Cinema started off as a scientific invention, enjoyed unprecedented popularity as an entertainment option and now has risen to the stature of a powerful mass media. With a lot of entertainment options available, the role of cinema to create an impact on the society is slowly starting to take centre stage. In this year with films like ?Swades? ?Lakshya? ?Ayutha Ezhuthu? and lot others, our film society designed some strong social messages to our audience.
Though not in the above league of films, Dancer is indeed an attempt to send a strong message to the society. The film has a noble message ?HANDICAP IS NO HURDLE TO SUCCESS?. But the nobility of Dancer seems to end in the cause itself; there is not much of it in the movie. Dancer is definitely well begun, but alls not well that only begins well.
Dancer is about a real life handicap Kutty who acts his real character out. Kutty is a great dancer in his young age, but he has lost one leg (a nearly well attempted flashback). But he does not lose his ABC (read aspirations, belief and confidence) and tries to prove his mettle as a dancer. The society, though sympathetic towards him ridicules him whenever he tries to dance. Except for a small boy to share his joys and sorrows, the world is very bad to Kutty. Now Kutty?s employer is Divi, an aspiring actress and a dance student of No.1 Dancer Arun.
Divi is shabbily treated by the cunning Arun and one fine evening Arun insults Divi in public. Dejected Divi happens to see Kutty perform, and she vows to make him a great dancer and out beat Kutty. After a few natural hurdles, Kutty emerges as the darling of both the classes and masses. Arun becomes jealous of Kutty and tries to demolish both Divi and Kutty. But finally good prevails. A well versed Tamil Cinema Fan will easily recite the story after viewing the first frame, the screen play is on the expected lines.
Given the fact that the movie is fully based on Kutty, there is nothing much to think on the story. But the screenplay should have been interesting. There are no absorbing phases, directorial touches or interesting twists in the movie, as the screenplay is predictable and hasty. Kutty often says in the film ?I don?t need your sympathy. I just need an opportunity?. But director KR has tuned his screenplay to garner the sympathy of the audience.
There are lots of scenes devised to mock at Kutty and thereby gain audience sympathy. The over riding sympathy waves of the audience could be felt whilst watching the movie in theatres. Like the lights eluding the temple performance, the bag missed in the auto, there are a lot of unnecessary clichés that would have been easily avoided. Too many clichés have really spoiled this (chicken) soup (for the soul)
Performance wise, Kutty is spectacular. His dancing ability is indeed out of this world. You can only gasp with wonder when this one legged wonder cycles, takes a diving catch, does daring acts with the motorbike and performs action stunts with aplomb.
Critically his first stage dance at Sabha was not that great, but the dance show where he imitates all leading heroes and the climax dance in par with Robert are truly world class. This humble chap deserves a handsome clap. Playing his real life character, Kutty is natural and humility personified. Robert (with Ramji?s voice) over acts and so do Meera and Gajendran. With inadequate and poor characterization, no cast is able to carve a personal niche.
Kanika (she volunteered to do the role, when all the other leading heroines refused) and Manivannan (puts all his experience and expertise into play) give a natural performance, while the others cut a sorry figure. Chinni Jayanth is horrible. In deep contrast, the children artistes easily put up an impressive performance.
The cinematography of Robert is ordinary. You do expect a better performance from an editor of Annadurai?s class. Praveen Mani is impressive in shades, but that?s not the expected of his ability. His re-recording coupled with some poor DTS (Yamuna Theatre, Coimbatore) did not produce the desired effect. However the lyrics of Naa. Muthukumar and Pa.Vijay are enjoyable.
?One Man, One Leg, One Show ?is the caption of Dancer movie. It proves to be true as Kutty bears the film in his (own) one leg. The audience come only to watch Kutty (my critics may argue that my motive behind watching the movie was different), but the fact is he is the only aspect to watch in the movie. There is nothing else to watch out for (Shall we exclude the graphics dance of Lord Nataraja?) in this ordinary movie.
KR, his cast and crew need to be given a pat on their back for recognizing Kutty and elevating him to the silver screen. They could have pitched in with a better performance, but Kutty makes amends and should be given a standing ovation. Dancer is unfortunately a One Man Show in No Man?s Land. Watch it once, for good old Kutty