With the success of Mozhi (2007), Prakash Raj produced Vellithirai pairing himself and Prithviraj once again, this time helmed by popular writer Viji making his directorial debut. While the film, a re-make of the immensely successful Malayalam film Udayananu Tharam (2005) starring Mohanlal and Srinivasan (which itself was ‘inspired’ from Bowfinger (1999) and Big Fat Liar (2002)) does have its moments, it runs out of steam and is unable to sustain itself through to the end.

The film begins promisingly with an introduction to Tamil cinema from where we are introduced to the key characters of the film - assistant director and follower of serious cinema and Stanislavski, Saravanan, slimy struggling actor Kannaiya, junior artist Mustafa and superstar actress Mythili, exploited by her family, her brother in particular. But thereafter, as the film settles into its narrative, it appears inconsistent and unsure of its treatment and style as it dillydallies whether to pay a tribute to the workings of the Tamil film industry or to parody it. On one hand there is realness to the plights of Saravanan, Kannaiya and Mustafa having moments of humour as well. On the hand Mythili’s sequences especially those with her gold-digging brother are stereotypical and clichéd as are most of Kannaiya’s scenes once he becomes Dileepkanth. That said, one cannot deny that there is an insight and understanding of the Tamil film industry which the film does manage to capture in places.

The premise had great potential no doubt. However, the narrative flow is uneven with the final Bowfinger climax looking too hurried. Kannaiya’s stealing of the script is abrupt and done without any proper build up. The Mythili track and her romantic track with Saravanan have a tediousness about them and tend to take away from the main story rather than add to it. Certain logical loopholes are too wide to be ignored. Dileepkanth realizes only at the film’s premiere that he has been conned and filmed behind his back. So in his mind the film is incomplete. So, how is he there at the premiere? If it is too see how has Saravanan managed to release the film without him completing it, a scene was needed to indicate this.

In spite of a fine cast, the performances too are mixed. Prithviraj once again proves what a fine actor he is playing the assistant director wanting to make lofty cinema to perfection. He is spot on in every scene and in particular, makes wonderful use of his eyes to convey the hurt he goes through when he finds out his script is stolen or when his wife walks out on him or when he has to bear with Dileepkanth’s starry tantrums. Strangely, Prakash Raj, otherwise a very fine actor, fails to make the impact he should have in an author- backed role like this. While he actually makes the slimy struggler endearing, he has overplayed the narcissistic superstar Dileepkanth turning him into a one dimensional caricature. However, one scene he handles extremely well is post the film’s screening after he realises he has been made a fool out of as he gives an interview praising the director Saravanan for his fine performance! As mentioned, Gopika’s track and her romantic track with Prithviraj is extremely weak and she is unable to rise above the script. Neither does Lakshmi Rai playing herself. MS Baskar as Dileepkanth’s manager/ secretary too comes up short in the comedy department again playing the role in a caricature like manner. Sharath Babu is so-so as the benevolent producer. Incidentally in a dog-eat-dog industry are there such kind understanding producers and that too towards assistant directors?!

Technically, the film is adequate. In particular, GV Prakash Kumar’s music needed a little more zing and yes, perhaps a song showing Dileepkanth shooting chopped as well as it does nothing but bring the narrative at that point to a grinding halt. The sad song after Saravanan and Mythili meet in Bali is easily the best composed and best picturised song in the film.

All in all, average at best and a disappointment from the maker of Mozhi. Thankfully Prakash Raj more than made up with his following film Abhiyum Naanum (2008), reuniting him with Mozhi director Radha Mohan.