Damaal Dumeel Review - Worth Your Time

Bharath Vijayakumar

DamaalDumeel is the latest addition to the genre of dark comedy in Tamil cinema. Close on the heels of other recent films of this genre that made an impact will DamaalDumeel make enough sound?

Plot: 

A young software professional Moneykandan(Vaibhav) suddenly finds himself in a rut after being unceremoniously sacked by his employers. In a stroke of fortune or rather misfortune a huge sum of money finds it's way to his doorsteps as a result of a plan of an underworld group gone awry. While Vaibhav does not want to part with this huge sum the gangsters are now on the prowl to reclaim the lost amount. A game of cat and mouse follows which results in dead bodies piling up along with some laughter.

Cast:

Vaibhav probably in his first solo starrer in Tamil is decent. He does seem less expressive at the outset. But gradually you realize that this is film that does not  want you to take things seriously. Kota Srinivasa Rao simply amazes you with his ease at humour. He puts a smile on your face with his contorted facial expressions even when there in nothing funny in a scene. ShayajiShinde too is good.Charlie once again proves that he is an underrated performer. Ramya Nambeesan is the only person in the film who plays the typical heroine.

Crew:

Thaman spruces up the proceedings with a rather lively BGM. The 'Dumeelu' number seems like a recycled version of Kalaasala from Osthe.Cinematographer Edwin Sakay's visuals are on the mark. The lighting is always on the brighter side which helps in creating a lighter mood throughout the film.

Direction:

Director Shree has made a film that capitalizes on it's strengths. The crisp running time of just less than 2 hours is such a welcome relief and the film wastes no time by avoiding redundant scenes. A few scenes look a bit staged. The scene where Vaibhav is ousted from the software concern is one such. While there is no denying that such scenarios do happen the acting and the entire setup of this scene does look a bit messy. The relevance of the title and the ringtone of Vaibhav's mobile in the film are nice touches from the film maker. The film does have a few quirky characters. But Shree has scored well by not making anyone look outrageously zany.

Bottomline:

Damaal Dumeel is not very loud but quite clear. Quite contrary to it's title the movie does not make much unnecessary noise. It is an uncomplicated, unfussy and simple film that provides a decent time at the cinemas.

Verdict:

Rating:3/5

Related Links : Damaal Dumeel User Rating