Strange, come to think of it, that no one else thought of this before. T.N. Seshan over a decade ago and J.M. Lyngdoh of late have provided ample proof of the potential of a politician-bashing-or-braving election officer as a popular film hero. Credit goes to Vijayakanth for the first attempt to capitalize on the popularity of the bureaucratic guardians of the ballot box. .

The veteran actor’s role in ‘Thannavan’ (which made a point also by being the only fresh Tamil release on August 15) has been billed as a bold departure from his familiar mass-friendly image of a muscular do-gooder. Obviously, the change has been dictated also by the box-office failure of his previous film ‘Sokkatthangam’. And by the relative success of ‘Ramana’, where he played a public-minded professor. The professional star has made a pretty good job of the transformation that is less than total.

The new role does not mean, of course, an entire go-by to the good old formula. Unlike the real-life election reformers, the screen role model combines his crusade with celluloid romance. Kiran is the Delhi college girl Divya who serves the cause of democracy by falling in love. No considerations of propriety keep this poll official away from song-and-dance sequences of truly massive participation.

Unlike in the cases of Seshan and Lyngdoh, again, the foes of free and fair elections in the film get physical. Nasser as the oppressive landlord - competent as ever -- does what poll-rigging politicians could not do to Chief Election Commissioners: he sends the hero to jail. This gives Vijayakanth an opportunity to give his fans what they went to the film for: a mega fight sequence where he thrashes daylights out of his police tormentor.

This is the first time Yuvan Shankar Raja has scored music for a Vijaykanth-starrer. A couple of the ongs are sure hits, But it is hard not to contrast Yuvan’s essay in ‘Thennavan’ with his music in ‘Kadhal Konden’ which was enhanced by the overall quality of the film.

Courtesy: Net Sources