Dhoni Review

Feb 09, 2012
Review by : AK Content Team

Starring : Prakash Raj, Akash Puri, Nazer, Sarath Babu, Radhika Apte
Direction : Prakash Raj
Music : Ilaiyaraaja
Production : Duet Movies

Dhoni has to be the second film in recent times to question the inefficiency of our education system,the first being 3 Idiots. A brilliant mixture of a father’s dilemma about his son and the son’s passionabout cricket and not studies, the movie works well in many levels. And maestro Ilayaraja’s music ispredominant among them. The subject Dhoni deals with is quite unseen in Tamil cinema. The filmportrays a father’s angst at his son’s indifference towards his studies and later how he realizes theimportance of helping his son follow his passion. And yes, that’s the message of the movie – an excellentone at that. As said earlier, in the process the movie also questions the efficacy of our education system.

Forget the heart-warming narration between a father and his son and the father’s worry about the son’sfalling grades. It’s not too much to say that it’s Ilayaraja`’s music that makes all of it work. While thebackground score does immeasurable credit to the movie’s flow, the track \"Vaangum Panathukkum\"sung by SPB, after a long time, is just mind-blowing and in sync with the movie. There’s just noseparating the two as the song is so apt for the movie’s script.

Not only written and directed by Prakash Raj, the movie completely belongs to the man who provesto be the quintessential father caught between the son’s passion and his failing studies. The clash ofaspirations is brought out realistically and Prakash Raj, as Subramaniam couldn’t have been better inthe role. Subramaniam is a government employee, who wants his son to be an MBA, whereas his sonKarthik, played brightly by Akash, can’t count numbers for the love of his life. He is struggling for gradesbut his passion lies elsewhere – cricket.

He dreams to become a cricketer and make it big like Indian captain Dhoni. Dhoni is his inspiration andluckily he finds a savior in Nassar, his coach who discovers that the boy has something in him. But willSubramaniam let his son loose to pursue his passion in place of studies? Will the prevalent educationsystem not sideline the child for having a different passion, than studies? Dhoni answers all thosequestions – albeit in a bit of a melodramatic fashion.

While Prakash Raj as Subbu is pretty much responsible for the entire movie’s brilliance, Akash as his sonKarthik is not far behind. His spontaneity coupled with his emotive face makes the character come alivein the eyes of the viewer. The drama that unfolds is so not made-up and real, you feel you are watchingsomething you have witnessed happening in your neighborhood. Although all the actors are worth theirsalt, another worth mentioning performance is by Radhika Apte who plays the significant character inthe movie.

For the most part, the movie remains earnest and true to its script. Director Prakash Raj has consciouslyavoided clichés and melodramatic dialogues until almost the end. But in the end, the movie treadsthrough the familiar path and gets over-the-top towards the climax especially because of thesermonizing dialogues and the meet with the CM.

But forget all that. How often do you get to see a movie that has its heart in its right place? Somethingthat deals with a significant issue as the inefficient education system or the importance of followingone’s own heart – or letting your children follow theirs. For that reason alone, Dhoni is worth watching.Prakash Raj and Akash’s performance, Ilayaraja’s music and the relevance of the movie’s theme makethe movie one of the important movies of our times.

Verdict: Must watch!

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