Director: Don Sandy
Cast: Jiiva, Shalini Pandey, Satish
Gorilla is a film that has a ridiculous plot, but one which works to its advantage. Directed by Don Sandy, the film follows three friends, a farmer, and a chimp in their quest to rob a bank. Being labelled as ‘silly’ or a mindless entertainer is a threat, but the crew have mitigated this by embracing their role and letting the audience know that they’re in for an easy ride.
Three friends afflicted by misfortune come together with one goal in mind. Jeeva (Jiiva) is a delinquent who has fallen in love with Jhansi (Shalini Pandey). Sathish (Sathish) is an average joe who has a boring job, but who recently has received an employment dismissal notice. Meanwhile, Venkat (Vivek Prasanna) wants to become a star but money is a huge hindrance in getting his foot in the door. Into this miserable trio walks Sadhik (Madhan), a farmer who has a severe bout of depression after being rejected by the banks. In an intoxicated state, the four decide that robbing a bank is their ticket to a good life. And when they begin to execute their plans, things progress so quickly that they’re left with no choice other than completing the task at hand.
Many segments of Gorilla come close to defeating the purpose of the film when the plight turns serious. Farmers’ issues strike a preachy tone and could have been done away with. But these parts can largely be ignored, owing to the comedic flavor that permeates throughout. All three lead actors have done a good job in keeping the jokes going and being aware of their tropes. The unruly chimp that follows along adds to the excitement, albeit without any impact on the story. Overall, Gorilla is a breezy break from the summer heat.
