudhrakani), an upright cop gets transferred to the city and he meets his ex girlfriend Shruti (Vidya) who is still unmarried. Now, when he finally opens up to her and even fixes up a date for their marriage, she is killed. He lands in a mess when he tries to find out the killer. Circumstances lead to Shakti and Sathya joins hands to find the real culprit. It finally leads to the greedy and powerful Rajalakshmi (Saranya Ponvannan) who heads a group of educational institutions.

Though the movie tries to reveal the money-minded attitude of private schools and the plight of government schools, Rajapandi was clever enough not to make it preachy but to add commercial elements and twists and turns to keep the pace intact.

Samudhirakani with his subtle performance (role similar to Visaaranai) impresses, while veteran Radha Ravi has proved his versatility playing to perfection. It’s a tailor-made role for Vijay Vasanth and he does it with ease. Shrushti looks pretty, but one wishes that the director had made her character more intelligent. Saranya Ponvannan for the first time has come out of her comfort zone of playing an adorable mom and essayed a negative character. She has utilized it effectively and steals the show. Rohini in a cameo is adequate.

Barring few glitches here and there like the initial lackluster pick-pocketing comedy, the film has a larger message and entertains for the most part.