Critiquing the craft of film making is just one dimension of writing a review; films also depict the culture which seldom gets critiqued. Say for example; Cholas are portrayed as barbaric set of people for the sake of fiction Whether or not that can be done is a matter of debate and discussion. Vaali portrays “perversion” – Is a point of view which doesn’t get mentioned often. We liked Vaali because it was engaging, it had its moment as a fiction; but whether it can be considered good or not is our opinion. People liked Vaali?

Does it mean we have adored a kind of pervertion – Is again a matter of discussion, harping on the cultural and psychological boundaries far away from the craft of film making. A staunch anti- pervert stand would pretty much dismiss vaali as nonsense. So, reviewing a film shouldn’t really stop at critiquing a frame or looking for internal logic and talking about the story or lack of it, the structure of a screenplay; the artistic expression or the lack of it. One also needs to look at how well Goa works in depicting the psyche of its characters and whether it works or not. If the film succeeds with that aspect, which I think Goa does, I would give my thumbs up.

Camera never lies about the world – its humans who lie about it. The vision and eyes of the film maker defines his characters, story and importantly the issues dealt in the film. Goa is to be seen and revered as a film not made for the youngsters, but it is about changing perception of young minds of today. It is too easy to dismiss the film as mindless ramblings about 3 guys from a village wanking around in cool dude outfits and mouthing mumbo jumbo lines coupled with silly writing – prancing around bikini clad women in alcohol infested land of Goa with great music. I can understand when people call it grime; because it has everything in place to be touted as one.

Why I wouldn’t want to do the same is because of the characters that have been etched out by Venkat Prabhu. Our personalities unfurl so startlingly and beautifully on screen complete with short comings laced with lots of humor; He has pretty much made sure that we begin to accept it with a smile and go on to laugh and enjoy it. The director has not only managed to subconsciously, successfully and comprehensively paint the picture of our young Tamil Nadu but also made sure we laugh looking at them. Rather, ourselves.

Goa is a fun ride with 3 guys from a village; all wanting to go out there and enjoy their lives. Not willing to control their gushing hormones; they want to free their minds and their bodies by having fun. Indoctrinated with religion, he remains religious not from his heart but from his mind. He fakes his personality to save his image that has been thrust upon him. Prem Ji plays Saami kannu who doesn’t really mind flicking the jewels from his temple to have fun in Goa; more precisely to get laid in Goa. Playing his friend Vinayagam is Jai; who is the oft seen guy in our midst.

Caught in 2 worlds – He fondly and proudly says that America is his country, Wants to speak good english (Like so many of us and he tries hard too, again like so many of us, and fails many a time, again like so many of us), adores Michael Jackson not because he can sing along for his songs but feels that it is cool to be his fan and finally wants to settle down abroad by marrying a firang girl; an idea inspired by his friend azhagan who has managed to do the same after he found a job in Goa. The emphasis is clearly on settling abroad and he believes this is the only way out.

The son of village head and importantly replete with bag full of responsibilities Vaibhav plays a hunk with an obligation to not cause harm to his father’s reputation. Vaibhav takes the role of a Ramarajan, The smart guy in the village who can make the girls drool. Goes out with different girls, white skinned with good physique which makes his dark skinned friends feel jealous about his presence. But he coolly says that dolly birds don’t really see tone of the skin; rather it’s the talent (Flirting?) that matters.

Let’s keep this simple; these guys want to have something new in their lives; out of their Village, see things that they have only heard of, do things that they have only dreamt about and talked about for hours. So, they pack their bags to Madurai to have a good time, but they end up in Goa after smelling a good opportunity to get laid and have a good time for a week. But, Prem Ji drops the bomb shell the he has stolen the temple jewels and they are now sure that they wouldn’t want to go back to their village.

Jai steals the show with subtle one liner’s with his funny English. He wants to show people that he can speak English; like many today. Vaibhav and Prem Ji make sure Jai does most of the talking because he is the only one who is confident of speaking English, Hindi and I guess many other languages that were spoken were trimmed before the release. They go around the beaches of Goa for few days unsuccessfully trying to bed a girl. They meet a gay couple jack (Arvind Aakash) and Danny (Sampath). One a cool dude and the other cool in his own way; show these guys from the village, the heaven that is Goa.

