Ponram’s Kombuseevi tells the story of people who are sacrificed for the so-called
“greater good” of the kingdom. The film focuses on 12 villages left defenseless
so a dam could be built to benefit four districts. While this story is important,
the film loses its impact because it ends up feeling like a typical Ponram entertainer.
The movie starts in a village near Andipatti, introducing Rokkapuli (Sarathkumar),
a ruffian-cum-messiah. He turns to violence and ganja smuggling after being forced
out of his village and losing his livelihood due to the dam construction in the
Vaigai River. Later, we see a young Pandi, who becomes an orphan when both his
parents die from debts caused by the dam project.
As an adult, Pandi (Shanmuga Pandian Vijayakant) joins Rokkapuli and adopts a life
of lawlessness. Rokkapuli becomes the only family Pandi has left. Together, they
challenge the law, try to make money, and protect their villagers. Their journey
is full of dangers and crimes.
Viewers can’t help but compare Kombuseevi to Ponram’s 2013 film Varuthapadatha
Valibar Sangam. That film handled a serious topic like honour killing but stayed
consistent in tone and didn’t try to push a message too heavily. Kombuseevi, however,
struggles to balance a serious issue with comic scenes. It tries to be both entertaining
and meaningful, but the mix doesn’t fully succeed, leaving the story weaker than it
could have been.