Romantic comedy explores the complexities of marriage

Title: Aan Paavam Pollathathu (Sin against men is dangerous)

Cast: Rio Raj, Malaivika Manoj, RJ Vigneshkanth, Sheela Rajkumar and A Venkatesh

Director: Kalaiarasan

Rating: 7/10

AFTER the success of Joe, Rio Raj and Malavika Manoj reunite for the romantic comedy Aan Paavam Pollathathu.

Siva (Raj), an IT employee, is introduced to Shakthi (Manoj) as a possible groom.

Her parents were on the lookout for a suitable husband for her because she had been rejected by many potential suitors in the past, and she did not seem to be interested in getting married. But all this changes when she is introduced to Siva. She is immediately smitten by him. Siva admires Shakthi as she lives life on her own terms as a young, modern feminist.

They couple marry and move into their own apartment, which was gifted to them by Siva’s parents. They live happy for more than a year until a small issue grows into a serious conflict and eventually pushes them toward the divorce court. What triggers the issue for their dissent, whether both their parents are aware of the discord in their marriage, and how the couple work their way through the situation form the rest of the story.

The strongest point of the film is its lead pair. Raj and Manoj share an easy, natural chemistry, and the way they bring out the couple’s warmth and conflict touches a cord with the viewer. Their performances carry the first half well, and the everyday moments between them are portrayed in all sincerity.

RJ Vigneshkanth (Lawyer Narayanan) and Sheela Rajkumar (Lawyer Lakshmi) are eased into the story in the second half and leave an impact despite their shorter screen time.

Vigneshkanth’s performance in the climax, backed by clear and meaningful dialogue delivery, is brilliant. His heartfelt dialogue hits home and makes you wonder whether feminism has gone a tad too far.

Debut director Kalaiarasan Thangavel has done well. Madhesh Manickam’s cinematography and Siddhu Kumar’s music complement the film. The songs are catchy and one can easily hum the tunes and enjoy the rhythm.

Aan Paavam Pollathathu is an engaging watch for family viewing for its natural humour and a relatable story for current times that will certainly elicit strong debate about feminism around the dinner table. There is no action scenes but you will not miss it as there is no need for action when words mean more than action. 

Aan Paavam Pollathathu is streaming on IPTV and various OTT platforms.

Michael Lachimiah is an MC. He has worked in community radio and on internet radio platforms.

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