Savaale Samaali Movie Review

September 4, 2015

2 minutes read

Review Overview

Performances

Plot & Narration

Technical aspects & Music

Good motives, mediocre narrative.

Sathyasiva’s next offering post Kazhugu is a half-baked product of sorts, a film which has its own share of moments, but doesn’t end up contributing to the big picture. At the end of it all, you lionize the director for his magazine of ideas. But the gun which he puts them in, has been rusting out in the sun for too long

Cast: Ashok Selvan, Bindu Madhavi, Jagan, Oorvasi, Naasar, Karunas, Paravai Muniyamma & others

Cinematography: Shelvakumar

Music: Thaman

Editing: Ahmed

PRO: Mounam Ravi

Written & Directed by: Sathyasiva

Produced by: A & P Groups & Wave Media Productions

Release Date: 04-09-2015

Run Time: 02:18:00

Savaale Samaali is a film which follows the perfunctory, tried-and-tested love-comedy route with a peppering of TV tropes. Sathyasiva’s next offering post Kazhugu is a half-baked product of sorts, a film which has its own share of moments, but doesn’t end up contributing to the big picture.

Thirty minutes into the film, and you will find signs that the director has gone off track in an attempt to combine TV spoofs and moral values along with the mainstream commercial elements. The film does have a good premise with enough scope to make the ride worthwhile. Unfortunately, it makes way to stale clichés which ooze out the essence. Forced songs, comic skits and a bag of contrivances in the second half do not help the film, but thankfully come a few saving graces which make it a bearable show.

Savaale Samaali is a first for Ashok Selvan on many fronts. After getting typecast in serious roles, it is a step in a different direction for the actor in a newfound comic space with some dance too, embedded within. However, he looks stiff and uncomfortable doing something which is not his forte, as the walls of the room for improvement seem far apart. Jagan flows in with his galling one-liners which do not work in his favour, barring a few. While the younger woman bring nothing to the party, it is the veterans in the form of Oorvasi and Paravai Muniamma who help you tickle the funny bone at times. You cannot help but forget Karunaas’ page-long dialogue about the ‘koothu’ artists which just might be the best scene in the film. Technically or musically, there is nothing to take away from the film, which redefines average in those aspects.

Yet, Sathyasiva must be lauded for bringing some secrets about the TV business into the limelight. While he does open up on talk shows, call-for-a-song snippets and the much talked about ‘reality show which unites lovers’ the frequent entry of piquing on real-life personalities for the sake of gags could have been avoided. The climax too, is a different attempt which doesn’t exactly fire on all cylinders. At the end of it all, you lionize the director for his magazine of ideas. But the gun which he puts them in, has been rusting out in the sun for too long.