And, in the end, we wonder what the plot was about. Production values are uneven, and some of the mythical sequences look pretty much amateurish. But there is little chemistry between the two, Vijay’s stiffness and Haasan’s laboured dialogue delivery making it just about impossible for Cupid to strike any real note.įantasy films not bound by language: Puli director Chimbu Deven Puli is the role you get once in a lifetime: SrideviĪt 154 minutes, Puli is swamped with songs - some of them titillating skins shows, and a few others, a mere ploy to get Maru Dheeran and his lover, Pavazhamani (Shruti Haasan), together on a romantic high.
It reminded me of Gabbar Singh and that famous shot where he decapitates Thakur’s arm. There is one scene early on in the movie where the general chops off the arm of a man (Prabhu) who had been courageous enough to seek the Queen’s help to end the tyranny.
Puli music review: This is about big, entertaining songs Maru Dheeran hopes to meet the Queen to find out whether better sense will prevail. It is ruled by Sridevi’s Queen, and her princess-daughter (Hansika Motwani) flips for our hero, when he dares into the kingdom after being pushed by his people, hurt and killed and humiliated by the general. Absolutely wooden to the core, his face appears like a mask, totally masking his emotions.Īs Maru Dheeran, Vijay plays a valiant hero - whose village and folks are at the cruel mercy of a wicked general of what seems like a mythical kingdom and in mythical times. With all the halo and aura around him placed by his innumerable fans, Vijay just does not perform. Vijay-starrer, fantasy adventure Puli, despite all the hype it created in its pre-release weeks, is utterly disappointing. And some Tamil films - at least those that step into the genre of fantasy - can be just unbearable to watch. Often Indian cinema is sheer fantasy, trying to spin the unbelievable into a story and script. Cast: Vijay, Sudeep, Prabhu, Sridevi, Shruti Haasan, Hansika Motwani