ELI
DIRECTOR: Yuvaraj Dhayalan
CAST: Vadivelu and Sadha
CLASSIFICATION: TBA
RUNNING TIME: 155 minutes
RATING:: **
Being a Vadivelu flick, Eli has gathered some expectations. Has it lived up to them, though?
Plot: Eli is a comical spy thriller which sees Vadivelu playing a petty thief. When the menace of a dreaded gang gets out of control, the police department is left with no choice but to send an “eli” (rat) to nab the head of the gang. What follows is a series of action sequences inspired by Jackie Chan movies coupled with clichéd Vadivelu comedies that moves at a snail’s pace. Whether he is successful in his mission forms the rest of the story which appears to be a mere formality.
Performances: As expected, Vadivelu impresses with his comical expressions, but his performance doesn’t have a platform from which to elevate itself and thus falls flat.
Sadha, who plays the female lead, does not have much of screen space barring a couple of songs (which act as a speed breaker to an already slow-moving movie).
Pradeep Rawat, who plays the main antagonist, is the only saving grace Eli has in the performance department.
Technicalities: Both the first as well as second half is way too slow for anyone’s liking as even Vadivelu’s charm fails to keep Eli alive throughout. Paul Livingstone, the cinematographer, has managed to capture the essence of the 1960s, giving the film a retro look. His choice of colours, though, are poor as they fail to connect with the soul of his camerawork.
At two hours and 40 minutes, Eli could have done with many more cuts. It comes as a surprise when an editor like VT Vijayan along with TS Jay fail to deliver, which is a rarity.
Vidyasagar’s background score is apt for a movie like Eli, his songs, though, are unbearable. The use of the Hindi classic Meri Sapno ki is inappropriate.
Overall View: Eli is too slow-paced, fails to impress and has nothing new to offer.
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