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Jayam

Director: M. Raja
Cast: M Ravi, Sada, Gopichand, Rajiv, Ilavarasu, Baby Kalyani.

It is the eternal love triangle. But what makes it fairly watchable fare is the distinct characterisation, the style of presentation, Rathnavelu's imaginative camera angles, and the freshness of the lead players who have done their parts notably well. The narration moves steadily, albeit a little slowly, in the first half as the director goes about establishing the family background of the three central players and their changing relationships.

Sujatha and Raghu are childhood playmates, but Raghu's possesiveness and harassment creates aversion and fear in Sujatha's heart. The families however share a close bonding and when Raghu's family shifts to another place, it is with the understanding that Raghu will marry Sujatha one day. Sujatha joins college, and after the initial resistance, reciprocates the love of college-mate, Ravi. But the past returns to torment her in the form of Raghu. Wayward, cruel, and an alcoholic to boot, he returns to claim her hand, terrorising the lovers.

The lovers elope, but are cornered, and with no way out, Sujatha the bolder one, eggs on her soft-hearted lover to hit back at their tormentor. Whether Ravi rises to the occasion or not forms the almost 45-minute encounter scenes, on top of a running train and in the woods!

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This movie is very good...I fe..... - Swen Rageev, Frankfurt, 8/22/2004

its really super i watch it 12..... - SREE PAVAN, parit buntar perak, 6/3/2004

This is one of the most tremen..... - azaam, Walthamstow, London, 4/2/2004

Ravi and Sada had done a excel..... - priya, kuala lumpur, 1/28/2004

The character of Suja and Ravi..... - priya, Kuala lumpur, 1/28/2004

A remake of the successful Teja film of the same name, some ofthe scenes will give a sense of deja vu to viewers who've seen Bharathiraja's earlier films. Director Raja debuts in Tamil (after his successful 'Hanuman Junction' in Telugu) and, apart from slight changes, has been largely faithful to the original. Sada, the heroine in both - the Telugu original and the Tamil remake, is a younger version of Gouthami, and an actress of calibre; Gopichand (son of Telugu Director, the late T Krishan) fits the role of the 'villain' perfectly. Sumanth Shetty as the mischievous Ali, the hero's friend, also has done well. Debuting as the hero is Ravi, son of editor-producer Mohan and brother of director Raja, in their home production.

With his tall frame and striking looks, Ravi gives life to the character of the innocent, soft-hearted hero. Also borrowed from the original, is the score of music director R P Patnaik. While the songs are peppy, the background score with its ominous tone, more suited to a thriller or a murder mystery, alerts you to the cruel intentions of the villain, which anyway you are aware of, having seen him in action earlier! But nothing like drumming it in further! For you never know when the audience might get distracted from what's happening on the screen!

Published on 28^th June 2003

Malini Mannath