Ayudham Seivom makes no impact

Based on a script that plays spoilsport, Pyramid Saimira's maiden Tamil production venture, Ayudham Seivom (We Shall Forge Weapons), the title of which is derived from Subramaniya Bharati's song Vellipani malaiyin meedhulavuvom, immortalised in the Sivaji Ganesan film Kappalottiya Thamizhan, promises you a lot of action, comedy and thrills.

Directed by Udhayan of Perarasu fame, the potboiler stars fisticuff expert Sundar C doing what he does best -- making a grand entrance and getting into a commotion with politicians.

We have VBR (Manivannan), a downright corrupt ex-minister who opens up Mahatma Gandhi statues and Saidai Sathya (Sundar C) who brandishes his regulation goonda stuff by beating up people, yelling, drinking and essentially fulfilling every hooligan tradition there is, for the right price.

Sidekick Traffic Constable Kandhasamy (Vivek) provides plenty of laughs while aiding his friend in obstructing traffic. Both of them are caught under the righteous glare of social activist/lawyer Udhayamoorthi (Vijaykumar), who takes up PILs (public interest litigation) and is the bane of corrupt officials. Sentenced by the court for their misdemeanour, they end up in the Gandhi Museum in Madurai, supposedly for their reformation.

A few hilarious incidents are provided by the antics of caretaker (Nasser) and Sathya's romantic interest Meenakashi (Anjali), where the caretaker's keen devotion to Gandhi clashes with Sathya's rough and ready tactics. Sathya ropes in glitzy actress Malavika to spread Gandhi-consciousness and the two manage to declare truce.

Matters take a turn, however, when Udhayamoorthi, who has been collecting damaging evidence against VBR, is hunted by Sathya and killed off. The man spouts words of wisdom as he dies and ends up torturing Sathya in ways he never bargained for.

So far, so good. It's what happens next that makes you laugh (in disbelief) and cry (in frustration) as an incredibly childish screenplay tosses you in turmoil. Sathya takes up the cudgels on behalf of Udhayamoorthi (naturally) but decides that given the lack of evidence, he will instead plead for justice using ahimsa.

Not really a bad thing on paper but as they say it's the execution that matters. And that's where everything falls flat.

Sundar C is his usual flamboyant best: there's something to be said for a man who knows his drawing-power, and uses them to his advantage. On the other hand, his repeated rowdy-roles are beginning to pall a little.

And what on earth is Anjali, who gave a neat performance in Katrathu Thamizh, doing here, dropping towels and rolling around with the hero? She's got absolutely nothing to do except roll her eyes.

Vivek is his usual sarcastic best, and even if he doesn't really deliver punch dialogues, he's so established by now that you begin to laugh the minute he appears. Like the Satyaraj-Manivannan hit combo, the Sundar-Vivek combination works as well, a la Sandai.

Manivannan plays the villain, and it's a credit to his talent that he can turn such a cardboard-role into something 3D. Suganya appears very briefly as the murdered collector who goes around washing vessels in strange houses. Nasser's role is a caricature of what a Gandhian should be, while Malavika sizzles; Napoleon, as Encounter Ezhumalai, fizzles.

But it's Udhayan who ought to shoulder the mammoth responsibility for the movie's plot-holes. Ayudham Seivom, with the tagline, "For Peace," except for the humour department makes no impact.

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