| Director:
R Pavan |
 |
|
Cast: Pradip, Madhushalini, Arjumal Mogal, Akshaya, Ghajini,
Babul, Gautam |
|
Genre: College drama |
'Palaniappa Kalluri' depicts a typical college campus with
characters and incidents that we have seen in many earlier
campus films. The film, which seems like mindless entertainment
during the first half, takes a more serious turn in the second,
with a message weaved in.
The characters are colourful ones. There is the college senior
and bully Dharani (Ghajini) used as a pawn by local rowdy Kutti
to peddle drugs in the college. Parthi is a first-year student,
a simple youth from an economically backward class. There is the
college tease Madonna with her own demons to fight; The
glamorous Priya, Parthi's classmate who rejects his proposal of
love; And there is 'Chechi' (Shakila) who runs a stall nearby.
With a set of students hovering around her, you expect some
unsavory scenes and off-colour lines, and the director does not
disappoint! There is Malli, Parthi's vivacious neighbour,
wearing her heart one her sleeve.
The clash between Dharani and
Parthi is heightened when the former loses the college election
thanks to Parthi's support to the rival candidate. Dharani takes
out his ire on Parthi, who pushed to the limits, retaliates.
Dharani falls out of favour with Kutti who now makes overtures
to Parthi, the latter oblivious to Kutti's motives. Kutti's
overtures, and the new-found adulation of his peers, brings a
transformation in Parthi, he straying on a path of
self-destruction. Whether Parthi gets back his bearings, forms
the rest of the story.
The transformation of Parthi
from the soft youth to a wayward one is brought out effectively
by debutant Pradip .The chase scene picturised on Parthi and
Dharani is well choreographed by stunt master Jaguar Thangam.
There are group songs at the
drop of a hat. With the activities of the students confined to
the compound and the corridors, it is not surprising that the
windows and doors of the classrooms are seen closed at most
times, the students hardly ever shown attending a class.
The cast is a team of freshers
each fitting adequately in his role. 'Konjam Padikka.Niraya
Koothadikka', goes the tagline of the film. There is none of the
first, and all of the second in 'Palaniappa Kalluri'.
Malini Mannath
|
