Vanmurai Paguthi movie review: Manikandan is the right actor for the rage filled role

Director: Naga

Cast: Manikandan, Rifiajaffer, Manogara, Raja and Jaimari

Vanmurai Paguthi is loud, bloodthirsty, and has a good dose of suspense to keep you engaged. Given the tensed nature of the film, you can expect emotions to swing wildly with anger reigning supreme. And so it seems, with Muniyasamy (Manikandan), a village lowlife who is easily irritable finds himself shunned from the community due to his frequent outbursts. But such character deficiencies often begin early in life in the family and his mom Chinnathai (Dindigul Dhanam) blames his drunkard dad for all his troubles.

Chinnathai wants to get Muniyasamy married but he is rejected at all turns. This in turn fuels their rage even further, alienating not just the villagers but also the audience. Eventually, through an acquaintance, they found a woman who might be willing to marry Muniyasamy. When his mom questions the girl on her knowledge of her husband-to-be, things begin to look bleak once again. The girl’s family cancels the wedding and thus enters the real drama of the film: a story of revenge. Muniyasamy is determined to get her, while the girl has her brothers to come to her aid.

Vanmurai Paguthi reveals key insights as to why a particular region of Tamil Nadu is often prone to violence. The hero is frequently obnoxious, making it hard for the audience to even care for his troubled past. But he does have plenty of action when his suitor’s brothers clash with him. Thrilling stunt sequences and raw emotions does make for some interesting viewing. Debutante director Naga has also done a decent job in not lecturing the masses on the virtues and vanities of the region. But ultimately, Vanmurai Paguthi suffers from a lack of refinement and two-dimensional characters.

Manikandan is the right actor for that rage filled role. Some of the native elements unique to the district serve as amusements as well. A more rehearsed cast and improved character development would have made this a regional hit.