144 - Quirky comedy that takes time to warm up

Bharath Vijayakumar

A C.V. Kumar production is probably reason enough for you to trust a film. A few minutes into 144 and you realize once again that it is not a run of the mill film. The setting is different. It is about two warring villages filled with crazy people. Sheer madness in characterisation is no guarantee for a laugh riot. 'Naalu Policeum Nalla Iruntha Oorum' that released earlier this year would stand testimony to this.

Plot:

Smuggled gold worth a few crores gets stolen and sets off a chain reaction involving madcap characters.

Cast:

Shiva has been mostly been uni-dimensional in his career. 144 is no exception. But what he does he does the best. Once again 144 is no exception. Ashok Selvan has limted scope and fits himself just about adequately. Ramdoss and Udhayabhanu Maheswaran get to play the quirkiest of characters in recent times and they are brilliant. Ramdoss does seem a tad irritating at the beginning but once you hit a note with his performance the resonance really pays off in the later parts of the film.

Manikandan:

Debutant Manikandan definitely shows promise. 144 does not get everything right but there is enough to show that it's maker has a flair for quirkiness. The film takes some time to get going with too many things happening at different places at the start. But once the pivot is established and the scenes begin to make sense the film offers you sufficient laughter. A character wearing helmet while driving a car, the definition for lip-lock and the high five between Ramdoss and Oviya that never happens should have you in splits.The jokes that work are just about enough to keep you interested.There are flashes of brilliance interspersed all along. Had they been more consistent 144 would have been an outright winner.

Bottomline:

144 shows that it's maker has a flair for comedy of the eccentric type. Some fine tuning and Manikandan can make heads turn.

Rating:2.75/5