Vambu Sandai

Cast: Uday Kiran, Diya, Sathyaraj, Riyaz Khan, Rajkapoor, Ramesh Kanna, Manobala, 'Fefsi' Vijayan, Livingston, Sukumari
Language: Tamil
Banner: Jaimatha Cine Combines
Director: Rajkapoor
Producer: A Venkatesh
Camera: Suresh Devan
Story: Selva Bharathy
Screenplay: Selva Bharathy
Music: D. Imman
Year: 2008

Vambu Sandai is a 'masala' flick by Director Rajkapoor. A love affair sets the tone for a drama of emotions and action. The multi-dimensional story with many loop holes is told mostly in flashbacks.

Prabhakaran (Uday Kiran, who made his debut in K. Balachander's 'Poi') and Swetha (Diya) fall in love with each other. They first meet after he had had a clash with thugs in a co-education college campus. As their love blossoms, Swetha's brother Ravichandran (Rajkapoor), an Assistant Commissioner of Police, comes to know of this and sends his men to Prabhakaran's father Nehru (Livingston) and mother Lakshmi (Sabitha Anand) to tell them of the affair and ask them to keep their son off Swetha.

Nehru and Lakshmi try to reason with Prabhakaran who refuses to pay heed to their advice. In the heat of the moment, Nehru and Lakshmi blurt out that Prabhakaran is not their son. This shocks him and he starts looking for his real father. He succeeds in finding his father, Jeevanantham (Sathyaraj), an IAS officer, who is mentally deranged now. Prabhakaran takes his father to Kerala for Ayurvedic treatment. The person responsible for Jeevanantham's condition is a ruling party leader and Minister, Dharmalingam ('Fefsi' Vijayan) who is also brought to the same Ayurvedic centre by his son Narayanan (Riaz Khan), a friend of Prabhakaran. The past enmity between their fathers surfaces. The friends turn enemies and fight it out.

The sequences leading up to the revelation of the real identity of Prabhakaran are tiresome. The flashback sequences have been brilliantly executed.

Veteran Sathyaraj gives a stylish and graceful performance as the strict IAS officer and election observer. As a mental patient, he evokes pity and sympathy. His characterization of the role once again proves that he is a versatile actor.

The up and coming Uday Kiran makes his mark in the love scenes and action scenes. However, he does falter in the emotional scenes.

Diya's role is limited to providing glamour with very little scope for acting. She shines in dance sequences.

Riaz Khan and 'Fefsi' Vijayan, who play villains, are at their best. Ramesh Kanna does well in comedy in his characteristic style. Livingston and Rajkapoor are adequate. Manobala, Sabitha Anand, Sukumari and others play their roles with dignity and confidence.

Suresh Devan's camerawork is commendable. D Imman's music and background score need to be perked up. There are five songs and of them, 'Thazh Thiravai Thamaraiye' stands out.

Director Rajkapoor looks still a novice and has to work hard to make his mark as a director. 'Vambu Sandai' is just passable fare.

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