Vasantha Mullai review: Bobby Simha delivers yet another compelling performance after ‘Jigarthanda’

Director Ramanan Purushothama’s debut film Vasantha Mullai is a reasonably well-made psychological thriller. It works primarily because of the intensity of its lead actor — Bobby Simha.

The film begins with Rudhran (Bobby Simha), an IT professional in a top corporate, turning ambitious and agreeing to head a highly challenging project. An overconfident Rudhran declares that he will complete the project much before the deadline.

As a result, he begins to work strenuously to deliver the project on the promised date.

He cuts down on sleep and works like a man possessed. As the date of delivery nears, bugs in coding are spotted and eventually, on the last day, the project fails to work.

The firm is cross with Rudhran, who is already stressed to the point of breaking down.

Eventually, he suffers a blackout in a theatre. His wife Nila (Kashmira Pardeshi) is worried as they rush him to a hospital.

The doctor tells Nila to take him on a holiday far away from the office to help him unwind and destress. The couples set off on a holiday which begins well with them visiting a few exotic locations.

However, one night, as they begin to make their way back through an uninhabited stretch, it begins to pour and Nila, who is driving, rams the car into something.

They find blood stains on the car’s bonnet but no sign of any injured animal or human.

Related: Ramanan Purushothama interview

Pacifying a rattled Nila, Rudhran takes over the wheel and they start making their way back to the nearest town.

On the way, they spot a pretty desolate hotel named “Vasantha Mullai”. A shaking Nila urges Rudhran that they spend the night at the hotel and resume the journey in the morning.

But little does she know that her life is in danger in the hotel. What happens next is what the film is all about.

The much awaited Juke Box from SIMHA’s #VasanthaMullai is out 🔥

▶️ https://t.co/VPlTrPlgcB

A @RajeshMRadio musical 🎶

🎬 In theatres from tomorrow✨@arya_offl@rakshitshetty@itsRamTalluri @Ramanan_offl @kashmira_9 @gopiamar@MffProductions@vivekharshan@ReshmiMenonK pic.twitter.com/eWh2JQsmjk

— Simha (@actorsimha) February 9, 2023

Bobby Simha’s intense performance

To his credit, Raman Purushothama does a commendable job for the most part.

Despite having to showcase the same set of events again and again, the director manages to retain your attention. He does this by adding interesting minor twists every time a sequence has to be repeated.

What also works in favour of Vasantha Mullai is the performance of its lead actor Bobby Simha.

A National Award winner, for his spell-binding performance in Jigarthanda, Simha comes up with another compelling performance in this film that makes you keep your eyes glued to the screen.

Thanks to his intense performance, the plot gains credibility. A weaker performance could have made the story look insignificant and exaggerated.

Also Read: Bobby Simha interview

Kashmira Pardeshi also rises to the challenge and comes up with a convincing performance as Nila.

The other major factor that works in favour of the movie is its music by Rajesh Murugesan.

Be it the songs or the background score, the music is just refreshing and reviving. It lifts the film to another level, altogether.

We thank young maestro #YuvanShankarRaja sir for his great and lovely gesture of releasing our first single #AvaloAvalo from #vasanthamullai @thinkmusicindia @thisisysr #YSR

–> https://t.co/3k2EAjTt5f@kashmira_9 @RajeshMRadio @Lyricist_Vivek @gowthambharadwj @Ramanan_offl pic.twitter.com/O3uAQJZeZc

— Kashmiraofficial (@kashmira_9) February 12, 2021

The shortcomings

It is not as if Vasantha Kokila does not have any shortcomings.

The plot is not a simple one and demands focused attention from audiences from start to finish — a taxing task, to say the least.

The film has too many twists to understand. Also, it builds up huge expectations in the middle only to disappoint in the climax.

The takeaway is small and insignificant. All of these work against the movie.

Nevertheless, Vasantha Mullai makes for a decent watch.

(Views expressed are personal.)