Gulu Gulu is a film directed by Ratnakumar, who has joined the list of notable directors through Mayathaman and costume films. Santhanam, who always rocks theaters with punchy comedies, is playing a silent character in a dark comedy for the first time and that too is completely speechless. Similarly, after the huge success of A1, another film has been made in the same alliance. While there were various expectations for this film, did the film fulfill all those expectations…?
A native of the Amazon jungle, Santhanam lives as a nomad. He has traveled to many countries and cities, speaking different languages and living as a nomad, currently living in Chennai. Three friends who want to use Santhanam, who does not hesitate to leave other jobs and help whoever, whenever, asks for help, ask him to save one of his friends. Santhanam goes to rescue the friend who has been kidnapped by the gangs of villains. The rest of the story of the film is whether Santhanam saves the friend at the end of this journey or not.
Director Ratnakumar, who attracted attention through costume films, Meyadaman, has tried to make this film enjoyable by giving it as a comedy film. Usually Santhanam films are completely lively comedies. But in this film, there is nothing like that, and the director tried to create gossip through them by showing Santhanam as silent and making others do comedy, and could have done it better. The film begins and does not travel in a single straight line but gets diverted at many places and travels somewhere through many branching stories and ends up at the same place where it left off. While some of the comedy sequences are enjoyable, the majority of the sequences test the viewers and make them feel tired. Santhanam film is seen as the main reason for that. Fans who expect Santhanam’s film to be lively take time to accept that it is a dark comedy with Santhanam. Apart from that, the pace of the screenplay moves a bit slowly and moves at a snail’s pace which is a minus for the film. If the director who engages in such experimental efforts with actors who usually act in the same way is still careful about the story-telling and still sets the screenplay in a faster and better way and gives it to the fans, this kind of new efforts will definitely be well received. But, the film just slips in that place.
Santhanam, who always attracts attention through lively comedy sequences, plays a somewhat restrained role in the film. He has tried to convey emotions through facial expressions without speaking a verse at any place and only at the necessary places he has tried to make people enjoy by saying a couple of lines of verses. Although Santhanam’s acting is good when seen alone, it is a bit questionable if it was suitable for the story and narrations?
The three friends who seek Santhanam’s help have done well with the characters given to them. Harish Kumar, who plays their kidnapped friend, overacts here and there but manages to be enjoyable. Namitha Krishnamurthy, who comes as his girlfriend, has given an excellent performance as a dashing girl. Abdullah Chandra, who plays a woman from abroad, has grabbed attention. Pradeep Rawat, who comes as the villain, has shown his typical villainy. George Marion DSR, Murugakani and Darshan, who are playing the smugglers Sri Lankan Tamils, have given laughs here and there with their innocent performances. Even though such innocent smugglers are used for the story, the lack of answer to the question of why they should be shown as Sri Lankan Tamils is a bit disappointing.
Deena, who is playing the role of a police officer, has given an excellent performance with a smart look. Although there are few scenes, Lollu Saba Maran and Sesu are busy.
Vijay Karthik Kannan’s cinematography is excellent for travel related scenes. Santhosh Narayanan’s songs Anbare and Amma Nana have received attention. Similarly, his background music has enhanced the film’s mood well and has given the audience a lot of excitement.
This film is for fans who expect a different effort from Santhanam without expecting that it will be lively.
Gulu Gulu – Jill Low!