Aadhi, Hansika star in a loud, forgettable experience- Cinema express

Tamil cinema has seen multiple science fiction movies in the last decade. From Suriya’s 7aum Arivu (2011), Maatraan (2012), 24 (2016), Jayam Ravi’s Tik Tik Tik (2018), Vishnu Vishal’s Indru Netru Naalai (2015) and Rajinikanth’s Endhiran (2010), each of them have brought a unique story to the table. Following their footsteps, comes Partner starring Aadhi Pinisetty, Hansika Motwani, Palak Lalwani, Yogi Babu, John Vijay, Robo Shankar and a host of others.

Director: Manoj Damodharan

Cast: Aadhi Pinisetty, Palak Lalwani, Hansika Motwani, Yogi Babu, John Vijay, Robo Shankar, Munishkanth, Thangadurai

Helmed by debutant Manoj Damodharan, the story starts with Sridhar (Aadhi) coming from his hometown to Chennai hoping to earn enough money to save his sister from imminent danger. His dire need pushes him to seek help from his friend Kalyan (Yogi Babu) who gets him employed in a fraudulent company.  What happens when John Vijay (played by John Vijay) approaches the company with an offer to provide an insane amount of money to steal a chip from a scientist (Pandiarajan) who is working on transferring characteristics from the DNA of one human to another, forms the rest of the story.

Partner has one advantage on its side—an interesting premise. Until the very end, there is nothing else to lift it. Despite calling out problematic body-shaming jokes umpteen times, Yogi Babu is once again subjected to a host of insults including being called Pei Bomma and Thavala moonji vaayan. In another extreme, once he turns into a woman after falling trap to Pandiarajan’s scientific experiment, (where Hansika gives an entry) she is ogled and claimed by several men to become their mistress. Samadhanam (Robo Shankar) is one among them.

In a recent viral video shot during the trailer launch of the film, Robo Shankar was criticised for saying he was not allowed to touch Hansika during a scene though he requested her. Well, the gaze of the film isn’t any different.

Despite these, one scene that stood out for a rather good reason has Kalyan going into John Vijay’s den to negotiate his terms and conditions with him. He gets his own entry music, and the camera focuses on his swag and heroic entry, while he carries himself extremely well in a swanky black attire. For the ace comedian, this was long overdue.

Partner could have worked well if there had been genuine efforts in writing good comedy. There is a passing joke on feminism which was infuriating and someone mispronouncing hack as ‘woke’. At one point, each of them starts picking out the actors’ movies to evoke humour. We hear Aadhi’s Maragadha Naanayam (2017), Hansika’s Aranmanai (2014) and even Pandiarajan’s Aan Paavam (1985) being mentioned, but all of them fall like a deflated balloon. When nothing, works the characters resort to slapping each other or entering into brainless fights.

Manoj really tries to make Partner a fun-filled ride and I really tried laughing for the jokes. While some of them land, most of them turn out to be loud and almost cacophonic. Imagine ordering a falooda expecting all the layers to come together harmoniously, yet all you taste is an overdose of sugar, which still might just work for those with a sweet tooth.

Sridhar has Kalyan, Samadhanam has Annadhanam (Thangadurai) and Black Berry (Agastin) as their partners supporting them through their hardships, they clearly have it better, as I was left alone to suffer this gruelling ride.