Love and the middle-class

THE rich and famous are often depicted in Indian films as emulating Western lifestyles. Any viewer then knows that those rich and famous characters are one up on the rest.

In Chakkarakatti/Sakkarakatti, the exaggerations — juices from the refrigerator for breakfast, girls visiting male friends in the bedroom of the family home — are applied to the middle-class.

The film is about a college guy and two love interests.

Lead actor Shantanu Bhagyaraj as Raj makes a screen debut. He seems a chip off his father-director’s shoulder.

His dimpled smile and good acting skills was refreshing, leaving the girls — played by Ishita (Divali) and Vedika (Rhema) — trying hard to keep up despite the glam outfits.

The girls love Raj who has eyes for only Divali.

Raj’s friends provided the humour so there was no need for a comedian.

There was no villain either, but the film is still a good watch given the animation and A.R. Rahman’s feet-thumping music.

I particularly liked two songs — Taxi, Taxi, for its fast rap beat, and Marudhani, for its sentimental touch.

This film is directed by Kala Prabhu, the son of legendary producer Kalai Puli Thanu. It is a new take on the typical teenage love story. Nice watch.