Review: Ulkuthu

Director: Caarthick Raju ; Cast: Attakathi Dinesh, Nanditha, Sriman, Bala Saravanan, Sharath Lohitashwa, Dhilip Subbarayan ; Music: Justin Prabhakaran; Cinematography: P K Varma

Director: Caarthick Raju

Cast: Attakathi Dinesh, Nanditha, Sriman, Bala Saravanan, Sharath Lohitashwa, Dhilip Subbarayan

Music: Justin Prabhakaran

Cinematography: P K Varma

Director Caarthick Raju, who impressed with his debut film Thirudan Police, comes up with another reasonably good film called Ulkuthu.

While the director tried to tell the struggles of a cop in his first film, he tries to shine the light on the lives of henchmen working for unscrupulous moneylenders in his second film.

Sura Shankar (Bala Saravanan), a simple fishmonger, lives with his sister Kadalarasi (Nanditha) and grandmother in a fishing hamlet. The funny fishmonger likes to portray himself as a fearsome fighter and the title that he has given himself helps to some extent in this regard. It is under these circumstances that one day, Shankar meets Raja (Attakathi Dinesh), an MBA graduate who is looking for a place to stay after having out of his home over a dispute with his dad.

Sura Shankar, who admires educated people, instantly offers him shelter. The more Raja narrates about himself, the more Shankar begins to like him. It reaches a point when the fishmonger begins to believe that he has at last found the right match for his sister. On getting to know of her brother’s intentions to marry her off to Raja, Kadalarasi too begins to take a liking for the young man.

Life is pleasant for a while with romance blooming between Raja and Kadalarasi. But nothing good lasts forever. All of this comes to a grinding halt when one day, Sura Shankar sees Raja giving Saravanan (Dhilip Subbarayan), the wicked son of Kaaka Mani (Sharath Lohitashwa), a ruthless moneylender and the most powerful big shot in the fishing community, a sound whacking.

Tension prevails as Sura Shankar begins fearing for Raja’s safety. His worries are not unfounded but then, something happens that stuns Sura Shankar even further. He sees Raja murdering Saravanan in a cool and collected manner. Soon, he gets to know that Raja is out there for revenge and that the murder of Saravanan is only the beginning…

Caarthick Raju smartly tells a grim story by lacing it with generous doses of humour. The humour parts outnumber the intensely disturbing parts, both in number and intensity. This allows the director to keep the audiences entertained and at the same time, draw their attention to a serious problem. The net result is you get a decently engaging film, with adequate entertainment.

The director has sought to put across the point that henchmen have no choice but to be ruthless. His story stresses on the fact that henchmen cannot afford to be compassionate as being so, could result in their deaths and the deaths of those dear to them.

The film has a good solid plot and therefore, the film is engaging. Bala Saravanan as Sura Shankar is genuinely funny. He has a meaty role in this film and the young comedian has made good use of it. Dinesh is good in most sequences but he is found to be tense and grim in certain others. One feels he could have loosened up a little more in such sequences. Nanditha as Kadalarasi does an excellent job. Her role might be limited but the manner in which she portrays her character is beautiful. Dhilip Subbarayan does a fantastic job of playing Saravanan. The fight master seems to be getting better and better in the department of acting as well with each new film. Sharath Lohitashwa as Kaaka Mani and Chaaya Singh as Raja’s sister too impress.

Justin Prabhakaran’s music is pleasing to the ears. That coupled with some fantastic visuals from P K Varma elevate the film to another level.

Director Caarthick Raju proves with Ulkuthu that he is not a one film wonder. He does a neat and comprehensive job of narrating his story in the best manner possible. In short, Ulkuthu is a good entertainer that is worth a watch!