Kusthi Review

Karthick and Prabhu created magic together on celluloid through Agni Natchatram. Both of them star sons were top lights in the industry long ago. So it must have been tempting to pair to conjure up the spirit of the past. This time around it is not action or high-octane exchanges, but humor that binds the duo together. The two actors, though looking over the hill, try manfully to salvage the movie. But the effort shows and the magic fails to materialize. The duo certainly deserved a script and story that took consideration their age and stature now. But the director has tried to cast them in yesterday mould, so the end result is a bit farcical.

The movie has a huge star cast with over 45 artistes and director Raj Kapoor has tried to give the all enough opportunities.

The movie begins with Jeeva (Prabhu), running away from his village to Chennai fearing a possible marriage with the daughter of a local chieftain (Radharavi), arranged by his father. He joins his old-friend Velu (Vadivelu), who runs a eatery in the city. Meanwhile, he saves a youth (Mahandahi Shankar), a henchman of a local goon Singam (Karthick) from some gangsters. Thus he gets the acquaintance of Singam. Meanwhile Singam come across Abi (Flora), a research scholar and  Jeeva meets Divya (Manya). Both fall in love with them. Enters another goon (Raj Kapoor), who leaves his stolen money with Singam. He runs behind Singam to get the money back.

Meanwhile Radharavi and his men come down to Chennai in search of Jeeva. Following a mishap, Jeeva admits Singam and an old woman Lakshmi (Latha) in a hospital. Mistaking Jeeva to be their missing grandson, Vijayakumar (father of Latha) and his relatives take him to Ooty. Fearing the Nattamai, Jeeva decides to go to Ooty and acts as their grandson.

Comes Singam with a plan to murder Vijayakumar. However he manages to win the heart of the family members and they arrange for Jeeva and Singam's wedding with Vijayakumar's grand daughters Abi and Divya.  Raj Kapoor and Radharavi enter the scene and all confusion begins. The rest is all but how both Jeeva and Singam succeed in walking away with Abi and Divya.

Prabhu and Karthick give us glimpse of their acting prowess. It is a role that Prabhu had done several times before. Happy to see Karthick back in action after a long gap. He does his job well. Vadivelu fails in his attempts to evoke humor.  While Manya and Flora ooze glamour.

The movie unfortunately lacks coherence. Almost all the characters speak lengthy dialogues. Imman's music is a big letdown. Had the movie been released almost an year ago, it could have made some difference.