Santhosh Subramaniam

Cast: Jeyam Ravi, Genelia, Prakash Raj, Kirat Bhattal, Geetha, Santhanam, Sayaji Shinde, Manobala, Premji Amaran
Language: Tamil
Banner: AGS Entertainment
Director: M. Raja
Producer: Kalpathi. S.Aghoram, Kalpathi.S.Ganesh, Kalpathi.S.Suresh
Camera: G.Kannan
Story: M.Bhaskar
Screenplay: M. Raja
Dialogue: M.Raja
Lyrics: Na. Muthukumar, Pa.Vijay, Kavivarma
Music: Devi Sriprasad
Year: 2008

'Santhosh Subramaniam' is a bonanza from Kollywood's young brigade which is calling the shots this April. Sharing the bonanza is Jayam Ravi's director- brother M. Raja, who specializes in remaking Telugu soft romantic feel-good films into Tamil and blending them with local flavours. Coming as a hat-trick for Ravi and Raja, the latest film has an opening unheard of for a family film. It is a remake of the Telugu blockbuster 'Bommarillu' featuring Shankar's 'Boys'-fame Siddarth and Genelia.

The story is about a domineering father who wants to keep his loving son on leash denying him the freedom to think and act independently. The frustrated youth breaks out of his father's shackles making the senior realize his mistake. It is a joy for a parent to hold his son's hand and walk him when he is a kid but not when he is grown up and capable of deciding his future. Moral: 'Let us parents not profess to tell our children what they can judge best.'

Genelia plays opposite Ravi in a role that really has a huge impact on the film making it a virtual carnival.

Industrialist Subramaniam (Prakash Raj), a strict disciplinarian, brings up his son, Santhosh (Jayam Ravi) with love and affection. At the same time his filial anxiety makes him stern turning the boy into a stuffed frog. The father decides everything for him right from the dress. It is a happy joint family with a quiet and serious mother (Geetha), daughters, elder son and his family. Taking the boy for granted, Subramaniam fixes Sathosh's marriage with a girl (Keerath). Santhosh's desire is that he should marry a girl of his choice. He falls in love with Hasini (Genelia), daughter of a temple employee (Sayaji Shinde). When Subramanaim comes to know of this, he is crestfallen but could not be harsh with his son. He evolves a strategy which he is confident would stop his son in his tracks. He tells Santhosh to bring Hasini to their house and make her stay in the house for a week and if everyone likes her, he could marry her. Taking this as a challenge, Santhosh persuades Hasini to come along with him. During her seven-day stay Hasini endears herself to every member of the family but unwittingly lands Santhosh in trouble. Smitten by remorse she leaves the house with a heavy heart with the intention of never coming back. With her goes all the happiness. There begins the battle of wits between the father and son. Eventually Santhosh prevails over his father.

The story revolves around three characters - submissive and obedient son Ravi yearning for love, over-bearing father Prakash Raj and Genelia who is innocent and playful.

That the father (Prakash Raj) is very stern and leaves nothing to the choice of his son becomes evident from the very first scene when he orders his son who comes to him wearing a T.Shirt to take it off and put on a shirt.

It needs no emphasis that Prakash Raj is an artiste par excellence. He plays the father role with his distinct style.

Jayaram Ravi is lively and his performance holds the audience in thrall.

If Genelia were to be described in one word, she is eclectic. And she steals the show.

Though humour is built into the story, M.S. Bhaskar stands out. He brings the house down when he moves around in disguise to escape from Sayaji Shinde after telling him a lie that his daughter (Genelia) has gone on a tour while in fact she has left home to stay with the family of Prakash Raj. Santhanam, Sathyan, Premji, and Srinath as friends of the hero provide a comedy feast.

The flipside is the climax prolongs even after the rift between the father and son is resolved. Prakash Raj's canceling Keerath's engagement; pacifying Sayaji Shinde and bringing Genelia around are a drag.

Devi Sriprasad deserves all praise for his music. The tunes are the same as in 'Bommarillu'. The Telugu hero Siddarth himself sings a romantic number penned by Na Muthukumar.

Kannan's camerawork is commendable.

Director M. Raja proves himself once again with this 2-1/2-hour family entertainer which is worth watching!

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