Charulatha Review

We have grown up seeing movies where the lead actors do a double or triple act. But for the first time, here comes a story on conjoined twins.

However, the surprise stops here. The rest is almost a usual fare, which is about romance, mistaken identity and a twist in the climax.

Debutant Pon Kumaran, who had worked with the likes of K Bhagyaraj and K S Ravikumar, has chosen to go away from the path of his mentors to try his hand at a thriller.

Inspired by a Thai Film 'Alone', the movie has some moments to chill your spine.

Priyamani shoulders the whole burden. She is right there from frame one playing her part well to add pep to the proceedings. But a predictable storyline plays spoilsport.

Charu and Latha (both played by Priyamani) are conjoined twins. Charu lives with a guilt that her twin sister was operated and seprated from her.

After a couple of years of her sister's death, Charu returns to her native place. There she comes across the spirit of her sister who wants to kill her. She runs from pillar to post to save her life. Her lover Karthik (Skanda) comes to her rescue. But he too faces the wrath of Latha. There is a twist in the tale towards the climax.

The movie has many sub-plots that divert the attention. At places, it reminds of 'Eeram'. The visual effects are good especially the scenes at the bathroom and the one involving a tennis ball and a mirror.

Priyamani has proved why she was chosen for National award. She gives a matured performance. As a confident girl in Latha, she is there delivering her best. As the soft-spoken Charu, she gives the right variation.

The likes of Skanda, Saranya Ponvannan and Seetha chip in with their best, though they have no major say in the script.

A thriller demands a strong background score. Here is Sundar C Babu to fulfil it.

'Charulatha' is no doubt a novel attempt. But the execution could have been much better.