Irudhi Suttru. I am knocked out.

When our superstars and divas are keeping the till at plastic surgeons’ clinking with their anti-aging treatments, Botox shots and such, there are the Ajit Kumars , Vijay Sethupathis and Madhavans who show the world that it’s not just wine that gets better with age. Coach Prabhu is middle aged, divorced, hot headed and he thrashes people verbally and physically. He sleeps around with married women. Here is Maddy in a very different avatar. He swears but his pronunciation is perfect. When Madhi calls him ‘kezhavaa’, he doesn’t flinch. And I go to Wikipedia: Madhavan is 45 years old. And I am 30 years old. When did this happen?!

The star of the film is Ritika Singh. Undoubtedly! She plays the part North Indian, North Madras fishmonger, Mohammad Ali fan to the hilt. Did you notice that she wears no makeup? In most part of the movie, she wears what is expected out of someone like her. She wears a chunky, random metal chain held together by a safety pin. The boxer sisters share a pair of shoes. And her single handed push up set knocked me out. Now, THAT is a heroine. She can punch, box and act! I think I am in love with her. And I am motivated to learn that elusive push up. 

It’s not just Madhi who makes the mistake of falling in love with the ruffian Prabhu. The female audience falls for him unanimously, hook, line and sinker. Once again, after Alai Payuthey. After a decade and a half. Oh, those boxer arms, the solo bike trip from Hissar to Chennai, the aviators, the acchu pizhai illaadha pronunciation, the way he says, ‘composite bow’ ( Don’t ask me why I chose this). I think this post should revive the #ChennaiFloods hashtag! 

Does Santosh Narayan have it in him to be the next big thing in Tamil film music? Possibly. His choice of singers amazes me. Gaana Bala rendered awesome jazz in Pizza. And here’s a wonderful new voice singing, ‘Aye Sandaikkara’. 

So, what did I like in this movie?
Madhi, in all her fervour, wears a saree and ‘dresses up’, chases Prabhu with meen kozhambu and says, ‘Master, I love you, Master’. He brushes her aside saying, ‘I am old enough to be your father’. How many Indian actors have the courage to say that on screen today? I liked it that the movie does not end with a romantic angle to this beautiful mentor and protégé relationship. Much is left to the viewer’s discretion. That’s a wonderful deviation from Tamil masala.
It’s a movie for little girls who have great dreams.
Proselytization is portrayed funnily enough. 

Maddy, you are back. The sharp tongued, beer guzzling boxing coach who turns all suave in a suit. You are quite the package.