Review: Pookie

Film: Pookie
Cast: Ajay Dhishan, R. K. Dhanusha, Pandiarajan, Sunil, Indumathi Manigandan, Aaditya Kathir, Vivek Prasanna and others
Director, DOP: Ganesh Chandra
Editor, Music : Vijay Antony
Story, Screenplay and Dialogues: Puthiya Parithi
Rating: 2.5 stars

Director Ganesh Chandra’s ‘Pookie’, which is a simple relationship drama, is a mixed bag that contains as many interesting sequences as it contains sequences that disappoint.

The film, despite the incoherant manner in which a wafer thin story plot is narrated, manages to keep you interested in it, thanks to some interesting portions that crop up occasionally.

Synopsis…

Ajay Dhishan and Dhanusha are in a relationship. A small disagreement results in an argument between the two, who are driving back home. As the argument intensifies, a rash car driver looks to overtake the couple’s car and in the process, ends up smashing the side view mirror of their car. He does not bother to stop and tries to race away.

An infuriated Ajay Dhishan, who is already fuming with rage because of his partner’s senseless nagging, chooses to chase down the car that smashed his car’s mirror, even as Dhanusha keeps asking him to let the man who damaged their car get away.

Paying no heed to her words, Ajay Dhishan picks up speed and manages to overtake the car that caused the accident. He confronts the guy, who, instead of tendering an apology, acts in an arrogant fashion.

Needless to say, a physical fight ensues. Onlookers begin to shoot videos of the ongoing tussle on their mobiles.

Meanwhile, a frustrated Dhanusha slaps Ajay Dhishan in a bid to make him listen to her and stop the fight. He slaps her back and she fumes. The couple break up. But life becomes terrible as their slapping incident, which has now got recorded on scores of cameras, begins to do the rounds on social media…

Make no mistake about it, this film has some really promising and gifted actors and they give it their all to make sure this film works. Sadly, their efforts succeed only partially because of a weak plot and some poor narration.

The problem isn’t with acting. It is with scripting and the narration. The story has a very shaky start and that continues right until the intermission. It is only the second half that somewhat manages to draw you into the plot.

Performances:

All three lead actors Ajay Dhishan, Dhanusha and the boy who shows an interest in her in the latter portions of the film deliver commendable performances. In fact, almost all actors need to complimented for delivering realistic performances. Only Lakshmi Manchu’s performance seems artificial, exaggerated and out of place.

Vijay Antony’s music is highly enjoyable and the background score is apt. However, one cannot say the same of the gifted music director’s editing skills. Sadly, editing is patchy and fails to keep the story taut. Ganesh Chandra, who is also the cinematographer of the film, scores in this department. His visuals are bright, lively and a treat to watch.

Verdict:
In all, Pookie, as pointed out at the start, is a mixed bag. It has portions that work and portions that don’t. Director Ganesh Chandra shines as a cinematographer but has a lot to learn as a director.