Sundarapandian is a 2012 Indian Tamil film directed by debutant Prabhakaran, a former associate of Sasikumar.
Sasikumar himself is playing the lead role in this movie, which will have Vijay Sethupathi and Soori among others in pivotal characters. The film opened to excellent reviews from all the leading websites and audience too have embraced it as a wholesome entertainer with some stunning performances.
The film will have Lakshmi Menon, who is currently acting in Kumki, as the leading lady. Music is by NR Raghunanthan, while cinematography by Premkumar of Pasanga fame.
Movie: Sundarapandian
Director: Prabhakaran
Producer: Sasikumar
Star Cast: Sasikumar, Lakshmi Menon, Vijay Sethupathi, Soori
Music: NR Raghunanthan
Cinematography: Premkumar
Studio: Company Production
Release date: 14 September 2012
The protege makes his mentor proud. Debutant filmmaker Prabhakaran, a former associate of Sasikumar, has come out with an engaging entertainer that is typical of his master in Sundarapandian.
The movie produced and enacted by Sasikumar is a tale of friendship, romance and betrayal. Lakshmi Menon, Parotta Suri, Appukutty, Vijay Sethupathy among others play their part well combining with Sasikumar.
A commercial entertainer with right mix of elements to catch the attention of the movie-lovers is what Sundarapandian is all about. Set in Madurai milieu, the movie has its moments. Be it the camaraderie shown by friends in the first half, the emotional scenes involving the lovers or the revenge drama towards the cliamx, the film has everything to entertain all.
The characters are natural and spontaneous. Sundarapandian (Sasikumar) is the son of rich landlord in Kandamanoor. He leads a happy life and enjoys the company of his friends. A fan of Rajnikanth, Sasikumar goes out in all ways to help his friends.
One day, he goes to ensure that his friend’s love is conveyed to a girl Archana (Lakshmi Menon), who happens to be his ex-flame. As it happens, she falls for Sundarapandian again.
But fresh trouble begins. A murder happens and the blame falls on Sundarapandian. But more trouble awaits Sasikumar as he gets ready for his wedding for Archana.
Sasikumar walks away with all honours. He gets under the skin of the character to deliver is best. Especially in comedy scenes, he excels. His performance towards the climax is riveting.
Lakshmi Menon is apt for the role while Parrota Suri’s comedy is worth a mention.
Music by Raghunanthan is passable but the background score makes it good. The eye sore is lengthy second half and some cliched scenes towards the climax. But above all, Sundarapandian will end up as a movie to cherish.
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Sasikumar has a penchant for rural themes and the actor/producer/director’s latest one, Sundarapandian, is no different.
The movie is helmed by his erstwhile associate Prabhakaran and, apparently, his mentor’s signature style is evident in every frame.
The story centres on the same theme of friendship, love, betrayal and family sentiments which one would have seen in many of the Madurai-based romantic thrillers.
But what makes Sundarapandian tick is its racy and entertaining presentation, clean comedy and fitting dialogues.
Sundarapandian (Sasikumar) is the only son of a rich landlord (Naren). Though he is pampered by everyone in his household, a do-gooder by nature, he is admired by one and all.
He lives life on his own terms. He goes out of the way to help his friends. As it happens, one of his friends is smitten by Archana (Lakshmi Menon), a student and daughter of a big shot in the neighbouring village.
However, the twist in the tale is that Archana was once Sundarapandian’s lover when she was in school and Archana secretly falls for Sundarapandian.
Meanwhile, yet another person (Appu Kutty), who comes in Archana’s way, is bumped off by Sundarapandian who is sent to jail.
He faces a lot more challenges from his friends when he returns from jail. In the meantime, his wedding with Archana is fixed which brings more trouble and the film ends in an arresting climax.
Sasikumar plays to his strengths. He carries the entire film on his shoulders and has given a subdued performance.
Humour comes naturally to him. Lakshmi Menon looks appealing and has got a meaty role and she has done justice to it.
She comes out with apt expressions and scores in emotional scenes. Soori is a delight to watch! Every character, including Vijay Sethupathy, has been etched out well. Cinematography by Prem Kumar is brilliant capturing the rustic charm of Usilampatti.
Rahnandan’s background scores goes well with the mood of the film but the same cannot be attributed to songs. It’s not that the film did not have any clichés! The second half is too long and drags at times.
The scenes inside the bus remind one of recent Attakathi and the climax is sort of predictable and gives a déja vu feeling of Sasi’s earlier films Subramaniyapuram and Nadodigal.
All said and done, it is an honest attempt from Prabhakaran which is engaging family fare.
Only a few actors can handle stereotypical films, acting and dialogue delivery. For example, K Bagyaraj, Parthiban and now joining this list is Sasi Kumar.
Sundarapandian too has adopted the same formula – friendship, love, anger, deceit, and mockery. Does Sasi Kumar’s strong belief that his fans would accept the same formula once again prove right? Let’s check out!
The story is set in the backdrop of Theni and Usilampatti. Sasi Kumar is born in a rich family living in Theni. Soori and Inigo Prabhakaran are his buddies. Lakshmi Menon is the daughter of a biggie in Usilampatti. Inigo Prabhakaran falls in love with Lakshmi on first sight and follows her on the bus. He seeks his friends’ help to disclose his love to her but she doesn’t reciprocate.
In order to help him in his love, Sasi Kumar and friends go to a shop right opposite to the college where Lakshmi Menon studies. Incidentally, this shop is owned by Suresh (Rowther) who happens to be Sasi Kumar’s old friend. Soundarapandi and Vijay Sethupathi, who are Sasi’s buddies, join them and so does Appu Kutty, Sundarapandian’s friend.
