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Thotti Jaya
Will love blossom and find fruit amidst violence and fighting, is what the film is about.
Seenadana (newcomer Pradeep) is the famous gangster having Chennai city in his grip. Simbu (Thotti Jaya) works for him. Give him money and he will shred any other rowdy to bits - what you could call 'intelligent' rowdy!
Something happens and love blooms between him and Gopika. Seenadana gives the order for Simbu to be finished off and just when you are wondering why that is so, we come to know that Gopika is Seenadana's daughter.
Seenadana promises to spare Simbu's life if he keeps away from his daughter. But Simbu challenges him to do whatever he wants and runs away with Gopika. In this clash between Simbu and Seenadana, what happens to Simbu's love is what the film is about.
The film starts with a small Simbu, washing plates at the wash area (thotti) of a hotel. Director Durai tells the audience that's how the name 'Totti' Jaya came about.
Simbu shows his strength by bashing up a 100 rowdies at the same time as if his life depended on it. When Simbu runs his fingers through his hair or strokes his beard, when he talks or fights, he looks exactly like his father. When he stands up to the villain's attacks and spouts heavy dialogues, it is rather comic. In some places, it seems as if he has someone in mind when he speaks certain caustic lines.
Everyone knows him only as Thotti Jaya, but when Gopika lovingly calls him Jayachandran, it is very nice. She shows her acting talent when she panics after missing the train. Instead of using this pretty girl in a duet song, the director has made her do a racy number with Simbu.
The newcomer Pradeep who does the villain Seenadana's role, looks tough outwardly but his acting hardly goes with his looks. For one who is a much feared rowdy in town, he keels over when pushed by Simbu and this looks more comic than menacing.
Hmm...talking of comedy, it reminds me that there is no comedy in the film. The director has made the villains groan ooh and aah but I wonder why he did not bring in a comedian to make us go ha ha ha!
The music by Harris Jayaraj reminds one of the background chorus in the Thiruvasagam album. Even in the songs, one can recognize the tune of 'Uppu Karuvaadu' from 'Mudalvan.' Cameraman R D Rajasekaran's camera has done a lot of work for the umpteen fight sequences.
Director Durai has taken the first half of the film at an energetic pace, but he unfortunately let the tempo slide in the second half. The climax where Simbu falls at Seenadana's feet and the man growls like some dinosaur, only evokes yawns from the audience.
If some of these drawbacks had been avoided, 'Thotti Jaya' could well have become a hit Jaya!
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Wow...
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Buss...
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Fast pace of first half
Simbu has kept his words
Gopika
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Lack of comedy
Copied music
Shouting villain
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