Podaa Podi Reviews

Review 1 : Refreshing Experience , Raven

Podaa Podi has been in the making for four long years. But, the film does not look outdated, thanks to the fresh theme and treatment. The movie has STR and debutante Varu Sarathkumar in the lead. Debutant Director Vignesh Shivan seems to have been mildly inspired by the Hollywood film ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ as he names each phase of the protagonist’s life stages in the film. But, there is no other similarity between the two films. Podaa Podi is fun and breezy at little over 2 hours.

Plot  : 

The movie has a wafer-thin plot and it is set in London. The movie revolves around Arjun (STR) and Nisha (Varu Sarathkumar). Arjun is an animation expert while Nisha is a salsa dancer and she wants to win a famous dance competition. While Arjun tries to follow India tradition, Nisha is diametrically opposite to him. What will happen if both these individuals fall in love and marry? 

Performances :

STR is a live wire in the film. His energy level throughout the movie is high and comes up with yet another brilliant performance. His body language and dialogue delivery drives the film forward. Varu Sarathkumar makes a promising debut. She looks spontaneous, bubbly and has danced well, almost at par with STR. VTV Ganesh as STR’s uncle brings the house down with his distinct voice and a weird hairstyle. Shobana in her brief role as Varu’s guardian looks convincing in her role.

Technicalities :

Dharan, who made an impressive debut with Parijatham did not get his due recognition after that. He has announced his comeback strongly by producing wonderful music in this film. If you felt that the songs are already chartbusters, you would end up liking them more with the visuals.

Cinematography by Duncan Telford has captured London beautifully. The visuals look rich and slick, especially the song which is shot in Disney Land. Special credits must be given to dance choreographers, as dance plays a vital role in the film.

Hits :

• The biggest plus for the film is its down-to-earth script and relatable characters. Director Vignesh Shivan has etched out the lead pair of modern day youth, believing in fleeting pleasure.

• The director has focused only on his target audience (urban youth) and has not tried to satisfy all sections. He has avoided forceful inclusions of commercial elements catering to all tastes.

• Though the film is ultramodern, it has its share of heart-warming moments. The scene where STR breaks down when his wife delivers their child and the scene where he lets out his anger after their child’s death are a few examples.

Misses :

• The logic goes for a toss at many places. The flow is not uniform. Sometimes, you might feel everything happens so fast. 

• The film may not go well with the family audience due to the relevrevealing costumes and some bold scenes.

  
  

Bottomline: 

 Podaa Podi is a stylish urban romcom that gives you a refreshing experience.

Review 2 : RJ Balaji (Big FM) gives thumbs up for Poda Podi

Review 3 : Growing class of Rom-Com - Kannan Vijayakumar

After a series of experimental films and action entertainer, Osthe, STR strikes back with a simple romantic comedy directed by debutant Vignesh Sivan which also marks the debut of Sarathkumar’s daughter, Varalaxmi. Poda Podi has been highly anticipated ever since it have announced, mainly due to its title and touted premise. So does Poda Podi strikes the chord despite being made for 4 years?

Story & Screenplay :

Surprisingly, Poda Podi does not look dated at all, thanks to its ever relatable premise on the two opposite poles; Men and women. Vignesh Sivan scores with his witty relatable dialogues and situations. Poda Podi cannot be shoe-horned as film only for the youth. 

The film has believable lead pair who often gets tangled due to their different cultural stance. The film which starts off with a trendy feel, but shifts slightly in the 2^nd half because of hero's antiquated take on Tamil culture. That may look quite confusing but does not affect the carefree tone of the film. Overall, Poda Podi stays focused on its main premise and can be termed as ‘new age’ Kushi.

Casting :

STR’s characterization is simple yet likable. His casual body language and comic timing is a major plus to the lively mood of the film. His emotional scenes are improving by each film and the scene where he confronts Shobana at her house is one such example where he also stamps his experience. As the film contains dance as a backdrop, there are plenty of opportunities for STR to shine but he waits till the end to showcase his full dancing calibre at the song, ‘I am a Kuthu Dancer’.

A rom-com will only get successful when there is an equally strong character and a talented cast to carry it. Varu shines brilliantly with an impressive debut by undertaking each scene. Her original voice and fast diction, adds an apt flavour to her flamboyant character. It is also surprising to see her dancing capability matching that of STR’s at many times.

Other casts such as VTV Ganesh is a real scream while Shobana’s character unfortunately, looks lost. Premji and Santhanam also have done a blink and miss cameos at the intro song. In overall, Poda Podi has a well collaborated casting team led by the sparkling chemistry of STR and Varu.

Technical Aspects :

Poda Podi, as dance musical, demands much technical perfection and the film does lack in it. Dharan’s music is peppy, fresh and experimental which serves the right kind of energy needed for a dance themed film. His BGMs are done in a way which does not overpower the film but travels smoothly with the scenes. Poda Podi should give Dharan the necessary break that he deserves.

Duncan Teleford as the D.O.P captures London colourfully which elevates the light hearted mood of the film further. When it comes to the songs, Duncan has experimented many ways to give the audiences a candy floss feels which succeeds at many parts.  In addition, the effort from the art department must be commended as they attempt to give different tones of colours (in terms of costumes and sets) at different episodes of their life.  Last but not the least, Anthony who have been giving lengthy edits recently, has given a crisp product which runs just over 2 hours.

Bottomline :

Poda Podi certainly enters the league of growing class Rom-com, following Kadhalil Sothapuvadhu Eppadi, which was released early this year. Vignesh Sivan’s relatable screenplay, distinctive target audience and fresh treatment make Poda Podi a instantly likable musical treat.