Singam
Star-casts: Surya, Anushka, Prakash Raj, Vivek, Radha Ravi, Nizhalgal Ravi, Bose Venkat and many others
Production: Sun Pictures, Big Pictures and Studio Green Productions
Direction: Hari
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematography: Priyan

If it is a masala film, 100 cars should be smashed, hundreds of villains wearing white dhotis should rush, every 20 minutes the heroine and junior artist should dance in semi clad attires and at the end the hero should win over the villain. Finally the hero will sing the opening song and wave at the audience and send them home.

Director Hari has abruptly followed this formula and poured it hot on the heads of the audience.

The film opens with Durai Singam (Surya) leading a passable life in Nallore. His aspirations have always been taking up his father’s business of provision stores. But, he couldn’t keep away from his father’s (Radha Ravi) requests of becoming a cop. He never likes filing cases between the parties and sorts down the issue amicably. Business’s (Nasser) daughters Kavya (Anushka) and his sister Divya (Priya) make their way to this town for their vacations. Sooner Kavya falls in love with Singam and so is he. Shifting the story to Chennai, we are exposed to an insane goon Mayil Vaaganam (Prakash Raj), who runs kidnap racketing as a mainstream task. When he is ordered by the court to report everyday at Nallore police station, he plays his gimmicky takes by insisting his fellowmen to do so. Sooner, as Singam and Mayil strike out for a combat, he is transferred to Chennai, but Mayil recommends him personally to be posted at his branch so as to showcase his power.

What happens next is a series of unlimited chases across nook and corners of city with backlashes rendered by Singam.

Finally how the hero finishes the villain is the blood gushing climax. Surya is introduced in the film by breaking the jeep doors and top and speaks punch dialogues. There are lots of build up sequences. Surya’s haughty dialogues are sure to deafen the ears of audience. There is no connection between ‘Anbu Selvan’ Surya and this masala ‘Durai Singam’ Surya. The role does not fit Surya.

It seems most time was spent in adjusting the height of hero and heroine. The director and cameraman have avoided close up shots. This can blatantly seen in the film. Even in the romantic scenes the hero maintains a distance.

Villain Prakash Raj intro to the film is more powerful than the hero but lacks action. The cooling thing in this film is Anushka. After a long time the heroine is seen throughout in this action masala film. She has brought out the acting skills. Vivek comedy is unbearable.

Bose Venkat fulfills his role. Hari’s permanent actors like Nasar, Manorama and Vijayakumar are also in this film.

Priyan’s cinematography is Okay. Two songs composed by music composer Dev Sriprasad are worth hearing. But his back ground music is intolerable. V T Vijayan’s editing jumps then and there.

It seems that Hari has taken efforts to speed up the film in two hours and thirty five minutes. Hari has copied the scenes from his earlier films including locations and dialogues.

The greatest minus point is that the audience could guess every single move and comment.

Bottom - Line: Is this title Suitable for Surya ?

Verdict: Asingam