Aadhavan is the special Diwali Tamil movie release in 2009. Suriya and Nayantara is the lead pair with a huge supporting cast. Director K S Ravikumar has banked heavily on Vadivelu' s comedy to save the movie from being a drag. The movie runs at about 2 hours and 45 minutes. Technically excellent, with excellent camera work, awesome visuals and amazing stunts - but whats the use? The story line and the scenes to drive the story are so old and there is nothing new. Even the characters are borrowed from old movies.

This review of Tamil movie Aadhavan may have some spoilers - you are warned. If you do not want to know the details, read this review after watching the movie Aadhavan. The entire movie takes place in Calcutta. Aadhavan (Suriya) is a gangster who does all kinds of illegal activities including murder for money. He is brought up by another gangster (Shayaji) from childhood. A lame flashback shown in the later half shows how Aadhavan got separated from his family and ended up in the hands of Shayaji.

One of the murder assignments that Aadhavan gets give him the shock of his life as the target happens to be his original father (Malayalam actor Murali). The cops make a plan and work with Aadhavan to capture the real villain. They send Suriya to Murali's house to protect him from the killers. Murali's family is big with about 20 members and most of the movie is about family time and stuff. Nayantara has nothing to do in this movie except to appear in 2 duet songs and 3 more family songs. Nayantara would win the hot-body-ugly-face contest in the world any day! (tough competitors would be Sarah Jessica Parker and Kirsten Dunst).

All the songs in the first half are boring and not up to par for music director Harris Jayaraj standards. A couple of songs after the interval are better. They are shot very well at excellent locations. One of the highlights of this Tamil movie Aadhavan which is first of its kind is that Surya (34 years old) has acted as a 10 year old boy. Lot of computer graphics has been employed in Aadhavan Tamil movie but the results are amazing. In some scenes, it is noticeable when just the forehead shakes confirming the CG work. Good effort. However, the scenes are not powerful. Is this the best story they got? A school boy with a strict father ends up in a correction facility for kids. Anu Haasan's performance has to be noted here as a loving aunt. The boy somehow ends up responsible for her death and runs away from the city ending up in Calcutta.

Why can't the directors come up with some good and interesting stories? If they are stuck to old stories for any reason, why can't they at least create some new characters or new scenes? What is so compelling to stick to the old formulas - same scenes like hero in midst of a big family that showers love on him, or foreign groom who looks like a stupid for the heroine... old songs used to create some entertainment in the family, etc.?

I think directors cannot get away from the success formula of "Ullathai Alli tha" or "Hum Aaspke Hain Kaun" type of movies? Can't you think outside the box? Create new characters like Ghajini... or new screenplay or interesting stunt sequences using your brain - not just brawn or CG or ropes and strings...

My verdict: Wait for the DVD. Feel free to skip the Tamil movie Aadhavan, if you have better use for the 3 hours time.