He is poorly suited for the role of an actor who shuffles from one audition to the next, desperately trying to land a film.
There are many elements to enjoy in a musical action drama, such as catchy tunes, engaging dance numbers, and a touching storyline. Even if one of these elements falls short, the others can still provide entertainment. Sadly, Prabhu Deva’s Petta Rap lacks all of these qualities. Each scene serves as a reminder that a grand story alone cannot compensate for a film that fails to embrace its vibrant genre.
The plot of Petta Rap is quite flimsy. Balasubramanian, known as Bala (Prabhu Deva), is dubbed ‘junior Prabhu Deva’ in school but grows up to be a struggling actor. Just when he’s about to give up, he encounters unexpected obstacles. The central question revolves around whether he can rediscover his zest for life, and the answer is both yes and no. The film’s significant flaw is Prabhu Deva’s performance.
He is poorly cast as an actor who reluctantly moves from one audition to the next in hopes of landing a role. Despite his earnest efforts, we see more of the actor than the character of Bala. In the midst of his journey to stardom and his penchant for fighting, we struggle to connect with his character and aspirations.
When he’s not dancing or singing, Bala spends his time delivering unsolicited advice to others. He oscillates between being overly confident and deeply self-critical, with no middle ground. Yet, he keeps dispensing one message after another, even when they seem irrelevant to the scenes at hand. For example, during a conversation with Veeramani (Riyaz Khan), he says, “Madhu, madham rendume danger,” which feels disconnected from the context of their discussion.
The characters in this film primarily serve to incite violence, contributing little to their own objectives. The movie attempts to capitalize on the nostalgia surrounding the ‘Pettai Rap’ song from Kadhalan, but it ultimately fails to evoke the desired emotions, resulting in a harmless yet forgettable addition.
In a musical drama, it’s surprising to find that not a single song leaves a lasting impression. The accompanying lyrics are not only unmemorable but also quite jarring. Lines like, “Trouser kizhinju pochu danguvaar arundhu pochu,” do little to enhance the experience. Moreover, just when it seems that Tamil cinema has moved past voyeuristic camera angles, Petta Rap focuses on the female actors’ hips and other body parts, which feels outdated.
Much like Bala’s unexpected intrusion at a wedding after a binge, Petta Rap takes illogical turns that add no substance to the narrative. Perhaps the creators hinted at this with the tagline, ‘Paatu, Adi, Aattam, Repeat.’ In a pivotal scene leading to the climax, Prabhu Deva’s character embodies Thiruvalluvar and poses the question, “Endha nokkathodu vandhaai enna seidhu kondirukirai?” I wish the filmmakers had embraced this level of self-awareness throughout the script.
Director: SJ Sinu
Cast: Prabhu Deva, Vedhika, Bagavathi Perumal, Vivek Prasanna, Ramesh Thilak, Mime Gopi, and Riyaz Khan.
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