MINSAARA KANNAA

A movie review by Balaji Balasubramaniam

Cast:	Vijay, Rambha, Monica, Kushboo, Karan, Mansur Ali Khan, Manivannan, R.Sunderrajan, Anumohan, 'Kovai' Sarala
Music:	Deva
Direction:	K.S.Ravikumar

By the looks of it, the toughest job confronting tamil cinema directors right now is coming up with a full-length comedy which manages to atleast keep the viewer in his seat, even if not making him roll around in laughter, for the full length of the movie. We recently had Poovellaam Kaettuppaar which preluded a very funny second half with a listless romance. And now comes Minsaara Kannaa, which jogs along easily before becoming enmeshed in sentiments and cinematic cliches which make the last part of the movie all but unwatchable.

Indradevi(Kushboo), a garment manufacturer, is an avowed man-hater. Completely surrounded by a lady staff, which includes her personal secretary Priya(Rambha), she has single-handedly ruined competitor Vedachalam(Mansur Ali Khan). Kaasi(Vijay) finds his way into her house as her driver and also into Priya's heart. But he keeps sparring with Indradevi's sister Ishwarya(Monica). Vijay entry into the house is soon followed by other men including a gurkha and a cook(Manivannan). It is soon revealed that Kaasi has his own secret agenda for entering the house.

The first half, though never quite reaching comic heights, is light-hearted entertainment that produces quite a few chuckles. And surprisingly, Mansur Ali Khan and his trio of inexpressive helpers provide many of the laughs. There are many amusing lines scattered throughout and some clever sequences like Vijay getting the gurkha salute him. There are two main twists in the movie and both of these manage to surprise. R.Sunderrajan is the bungling police inspector, around purely for the comedy. But a later development involving him and his junior Anumohan is a funny surprise.

The downturn starts once Vijay's secret is revealed. From then, onwards, the movie stumbles from one standard tamil cinema cliche to another. Kushboo's flashback, which describes why she hates all men, is too serious when compared to the rest of the movie. The same happened in Kaadhalar Dhinam too. Do our directors sign a clause that requires them to insert sentiments into every movie, irrespective of whether it fits into the movie or not?

Vijay, normally impassive in movies like Nenjinile and Thullaadha Manamum Thullum is more relaxed here cracking one-liners and ribbing everyone around him. Rambha has nothing much to do while newcomer Monica struts around in skimpy clothing. Not really good-looking, her acting limitations too come to the fore during the emotional scenes. K.S.Ravikumar continues his Hitchcockian tradition of a cameo appearance but is just irritating here. Karan, who has been in some weighty roles in movies like Kannedhire Thondrinaal, is wasted.

Deva's tunes two nice melodious numbers Oodhaa Oodhaa... and Un Paer Solla... though the latter reminds one of Anbe Nee Enna... from Paandiyan. The snow covered locales in two song sequences are breath-taking.

Not too much voltage in this Minsaara Kannaa