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Pandi's family and first romance

Pandi is a 2008 Indian Tamil-language masala film written and directed by Rasu Madhuravan. Raghava Lawrence and Sneha play the lead roles. Namitha, Nassar, Saranya Ponvannan and Sriman appear in supporting roles. Released on 23 May 2008, the film was an average success.

The story opens in Malaysia, where Pandi takes menial jobs, saves every penny and sends his earnings to his family in Usilampatti. He tells his friends about his earlier life. As a carefree young man, Pandi is regularly scolded by his father, Sundarapandi, while his elder brother Rajapandi is their father's favourite. Sivagami, Pandi's mother, gives him affection and hopes to build a house on her land.

Rajapandi sends Pandi to a marriage ceremony. On the train, Pandi meets Bhuvana, the daughter of a police officer from another village, and a romance develops after a series of events. Their relationship is tested during an outing when Bhuvana gives Pandi all the money she has so that they can have lunch at a restaurant. Pandi spots his sister talking with her boyfriend, then pursues the pair on an auto, leaving Bhuvana at the restaurant with the bill and no money.

Accusation, debt and a marriage

Pandi learns that his sister and her boyfriend are seriously in love and intend to seek her family's approval. Soon afterwards, money saved for jewellery for a wedding disappears from Pandi's home. Because Pandi has been in jail and is already regarded as a troublemaker, Sundarapandi assumes that he has taken it and throws him out. Bhuvana sees the confrontation and concludes that Pandi also deceived her during their restaurant outing.

The missing money was taken by Rajapandi, who has left home with his lover. Pandi consoles his father, borrows money from a private money lender and makes it possible for the wedding to go ahead. He attempts to explain matters to Bhuvana, but she initially refuses to listen. Sundarapandi tells her that he had judged Pandi wrongly and that Pandi was not responsible for the missing savings.

Sundarapandi then approaches Bhuvana's father, Periyamaayan, to propose a match for Pandi and Bhuvana. Periyamaayan is the local police inspector and rejects the idea because of Pandi's past, calling him a criminal. He arranges another marriage for Bhuvana. She tells Sundarapandi that she will die before marrying anyone other than Pandi. Pandi takes Bhuvana from her home to the police station and asks Periyamaayan to approve their marriage. Periyamaayan disowns her, and Pandi marries Bhuvana while Periyamaayan watches as police protection.

Seeking to repay the loan and ease his family's financial constraints, Pandi goes abroad to work as conservancy staff. His earnings help stabilise the family and allow him to repay the private money lender.

Masala form and critical response

Srikanth Deva composed the soundtrack. It includes a remixed version of "Maasimaasam," a song from Dharma Durai, released in 1991.

Sify criticised Lawrence's performance, writing that he had "one single expression throughout Pandi whether he is sad, happy, singing songs or fighting!" Sify also called the film a typical mass masala film. Malathi Rangarajan of The Hindu took a more positive view, writing that the film "transcends melodrama, thanks to commendable performances from veterans Nasser, [Saranya] and Ilavarasu".

Rangarajan described Lawrence as convincing as a small-town school dropout who works abroad as a labourer. She also identified a credible story, racy narration and natural dialogue as appealing aspects of Paandi. Benina of Kalki also reviewed the film.

Film details from the Wikipedia article “Pandi (film)”. Text adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.