I have always been a great fan of "Ilaiya Thalapathy" Vijay and I almost always enjoy whatever he does on screen. Well, I added almost there after I went through this painful apology for a movie called "Thirumalai"
If anyone is interested this is the story- Thirumalai (Vijay) is a mechanic from Puthupettai and meets this girl (Jothika) on New Year. All of a sudden, something passes through him and it takes his neighbors- the "always- in- love with each other" couple (Raghuvaran and Koushalya) to make him realize that he has fallen in love with the girl. The girl, as all should have realized by now, hails from a very rich family and spurns the hero's advances at first only to fall head over heels in love with him later. Her father (Avinash), an affluent TV channel owner hires the service of Mass (Manoj K Jayan), the local thug to put an end to Thirumalai. What happens later is what the film is all about.
Quite frankly, Thirumalai belongs to the category of films that is just impossible to sit through. There is nothing new in the film and debutant director Ramana seems thoroughly confused as to which way he is heading. It is Vijay all over the film and the other characters, including the heroine, appear as and when the director wants them to, resulting in a major incoherence in the script. Photography and Art Direction are interesting. Peter Hein has done a good job with his stunt choreography. Vidyasagar does a good job with his music- "Azhakooril Poothavale", the lilting melody by SPB and Sujatha stands out. Raghava Lawrence appears to shake a leg (his whole body, rather) with Vijay in the foot tapping "Tham thaka". Kiran looks attractive in the "Vaadiyamma" song sequence.
Except for the songs and action, nothing else impresses in the movie. The characters are banal and cardboardish. Actors of the calibre of Raghuvaran and Manoj K Jayan also fail to impress. Koushalya is wasted and does not look old enough to be convincing as Raghuvaran's wife. Jothika is reduced to a mere prop. The actress should not have taken up this assignment at all.
Vijay tries to infuse some life into the movie with his sincerity and screen presence but fails thanks to a script full of loopholes and lacklustre direction. One really wonders what made K Balachander's Kavithalayaa produce this bull shit movie.
Thirumalai is simply avoidable. Not even recommended for hardcore Vijay fans. You can watch the songs on Sun Music instead!
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