49 O Tamil Movie

49 O is a film pandering to the sentiments of audiences without mounting proper intensity that builds up to it. It has a fair potential to put forward a debate on, but the stirring thoughts to ignite one are absolutely missing. Sep 17, 2015 By SMK

The intention of carrying a good message alone won't make an inspiring film. A few comical scenes alone won't make a serious drama a comedy entertainer. 49 O, which marks the comeback of Goundamani to the silver screen, is a terrific example for the aforementioned scenarios.

The film starts off with land grabbing. It happens with politicians, businessmen, real estate developers. And in comes our hero Savuri (played by the ever-effervescent Goundmani, who sparkles with his body language as always and scores high on his splendid dialogue modulation, which he has been long-known for), the savior.

The entire film is a mess as far as the screenplay structure is concerned. It's scattered here and there with scenes making no relation to each other. The drama which starts off as a struggle against land grabbing from innocent farmers by greedy politicians and realtors transforms as a schmaltzy social movement questioning the validity of electoral laws laid out by the constitution. And this is spearheaded by Goundmani whose words are considered sacrosanct by the people living in his village for no specific reasons.

Goundamani delivers lengthy speeches at various junctures of the film. On how farmers are being threatened and cheated by politicians, how stupid our electoral laws are; the importance of NOTA in the elections and more. He goes on and on and on before we tell ourselves - This is enough. And in between all the intense hullaballoo, he delivers wisecracks too with his trademark swag. Some of them make you laugh and most of them make you cringe in the corner.

Director Arokiadass has put forward an earnest effort and the amount of inventiveness he has invested in creating subplots for the film could have been used a little more for knitting the screenplay in a better manner. The sporadic way the story unfolds and transits leaves you bewildered about the happenings on screen. The second half is a pure torture and unbearable to sit through.

49 O is a film pandering to the sentiments of audiences without mounting proper intensity that builds up to it. It has a fair potential to put forward a debate on, but the stirring thoughts to ignite one are absolutely missing.