Dhoni – Movie Review

Banner: Duet Movies
Production: Prakash Raj
Direction: Prakash Raj
Star-casts: Prakash Raj, Radhika Apte, Akash Puri, Brahmanandam, Nasser, Murali Sharma, Thalaivasal Vijayand others.
Music: Ilayaraja
Cinematography: K.V. Guhan
Editing: Kishore T.E

Tamil cinema seems to be undergoing a pleasant change now. It is ready to make movies around issues that affects our contemporary life. Much recently we have seen films like Nanban and Marina harping on the education system prevalent in our country. Joining the list is Prakash raj’s Dhoni.

Don’t get confused by the title for it may suggest a movie made on sports. But Dhoni has more to it. It speaks loud againt the education system of today that has turned children into rats running for victory in a mad race.The loopholes in education needs to be arrested. The cost of education has gone up and only those who afford it gets
educated. Prakash raj with his Dhoni is trying to arrive at an answer for such issue.

With a bunch of artistes who give their best, Prakash raj’s maiden directorial venture in Tamil is pleasant and a pleasure to watch.

Subbu (Prakash raj) is a government employee. For him life is all his children a lovely daughter and bubbly son Karthick (Akash). He works hard to make both ends meet.Though he does all menial jobs in the evenings like selling pickles, he wants to give good education to his children. He makes them join a premier institution and works hard to meet their educational expenses. But his son Karthick is his problem. He prefers cricket to studies. He wants to become a cricketer. But Subbu wants him to study well. All hell breaks loose, when the principal calls up Subbu and informs that his son is bad in studies and would not be allowed to write his tenth standard board exams. An angry Subbu returns home and slaps Karthick, who sustains injuries and slips into coma. The father realises his mistake. He understands that he should have encouraged his son more rather than punishing him.

Now he decides take it in his stride. He comes to conclusion that the present education system is creating so much pressure on children and it fails to take cognisance of what the students want to doo in future.

The movie ends on a high note with Subbu making the issue more vocal.

The story is sure to strike a chord with every father who waits in long queue to get kindergarten admission for their children. The need to provide right education and not separate children based on their academic excellence will go down well with student community too.

Donning different hats that of actor – director- producer, Prakash raj delivers his best. He does the balancing act well. His emotions, reactions to various situations, desperation of a dotting father all brought out well by him.Matching him on screen is young Akash. The young lad performs with panache. Hhe is sure to go places in future.

His expressive eyes are his assets. Radhika Apte of Rakatha Charithiram fame excels in a different role. Also there is the likes of seasoned veterans like Nasser, Brahmanandham and Thalaivasal Vijay chipping in with their best.

Watch out for Prabhudeva appearing ina song. If K V Guhan’s camera captures the events well, equally impressive is maestro Ilayaraja’s background score that provides right emotions at every scenes. At places, a silence on screen takes a lot.

All in all, Dhoni is no doubt a rare treasure. Three cheers to Prakash raj and his team. Job well done!