The One-Day-Chief Minister. Review on Mudhalvan Movie

I am fascinated by people who do things out of impulse. I like to read stories about them, I love to see movie based on such characters. I myself at times (most of the times) make impulsive decisions. - No regrets. Even in the case of my wedding I was .. err .. we are deviating from the topic aren’t we.

What would you do, if you were to be the Chief Minister for a day? Would you take it up in the first place? I know I wouldn’t. The story in Mudhalvan tells one such story. Pughazhendi (Arjun) is a photographer and a cameraman working for a channel Q tv. Now why is the channel named Q TV? May be because Shankar, the director has run out of all the alphabets and chose Q. May be because it was the only channel that didn’t exist in real life. Anyway it’s not so important. I am just competing with Suyog to make the review look lengthy. I am competing with Life1oxygen, RJOIS and Premjit to make the review look humorous. Pughazhendi's father is a cartoonist by profession. His father knows that one day Pughazhendi would be an important man, since He had a vision. While on an assignment, His lens capture Thenmozhi (Manisha Koirala) and you know as they say, flips for her. She reciprocates, but then the father buts in ( thats right ,.. I used the B word) and says that He would get his daughter married to a guy with a government job, due to security of the government job.

Pughazhendi’s life turned around when he captures the riots in the city, owing to the clash between the Bus drivers and students. He manages to collect some evidences that goes on to establish that The Chief Minister (Raghuvaran) didn’t take any action to bring the riot under control. Pughazhendi becomes the News reporter and was asked to interview the CM. The interview turns out to be a major disaster for the CM as his credibility was being question by a news reporter while the entire state watched the show on television. The CM as a last resort throws the dice and challenges Pughazhendi to be the CM of the state for one day and feel how it looks like. Arjun accepts the offer after some hesitation.

Mudhalvan is the tamil word for the first person. ususally addressed to the Chief Minister.

The best parts of the movie begin as soon as Arjun arrives at the state secretariat in an Auto rickshaw. He calls in a meeting of all the people in the ministry, He refuses being introduced to all and sundry because he had no time and takes his work on a fast pace, threatening that anyone failing to come to his summon will be dismissed. Realizing that this guy means business the P.A, the Police and the press follow him everywhere. First move was He makes sure that a certain housing development sponsored by the state resources originally allotted to some people in the slum actually goes to them. In the process he fires an official. He fires the storekeeper of a government owned provisions store. He fires a Police Inspector, The commissioner and the local MLA for not taking appropriate action against the eve teasers in St. Mary's College. He sets up a command center where in people from different places in TamilNadu can reach him with their grievances. He gets two calls, one against a certain doctor in a government hospital and one against a police inspector. He fires them on spot by faxing their suspension letter. He collects the files of all the corrupt ministers and has them arrested. The last person to be arrested was the former Chief Minister himself.

These has increased the popularity ratings for Pughazhendi and everyone expected him to join the politics. Annoyed that His own position has been threatened, chief minister has him beaten up so that Pughazhendi is scared to even enter politics. He would lose Tenmozhi for ever if He joined Politics. Will He or wont He?

It’s not the politics that makes a difference. It’s the people holding the important positions that make a difference. There are good guys in politics and there are bad guys in politics. And the good guys do make up for the bad guys. The one-day-CM as Pughazhendi was called made the difference for a day. Important issues were attended to and thus he made the difference. Perhaps, I wonder if Shankar has read the One-Minute-Manager and drew this inspiration. But nevertheless, this is a gripping entertainer that has you captivated till the end.

The cast performance was just too good. Arjun was natural; Manisha Koirala was convincing playing the village girl. Raghuvaran was just too good. Somehow I like any movie which has Raghuvaran either as a father, brother and a good guy role or as the main villain. The comedy from Vadi vel was just too good. If poked at his hip this guy would blurt out a swear.

Must you see this? Don’t miss this thriller

Comments Welcome.

DavieBoy

PS. The review Dedicated to N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister Andhra Pradesh.