Movie Review: 80s Build Up
Studio Greens's laugh riot, director Kalyaan's Santhanam starrer 80's Build Up, hit theatres today on November 24th.
The film is set in the 80's, with Santhanam playing a Zamindar's son, a, a huge movie buff and ardent fan of Kamal Haasan. When his grandfather suddenly dies on the day of Kamal's film release, all hell breaks loose.
He is unable to see the film FDFS. Not only that, relatives pile in along with strangers who are after the dead body, looking for diamonds inside it. His Dad ( Naren) gets drunk and falls for one of his grandfathers' ex girlfriends ( Anandraj in drag, out to get back the diamonds), not knowing her real identity.
But there is silver lining as well. A beautiful girl ( Radhika Preeti) also enters his life when she comes for the condolence with her mom. But everytime he starts to woo her, his sister and her friends intrude to spoil his plans.
All this is being watched by the dead soul, along with Yamaraj, Chitragupta and others from heaven ( KS Ravikumar, Muniskanth, Redin Kingsley).
What happens to the lovers? How did the diamonds get into the grandfather's stomach? Do the villains get away with their plans?
The film is replete with references to the 80s and tries to rope in the nostalgia in chunks, right from costumes, mannerisms and period references.
A large plethora of veteran supporting cast members keep entering the scenes, each being given apt screen time, keeping the viewer engaged and bringing their own brand of humor.
Santhanam is back doing what he does best, ie making people laugh, and carries the film effortlessly on his shoulders, ably supported by the large cast and the fast paced screenplay, replete with witticisms and situational comedy.
The large rural family set up lends itself well to a variety of situations for humor and Kalyan uses them to advantage.
Santhanam and Radhika Preeti make a good pair while Anandraj in a lady get up does a good job of his role.
The songs, though refreshing and well shot, act as speedbreakers after a while.
The visuals are good and the bgm by Ghibran fits the scenario.
However, all the jokes may not land and some scenes get too loud and a few get crass. The large house set and props give off a tv serial vibe in several places and could have been better handled. Scenes seem repetitive at times.
Overall, the film is aimed at family audiences, offering its own brand of humor, with touches of nostalgia, a plethora of character actors and mindless fun in Santhanam style.
Rating 3/ 5
*80's Build up Cast and Crew Details*
Studio Green K.E. Gnanavelraja presents Santhanam Starring '80s build up'written and directed by S Kalyaan
Movie Credits:
Starring :
SANTHANAM
RADHIKA PREETHI
K.S.RAVIKUMAR
ANAND RAJ
MANSOOR ALI KHAN
R.SUNDAR RAJAN
AADUKALAM NAREN
MUNISHKANTH
REDIN KINGSLEY
MOTTAI RAJENDIRAN
THANGADURAI
SWAMINATHAN
MANOBALA
MAYILSAMY
SANGEETHA
KALAIRANI
SUBHASHINI KANNAN
ASHWIN
MIPPUSAMY
ARJAI
“COOL” SURESH
VINOTH SAGAR
“SUPER GOOD” SUBRAMANI
SHESHU
Directed by : S KALYAN
Director of Photography : JACOB RATHINARAJ
Music : GHIBRAN
Art : A.R. MOHAN
Editor : M.S.BHARATHI
Action : RAVI STUNT & HARI DINESH
Dialogues : S KALYAN
Writer : S KALYAN
Lyrics : MUTHAMIL & ENNUM MANGGALAM PALANESAMY
Recording Engineer : TONY J
Chief Co Director : -
Costume Designer : PALANI
Costumes : -
Makeup :
A.R.ABDUL RAZAK
MOHAMED
ANAND
VENKATESHWARAO(HAIR DRESSER)
PAVITHRA.B (HAIR STYLIST)
Special Make up -
Choreography : DINESH & ROCK SHANKAR
Sound Design : A.SATHIS KUMAR
Stills : SAI SANTOSH
Publicity Design : GIBSON UGA
Colorist: SIVA SANKAR V
VFX : CRAYON MEDIA
Co-Directors : -
Associate Director :
V.DINESH KUMAR
THIMIRI C.THIAGARAJAN
ASHOKAMAL
Production Controller : -
Production Executive : SASIKUMAR.N
KALYAAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES Executive Producer: M.S. ANAND
Production Co-ordination : E. V. DINESHKUMAR
PRO : SATHISHKUMAR
Digital Partner : Prime Video
Digital Promotions & Creative Promotions: -
Studio Green Executive Producer : A. G. RAJA
Studio Green CEO G. Dhananjeyan
Co-Producer: Neha Gnanavelraja
Produced by : K.E. Gnanavelraja
Banner : Studio Green