They party, smoke weed, go to a disco but fail to land a girl. The story takes a turn when the Jack- Danny couple insists they need a make over to realize their dreams. Danny says “Remember Aamir Khan 10 years back, with a side partition? We need to change our look from time to time”. After a few frames, we have uber-cool looking Samy kannu, Ramarajan, and Vinayagam ready to rumble and raze the city of Goa.

The Jack – Danny relationship is pretty much treated like a heterosexual couple; Jack even cries foul about Danny’s close relationship with Samy. Jack removes his shirt and shows his Six pack ab’s and asks his friends whether he lacks anything that Samy Kannu has in abundance. The point that a gay relationship pretty much works like your love for your wife is being shoved down our throats. It’s not just about sex after all. I just wish he had touched upon transsexuals as well. We do understand that their sexualities might be different; but the common thread running through in a heterosexual relationship, I.E, love, sex, deceit, anger, possessive partner’s pretty much work the same way as well.

Pia plays a mini skirt clad, hip girl making her living by singing every evening in the restaurant run by the gay couple. She has feelings for Jai who is staunch with his aspirations; that is to marry a firang girl. She even manages to ask him – “Is this love?” and makes a statement “this is not love”. But our man with a king size ego doesn’t accept it. Vaibhav declares to Jai that he has managed to get laid with Pia which Jai believes; Again a weak sign of young males today? To doubt the girl’s chastity because his friend says he she is easy to get laid with?

And then finally, Jai – with his changed outlook (That Pia is the right girl for her) goes to Pia to tell her that he doesn’t mind that she is not a virgin and he will accept her come what may. A sign of changing mindset about today’s generation? For which she delightfully slaps him and says that it is bloody a misconception that girls who get into modern clothes are easy to get laid. And she says she wants to kill Ramarajan for telling a lie about her. The next scene is where Ramarajan is tied to a lamp post, ripped of his shirt and pants, and whipped around by Vinay and samy kannu. Bravo.

Vaibhav falls in love with Sneha who plays a successful entrepreneur; a sign that is becoming way too visible in modern India. There was hoarding which I saw a few days back that screamed for attention “Women do not climb the ladders in today’s corporate world, they take the elevator”. This explains Sneha’s role; lots of money and a big business to run. She falls in love instantly and decides to get married to Ramaraj (Vaibhav). After the wedding they both lie down on the bed; and Vaibhav says…”Back home, in my village. For the first night they decorate the bed with flowers and keep milk for the groom to drink”, goes on to say “there is nothing here but it’s Okay, I can adjust”. But Sneha is quick to politely refuse and she says “lets not force our physical relationship, let it happen when it supposed to happen”. The face on Ramarajan’s face is priceless and he pretty much wanted this….and only this. When sex doesn’t happen then what’s the point of the marriage? Should sex logically follow the day after a male and female get married? He married her to get laid; isn’t the very idea of getting married wrong? The director makes a point here again. Of course, people laughed for it and enjoyed it.

Sneha is already married but refuses to divulge information about the same; and the confrontation the both have is a master piece. Clichéd all right; but she says “Why do you see my past when I never asked yours” it ends with a slap on his face. 5 Star food being served for thought. Samy Kannu and Vinayagam on hearing this story of Ramarajan joke about it and call it “Mokka kadhai”. The film ends with 3 friends getting back their jewel’s that has been caught in web that they think is a dangerous to get tangled in. In the end it happens to be “sappa” matter as well.

The film as such isn’t anywhere close to great writing that boasts about good structured narration. The movie is about the young minds that is still in transition; about the minds that want to try out a popular pub. About young minds who want to speak English, have fun without thinking too much into ancient culture. They want to try out things which their friends have told them “cool and fun to do”, they want to dance with girls in a night club and see how it feels to do all that.

They just want to try out a different lifestyle, they want to decide the kind of life they want to have…..the movie mirrors the aspiration of countless young minds of today and their changed perceptions about religion, sex, culture, right and wrong. The cinematography complements the moods of film with vibrant colours, so do the songs. Yuvan could have done a better job, though. Venkat Prabhu needs to innovate with his craft, not sure how long can he continue this “I will make other films look funny by asking Prem Ji do it” attitude. He has not even spoofed it; it is just that they look funny because Prem Ji does it. I have no idea whether Venkat Prabhu thought about these issues or subconsciously portrayed his characters…but a job well done.

The film is not about right and wrong – it is about accepting things without applying your boundaries of right and wrong. The film, in my opinion makes a significant statement culturally about the relationships relevant today. Like say for instance – relationship between 2 men or Women having sex before marriage and a man accepting her?