Simbu and Manjima in 'Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada'.After some songs wafting through thin air, which is probably a backdrop to a romance tailor-made for Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada, let us veer into a fantastic terrain.
Apologies, if we are heading a bit early into the interval, but that is the only possible way to approach this Gautham Menon movie.
Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada (AYM): audience review
We hum the lucid tune of A.R.Rahman, much akin to the romantic pair of Simbu and Manjima.
Simbu and his friends: A still from 'Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada'.They are probably enjoying a road ride of a lifetime, but we are now fast forwarding to these moments, because this is where an interplay of excellent camerawork, lingering moments of unspoken adoration and a shocking outburst of cinematic excellence come into play. Sadly, Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada begins and ends there.
Yes, as we have the services of Rahman, there has to be some songs; for that matter, plenty of songs that we would definitely forget to count.
Manjima Mohan and Simbu in a song sequence from 'Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada'.But Rahman being Rahman, the background score as well the songs somewhat saves us from the ignominy of thinking too much about the purpose of Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada.
In fact, there is no purpose at all for the script. Rather it jumps from a budding unspoken romance to songs and onto a violent whiplash of mindless scenes. In between, like the protagonist, we will also wonder why some lives take such uncertain trips.
We can only hope that there would be some justification, which we would come to know later. And that would be perhaps be the surprise element that would take the plot to a different level.
The lead actors, again.But, after flashes of the excellent craft that a director of the caliber of Menon possesses comes into play, ahead of the interval, we are left clueless. Much akin to the hero, who is driven from scene to scene or frame to frame just to fulfill the wishes of the filmmakers.
Then like the protagonist, who is forced to unleash mindless violence that makes him numb, a similar frame of mind is also thrust upon us, the hapless viewer.
Hordes of characters, some goons and some others khakhi-clad goons, then make this sordid tale a burden.
Another still from the movie.We realize at this point that it is the burden of expectation that we carry, thanks to this director's caliber, which we saw in plots that unleashed bloodshed with finesse – like Kaakha Kaakha. Those moments were enduring, despite the tinge of blood.
But the violence unleashed on the viewer in Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada can only be described as palaver – or prolonged and tedious fuss.
Onmanorama rating: 2 out of 5 stars
