'Pagiri' deals with the ill effects of Government’s liquor policy and the dwindiling future of Agriculture and the film proves that good intentions are not enough to make a good film.

Murugan (Prabhu Ranaveeran) is the son of a farmer (Supergood Subramani) and holds a undergraduate degree in Agriculture. His father wants him to take up farming but he is hellbent on getting a job in NASMAC (read TASMAC), as he sees it as a respectful Government job that offers social security.

The local politician (K.Rajan) who has the power to induct employees for NASMAC, demands a bribe of Rs.5 lakhs. Murugan starts working as a bartender to earn that money. He falls in love at first sight with the daughter (Shravya) of a drunkard man (A.Venkatesh) who often visits the bar where Murugan is working.

Murugan with the help of his lover and her mother (serial actress Rani) manages to get the job by paying the bribe but at the same time the struggle for Total Prohibition intensifies with the support of those seeking political mileage out of it.

This affects Murugan’s ambition and his survival becomes a question mark. How he comes out of this problem forms the rest.

Debutant director Esakki Karvannan has attempted to deliver some socially relevant messages about the pathetic situation created by the liquor policy of successive Tamil Nadu Governments. The film also throws light on the deep rooted corruption in the Government organisation that has taken over the monopoly of selling liquor.

But despite its good intentions and some sharp and witty dialogues which shows off the deep understanding and genuine care of the writer-director about the issue, the film fails to engage the audience due to poor production values, uninteresting narration and portions added for entertainment mostly failing to achieve their purpose.

Yes the film has some bold and hard hitting criticisms and satires about the current and previous Governments and also the two big political parties that are ruling the state for the past five decades. Most of these criticisms are genuine and would have achieved the desired impact in a better film. The criticisms go overboard with a personal troll on a former Chief Minister about his age and longevity. (The name is not revealed but his yellow colour shawl and voice are enough for even a kid to connect it with a nonagenarian politician of Tamil Nadu) But the writer-director can not be faulted alone as this particular dialogue evokes a burst of a laughter in the theatre.

There are also some heart-rendering dialogues about the greatness of Agriculture mostly uttered by a character in a dramatic manner.

But at times we got confused whether the director opposes or supports the Government selling liquor. The protesters of liquor sale are shown as those doing it for personal or political benefits. The heroine and her mother dutifully go in search of a place to open a Nasmac retail outlet and they end up giving their own home for this purpose. Why dont they even think of suggesting the hero to look for any other job?

The film ends abruptly and the change in the hero’s mindset is also not convincingly portrayed. Even before that, we are at a loss to fathom what makes the hero hellbent on getting this jon in spite of stiff opposition from his father. With the money he gets he could have better opted for any other Government job.

The director has tried to infuse comedy with the an unsuccessful and useless politician played by Ravi Maria who is after the heroine’s mother and wants to acquire her from her husband. These sequences may be laugh-worthy to a certain section of audiences and cringe-worthy to many.

Debutant Prabhu Ranaveeran is apt for his role. Shravya makes a good impression with her charming looks and the scope provided by the character to perform. Venkatesh and Ravi Mariya’s attempts to make us laugh fall flat in most occasions. Serial actress Rani as heroine’s mother gives a neat performance. Supergood Subramani is adequate as a farmer who is emotionally attached to his profession.

A couple of songs by Karunas are humworthy while re-recording by S.N.Arunagiri is often loud and eratic. Cinematography and other technical aspects just fit the bill.

Verdict: Good intentions and poor script result in a uninspiring film.