One cannot help but wonder at the chance prophetic tone of the title 'Kalavaadiya Pozhuthugal' as the movie has hit the screens after a long delay since the planned release. Does the film justify the seven year penance for release is to be examined.

The film has an age old, tried and tested staple story line of a middle class youngster (Prabhu Deva) falling head over heels for a girl(Bhumika) who hails from an affluent family. As do most stories from the previous decade, the girl’s father takes a dislike to Prabhu Deva and puts him behind bars by slamming a false case this is where the story picks up a little weight).

Prabhu Deva comes back from prison and settles into the routine, marriage et al. But fate has other plans for the poor guy. He rescues Prakash Raj from an accident, who unfortunately happens to be the guy who Bhumika is married. This brings a conundrum in the psyche of Bhumika who gets tangled in the triangular mess, reminding us of director Thangar Bachan’s much familiar and strong literary ploys.

Prabhu Deva has put in considerable work to bring his character to a believable status- love, romantic failure, life with a woman who wants the finer things of life, father to a loving child- it is very much apparent that Prabhu could anytime hang his dancing boots and clothe himself in the skin of an able performer.

Bhumika's character suffers in the chasm between her man and her lost love. The director has employed sensitivity in portraying her character attributes, which had the danger of sliding off into the lewd zone, but efficiently controlled by the director.

Prakash Raj is as comfortable in the shoes of a serious character role as he is in a villain role. His character almost ends up providing the much needed support in the story’s structure. Sathyaraj's appearance as Periyar in the film isn’t a utility to the story as is the odd placement of messages on social issues in a serious love drama.

The film has plenty of nostalgia to offer as you slowly nod and acknowledge to yourself,’Yes, this guy made 'Azhagi'. You have to give it to the director for having the knack to portray seemingly taboo subjects in the most palatable decent way that as a family you could watch them, thus reiterating his literary prowess.

However, the pace of the film would do no good to the patience of the present day audience, especially when they have paid to watch a movie that is anachronistic. Bharadwaj's music score is listenable with Thangar Bachan's lenswork accentuated with ‘life’.

Verdict: If you have zen like patience, you might get out with a palatable love story

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