Jambavan

Director Nanda Kumar delivers a fairly well worn storyline with a few interesting twists, strikingvisuals and an effective background score in 'Jambavan'. Action and sentiment have been used ingenerous helpings to dish out a rather watchable gangster movie.

Prashanth has clearly taken great pains on a movie that marks his return to the screen after a long gap. Perhaps fittingly his character in the film is forced to break with a former life and love, only to return with renewed vigour! Velan (Prashanth) lives quietly with his father (Vijaya Kumar) in a village. He earns the love of the people with his good deeds. Ezhil (Nila) and Velan fall in love in this setting. His father is forced to tell the truth to Velan, that he is their foster son, following a dispute with a local mill owner. Velan comes to Chennai to learn his past.

His family had been killed by a dreaded gangster named Deva (FEFSI Vijayan). He had been in love with Anu (Meghna Naidu) then. A clash with Deva had caused a head injury leading to amnesia. Now he vows to wreak vengeance as Jambavan. The climax unravels the knots of love and settles the question of whether Velan will succeed in his quest. Prashanth is impressive as Jambavan.

He has given a neat, clean performance that is splendidly underplayed. He has clearly worked on creating a body language that is tailor-made for his character. The two ladies, Meghna Naidu and Nila, have little to do. They look suitably pretty and do the needful in the song sequences. FEFSI Vijayan plays the stereotypical gangster with ease. Noted Classical vocalist, T.N. Seshagopalan, is also in the cast.

He plays Prashanth's father, who is killed by gangsters. Bhardwaj has scored winners, the songs and background score all adding verve and spice to the movie.