Movie: Looty

Film: Looty
Director: Parameshwar
Cast: Sathyaraj, Roja, Mumtaz, Vadivelu, Vivek, Mayilsamy, Visu.

After the success of 'Ennamma Kannu', 'Looty' was touted as the next best thing to be happening to Sathyaraj on his career front. But the film turns out to be a damp squib, with a meandering screenplay, inept handling, time factor that goes hay wire, and comedy that tries out your patience.

Sathyaraj plays three roles and doesn't even make a semblance of an attempt to demarcate them in any way. Roja ambles along, not quite convinced how husband Sathyaraj's infidelity could be turned into a comedy. But at least she has a role to speak of. Mumtaz does not have even that. Not that she is bothered, in fact she seems quite happy in doing one of those sizzling dance numbers, in her favourite costumes that leave little to the imagination. One feels sorry for the late M.G.R. While earlier, M.G.R. alive could choose with whom he would act and how, M.G.R. in some recent films is forced to act in bizarre ways with all and sundry. Thanks to computer graphics! And if all this is not enough, there is Vadivelu and Vivek with their antics in the name of comedy, trying to out do each other. If nothing else these two are sure to keep a decent audience away from the theatres!

As for the story-Sathyaraj and Roja get married in the early scenes. Childless, they adopt a baby they find abandoned in their car. The little boy's mannerisms lead Roja to suspect that Sathyaraj could be the biological father. Her constant harassment drives him to send the boy abroad for a higher education. A decade or so later the son returns - an exact replica of Sathyaraj. Sending Roja in to a fit of fury, all her suspicions confirmed, despite Sathyraj's bewilderment and protests of innocence. Finally the culprit is revealed. It is Sathyaraj's father, a lecherous old man in the village almost on his deathbed, who couldn't keep his hands off a nurse assigned to him. The result being a little stepbrother for Sathyaraj. And the man who put the baby in the couple's car was Visu, the family doctor, who was in the know of things. But his good intentions had backfired. But then it's all well that ends well!