It is only very rarely we come across some realistic and lively presentation of the rural life and an ethnic game like Kadabi. Debutant director Susindran’s Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu (VKK) is one such movie that has come as a fresh air amidst lot of mindless masala flicks. The movie stands out by successfully – almost for the first time in Tamil – making the game as its central theme. The low budget movie has potential to be compared with movies like lagan and Chak De India. 

The story of VKK is set in a village near Pazhani. It is all about a Kabadi team (Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu), wanting to become a famous team in and around the area. The reality however, is different. This team has never won a single game in any tournament. 

Mari, a small boy in the village has a deep rooted passion towards the game. Since his father dies in an accident and he is forced to stop going to school and work in the farmlands.  

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Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu - Movie Gallery

The boy grows working in the farmland but even in his young age (newcomer Vishnu) he is not able to pursue his interest in Kabadi because of his social status.  

Mari at last gets a chance to play as a substitute for a boy in a match in the village Thiruvizha. Though he proves his worth, the game gets disrupted due to a dispute and the resultant tussle.  

Meanwhile love blossoms between Mari and Saranya Mohan who visits the village carnival from Madurai.  

Later on, the team goes to Madurai to participate in a Kabadi tournament unaware of the format that doesn’t allow any new team to participate. However they get a chance by luck, as a team fails to turn up. In the process they also get a godfather in Kishore, who is a renowned Kabadi coach.  

Vennila team, motivated by Kishore, wins their first match in a dramatic manner and stays in the tournament. Later on Kishore becomes their coach. He trains and motivates them is to reach the finals.  

Meanwhile the team members face dangerous situations on and off the field from the rival teams even as the old foes are hunting the team members to kill them. The rival team also tries to divide them on the basis of caste. The rest of the movie deals with how they finally triumph and what the price is given to that. It also tells about the fate of the love between Mari and Saranya.  

Debutant director Susindran has done an excellent job by capturing the true spirit of Kabadi and the dramatic moments related to the game. The picturisation of the game is strikingly realistic, which is a rare phenomenon in Tamil movies. The exciting developments in the tournament are conceived and executed well. The role of the coach has been portrayed and enacted very well. The exciting run up to the finale takes the movie to another level. The dramatic climax, though lees convincing, is touching.  

Bhaskar Shakthi’s dialogues are sharp and effective. The ones uttered by the coach are outstanding. J. Lakshman’s camera has captured the carnival sequences and the tournament with in a telling manner.  

Susindran also scores in depicting the village sequences with all its flavour and nativity. The debutant has done well in bringing out the essence and mood of the village Thiruvizha on screen. The love episode has been portrayed as a short film. 

The problem with the movie is its slow pace in the first half. Though the proceedings are realistic and lively, the script takes its own time to come to the focus point.  

Debutant music director V. Selvaganesh (Son of famous Ghatam player Vikku Vinayakram) has come out with some tuneful songs (Lesaa parakkuthu manasu and Uyiril etho valigal stand out) but the duet in the second half seems to be out of place.  

Newcomer Vishnu (son of IG of Police- North Zone Ramesh Kudawla) has handled his role with sincerity and ease. His body language during the game is excellent and his expressions in romantic scenes are competent. Saranya Mohan, in a relatively small role, livens up the proceedings by her inimitable charm and cute expressions.  

Debutant music composer Selva Ganesh, son of Ghatam maestro Vikku Vinayakram sparkles in a few numbers. Camera work by J Laxman Kumar meets the requirements.  

Kishore as a coach is excellent. The man has come out with mature and majestic performance. Others including Vairvan, Nithish and Janaki (mother) are competent.  

Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu is a refreshing experience revolving around the native game of Tamilnadu. The realistic portrayal, exciting tournament proceedings, and the performances make the film a potential winner.