'Ananda Thaandavam': Sheer waste of time (Tamil Film Review)

Film: 'Ananda Thaandavam'; Direction: A.R. Gandhi Krishna; Cast: Tamanna, Sidharth, Rukmini; Music: G.V. Prakash; Cinematography: Jeeva Shankar; Rating: *

The title 'Ananda Thaandavam' means blissful dance. In the movie, there is neither bliss nor any worthwhile dance.

Worse, it seems like a film that hit the screen two and a half decades late.

Based on an 80s' novel 'Pirivom Sandippom' (Parting, Meeting) by the late Tamil writer Sujatha (real name Rangarajan who wrote under his wife's name) serialised in a Tamil periodical, the story would have formed the basis of some television soap with proper treatment.

Fiction serials in Tamil magazines had a suspense ending to keep its fans interested in the next week's episode.

Movie grammar has evolved since the 80s and therefore, the offering has few takers.

A mild-mannered romantic youth Raghu (Sidharth) falls for a spoilt brat Madhu (Tamanna) who flits off to the El Dorado called USA in search of greener pastures with a richer guy Rishi in tow.

Raghu stalks his ex, manages to convince her again before bumping into another non-resident-Indian belle with strong Hindu cultural values played by Rukmini leading to a silly, contrived, insipid climax.

One does not understand as to why Tamanna has been featured as a mentally deranged character while it was not inbuilt into the original story.

To compound matters, she overacts. Sidharth is as expressive as a log of wood.

Prakash's music drags the 160-minute film and Jeeva Shankar's dreary filming increases the torture.