Suresh Krishna is an experienced director and has made many successful films with superstar Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. He has showed no less zeal and enthusiasm in making 'Parattai Engira Azhagu with Rajini's son-in-law Dhanush in the lead. But he was constricted by a lack of cogent storyline and stale plots. The film is a remake of the Kannada "Jogi", which was a hit. It is a story based on action-oriented emotion-charged mother-son relationship.
Here goes the story...
Azhagu Sundaram (Dhanush) is only son of his parents. His father dies of illness and Azhagu leaves his village near Tirunelveli to Chennai in search of a job, leaving his loving mother (Archana) behind and without informing her. His intention is to make money and go back to his mother. He does make enough money and as he is returning to his village to rejoin his mother, the villain (Adhitya) provokes him to a fight. In the ensuing fight, Azhagu kills Adhitya. This unforeseen incident changes Azhagu's life. A naive village lad turns a 'Dada' going by the name of Parattai. He endears himself to the people around him with his good deeds.
Meanwhile, mother (Archana), worried by her son's absence, comes to the city looking for him. It is a game of hide and seek- mother searching for son and son pining for his mother and longing to find her. As a counselor, Khader Bhai (Nazar) tells him "Take up your sickle and you will find your mother." Undergoing unspeakable suffering, he wields the knife and ends up as a killer.
Dhanush is convincing in the lead role. His portrayal of Azhagu is touching. He could not have done better with a weak script. The unending and fruitless search by son and mother for each other in a crowded city tests the patience of the audience.
Teaming up with Dhanush is Meera Jasmine as Shwetha, who plays a student journalist out to identify Parattai with a picture of Azhagu. She plays her part in her characteristic style.
Archana, a National Award winner, lives up to her image as a talented actress, notwithstanding the fact that she had been off the screen for 14 years.
Nazar is given a role which is not weighty enough, but he still his performance is superb. Santhanam provides the comic relief. Gurukiran's tunes are melodious. "Nee Rasthali" is a sweet number.
Less of Parattai and more of Azhagu would have made the film a mega hit as Suresh Krishna would have wished.
