Dhoni Movie Review

Cast and Crew
Direction: Prakash Raj
Cast: Prakash Raj, Akash Puri, Radhika Apte, Brahmanandham, Nasser, Thalaivasal Vijay.
Music: Ilayaraja
Camera: K V Guhan
Editing: Kishore
Producer: Prakash Raj
Banner: Duet Movies
Release date: 10 February, 2012.
Review
Three cheers to the passionate filmmaker Prakash Raj, who has come out with flying colours again with yet another serious, but entertaining movie, this time his film talks about another grave issue, the present education system and the father-son conflict, the need of this hour!

The film speaks about the differences that arise between a father and son in deciding the son’s career. The son wants to become a cricketer, a player like Mahendra Singh Dhoni but father wants him to pursue MBA.
Subramanyam (Prakash Raj), a widower, is a responsible father who has two children, a son and a daughter. He wants his children to study well and get good marks and for that he sacrifices a lot many things. While Subramanyam is keen on his children scoring high marks in subjects his son Akash (Akash Puri) shows his interests in cricket and sincerely attends coaching classes.
Due to his poor show in studies Akash is made to leave the school and Subramanyam puts him in burdening tuition classes. The pressure on Prakash Raj makes him crazy and he takes his son away from coaching classes and beats him injuring his son seriously. Subramanyam is arrested.
Meanwhile, Subramanyam’s daughter Kaveri (SriTeja) develops attachment to Subramanyam’s neighbor Nalini (Radhika Apte), who has a dark secret behind her. Subramaniam, knowing about Nalini, prevents his daughter getting attached with his neighbor.
Prakash Raj needs no mention about his acting skills. As usual ‘Dhoni’ also sees him in a sensible role which he carries on with elan.
The show-stealer is Akash Puri, the son of director Puri Jagannath. The kid has put a scintillating performance. Radhika Apte, with her emotions and Nasser, in the role as a coach, with under-play acting do justice to their roles.
Brahmanandham, Murali Sharma and Thalaivasal Vijay’s performance also deserve a pat.
Cricketer Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is doing a small appearance in the film. Prabhu Deva, who is a close friend of Prakash Raj appears in a song.

Prakash Raj has written the screenplay and dialogues (with an inspiration from Mahesh Manjrekar’s ‘Shikshanacha Aaicha Gho’, a Marathi film) for the film apart from acting and directing. ‘Dhoni’ is the first film for Prakash Raj in Tamil as director. He has already directed a film in Kannada (remake of ‘Abhiyum Naanum’). ‘Dhoni’ is released in Telugu also.
‘Isaignani’ Ilayaraja’s rerecording is a great strength to the film and songs are a treat to our heart and soul.
K V Guhan’s camerawork is amazing. Kishore’s editing has also helped the film in telling the story without drag.
The film is produced by Prakash Raj’s home production company Duet Movies.
‘Dhoni’ is a film that is a must watch for all the ‘responsible’ parents who ignore their wards’ talents and dreams, and a lesson to our education system and schools which put pressure on parents and students.
‘Dhoni’ is not only a film that tells a meaningful message, it is also a good entertaining production.
‘Dhoni’ hits a huge Sixer!