Silambattam - Review

Why you must watch it:

• 'Energizer Bunny' Simbu returns and dances like only he can (!)
  
• The Pongal releases (Villu and Padikathavan) aren't really setting the screens on fire.

The Good: Good songs (In a season of famous musical partnerships going sour, Simbu and Yuvan prove they  can still deliver) Entertaining in parts  

The Bad:  Too much violence and crude/lewd in parts

Look out for: the scene where Simbu apes Ajit in Billa (More like a tribute to Thalai). He apparently used the same suit! (Presumably after some alterations) 

Bottomline: Silambarasan is not everyone's favourite hero but there's no denying that he has unlimited resources of energy which sometimes works on screen; especially when he dances. Silambattam is probably the most apt Simbu film title of all time (!) given the fact that his 'attams' are probably the highlight of the film. The plot is simple - Simbu plays Vichu a simple brahmin priest who apart from performing pujas in the temple has enough time to keep disappearing to studio sets for 'dream songs' with Janu (Debutant Sana Khan) and team up with Santhanam for some wisecracks. A chance encounter with some local goons takes the film back about 20 years and unravels the story of Vichu's dad Tamizh (Simbu again; who else!) and his exploits and then the usual revenge drama unfolds. The story is fairly cliched but the treatment and packaging help it in parts. While Santhanam's comedy in is marred by a lot of double entendre, Karunaas is brilliant in a small role in the second half. Almost all the songs work; I really liked the only romantic song (Machan Machan) which has the mesmerising vocals of Illaiyaraaja and the chartbusting 'Where is the Party'. Overall the film is entertaining and worth a watch except for heaps of crude scenes and unacceptable levels of violence which may put off some folks.