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a
film on human emotions
Keladi
Kanmani fame Vasanth's much hyped latest offering Rhythm is the love story
of two souls, both companions in distress. The film moves at snail's pace
in the first half but picks up tempo in the second half leading to a clichéd
climax. Going by the title one expects a music-related theme. What one
gets is an entirely different fare.
Karthik
(Arjun), a widower is the photo-editor with Indian Express and lives with
his old parents in New Mumbai. While commuting by train he meets Chitra
(Meena) who captures his attention. But the vibes from Chitra initially
are not encouraging. Fate which has already played the villain in their
lives with both their spouses dying in the same train mishap, now acts a
bonding factor between them. After a few meetings Karthik who has been
turning a deaf ear to his parents' coaxing to remarry thaws, but Chitra
declines for the marriage. Chitra's ten-year-old adopted son is the
catalyst who changes the course of things. But on the day when Chitra was
to give the green signal for marriage, her mother- in -law (Lakshmi) lands
up at her door. Having lost her husband the old lady has experienced
loneliness and is now willing to accept Chitra and her kid with open arms.
She pleads with Chitra to go and live with her in Conoor. Chitra
acquiesces without a murmur, even without informing Karthik who waits at
the designated place in vain.
In
Conoor the boy pines for Karthik. Chitra also can't forget him. How
matters are sorted out leading to a clichéd climax forms rest of the
film.
It
lacks logic that Chitra prefers to leave her newfound happiness and go
with her mother-in-law with whom she has no emotional bonds. Especially
when the old lady had thrown her son out of the house forcing him to leave
by the ill-fated train thus indirectly causing his death. Why is it the
heroines of our films are shown as masochists? Arjun is supposed to be a
Photo Editor, but he is shown as an ordinary photographer dong fieldwork!
And pray, where is the waterfall in Mumbai?
Excellent
cinematography and A.R.Rahman's pulsating music are the plus points of the
film. Of the five Panchabhootha related songs, 'Nadiye nadiye...'
picturised with the gushing waterfall as the backdrop is the best. Raju
Sundaram's choreography is mediocre.
But the
star of the film is the boy who has donned the role of Chitra's adopted
son. He steals the show with a very natural performance, emoting both
pathos and childlike exuberance and glee with equal ease. Both Arjun and
Meena in their new images, former as the romantic hero and latter as the
middle class working girl do not disappoint. Veterans Lakshmi and Nagesh
have done full justice to their roles.
by
Saraswathy Srinivas
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