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 Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi
Director - Chimbudevan
Cast - Vadivelu, Monica, Tejasri, Nasser, Manorama, Nagesh, Ilavarasu, Shriman
Genre - Historical comedy
 This move is an effort by the producer-director team to move away from the beaten track and provide a novel experience to the viewers in the form of a historical spoof. With the 18th century as the backdrop, the story is set in the mythical kingdom of Chozhapuram, and centers on Pulikesi a cowardly, bullying, hedonistic prince who spends most of his time in seeking pleasures of the flesh or harassing his subjects.
Using him as a pawn is his uncle the Rajaguru, the power behind the throne. But the Rajaguru's well laid plans go haywire. For, Pulikesi's twin Ukraputhan, intelligent, educated brave, and righteous, enters the scene to set matters right. He had been presumed dead, as the Rajaguru had ordered him killed as a baby. The horoscopes had forecast that while one twin would be weak-willed with no mind of his own, the other would be strong and independent minded, and the Rajaguru had no use for the second type.
The basic storyline is nothing new and has come in many earlier films where the stronger twin separated at childbirth, substitutes for the weaker one and sets things right. But the Shanker-Chimbudevan team should be commended for experimenting with a different genre, and providing a fare different from what the audiences are used to. And for their guts to star a comedian in the lead roles.
 It's to Vadivelu's credit that he makes a brave attempt to carry the film on his shoulders and puts in a good effort to diversify the roles between the foolish prince and the wise one. And if he wasn't able to generate much laughs, he isn't to be faulted, it's in the etching of the script which doesn't generate much
humour.
Again, though he is there in most of the frames, we don't feel any negative reaction to him, like it happens many a time when a comedian turns hero and we are forced to suffer him for the whole film!
Monica and Tejashri have less to do, there being no conflict on the romance front. Nasser, with his white flowing mane, revels as the scheming, arrogant Rajaguru. The sets, the color tones, the songs reminiscent of melodies of old are all used to
give the period effect.
 There's the reference to Kattabomman (there is a take off on the popular dialogue of
Sivaji Ganesan here), Clive and other personalities and happenings of the era. There are some potshots at politicians, celebrities endorsing products, sports and the lethargy of government servants. And some moralising too, the script touching on social ills like child labour. A bit too much cramped in the script, one feels.
'Imsai Arasan..' is no doubt a fairly neatly packaged wholesome family entertainer, a laudable experiment. But those who go with the expectation of watching a hilarious comic caper, a joke-a-minute laugh riot, what with Vadivelu donning two roles,
would find it a bit of a lag and a bit of a disappointment... For there's not much of laughs here.
Malini Mannath
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