Kurumbu    Now Showing
Cast: Naresh, Nikita, Diya, Vamsi, Nasser, Nirosha, Pyramid Natarajan, Meera Krishnan.
Director: Vishnuvardhan

Playmates since childhood, Ravi and Appu (Naresh-Nikita) share a close bond. Enters their neighbourhood the glamorous, carefree Ruchi (Diya),and now Ravi has eyes only for his new neighbour. Though irked initially by Ravi’s embarrassing ways and manners, Ruchi thaws towards him finally. Watching from the sidelines is Appu, an ache in her heart, but nevertheless helping Ravi get closer to Ruchi. But Ruchi becomes more than a handful for simpleton Ravi to handle, and he realises where his heart really lies.

There is a sense of déjà vu throughout. Similar subjects have come earlier in films like 'Bhadri' , 'Piriyadha Varam Vendum' and 'Parthein Rasithein' (all a rehash of 'My best friend's wedding'). Only they were softer feel-good romances with the friendship-factor highlighted. But here it’s the glamour-element that is emphasised, some off-colour scenes and lines creeping in.

A couple of songs too have been picturised keeping this mood in mind (the film carries an 'A' certificate). The dalliance and flirting between Ravi’s mother and Ruchi’s father is supposed to generate humour. But it doesn’t and only serves as an unsavoury distraction.

Naresh, a fast-rising hero of Telugu films (son of director E V V Satyanarayana) re-enacts the role he played in the film’s original version, ‘Allari’. The role fits him like a glove, Naresh projecting the innocence, vulnerability and playful waywardness of the 18-year-old Ravi. Only, at times he goes a bit overboard portraying the innocence bit, the character then seeming a bit moronic and not all there!

Nikita (has done films in Telugu and Malayalam) is the softer character, with an engaging smile. Quite in contrast is model-turned-actress Diya, with her dimpled smile, radiating a lot of oomph. As Ruchi the extrovert,

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The movie (Entertaining) is ta..... - Senthil Alagar Raju, Muscatres, 12/20/2003

scantily clad heroine scramble..... - chandru, chennai, 11/24/2003

hero naresh looks good,audio g..... - sasi kumar.M, chennai, 11/13/2003

Diya carries herself admirably, comfortable in her spaghetti tops and minis, uninhibited and confident in her debut performance.

A faithful remake of the Telugu hit ‘Allari', 'Kurumbu', directed by debutant Vishnuvardhan (apprenticed with Santosh Sivan) and produced by Indira Innovations, is clearly targetted at the youth.

Malini Mannath
Published on 23^rd Nov, 2003