Brammadeva can be avoided

There are times when bad acting and unnecessary distractions take you away from a reasonably good story. Royal Pentagon's Tamil film Brammadeva, directed by debutant V S Darmalingam, starring Dr Raam, is one of those which is a pity.

The film starts off in a crude fashion, by introducing you to the mandatory good family: Eesa (Dr Raam), is the adopted son of Paramasivam and his wife (a much slimmed down Pallavi), while their biological son Ezhil (Sanjay) pours love and affection on him. The two are never seen apart. They hold hands and voice endless declarations of their love for one another, which rather leads you to suspect their motivations. But it's all pure friendship, as they declare again and again.

All this is very irritating to Ezhil's cousin, Anju (Swathi), while there's a pointless secretary who shows off her curves (Mumaith Khan) as well though she disappears after a song.

Eesa and Ezhil might be friends forever but for certain bizarre events: Eesa is caught by sudden murderous rages, periods of black-outs where he remembers nothing. Murders occur and the police, led by the seemingly intelligent Dravidan (Livingstone) are on the trail and the surprise twist, which doesn't turn out to be all that of a surprise, is revealed.

There're only two problems which keep you from a halfway enjoyment of this fare, and they are Muthu Raja's terrible music and horrible lyrics, and Dr Raam's acting, which seems to consist of making faces at you. His eyes slant, mouth quirks and his facial muscles contort so much you're afraid he might have a seizure. Much later, you realise that he's been trying to act! And unwittingly, that forms a comedy track all by itself. Surprisingly, though, he does well as the limping Bramma, even if it's an act obviously inspired by Kamal in Pathinaru Vayathinile.

Livingstone is one of those safe actors whom you're sure of doing a good job. In fact, everyone, even Tejashree, has fulfilled their roles pretty well, expect for the hero. But then, he's also the comedian, so it matters little.

Brammadeva might have actually been a passable entertainer if it had been shored up a bit by the protagonist's acting, music and the climax.

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