Kanni Maadam review: A caste drama cast well by first-time director

Cast: Sriram, Chaya Devi, Vishnu, ‘Aadukalam’ Murugadoss
Direction: Bose Venkat

Actor Bose Venkat turns director with Kanni Maadam, and draws from his own past as an autorickshaw driver before becoming an actor.

Anbu and Shankar (Sriram and Aadukalam Murugadoss, respectively) are auto drivers, who are also close relatives. One night, a married couple on the run, Kathir (Vishnu) and Malar (Chaya Devi), from Madurai board Anbu’s auto. Incidentally they rent a house next to Anbu’s.

Malar is from a lower caste, and so Kathir’s rich relatives come to the city with the intention of killing them. Even as the couple start settling down in life, tragedy strikes and Kathir dies in a road accident. And, Malar is pregnant. So now, Anbu helps her to relocate to a new house but the new landlady (Priyanka Shankar) mistakes for husband and wife. Yet more trouble comes in the form of Anbu’s prisoner father (Gajaraj), who is out on parole. An unexpected climax ensues.

Director Bose gets the best out of the entire cast. Newcomer Chaya Devi has a solid role and shines in every bit. Sriram is equally effective, and Murugadoss makes us laugh. Supergood Subramani, Robo Shankar’s wife Priyanka do justice to their roles. Valeena and Gajara are adequate.

While the first half is predictable, post interval the story picks up momentum. Bose has conveys his message on casteism without going overboard. All the same, an excess of melodrama mars the film. Had the director concentrated on a better screenplay, the film would have had a bigger impact.