Kaadhalan

Prabhu, a university student, falls in love with Shruti, the governor's daughter. The class difference is the smaller problem; the real one is the governor's political past, which his daughter knows nothing about. The love story turns quickly into a film of flight and pursuit. It is not interested in romance. It is interested in bringing dance into the narrative: the song sequences are built not as decoration but as passages that show who the character is. Prabhu Deva's choreography opened a distinct space in Indian cinema with this film. The form is large commercial production: big set design, crowded dance sequences, fast cutting. The music is by A. R. Rahman, and the album drew enormous attention across India; several of the songs, along with the Hindi version, became known nationally. Shankar directed; it is his second film, and like his first, Gentleman, it lodges a social question inside a commercial shape. Prabhu Deva and Nagma lead, with Vadivelu carrying the comedy. Who it is for: viewers who like nineties Tamil cinema, dance sequences and Rahman's music. Who it is not for: anyone wanting narrative consistency. The tone shifts constantly and the move from romantic comedy to political thriller is abrupt.