Dhanush’s delightful debut Pa. Pandi comes from that warm fuzzy place where Pixar movies are born. It’s impossible to dislike anyone in the film, not even the film’s neighbourhood thugs who supply baggies of drugs to teenagers. Who would have thought the guy who played Kokki Kumar had it in him to create such a world.
It’s a simple world where 65-year-old Power Pandi (Rajkiran) lives with his son and his family. Pandi is the kind of guy youngsters can approach with their relationship problems. Trust him to help you if your car breaks down and he does his bit to keep the streets clean of things you don’t want around.
But his helpful nature doesn’t always make life stress-free for his son. Pandi has a knack of getting himself into trouble and this upsets his son’s world that’s full of project reports and PowerPoint presentations. There’s nothing new or original in this father-son conflict and it feels repetitive as Pandi keeps getting into trouble and his son angrier. Set mostly within the four walls of Pandi’s house, these are some of film’s weakest bits.
Meanwhile, the film which had earlier been named Power Paandi, but changed as Pa Paandi to get the tax exemption benefits in Tamil Nadu. Produced under Dhanush’s Wunderbar Films banner, the film features veteran Actor Rajkiran, Prasanna, Revathi, Chaya Singh, and Vidyullekha Raman in lead roles. Actor Dhanush, popular director Gautham Vasudev Menon, actress Madonna Sebastian and tv host Dhivyadharshini will be seen in the cameo roles.
Pa Paandi aka Power Paandi Movie Review & Story plot:
PA. PAANDI CAST & CREW
Production: Dhanush – Wunderbar Films
Cast: Baba Baskar, Chaya Singh Madonna Sebastian, Master Raghavan, Prasanna, Rajkiran, Revathi, Robo Shankar, Vidyullekha Raman
Direction: Dhanush
Screenplay: Dhanush
Story: Dhanush
Music: Sean Roldan
Background score: Sean Roldan
Power Paandi is about the outcome of embracing love, peace and positivity around us. The films attempt to showcase how the changing times impact a father-son relationship and try to tell that they both can co-exist in love. Dhanush will appear in a cameo of younger version Paandi. Raj Kiran plays the titular role with ease but it is Revathy, in her extended cameo, who sweeps us off our feet. In fact, the film picks up steam post her entry towards the end. It feels nice that for a change as viewers we cheer for an older pair and moments between them make us leave the theatre with a smile.
Pa Paandi Rating & Public Review
Velraj’s cinematography is apt for the film while the editing could have been a little better as a few out of focus shots are found here and there in the cuts. Sean Rolden’s songs are pleasing to hear and his background score too passes muster. Dhanush has written a gripping screenplay laden with emotions that connect and he has extracted all-round good performances from his cast. If only he could trim or even do away with the flashback portions this film will be even more satisfying.
But it is Dhanush’s contribution as a director that’s most heartening. The scene where a younger Pandi is separated from his lover is wonderfully staged. We’re shown Pandi trying to steal a glance of her as she leaves; we’re shown her feet, her hair, even her earrings, but never her face. It’s almost poetic… a man’s last memory of his first love, fresh even after decades.
It’s scenes like these that make you overlook the film’s many flaws. And if you’re willing to believe Dhanush could play a younger version of the mighty Rajkiran, you know you’ve liked the movie.
