Production: Shri Sai Raam Creations Cast: Ajith Kumar, Anushka, Arun Vijay, Trisha
Direction: Gautham Menon
Screenplay: Gautham Menon
Story: Gautham Menon, Sridhar Raghavan, Thiagarajan Kumararaja
Music: Harris Jayaraj
Background score: Harris Jayaraj
Cinematography: Dan Macarthur
Dialogues: Gautham Menon
Editing: Anthony
Art direction: Rajeevan
Stunt choreography: Silva
Dance choreography: Brindha, Satish
Lyrics: Thamarai, Vignesh Shivan
PRO: Suresh Chandra
If a story has to be told with an individual who enjoys a larger than life persona off-screen, isn't that a challenge? With the premise of the story being simple and intact, Yennai Arindhaal is what Sathyadev experiences as a timid boy, an uptight cop, a passionate lover, a loving father and a killer with a heart. Thanks to Gautham, Ajith is utilized far more than the usual gimmicks and compulsions of a commercial hero. Ajith is made to cry, look defeated, feel his pain, and also get hurt quite a lot of times. If the ardent, dedicated followers of Ajith can accept Yennai Arindhaal, then the actor Ajith is coming closer to you.
What if all that you want in life tends to move away from you? What will you do to save the rest from leaving you? Ajith as Sathyadev delivers the right emotion and is effortless with the multiple transformations his character goes through. With quintessential similarities between the real Ajith and Sathyadev, you tend to see the gentler, well-groomed, well-bred and a genuine Ajith on screen. With the envying looks and the sweltering screen presence, Ajith is undeniably one of the smartest looking heroes we have, giving no work for the make-up artists. If you have a problem differentiating the class Ajith and the mass Ajith, then Yennai Arindhaal might give you an alternate experience of watching a Thala movie.
Gautham's untiring efforts in positioning womanhood, the unadulterated love for somebody, addressing the plight of single parents, the clinical touch of a father, the insecurity of a villain and the pain of losing something, is a tried and tested template of his and he uses it here too.
Trisha has replaced Jyothika as Gautham's favorite female lead and she continues to give us the same feeling since the Lesa Lesa days, with her beauty and elegance. She excels as a mother and scores with her love filled eyes. With all the focus on Ajith and Ajith only, Anushka gets a fair share of the pie with her non-dramatic acting. If a baddie needs to trouble Sathyadev, he has to look powerful, think cunning and not have second thoughts about hitting. Arun Vijay looks macho, has a flawless body, wears rich costumes and his hairstyle will very soon set a trend. Victor's (Arun) wife, Parvathy Nair gets a noticeable role and has perfectly done what has been told. Vivek evokes laughter when you badly need it and is sticking to his Padikathavan days' facial expressions.
Harris' songs emotionally cement Yennai Arindhaal. Back to back numbers in the first half will enlarge your expectations on the second half. Kudos to Gautham for making songs a part of the narrative and preventing them from becoming obstrucive. With so much to tell in a single film, YA spends a lot on establishing, then finally dwells into a conflict, then diving into a denouement.
If actors need to bring a vigorous physical change and act their lungs out, Ajith can gravitate the same feeling with a walk and a fearsome look. Special credits to him for opening up to a story like this and giving what it needs, than eyeing for moments that would multiply his ever-growing fan base.
Coming to the technicalities, Dan's camerawork is equally stunning and sensually colorful. He is a promising find. Anthony is Gautham's partner-in-crime and he does set the much needed pace and gives an extra hand with the non-linear narration. His cuts and transitions add an overall value. Silva's realistic stunts look painful and feel hard. Harris' BGM with pulsating dub-step, guitars on distortion and sax with the pianos in the backing, gratify every dimension of the emotions portrayed.
If you are going to see applause for the usage of foul language, then it's Yennai Arindhaal. Some prompted acting, Gautham templated dialogues, an already exposed story are few minuses that Yennai Arindhaal carries. The oscillations between the 'Mellisaana Kodu' create a stir.
Yennai Arindhaal is a feeling, a learning that just takes sometime to tell you the story, by not dramatizing events and exaggerating factors. Finally, Gautham should be credited for making a movie not for Ajith fans, but one which Ajith's fans will enjoy! Isn't that what good cinema is about?
Verdict: It's Gautham's movie with Ajith adding colour admirably
