Film Review: Dheena

UNMITIGATED VIOLENCE and unbelievable stunts interspersed with unpalatable sentiment of the cinema of the 1960s and 1970s, mar Vijayam Cine Combines's ``Dheena''. If the macabre acts of the hero fail to appeal or impress it is because none of his bloody adventures are justifiable. Neither are his brother's arguments acceptable.

The brothers, Adhikesavan (Suresh Gopi) and Dheenadhayalan (Ajit), romp around town as if they are God's gifts to the world. They are willing to undertake any unlawful act (of course for a price) if they feel that a wrong warrants redressal. They can commit any atrocity, but others better not dare, because then the brothers will strike! The gore projected lacks subtlety and finesse.

Ajit is an underworld king, for whom his brother Suresh's word is gospel. He kills and butchers people when told to. And when he begins to see the right and wrong of things, the brothers become enemies. Resolution is reached eventually when Dheena tells his brother that violence begets only violence, and pardoning the wrong-doer alone will bring peace.

Suresh Gopi and Ajit, at a very superficial level, remind us of Mammootty and Rajinikanth in ``Dhalapathi''. But the characterisations in the former lack the depth and clarity of the latter.A roly-poly, rugged looking Ajit is quite at home in stunts and romance but looks completely uncomfortable in the scenes that reek of sentiment. Particularly when the ration card verification shows that he is not the real brother of Adhikesavan, and when he showers gifts on his sister.

The little sister of Laila, Baby Sheela, evokes a smile in the sequence when she tells the hero, that she is only a cousin of the family and hence should not be harmed by Adhikesavan who plans to annihilate Laila's family. The gentle humour of the scene is enjoyable.

Sreeman makes a late entry but leaves a strong imprint. As a friend lending a helping hand to Ajit when he is in dire need, Sreeman presents an effective cameo. An actor with potential. She is chirpy and cheerful in the lighter sequences but serious reactions do not come easily to the cute, chinky-eyed Laila. The incidents conceived by A. R. Murugadas (who has written and directed the film), to make the lovers meet, are quite predictable.

Suresh Gopi manages to look menacing, but there is no strong screenplay to back him.

Yuvan Shankar Raja's songs lack the so-essential melodic appeal. Of course, ``Nee Illai Endral'' (sung by newcomer Murugan whom we hitherto knew only as a drummer) is a number that is on your lips even after you walk out of the theatre.

The recent healthy trend of introducing new lyricists and singers is seen in ``Dheena'' too. Lyricist Vijaysagar, also seems a recent entrant.

The scenic beauty of the locations have been captivatingly captured by Arvind.

All the same, one cannot but feel that brutality in ``Dheena'' could have been less blatant.

MALATHI RANGARAJAN

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