Cast: Vimal, Iniya, K. Bhagyaraj, Ponvannan and Thambi Ramiah

Director: A. Sarkunam

Rating: 3/5

Winning race

Director Sargunam and actor Vimal made their presence felt with Kalavani. If it was a fun outing, their next Vaagai Sooda Vaa is strikingly different.

It's an intense film carrying a strong message. However Sargunam has ensured that it is no preachy stuff and laced it up with some commercial elements. Vaagai Sooda Vaa speaks about the need to educate children, who are deprived of it. Any social change in the society can occur only if a generation is given formal education seems to be Sargunam's argument. Though it may remind us of many documentaries we had seen on small screen, a shrewd Sargunam has added some interesting elements that work well. With Vimal, Iniya and a bunch of children, all goes well. 

The movie begins in Pudukottai, where Veluthambi (Vimal), son of Annamalai (K Bhagiyaraj), is urged to take up a government job by everyone in his family.To prepare him for the task, the father advices his son to go to a village and help educate children working in a bricklin as part of social service. Things change in Velu's life when he reaches the village. He gets attracted by the innocent ways of lives the people lead there.The young children there are forced to work in bricklin and education is deprived to them. Steps in Veluthambi with a mission to educate the children. And there is one Madhi (Iniya), a tea vendor, who falls for Veluthambi.

Vimal does what is given to him well. His exchanges with the children are nice to watch. The young Iniya is impressive. K Bhagyaraj as usual leaves his presence with his performance while the likes of Thambi Ramiah, Ponnvannan and Thennavan excel.

Gibran's music and Omprakash's cinematography add strength. Seenu's art takes us to 1960s.

On the whole, director Sargunam has proved his mettle handling a serious issue apt and leaves his mark as a skilled filmmaker.