Yuga: Commendable effort

50 film technicians got together and pooled resources to form the banner Creative Force. The result is Yuga. Despite limited resources, the film directed by Yaar Kannan has been able to make a mark in terms of content and technical excellence.

Bhanu (Swarnamalya) assists Professor Narendran (Nasser), an astronomer. The professor who has a study centre in the Kollimala Hills looks through the telescope and finds craters from the moon hurtling towards Earth. One falls in the backyard of a lady scientist who is writing a book on a cult group out to destroy evil. The professor hides the news of the impending disaster. Apparently, these craters contain toxic elements that will destroy the earth and, eventually, the moon.

Meanwhile, Bhanu discovers that her father (Charuhassan) leads a secret cult. When its secret is threatened, one of the members commits suicide. There are dead spirits involved, and the cult's objective is to have a world inhabited only by its members.

When a group of students land up at Kollimala to stay with the professor, one of the students (Boys Manikantan) happens to see the cult members at their hideout. This leads to his death. The boy's disappearance spurs the others to start a hunt for the cult members. It takes them to the group's secret hideout. Do they manage to stop the cult? Will our planet be saved? Watch the climax.

The director has touched upon two points in this sci-fi thriller. He shows the fallacies of a cult, and the dangers we face from forces in space. As both subjects are serious, the director has failed to do them full justice. Also, keeping commercial aspects in mind, he has added a lot of item numbers.

Yuga must be credited for the work put in by its many lesser-known technicians. AVM gave out free studio space, while Digital Magic's Arul Moorthy put in his equipment and technical expertise for the special effects. Dhina's background score is a major plus. Action choreography (Kannal Kannan and Anal Arasu) and song choreography (Shanthi and Shoby) also score, while Sibiyon's cinematography captures the rugged terrain very well.

Nasser, as the professor, plays his part well. Swarnamalaya -- the TV anchor- turned-actress -- is the surprise packet. She emotes well and scores in this non-glamorous role. As the head of the students, Richard has little to do. Santoshi, who played the lead in Jai, cuts a sorry figure in hot pants and mini-skirts.

On the whole, a commendable effort, considering it was completed with great difficulty.

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