'Goli Soda 2' - Strong in content
Vijay Milton's 'Goli Soda' is one of the most intense films of the new millennium in Tamil that received critical acclaim and also won at the box office in spite of having just four adolescents in the lead banking on the story and action. Does the sequel do the same remains to be seen.
The film starts with Natesan (Samuthirakani) taken into custody by cop Raghavan (Gautham Vasudev Menon) who grills him about three missing men and he narrates the story. Maaran (Bharath Seeni) is the henchman of a harbour gangster Thillai(Chemban Vinod Jose) who is in love with Inba (Subiksha) who is forcing him to quit the bad life. Heeding his lover's advice Maaran tells his boss that he wants to get out and is let go off with an ominous warning. Oli (Esakki Bharath) works in a parotta shop and dreams of playing basket ball. He falls in love with a girl Madhie (Krisha Kurup) who also reciprocates which angers her caste obsessed uncle (Stun Siva). Shiva (Vinod) is an honest auto driver who wants to buy a taxi next but is cheated of his investment by a corrupt councilor (Saravana Subbaiah). Natesan (Samuthirakani) is a pharmacist to whom all the three boys are known separately and helps them whenever he can. A situation arises when Maaran has to go against his ex-boss, Oli to take on his lover's uncle and Shiva decides to take revenge on the councilor. Does this bring the three men together and what happens to them and their loved ones forms the rest of the screenplay.
Among the debutantes both Esakki Bharath and Vinod have done full justice to their roles and are natural as the parotta shop worker and auto driver respectively. Vijay Milton's brother Bharath Seeni as Maaran has look of the henchman and scores in the romance and fight scenes but could have done better in the emotional sequences. Subiksha and Krisha Kurup as the romantic interests of the boys have done what is required. Samuthirakani has got the role of a loser which is a departure from his usual ones and shines in it. Gautham Menon as the interrogating cop is quite effective . Veterans Rekha, Rohini, Saravana Subbaiah, Chembian Vinod Jose, Stun Silva and the rest of the caste are adequate.
The entire first half moves at a brisk pace and the unfolding of the three storylines makes it engaging. The sharp dialogues including some that take pot shots at the current state and center politics get huge response from the audiences. The idea of how selfish middlemen decide how the life of the downtrodden should shape is well explored. A few nice directorial touches include Rohini explaining her stand about her daughter through drawings, the clandestine love affair between Rekha and Kani and the character of a blind little girl with extra perception. The point where the three hero's unite though cinematic produces the desired results.
On the downside there are a few logic loopholes like how the dreaded badmen would let these three off the hook so easily after a murder attempt and the end where the heroes trust one of the bad guys. Once the trio get together the fights become too unbelievable and the film loses its realistic charm and ends up like your average masala.
Achu Rajamani has tuned in pleasant songs especially "Pondatee" which is also choreographed and performed well by Sridhar. The background score too is a plus. Editor Deepak has employed innovative cutting patterns in many scenes but speeding up the already confusing end fight scene is a letdown. Vijay Milton has photographed, written and directed the film keeping it engaging and entertaining in most parts. Where he has let himself down compared to the original gem is taking too many cinematic liberties in this one.
Verdict : Go for this engaging film that has a mix of honest social commentary as well.
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