Pandiraj’s next after Kadaikutty Singam is yet another rural drama about a large family with members who have giant egos and the topic of the day, every day, is who will marry whom.
The film begins with the patriarch of the house, Arulmozhi Varman (Bharathiraja) who practices naatu vaidhyam, introducing the many members of his house to his patients. He has three sons and a daughter, grandchildren and a great grandchild who’s referred to as “Munthirikottai” (Soori’s son providing a running commentary all through).
But who does the title Namma Veetu Pillai refer to? Ostensibly, it’s Arumpon, played by Sivakarthikeyan. But for some reason, his relatives keep him and his family at a distance. Is it because Arumpon’s father (Samuthirakani in a cameo) is dead or does it have to do with the mystery surrounding his sister, Thulasi (Aishwarya Rajesh)?
This is a modern take on Paasamalar, Arulmozhi Varman tells us early in the film and sure enough, the film invests a lot of time on the brother-sister bond. Aishwarya Rajesh is a delight as the quick-tongued Thulasi who is affectionate but not saccharine, looking absolutely natural in the role given to her. Her performance is second only to the seasoned Bharathiraja who manages to crack a joke and utter an emotional line with equal ease.
Anu Emmanuel as Maangani, Arumpon’s cousin who aspires to become a Collector, is annoying every time she’s in the frame, spouting the most inane lines on love and what ponnunga like (forget the IAS, she sounds like someone best suited to write scripts in Kodambakkam – how meta would that have been?). Thankfully, Thulasi expresses the audience’s collective irritation by telling Maangani at regular intervals how fake she sounds – unfortunately, it has no effect on her besotted brother who sings one too many duets with her.
Pandiraj successfully takes all the non-issues that are made Hulk-sized by joint families, giving each character a quick sketch in the process. Soori’s comedy is hit or miss, landing well at times and trying too hard otherwise.
The mystery around Thulasi is answered only in the second half and though the back story is overly sentimental, Aishwarya Rajesh makes you care about Thulasi right till the end. The sister role is not one that many heroines would be willing to play but you can see why the actor agreed to it (after all, it was the legendary Savitri who played such a role in Paasamalar, with Sivaji playing the doting brother). However, though Pandiraj gives Thulasi a voice, the film takes on a regressive tone at times. In one scene, Thulasi goes to her brother, upset that her husband has hit her. An angry Arumpon takes her along on his bike to her marital home – and then, when you think he’s going to go all guns blazing, the director reminds you that this is a Tamil film after all. Kal aanalum purushan and all that, ladies, so Arumpon advises his sister to “adjust” and save her marriage.
It’s only later, when a pregnant Thulasi (probably the only time a woman is worth anything looks like) is beaten up again that the loving brother loses it. There are also dialogues lamenting the fate of families who have a daughter to underline the point. Why Thulasi has zero ambition to do anything with her life other than wait around for someone to marry her is never explained. I mean, if Maangani with her IQ level can become an IAS, Thulasi could probably become an astronaut in the same universe.
At around 2.5 hours, the film would have done well with some trimming - lost a couple of the songs and unnecessary typhoon-type fights for sure. Sivakarthikeyan isn’t a versatile actor but he plays up to his strengths, doing what is required.
Namma Veetu Pillai isn’t anything we haven’t seen before. But since everyone has annoying relatives with big egos, it’s the sort of formula that never fails if executed well. And there, Pandiraj has scored.
Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the series/film. TNM Editorial is independent of any business relationship the organisation may have with producers or any other members of its cast or crew.