Multi-starrers are a rare phenomenon in Tamil cinema. Arya and Vijay Sethupathi have been advocating the advantages of multi-starrer projects for a long time but no one seems to be paying heed to their thoughts. So,they decided to do it themselves and Purampokku is one such honest effort. SP Jananathan has made anti-establishment films in the past and the promos and trailers of Purampokku almost smelled the same. Has the film lived up to its expectations?

Plot

Arya is sentenced to death by hanging by a High court judge and Shaam is instructed to oversee the operation until the death sentence is concluded. We are shown that Arya is a terrorist who conducted a covert suicide bombing operation against the Indian military. Karthika Nair was also part of the same operation and in the last minutes, because of a role reversal, Arya goes as a suicide bomber and gets caught. 

Vijay Sethupathi plays a railway khalasi but his past job was a hangman inside the prison. He quit his hangman job because of his battling with guilt. Karthika Nair wants to kill Vijay Sethupathi so that she can postpone the death sentence of Arya since Vijay is the only experience living hangman in the area.

Whether Arya's death sentence is executed or not forms the rest of the second half which is a tiring watch. 

Plus

SP Jananathan has made a honest film that thrives on humanitarian issues and values. He has showcased what is happening inside a jail, how the convicts are treated, what offers jail inmates are entitled to in a good manner. 

Minus

The lip-treatment of the convicts by deliberately providing them lines against the government looks preachy and instructive at the same time. The climax of the film is a real let down because of the snail-pace and the entire build up to it. Vijay Sethupathi's position in the climax is clearly contrived and is made to make the audiences feel heavy towards leaving the cinema halls. 

Bottom-line

Purampokku is a half-hearted socio-thriller that is killed by the political lenience of the film-maker. 

Verdict : A half-baked socio thriller

Stars : 2.5/5