Movie Review : Star
Kalai ( Kavin) has grown up with a deep rooted desire to be a film hero right from childhood. This dream has been nurtured by his father ( Lal) who supports his son's passion and fans the flame of his desire to succeed on the big screen. So much so, he will do anything for his son, even though he may not have enough resources at hand.
But when despite trying his best, Kalai's dream seems to remain just that, is it time to give up? Especially, since an accident has now scarred his face and this dashed his remaining hopes?
Do his family, his girlfriend Meera Malarkodi ( Preity Mukhundan) and later his wife ( Aditi Pohankar ) stand by him? How does this consuming passion change him as a person? Does he fulfil his lifelong dream to be a star?
Star is clearly Kavin's show all the way and the actor pulls off all stops and gives a superlative performance. He excels not just in the quiet moments as the innocent youngster with a dream in his eyes and a spring in his step to conquer the world, but in the emotional highs and lows, when he cries, when he learns life lessons or when he reveals how he can no longer wear a mask of being normal, when his shattered dreams are gnawing him from the inside. It's in moments like these that we get a peek into Kalai's mind and Kavin brings him to life in many such moments all through the film.
Lal as his father and Geeta Kailasam as his protective mom are spectacular. Preity Mukhundan in her debut gives an impressive and confident performance while Aaditi Pohankar from Bollywood, manages effortlessly to step into the shoes of Surabhi, the doting, supportive lover and wife (Though in a few places, the actor's attention seems more focussed on getting her lines right, which shows up on screen somehow).
The highs and lows of an aspiring actor's life are well brought out by director Elan, on whose personal relationship with his dad, who is an actor himself, the film is based upon. Many moments in the journey are bound to strike a chord with those on the difficult road of seeking to fulfil dreams while for others, it offers an insight into an artiste's struggles and mindset.
The role of family and friends in such a journey is well documented.
On the flip side, a few scenes seem contrived and a tad off key, as when Kalai goes without any prep to the film school auditions (which he could not even afford), or the way he is rejected. The scenes relating to the climax and Vetrimaaran's audition are confusing to say the least. A bit more attention could have been given to the workings of Kalai's mind all through his weak phase on why he continues to chase a dream, when the financials are so bad at home, in order to make us feel more empathy with him.
Kavin carries Star on his shoulders with a sincere and superlative perfomance, ably supported by a solid cast, with romance, drama and a well-mounted production completing the picture, of an interesting peek into the struggles, hopes, sacrifices and despair, behind many a successful face on the silver screen.
Rating 3.5 /5
STAR - CAST AND CREW
PRODUCTION -RISE EAST ENTERTAINMENT & SRI VENKATESWARA CINE CHITHRARELEASE - SSI PRODUCTIONS
CO PRODUCERS - P RUPAK PRANAV TEJ, SUNIL SHAH, RAJA SUBRAMANIAN
PRODUCERS - B.V.S.N PRASAD, SREENIDHI SAGAR
CAST
KAVIN as KALAIARASAN
LAL as PANDIAN
AADITI POHANKAR as SURABHI
PREITY MUKUNDHAN as MEERA MALARKODI
GEETHA KAILASAM as KAMALA
MAARAN as ANWAR BHAI
KAADHAL SUGUMAR as SUGUMAR
NIVEDITHA RAJAPPAN as SELVI
DEEPZ as GULABI
RAJA RANI PANDIAN as SURABHI DAD
SANJAY SWAROOP as SUNNY VARMA
DHEERAJ as OFFICE BOSS
CREW
DIRECTOR - ELAN
WRITER- ELAN
DOP - EZHIL ARASU K
MUSIC - YUVAN SHANKAR RAJA
EDITOR - PRADEEP E RAGAV
BANNER - RISE EAST ENTERTAINMENT & SRI VENKATESWARA CINE CHITHRA
CO PRODUCERS - P RUPAK PRANAV TEJ, SUNIL SHAH, RAJA SUBRAMANIAN
PRODUCED BY - B.V.S.N PRASAD, SREENIDHI SAGAR
RELEASE - SSI PRODUCTIONS
PRO - YUVRAAJ
