The last few months have been a golden period for small films in Kollywood. A lot of young filmmakers and actors are jumping into the rollercoaster industry of Tamil cinema to prove themselves in films that may have a small budget but are big in terms of quality and story.
The makers of Dhoni Kabaddi Kuzhu that released this week would be hoping that the same trend of small films making it big in box-office continues for their film too.
The story revolves around Tharani (Abhilash) and his friends. The good-for-nothing group are die-hard fans of Dhoni and they while away their time to play gully cricket in a local ground that they considered their own since childhood.
One day, the original owner of the ground sells it to a local goon and the only way for these guys to reclaim it is by paying Rs 3 lakh within 10 days. The friends device many ways to collect money and as a last resort, they decide to participate in a kabaddi tourney in a village nearby for the prize money. Whether these cricket players win the kabaddi tournament forms the rest of the story.
It is honourable that the makers have tried to give their best and build up a good image for our native sport, kabaddi. But, it is sad that though their attempts are praiseworthy, they have botched up a bit in the execution. The film is dragging in the first half and the humour, if any, fails to make us laugh on most occasion.
Things get better in the second half though as the movie gets in on the kabaddi action. But what is funny is that the serious and tense moments that the director hopes to make us sit on the edge of the seat, do the exact opposite and make us laugh.
However, this in no way is negative, as it makes the film more enjoyable, especially if you are watching it with a bunch of friends
The performance of the actors deserves a praise. Abhilash in lead role is the child artist who had acted in the 2000s TV series ‘My Dear Bhootham’.
The talented actor has made justice to his role. The beautiful actress, Leema Babu has very limited screen space but charms us whenever her scene comes.
Director Iyyappan must be lauded for his genuine attempt to give importance to Kabadi. Dhoni Kabaddi Kuzhu is a fun film to watch and enjoy with friends and family.