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Ottran
Director: Ilankannan
Cast: Arjun, Simran, Vadivelu, Sharat Babu, Gaurav Chopra, Shyam
Ganesh,Tejashri.
 Arjun bounces back with a vengeance,
re-establishing his credentials as the 'Action King' in his Diwali release 'Ottran'. The character of Kartik, an agent for RAW, out to outsmart the traitors of the country,using his brawn and his brains, gets life in the hands of Arjun. Enjoyable for it's subtle portrayal are the disguises the hero dons, as a cook,
a plumber and a sweeper, to outwit his enemies.
Director Ilankannan (apprenticed with
Pavitran, Abhavanan, Shanker), reveals his firm grip on the medium in his very first film. The action follows in such swift succession ,that the attention of the audience is glued to the
screen, with barely a moment for straying thoughts or mulling over flaws. Well choreographed stunts by Peter
Hayen, KS Selvaraj's striking visuals, Saisuresh's slick editing and Pravin Mani's background score ensure that the pace is maintained till the end.
The action shuttles between Chennai and Delhi. Sudha, the police commissioner's daughter on her way from Chennai to Delhi to attend college is kidnapped by Sanjay and his gang . Her brother is forced to take them to Chennai with him. Posing as his friends Sanjay and his two companions plonk themselves in the commissioner's house and under his unsuspecting eyes carry on with their nefarious activities .But they hadn't reckoned with the tenacity of Kartik an agent of RAW. Hot on their
trail, Kartik pieces the bits of the puzzle together and unearths their plot, which if it had succeeded, would have created horror and panic in the country.
Simran, caught in the crossfire between the two sides appears in very few scenes. But surprisingly this is one film where one doesnt really miss her absence. Getting noticed is Gaurav Chopra as Sanjay, the agent for Pakistan's ISI, with adequate support from a dignified Sharat Babu as the
commissioner, and Shyam Ganesh playing Simran's
brother.
What disturb the pace of the narration are the song-dance numbers thrust in. And Vadivelu's sudden and forced entry towards the second half accompanied by a sexy Tejashri in tow playing his cousin. One look at Tejashri's hourglass figure shown to advantage in mini blouses and low hip sarees, and one suspects the director had more in mind than just letting her play companion to Vadivelu's comic antics. And of course the director doesn't disappoint! Tejashri gets to do a sizzling dream song with
Arjun.
Watch his contemporaries in
'action', and watch the natural ease with which Arjun performs his stunts. And you'll realise how well the label of 'action king' sits on him! 'Ottran' is an engaging entertainer for lovers of action films.
Malini Mannath
Published on 23rd Oct, 2003
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