Shock

Cast: Prashanth, Abbas, Thiagarajan,Sarathbabu, Malaysia Sathyaraj, Meena
Language: Tamil
Banner: Lakshmi Shanthi Movies
Director: Thiagarajan
Producer: Thiagarajan
Camera: M.V.Panneerselvam
Screenplay: Thiagarajan
Year: 2004

It is the story of Ramgopal Varma’s Hindi film Bhoot which was remade into Tamil to create reverberating shock to the audience. Producer, actor and director Thiagarajan has done a wonderful job in creating a thriller with minimum dialogues. It is the story of a young couple Vasanth (Prashanth) and Malini (Meena) occupies a 12th floor flat in a city haunted by ghosts. Vasanth comes to know the house was previously occupied by a young lady (Manju) and her 7 year old daughter who committed suicide by jumping from the flat. One day Malini notices the mother ghost in a mirror while watching TV. She gets panicked and cries for help, but her husband tells her that it’s only her imagination and that she needs psychiatric treatment. The doctor tells that she suffers from psychiatric disorder and promises it can be cured. Malini gets possessed and behaves like Manju. Revengeful Manju kills the watchman and waits for the person who was responsible for her murder. The story unfolds from here. Prashanth has underplayed his role and given a good performance. His is the soothing presence in the nerve-wrecking scenes at the beginning of the film. Meena carries the whole film on her shoulders and has given a splendid feat. Meena’s mind-blowing act that actually saves Shock from its rickety script. Watching her work up a maniacal frenzy or slip into a pathetic state of helplessness, only to let out a deathly scream, is an experience not worth missing.

Dr.Rajan (Sarathbabu), the exorcist (Suhasini) Manju’s mother (K.R.Vijaya), the watchman (debutant Malaysia Sathyaraj) though appear in small roles, have done their jobs well in the film. Kalaivani who is introduced as the maid servant of the house looks as if she is possessed. Thiagarajan portrayed all the character in a manner so chilling it makes one numb with fear. In the first twenty minutes itself the director creates a sense of terror. Cinematographer Pannerselvam’s spooky camera -- sneaking up on the dozing watchman relentlessly following the lift going up and down, creeping on to the kitchen loft and finally plunging down from the 12th floor balcony – adds to the jittery. Salim Sulaiman’s background score needs special mention. P.Sai Suresh editing is crisp.

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