Paayum Oli Nee Yenakku review: A crisp thriller that keeps your attention span in mind

Director Karrthik Adwait’s Paayum Oli Nee Yenakku is a reasonably well-made commercial entertainer that by and large works, thanks to a well-thought-out plot and some neat editing.

Realising the fact that the attention span of audiences has come down considerably, the film’s makers seem to have been intent on keeping the narration nice and tight.

To their credit, they manage to accomplish to finish narrating the entire story within a matter of two hours.

Synopsis

Aravind(Vikram Prabhu) is a sharp entrepreneur in the IT space. He has his own firm that specialises in preventing data theft. To someone who does not know about his childhood, Aravind would come across as a young, confident go-getter.

But in reality, Aravind has a big problem. He can only see when there is bright light. He cannot see when the light is low or diffused. This condition of his was caused by an accident that occurred when he was a child. The accident did more than just damage his eyes, it also claimed the lives of both his parents.

Although Aravind has a serious problem with his vision, he behaves as if he doesn’t have any problem, thanks to the confidence and support provided by his uncle and his family, who have adopted him as one of their own.

It is under these circumstances that one day, when returning home in an auto at night, Aravind is kidnapped by a couple of goons.

Initially, he mistakes the attack to be just a retort of sorts by a bunch of criminals, whom he had thrashed for attempting to sexually assault a mentally challenged girl living on the streets.

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Conflict

But he soon realises that the issue is more serious when people begin to die. Eventually, he decides to get to the bottom of the issue when his uncle is also killed by gangsters.

When he begins to investigate his uncle’s death, he finds that several killings have taken place and that they are all connected. What is the connection? Why did someone have to first kill his uncle, and then attempt to kill him? Paayum Oli Nee Yenakku (You are like streaming light to me), gives you the answers.

Paayum Oli Nee Yenakku, which is basically a verse from one of popular poet Subramaniya Bharathi’s poems, is actually an apt title for this film.

The story is refreshingly new, and the manner in which it is narrated also keeps you interested in the plot.

Flaws

However, Paayum Oli Nee Yenakku has some drawbacks. For instance, the fact that Aravind has a problem seeing in low light does not come across to you as a viewer in the initial stages of the film.

Initially, there are a few scenes in which the lighting is poor. This is to give you an idea of how the picture appears to Aravind. Sadly though, this fact does not come across to viewers then. Instead, you as a viewer, mistake the poor visibility in the scenes for a poor lighting job done by the cinematographer.

It is only after a good half an hour into the film, when Aravind explains his problem to his sweetheart Uthara (Vani Bhojan), that you actually realise that what was shown initially was actually how Aravind sees it.

Another problem with the film is that although the story is refreshingly new, it appears quite disjoint, thanks to the occasional murders, which have no direct connection with the immediate proceedings, often taking place.

But other than these issues, Paayum Oli Nee Yenakku has no major problems.

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Performances

Vikram Prabhu, the grandson of legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan, delivers an impressive performance in this film. Strong and intelligent despite being vulnerable, Aravind is a difficult character to play, but Vikram Prabhu has no problems portraying Aravind’s character in Paayum Oli Nee Yenakku.

His romantic portions with Uthara (Vani Bhojan) are also highly enjoyable. There is a certain dignity to how the relationship is showcased, and that makes it a delight to watch. Vani Bhojan comes up with a commendable performance as well.

Dhananjaya, who plays the villain, Jeevan, also delivers what is expected of him. Sunny-Saketh’s background score works, while Sagar’s songs fail to impress.

Final take

In all, Paayum Oli Nee Yenakku is a reasonably good and neat commercial entertainer.

(Views expressed are personal.)