Paranthu Po – A Disappointing Misfire from a Talented Director
I really wanted to like Paranthu Po, especially given the promising name of director Ram, but sadly, this film falls far short of expectations. The story centers on Anbu, a studious boy whose erratic behavior is neither convincingly explained nor sympathetic. Unlike the nuanced child characters in Ram’s earlier works, Anbu’s annoying mannerisms and stilted English-Tamil dialogues alienate rather than engage.
While actors Shiva and Grace deliver decent performances, most other characters feel one-dimensional and plastic, making it hard to connect emotionally. The leading family’s struggles lack depth and logic—plot points like Grace losing money to her assistant come across as painfully naive rather than believable. Shiva’s parenting style also strains credibility, blending passive acceptance with folly rather than care.
The film’s narrative flow is uneven at best, and the overly idealistic portrayal of every character’s innocence feels unrealistic. Only a few characters, notably Aju Varghese’s Kumar family and an auto driver in Coimbatore, provide genuine charm. The one redeeming touch of Ram’s screenplay magic is sadly limited to these small moments.
Another major drawback is the incessant background music and songs, inserted roughly every five minutes, which quickly become a grating distraction rather than an emotional enhancer.
Overall, with such a talented director and high hopes pinned on this movie, Paranthu Po turns out to be a frustrating disappointment—a film that doesn’t quite take flight despite its potential.