PremiumYaanai Mugathaan Review: A well-intentioned Yogi Babu-starrer let down by obscure writing and poor execution
This Yogi Babu and Ramesh Thilak film, which has its heart in the right place, is marred by a vague storyline that fails to make an impact
Last Updated: 07.28 PM, May 26, 2023
Story: A debt-ridden, unscrupulous auto driver, who is also an ardent devotee of Lord Vinayagar, suddenly can't see his favourite god anywhere.
Review: When it comes to faith and belief, they say 'to each his own'. While some consider god as a Superior force to them, a few others consider god as their best friend with whom they share their happiness and despair.
Here, Ganesan (Ramesh Thilak) is an ardent devotee of Lord Vinayagar, with whom he has a unique relationship. Ganesan, who has borrowed money from almost everyone he knows and has no intention of returning the amount anytime soon, prays to Vinayagar to shower them with problems so that they forget that they even lent him money.
As Ganesan goes on with his unscrupulous daily life as an auto driver, he finds one day that he can't see his favourite god anywhere. As he goes on looking for the missing god, he learns many life lessons during the journey.
Rejishh Midhila's maiden Tamil film has its heart in the right place and talks about looking for the god within oneself instead of searching everywhere. However, the well-intentioned film is let down by obscure writing, weak screenplay and poor execution. Though the film begins on a fun note and the narrative builds up to an intriguing interval block, things just go downhill after that.
The biggest stumbling block in Yaanai Mugathaan is the packaging of scenes that barely make an impact. When Ganesan realises that his favourite god is missing, you don't really connect with his emotions. Is he upset that the god left or does he just want to prove a point by bringing the god back home?
Likewise, you don't feel an ounce of interest when Ganesan randomly boards a train to go to Rajasthan to help an old man. Even if the experience is billed as a soul-searching exercise, neither does the backstory of the old man evince any empathy nor do you connect with the reformation of Ganesan. Hareesh Peradi's story, too, sticks out like a sore thumb.
Despite having a slew of talented comedians, be it Yogi Babu, Ramesh Thilak, Urvashi and Karunakaran, the film doesn't have much to laugh about. Urvashi's backstory, too, doesn't evoke sympathy. If she didn't believe in god anymore, why did she pray for Ganesan? Many such scenes in the film could have been done away with.
Though some of the lines delivered by Yogi Babu, who plays Lord Vinayagar in the film, hit the nail on the head, the way he lets Ganesan transform doesn't evoke much interest. When Samuthirakani, who played god in Vinodhaya Sitham, tried to reform Parasuram (Thambi Ramaiah) through the concept of death, we cared about his fate. Here we don't empathise with Ganesan. The tactics or the means pulled by Yogi Babu to change the man for the better, seem quite bland.
However, the film manages to address a few perceptions like how one tends to blame god for the hardships in their life and how different kinds of people look at a slab of stone, be it theists, agnostics or atheists. This film could have worked better with some impactful writing and screenplay. The many flaws in the fantasy comedy relegate it to a below average film.
Verdict: This Yogi Babu and Ramesh Thilak fantasy comedy, which has its heart in the right place, is marred by a vague storyline that hardly evinces any interest or empathy for the characters.