Indralogathil Na Azhagappan

Cast: Vadivelu, Nasser, Suja, Yamini Sharma, Rari, Manobala, Sumitra, Shriya
Language: Tamil
Banner: Seventh Channel Communications
Director: Thambhi Ramaiah
Producer: Seventh Channel Communications
Camera: Gopinath
Story: Thambhi Ramaiah
Screenplay: Thambhi Ramaiah
Dialogue: Thambhi Ramaiah
Music: Sabesh-Murali
Year: 2008

Indralogathil Na Azhagappan has been tailor-made for comedy king Vadivelu. The story as well as the characterizations demands immense performance skills and Vadivelu absolutely fills the bill. Also, audiences' easy acceptance of this comedian in non-comic portrayals is another proof to the actor's ability. Each of the three characters played by him in Indralogathil... has a different shade to it and Vadivelu has done an excellent job striking a fine balance between all three roles. In this case, Indralogam and Yamalogam (heaven and hell) form the crackling backdrops for Vadivelu's adventures.

Azhagappan, an actor in a theatre-group, stumbles upon heavenly beings who have come to the earth for a sojourn. Only Rambha (Suja), the gorgeous celestial dancing beauty, stays back and by a curse turns into a stone statue. Azhagappan finds her and devises a way which helps her to go back to heaven. Consequently, Rambha grants him a boon to fulfill his innermost desire - to visit Indralogam and Yamalogam. Armed with a magical lens that renders him invisible even to heavenly residents, Azhagappan travels through heaven and hell.

Though he is awestruck viewing the opulence and splendor, wise Azhagappan does not stop with mere amusement. After witnessing a child's death, he gathers the courage to question the procedures in Yamalogam and the harsh treatment meted to individuals who are admitted to hell because of their misdeeds. He interferes with Yama's orders desperately, trying to tone them down. Naradha (Nasser) too, as usual, aggravates the problem through his remarks.

Yama and Indra become furious and apply all devices and stratagems to drive this crazy uninvited individual out of their worlds. Azhagappan gets into serious trouble. Their divine powers and authority easily beats the poor commoner. They curse him to return to Bhoolokam (earth) in the form of a ninety-year-old man. Now caught in a grave situation, how does he escape the wrath of Yama and Indra? Does he survive to restore status quo and get back to his cozy home, his former peaceful life on earth? What happens to Rambha? How do Rambha and Azhagappan get freed from the curse that grips them? There lies Indralogathil Na Azhagappan's suspense and twist!

Vadivelu has lived in all the three roles. As Azhagappan, he portrays an emotionally vulnerable ordinary individual. As Indra, king of Devalogam, he exhibits an aura of sophistication and affluence. As the treacherous Yama, Vadivelu appears completely transformed. His eyes, tone and demeanour spell the curse of death and harsh punishments, a typical symbolization of gloom. Vadivelu portrays the callous king, the King of Death who does not care to immerse sinful human beings in boiling oil or to administer other cruel punishments as he feels warranted. His dialogue deliveries in grammatically pure Tamil are apt and appealing.

Thambhi Ramaiah, who has been penning Vadivelu's comedy tracks, has written and directed the film. Judging his strengths well, Ramaiah has crafted all the three characters with ample scope for performance. But the second half lacks lustre and slows down. Why? Because it is here that Azhagappan becomes preachy and starts rolling out social messages to the movie-watching public.

Music by Sabesh Murali is apt and melodious. Cinematography by Gopinath is first-rate. Thotta Tharani's art work stands out. The shimmering sets of Indralogam and Yamalogam are immensely grand and provide an additional zing to the storyline. Nasser, in his small but significant role as Naradha, is just perfect. Heroines Suja, Theetha Sharma and Rari and the supporting cast, including Manobala and Sumitra, have done their best.

Shriya appears as the lovely exorcist who drives the ghost away from Vadivelu's body. Her dance-number with Vadivelu does the magic. Audiences evidently keep waiting for it through the length of the film, and even hope it will be repeated.

Besides the predictability of the plot and larger-than-life characters, the audiences should find the movie utterly entertaining. Some may feel that with a tighter screenplay and a more effective comedy, Indralogathil... could have done still better. But for fans of Vadivelu, mythologicals and pure Tamil, the film takes them to Indralogam and they will naturally want to go there again and again!

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