At the same time, arrangements are made to get Vijay Sethupathi, who is Lakshmi’s sister’s brother-in-law, married.
As like Inigo Prabhakaran, Appu Kutty also falls in love with Lakshmi Menon. When Sundarapandian discloses this to Sasi Kumar, he gives Appu Kutty a month’s time within which he should make Lakshmi fall in love with him and if she doesn’t reciprocate within that time then Appu Kutty is warned not to cross their path again.
Predictably, Appu Kutty fails to impress her and Sasi Kumar and friends once again start following Lakshmi. Finally, Sasi decides to do the messenger job and goes to meet her. But Lakshmi shocks him by saying that she is not in love with Inigo Prabhakaran but with him – Sasi Kumar.
Did Sasi Kumar accept her proposal? What did Inigo Prabhakaran do after hearing that she is interested in his friend? What about the marriage talks between Lakshmi and Vijay Sethupathi? All this has been told with a lot of bloodshed and interesting twists by Sasi Kumar’s assistant SR Prabhakaran.
It is the usual Madurai-based story that we’ve seen in Nadodigal, Subramaniapuram and Poraali. Though it is the same type of story, we are still able to enjoy it. Well, that is Sasi Kumar’s technique. It looks like Sasi Kumar is behind SR Prabhakaran’s direction in every aspect. May be this is Sasi’s victory.
Though the intro song and punch dialogues made this a usual fare in the beginning, Sasi Kumar returns to form with his own style. In scenes where he does the Rajini-style or following the heroine or the dialogue delivery in the climax, he has proved his mettle certainly.
Lakshmi Menon was announced as the heroine in Kumki but Sundarapandian hit the screens first making it her debut film. Though she looks plain, Lakshmi has managed to capture the attention with her acting skills. In scenes where she stares, laughs, cries or shows her anger she has managed to do well. (This has certainly created a lot of expectations for Kumki.)
In some films characterizations have not been given adequate importance. In a recent film, Soori and the actor Naren who plays Sasi’s dad haven’t been utilized well. But in Sundarapandian their talents have been tapped well. Likewise, the director has handled all the characters such as Sasi’s grannies, Appu Kutty, Lakshmi’s dad Thennavan, tea shop customer, heroine’s friend very well.
Despite so many pluses, the only letdown is the songs in the film. The Nenjukkle Nenjukkule song is worth mentioning here. The director has used the ‘Montage’ technique due to which the audiences stay glued to the screens. There were a lot of expectations from NR Raghnanthan as the singers under his music direction have won national awards.
Some logic mistakes, expected twists and lengthy scenes are the few minuses in Sundarapandian.
To conclude, we can say that SR Prabhakaran has managed to uphold his Guru Sasi Kumar’s name and fame.
Plus: Sasi Kumar, Lakshmi Menon and all the other actors’ acting, though it is a bit confusing with a lot of character in the film, the director has managed to handle the script well. The dialogues are superb.
Minus: Songs, background score, scenes that remind us of previous Sasi Kumar films, and the lengthy bus sequence scene in the first half.
In total: the film is on the lines of Subramaniapuram, Nadodigal and Poraali but is likable.
Sasikumar entered Kollywood as a Director (subramaniapuram), became a producer (pasanga), started acting(Nadodigal, Porali) and in the just released Sundarapandian, he is a romantic hero. He is none other than Sasikumar, lauded by many as a good Director. In Sundarapandian, unlike his earlier roles, where he had to be aggressive, in Sundarapandian he has ‘mellowed’ down.
Unbeknown to Sasi, his ‘lady love’ is being wooed by his friend and unwittingly he tries to help in the matter and even after he discovers, he decides to help his friend.While this is going on, a third ‘party’ is in love with the heroine. Hero tries to bring order to the whole chaos with a unique solution, but Lakshmi Menon, the heroine bowls a doosra, that she is madly in love with the Hero. Now it is the friend’s turn to ‘sacrifice’, but Appukutty, the third side in this quadrangle, gives a lot of trouble to Lakshmi. Obviously, the Hero has to take up cudgels which he does, but unexpectedly, Appukutty falls from a moving bus and dies. Hero is sentenced to prison.
The ‘revenge’ chapter starts now with Sasi’s own friend, out to avenge Appukutty’s death. To stir the pot some more, Vijay Sethupathi, Lakshmi’s ‘murai mappillai’ wants to eliminate the Hero. He is a friend of the hero, too. What happens from now on is what the movie is all about. The screenplay is pretty taut and movie doesnot drag.
While the first half is all humour, the second half has twists and turns, but overall the Director, Prabahakar has given an enjoyable flick.
Sasikumar, unlike his ealier movies gets to show off in many different costumes, while heroine Lakshmi Menon, has done justice to he role.The rest of the cast have given an adequately good performace too. The comedy track where Suri stars is lively and well received by the audience. One is surre this performance will open doors for Suri.
Premkumar the camera man has done a wonderful job. Though this is his first attempt at being a Director, SR Prabakaran, Sasikumar’s erstwhile assistant, has gauged the audience ‘taste’ and given them a decent movie.
We will wait and see if Sundarapandian becomes Super Pandian!
good share!!keep go on!!!nice post!!
Director SR Prabhakaran debuted with the film Sundarapandian with Sasikumar and Lakshmi menon. Currently he is busy directing Idhu kathirvelan Kadhal which has Udayanidhi stalin, Nayanthara, Santhanam in the lead roles. His 3rd will be again for Udayanidhi’s home banner Red Giant movies which was confirmed by the producer himself.