Irandaam Ulaga Porin Kadaisi Gundu review: An unexplored premise, worth a watch

Direction: Athiyan Athirai

Cast: Dinesh, Anandhi, Munishkanth, Maarimuthu, Riythvika

Pa Ranjith who tasted huge success with his maiden production venture Pariyerum Perumal with a debutant director, has once again come out with his second Irandaam Ulaga Porin Kadaisi Gundu, with a new premise and directed by his protégé Athiyan Athirai. The film is about exploitation of workers in Kaayalaan Kadai (scrapyard), and is inspired from his real-life experiences while working as a laborer at a scrapyard.

The movie starts off with a bit of documentary where bombs were dumped in oceans in the aftermath of World War 2 and how it ends up in scrapyards and occasionally explodes when the workers try to dismantle the bomb thinking it as brass and iron.

Cut to Chennai, Selvam (Dinesh) is a lorry driver who is rebellious in nature (speaks of starting a union for scrapyard workers). He is employed at the local scrapyard.  His life aims are to buy his own lorry and to marry his girlfriend Chithra (Anandhi), a teacher. But his owner Baasha (Maarimuthu) is highly selfish and pays pittance to workers. And Chithra belongs to the upper caste and this comes in the way of their marriage.

Meanwhile, a bomb which was dumped on seas washes ashore near Mahabalipuram and ends up in a scrapyard. Selvam was given the responsibility of transporting a truckload of scrap including the unexploded bomb to another place.

Then there’s the local cop (Lijeesh) who is after the bomb as he is hand in glove with an arms dealer (John Vijay). They fear that it might land up in the hands of Tanya (Riythvika), a straightforward journalist, who wants to expose scam behind the disposal of these bombs.

With his beefed-up body, Dinesh fits the role of a short – tempered lorry driver perfectly. Though he shows variation in his dialogue delivery, he is loud and speaks fast and in the process, half the lines are lost. Anandhi continues her good act in a soft-spoken role. Munishkanth is a revelation and gives a splendid performance. All others including Riythvika are adequate.

The first half moves leisurely with Athiyan establishing the characters and the hazardous situation of workers including lorry drivers in scrapyard and connecting them all at the riveting interval point. Post interval, the story moves at jet speed sprinkled with good humor.

Tenma’s background score is laudable and is in sync with the theme of the film. For most part Athiyan sticks to his unconventional theme and succeeds to some in delivering the message.