Jolly Ride. Review on Oram Po

When you are often infested with cliche ridden movies, it is quite natural to turn your attention to the slightest offbeat movie that comes to the notice.  "Oram Po" is one such attempt that provides a refreshing outlook at the trivial details of an auto driver that we are not so familiar with.

Chandru (Arya) is a carefree auto driver, who is good at auto racing. His brother-in-arms Bigil (Lal), a mechanic who has more than a trick up his sleeve to manipulate automobiles to achieve a bit more than what it is designed for.  Together, they form a formidable duo in auto racing arena, where even their arch rival, Son of Gun (John Vijay) has to eat the humble pie whenever he gets into challenging the pair.  Enters Rani (Pooja) a Biriyani vendor and Bigil's fiancee, who attracts Chandru's attention.  This complex relationship along with a defeat in the auto race turns the tables in all three's life.

"Oram Po", sports an innovative theme; auto racing, a banned but gleefully nourished addiction by the auto driver community.  Everything revolves around auto or its associated entity.  The designer stickers, Rajinikanth posters, the foul language depicts a realistic background that is required to understand the setting.  Given any situation, the movie consciously avoids getting into melodrama even though there is adequate reason to do so.  Characters do mistakes, they fight among themselves, they lose competitions but nothing reduces their energy level to make a comeback.  Thats the spirit of the movie.  We feel for the protogonist but it doesn't get into a teargas at any point of time.

Arya, as usual plays the devil-may-care attitude that fits well for him.   At no point of time, he shows heroism and thats the most refreshing experience for us.  He is too selfish that he regards his auto "Laxmi' more than his love interest and a long term friendship.  Racing is in his blood and when he loses, he is quick to blame the mechanic.  He even tries to ditch Pooja after having accomplished his sexual desires.  But when he parts with her, he eventually disunites in his long term friendship with Bigil, loses his auto in a debt.  He then realizes his mistakes and takes up a career in private auto-driving, which is also the most comical part of the movie.

Lal, as Bigil, is a sincere friend and an advisor for Chandru, plays a straight role.  He hesitates to get engaged with Rani because he regards women are to be used and not to be married for life.  But, he is quick to get into fight with Chandru, when he comes in between himself and Rani.  However, he is also ready to bet his most beloved possession, "Seetha" (we get to know that it is actually "Cheetha", named after its speed) for the sake of friendship and racing.

John Vijay, as Sun of Gun, is the find of the movie.  His cheesy dialogues and foul language are the trademark.  His comparison of friendship with a filthy subject, though unparlimentary, evokes aughs altogether.  He is not a typical villain who is lionized and aloof.  He is always seen along with his rivals, often making a mockery of their friendship and donning a full-fledged comedian role as well.  He too have some principles like one should not get into tussles in arrack shops.  Pooja in a highly deglamourized role as Rani, fits just adequate to the role.

"Idhu enna maayam" song though outlandish is handled well aurally and visually.  "Gun Ganapathy" and the remixed "Nandhavanathil oar aandi" gets our attention.  The background score stuffed with auto sounds and various styles of guitar bits is quite enjoyable.

After getting defeated in the race, Arya and Lal manage to laugh at the antics of victorious John Vijay.  This shows the real essence of the entire movie: light-heartedness.  There are some complaints too that the dialogues are vulgar and the movie lacks seriousness.  But, I felt that it was faithful to the theme chosen.  For me, a movie need not indulge itself in needless melodrama for the sake of characterization, but should be entertaining throughout without sacrificing common sense.  I think "Oram Po" has almost achieved that.