Music: S. Thaman
Direction: R. Kannan
Producer: UTV Motion Pictures
Settai Movie Storyline
Director Kannan’s Settai was looked forward with enthusiasm and curiosity by critics and movie-goers for two reasons. First, it is the remake of Bollywood super hit movie Delhi Belly. Secondly, the recent success of Anjali & Hansika had added an element of excitement to the film.
The story is about JK (Arya), Nadupakkam Nakki (Santhanam), and Premgi. They are three Tamil journalists living in Mumbai as roommates in a room with poor facilities.
Madhu (Hansika), daughter of a rich man, is working as an air hostess just for hobby. She is in mad love with JK and plans to live a posh life with him. She constantly pursues him to leave the journo business and take up a very high position in an MNC, recommended by her father. JK is not willing to give up his passion.
One day Madhu’s friend requests her to collect a parcel in the airport from a stranger and hand it over to the address found in the parcel. Madhu obliges and she gives it to JK to deliver. JK gives it to his roommate. In the process the parcel gets misplaced.
The baddies headed by Nasser get into rage when they get the wrong parcel. Their hunt for the right parcel (which has diamonds) gets them closer to the three journalists. The three are in danger.
An unexpected twist helps them to escape with diamonds but the danger is yet to be over. They are again hunted by the smugglers.
Meanwhile JK meets Shakthi (Anjali), an English journalist. Shakthi falls for JK and helps him to escape from the clutches of the smugglers without knowing that he is in love with another girl.
What happens to the diamonds and who among the two girls finally gets JK form the rest of the story.
Settai Script analysis
Vandhan Vendraan, Kannan’s last film before Settai, didn’t do well at the box-office and Kannan needed a hit to stay in the hunt in Kollywood. Arya, Santhanam and Premgi Amaren get into the roles essayed by Imran Khan, Kunaal Roy Kapur and Vir Das in the original Hindi version.
Delhi Belly succeeded mostly due to its heavy adult content which has been purposely downplayed by Kannan. Except for the toilet humour, Kannan has treaded cautiously enough to make the film appeal to all classes of the audiences. Ironically enough, Kannan’s intention not to hurt the sensibility of his audiences appears to have worked against the film’s overall interest.
Settai is not a full-length comedy by Santhanam as he enthralled in films such as Siva Manasula Sakthi, Boss Engira Baskaran, Oru Kal Oru Kannadi or the recent hit Kanna Laddu Thinna Asaiya. It has romance, thrill, and comedy. But none of them has succeeded in providing a clean entertainer. The reason is that the mix of all the three is not in the right proportion. Kannan has tried to strike a balance between the three components but miserably fails to do so as he hasn’t presented anything in an emphatic or entertaining manner. Anything we find in the movie seems to be half heartedly done. As a result the movie has failed to live up to the expectations despite having a good star cast and a story that has proved its potential.
The placement of songs is a big disaster. Especially the one that features Premji and the one that pops up before climax.
Cast and crew Analysis
Arya must have watched the original before staring Settai’s shooting schedule but for some reasons, looks rather too serious for the role he has taken on in the film. He should have handled it more lightly but his facial expression struggle to change in various situations.
The surprise package is Premgi Amaran. Unlike his earlier films where he’d shout at the top of his voice for no apparent reason, Premgi has put in a matured performance.
Santhanam’s cool performance is the only saving grace of the movie. The man has sharpened his skills.
Among Anjali and Hansika, the latter appears to be having a cakewalk and has done her role aptly. Anjali looks out-of-place; to top it all Anjali gets a dubbed voice when her own voice is very good and well-recognized. It must be said that both girls add colour to the fare with their glam quotient.
Nasser, the veteran, is in a class of his own. Even in ill-conceived role such as this one, the actor puts in his best and makes the audiences feel as if the role is tailor-made for him.
Neetu Chandra sizzles in a song number while Suja Varunee doesn’t get much to do.
Thaman’s music is good though the songs are not impressive.
Muthiah’s cinematography is one of the strengths of the film.
Deepali’s costume-designing also deserves a word of appreciation as they fit the mood of the film.
Settai Positives:
• Santhanam’s comedy
• Hansika’s looks
• Neetu Chandra’s item song
• Hansika’s looks
• Neetu Chandra’s item song
Settai Negatives:
• Boring first-half
• Jaded screenplay
• Not-so-stirring music
• Jaded screenplay
• Not-so-stirring music
Verdict:
Settai fails to live up to the expectation as it fails to present anything in an engaging manner.
Settai: The spirit is missing
Source : kolly talk.
