Sunday 11 December 2011

Movie Review: Osthe

Director Dharani, who gave us some memorable commercial films like Dhil, Dhool, and Ghilly, is back after a long gap. He has chosen to remake Salman Khan’s smash hit Dabang to make a comeback. STR alias Silambarasan alias Simbu dons Khaki and returns to his masala mode after a couple of different films. Since both are known for their magical touch when it comes to masala flicks, the expectations are bound to escalate.



It is a typical hero centric film with the hero shooting at his will, uttering punch lines in abundance, romancing like a Romeo, dancing like a rap singer, and flying (read fighting) like a flight. STR, like most of the so called commercial heroes, has no limits. He can do anything and everything.

Osthe is a cop story set in Thirunelveli. Osthe Velan (STR) is a young police officer who has who fights corrupt and greedy at Kattupakkam police station in Thirunelveli. He is a kind of Robinhood who robs the greedy and pays the poor.

He has a half brother Balan (Jithan Ramesh) with whom he has love-hate relationship. He falls in love with Neduvalli (Richa Gangopadhyaya). He has a special bond for his mother (Revathi) but dislikes his step father (Nasser).

Boxer Daniel (Sonu Sood), a powerful underworld dada wants to enter politics and hence he contests in the elections. He uses all unlawful activities to win the elections. But Velan stands in between him and victory, as he foils all his efforts to distribute money to the voters. Daniel tries to kill Velan but Velan outsmarts him. Daniel gets frustrated and furious when all of his attempts get defeated. He is ready to go to any extent to kill Velan and win by elections. The confrontation reaches a boiling point with lot of killings and bomb blasts.

Everything gets settled with a bloody battle between the two in the climax.

There is no meaning in looking at a masala film with a logical eye but Osthe takes too many things for granted. The director has done little work to make the movie look credible. He hasn’t learnt any lesson from the failure of Kuruvi. Dharani was once known as a commercial director who could present the film in an engaging and credible manner. He seems to have lost his touch. The package is too clichéd and predictable to relish. The movie looks like a spoof rather than a serious attempt at making a cop story. Cliché is the word that could suit well for everything in this movie.

Some of the scenes are quite irritating. The marriage scene, for example, doesn’t appeal at all.

Coming to the performance it was Salman Khan's macho image, unique style, and charisma that carried the movie in the Hindi version. Simbu tries to emulate Sallu Bhai but ends up looking like a school boy performing in a fancy dress competition. But there is no denying the fact that Simbu manages to entertain with his typical style. He oozes energy in every scene though he doesn’t look like a cop. He has done well in rendering dialogues in Thirunelveli dialect.

Well built Sonu Sood makes a powerful villain with his expressions and body language. Richa Gangopadhyaya adds some colour to the narrative. Jithan Ramesh plays his part well.

Santhanam, Thambi Ramaiah, Vaiyapuri, Mayilsamy, and Thambi Ramiah add to the fun element of the movie which looks like a spoof of cop films. Saranya Mohan and Nasserhave been wasted while Revathy gets a strong role and shines. VTV Ganesh has done well as the irresponsible father of the heroine. Bollywood sexy-siren Mallika Sherawat sizzles in an item number.

Gopinath’s cinematography is the highlight of the movie. Thaman's music is loud but he has given some peppy numbers that could make the audiences dance.

Osthe means costly or high quality. The movie is neither. Rather it has come out as a casual effort to please the masses without bothering about credibility or brilliance.

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