7aum Arivu Movie Review

7aum Arivu Movie Review :Fails to Live upto Hype

7AUM ARIVU MOVIE REVIEW

Cast: Suriya, Shruthi Haasan, Johnny Tri Nguyen, Ramanathan
Production:Udhayanidhi Stalin
Direction: A.R. Murugadoos
Music: Harris Jayaraj
Cinematography: Ravi K. Chandran
Stunt: Peter Hein

Amidst mass commercial Tamil cinema where the hero behind villain and the heroines run around trees romancing the hero, comes 7aum Arivu. The Ghajini team comprising Suriya, director Murugadoss, Harris Jayaraj, and Peter Heincome together for a movie with a different theme. A sci-fi thriller which is a rarity in Tamil cinema.

However the biggest question now is whether the movie lives up to all hype and hoopla? Only in parts would be the answer. The movie begins with loads of promise and slowly become predictable and ends like any other mindless masala movie.

STORY LINE

The movie speaks about Pallava prince Bodhi Dharman (Suriya), who ventured to China in sixth century AD. He won a name for himself in China for his healing touch and propagating Tamil martial arts, which was later developed as Kung Fu. After his demise, he is worshipped as Tao by all in China.

Now the story comes to 2011. Aravindh (Suriya), a circus artiste falls for Suba Sreenivas (Shruthi Haasan), a research student. Aravindh and Suba become thick pals and the former falls for Suba’s charm. Meanwhile, he comes to know that Suba has some motive behind her acts.

Also a sequence of events reveal that Chinese government is planning to unleash harm to India by planning Operation red and sends Dong Lee (Johnny Tri Nguyen), a martial arts expert to Chennai. He is instructed to kill Suba for Chinese government fears that her research on Bodhi Dharman would hinder all their plans.

Suba comes to know that Bodhi Dharman was forefather of Aravindh and finds out that both their DNAs match. Now her task is bringing to life the heroics of Bodhi Dharman through Aravindh to thwart the plans of Chinese government. How they accomplish the task is what the movie is all about.

SCRIPT ANALYSIS

Murugadoss has undoubtedly come up with a new theme. He has also worked hard to present it on screen. But the way he unfolds the story leaves much to be desired. The first half an hour showing Bodhi Dharman’s life look like a documentary and the sequences in the present day are quite predictable and routine. His efforts to make the film gripping through the genetic engineering angle are not good enough to excite us. The Operation Red and the hypnotism tactics look like comical portions.

The ‘message’ on Tamil’s and India’s past glory sound as a rhetoric than a genuine voice. They don’t fit gel into the script is another problem.

The pre climax portions are quite predictable but the climax fight is awesome thanks to the stunt choreography by Peter Hein and acting by Surya and Johnny Tri.

CAST REVIEW

Suriya is the savior of the film. He has done his homework well. As Bodhi Dharman and as Aravindh he brings right variations in his performance. His serious looks as Bodhi Dharman compliment the role. His hard work is visible in every frame.

Shruti Haasan makes a good debut. She gets a meaty role to perform. Sadly the onscreen chemistry between her and Surya is missing.

Johnny Tri Nguyen, the Vietnamese star does the job ntrusted to him well. However he has been shown a man with abnormal powers in today’s contemporary world cannot be believed.

Ravi K Chandran‘s cinematography and Harris Jayaraj’s music manage to add some pep to the proceedings.Rajeevan’s art direction is good and interestingly the sets he enacted to replicate the DNA lab and the hamlets in China are amazing.

VERDICT

7aum Arivu is a different story but lack of thrilling moments, predictable sequence mars the flow. 7aum Arivu is no Ghajini, but stands out for a different attempt.