Bale Pandiya Review

I'll be honest. I was thinking of writing a review on the movie the night I saw it but thought I might gush about the wrong things so I put it off. But when you dealing with a fun movie, what else do you expect. Yes, I am the rom-com type but this isnt just your average comedy. Its a comedy about a tragedy which seems to be the trend of the season. Seems Tamil cinema is going through a good run of new filmmakers that have their hearts in their work and their head around technology. Whether its a high-tech or not doesn't matter. Its about how the director holds your attention. But lets get back to the movie.

Pandiya (Vishnu Vishal of Vennila Kabaddi Kuzhu) is not your average down-on-his-luck youth. If a black cat crossed paths with him, it would run home to drink water and ward off bad luck. Even if he tries to end his life by riding head on into a truck one night, it turns out to be 2 motorcyclists riding side by side. But persistant on ending his feeble existence, Pandiya finds himself a contract killer in the form of "AKP" (R. Amarendran). After much explaining, a song and some laughing, AKP agrees on taking Pandiya's life. Date set, premise set but what to do in the meantime? "Peaceful-a Va, piece piece-a po. Jollya iruda, Pandiya" he says [Come peacefully, go in pieces. Have fun, Pandiya]. Cut to next song. But where does Vaishnavi (Pia Bajpai) come into this? Well, while Pandiya is trying to end his life, the baddies have their own agenda (read: politics) and little Miss Vaishnavi is stuck between her corrupt father ( Jayaprakash) and his comical arch-nemesis (John Vijay) but the how's and why's are something you're going have to watch to find out.

To say that I was excited about this movie and was dying to watch it, would be putting it lightly. Siddharth Chandrasekhar is apparently marking his debut with Bale Pandiya as writer and director. So whats his intention? A rib-tickler with all the elements of a commercial flick. No qualms held here about logic lost. And he does delivers. Vishnu has come away from his rustic, rural look in VKK. Playing the part of "Bad Luck" Pandiya, he makes you laugh at his misfortune and does what he can to be your average middle-class youth. Although in certain parts, he seems to be stuck with only a few expressions, somehow he manages. Pia is bubbly, cute and doesn't have much to do, like most commercial flick heroines but puts in her two cents worth with gusto. Vivek is back with his trademark "thinking comedy" but when the secondary cast of henchmen (Apologies as names were not available) tickle your ribs on their own, while still being apart of the story, this separate-track-comedy doesn't sit well with the screenplay. Nevertheless, he and his partner-in-arms Murugan, do a decent job. Big dissappointments though as after blowing everyone away in Vamsam and Naan Mahaan Alla, Jayaprakash hardly comes to mind when the movie is over. In a forgettable >4 scene role, the same applies to most of the cast including John Vijay, who pretty much repeats his Oram Po act. 

Many would recognise the name in the credits under music director. He's been singing, acting, hosting, dubbing and performing for quite some time. Besides the director, BP marks the debut of Devan Ekambaram as composer too. He has shown his versatility with the soundtrack but could have avoided having 2 remakes. He does, however, do a commendable job with background score and is a true asset to the film.


But all that glitters is not gold. The story has some memorable characters and while most, on face value, dont need a backdrop, the character of "Katchitham" is just plain weird. In fact, the whole episode at the end with the kidnapping and rescue lacked the suspence it needed. As mentioned the music is applaudable but where " Bale Pandiya", "Happy", "Kangal Kamalaalayam" and "Aradha Kobam" have decent visuals to enhance the song, "Sirikkiren" tries to bring back the superb comedy from the "Mama" track of the 1962 "Bale Pandiya". Sorry guys, it ain't working.


So while I recommend you watch this film for the crazy comedy it has, I warn you that there is an unavoidable lull.