Idhayam

Idhayam film was a major hit. Why, I have never been able to understand. Was it the music, or was it the campy college atmosphere, or was it the fact that the hero is a lower middle class guy who finally gets the affluent English-speaking girl? Perhaps a combination of all these factors. Like in countless other stinkers, Murali plays a medical college student and falls in love with Heera. Of course he's got a huge inferiority complex and is unable to express his love to her. The movie meanders along, helped by some wonderful songs by Ilayaraja, before screeching to a halt at a railway station. Somehow I can't stand films where the hero is tongue-tied and pines away for his love, and she finally understands what true love is and reciprocates. What a load of you-know-what! Apart from some lovely songs like "Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila" and "Poongodi thaan poothathamma", there's nothing much to save this film. Watch out for a young Prabhudeva dancing away in "April Mayile", which was on everyone's lips back then.