ALL IN ALL AZHAGU RAJA MOVIE REVIEW
Score Board
| Magazine Name | Score |
| Online Film News | 2.25 |
| நாரதன் (`கல கல`ன்னு ஒரு கலகம்) | 2 |
| Rediff | 1.1 |
Cast and Crew
Production: KE Gnanavel Raja, Studio Green
Cast: Kajal Aggarwal, Karthi, Santhanam
Direction: M Rajesh
Screenplay: M Rajesh
Story: M Rajesh
Background score: S Thaman
Cinematography: Sakthi Saravanan
All in All Azhaguraja is the 4th comedy entertainer from director Rajesh and this time it is Karthi teaming up with the 'Comedy Superstar' Santhanam. The movie is expected to continue the director's enviable run so far.
The movie follows the regular Rajesh 'family entertainer' template and it tries to offer maximum laughs to the audience for the price of their ticket money. Can Santhanam manage to lift the fortunes of yet another Rajesh movie?
Karthi plays Raja, the head of a local cable channel while Santhanam plays Kalyanam, his employee, side-kick and 'Man Friday' rolled into one. Raja falls for 'Chitra' Devi Priya, a stubborn young woman with dreams of making it as an artist, come what may. The rest of the movie is obviously about how he gets her hand, with a few odds stacked against him.
From 'Nanben Da' in Boss to 'Factu Factu' in OKOK, Santhanam's one-liners in Rajesh's movies are always on the mark. Here it is 'Oh Ho Na Na' and though it sounds funny, the comedian overuses it.
Karthi and Santhanam have shared good vibes in movies like Siruthai and Saguni but here the magic isn't to be seen regularly. But the way they address each other officially as 'MD Sir' and 'Officer Sir', stands out. Santhanam is still a show stealer whenever he is on screen. Such is the variety of expressions on his visage.
Veteran actors Kota Srinivasa Rao, M.S.Bhaskar and Naren showcase their comedic abilities while Saranya Ponvannan continues to get typecast. This role offers nothing to meet her outstanding abilities. Prabhu plays Karthi's dad with typical authority and confidence.
Though the 80s flashback is intentionally over-the-top, Karthik's body language and voice modulation as the junior Prabhu is commendable. The actor sure has put in the efforts. Santhanam shines as the Kaali Annan, reminding us of the legendary Suruli Rajan. Karthi and Santhanam's makeover and efforts are appreciable, and the references to the popular movies of that era and particularly Superstar Rajini, will make you smile.
Karthi eases through his role. His dancing skills have improved noticeably and he looks handsome and fit. The addition of a needless little heroism element to the interval segment sticks out sorely.
Kajal Agarwal looks simple, charming and carries off her ethnic costumes very well, thanks to her slender and shapely frame. All her efforts to learn dance under the tutoring of M.S.Bhaskar offer a few enjoyable moments in the second half. In the same way, when she confidently goes about singing in the most untrained and unpleasant manner possible, Karthi's reactions are hilarious. Towards the end, Kajal, Karthi and Naren are involved in a little 'passing the parcel' exercise where Kajal is caught between her lover and dad, as they try to convince her about her future.
Thaman's numbers such as 'Yaarukkum Sollama', 'Unnai Partha' and 'All in All' sound good, and his background score for Santhanam's Kareena Chopra portions are delightful. Speaking of Kareena Chopra, Santhanam’s elaborate makeover, costumes and props are authentic to say the least.
The length of the movie works against it and with the absence of scenes which will make you roll over in boisterous laughter, the movie could have used some trimming. Though the laughs are spread across a few moments, when AAA is pitted against Rajesh's other wholesome 'laughathons' such as OKOK and Boss, it falls way short.
Verdict: All in All Azhaguraja lacks the Rajesh - Santhanam magic
Score: 2.25 / 5
Review by : OnlineFilmnews Review Board
ஆல் இன் ஆல் அழகுராஜா
நல்ல இயக்குனர். இன்னும் கொஞ்சம் பொறுப்பா படம் பண்ணியிருக்கலாம்.
Verdict: ...இன்னும் எதிர்பாக்குறோம்!
Score: 2 / 5
All in All Azhagu Raja is a waste of time
S Saraswathi says director Rajesh’s All in All Azhagu Raja is an absolutely ridiculous and tortuously long romantic comedy film that seriously tests your patience.
Director M Rajesh of Boss Engira Bhaskaran fame is back with yet another romantic comedy, All in All Azhagu Raja, featuring Karthi, Kajal Aggarwal and Santhanam in the lead roles.
Prabhu, Saranya Ponvannam, Radhika Apte, Naren, M S Bhakar, Kota Srinivasa Rao and Nassar are also in the cast.
The film is produced by K E Gnanavel Raja's Studio Green and has music by S Thaman.
Azhagu Raja is set in a small town and revolves around Karthi, who plays the titular role, and Kalyanam (Santhanam), his assistant.
Raja is the managing director of a local TV channel and Kalyanam is his only staff. His parents, Prabhu and Saranya Ponvannam are eager to get him married, but Raja is determined to make his TV channel a success before tying the knot.
Raja realises that getting hold of a few advertisements is the only way to salvage their floundering TV channel.
The proprietor of a newly opened jewelry store, played by Kota Srinivasa Rao promises them an ad, but only if they can get a gorgeous model.
Having no options, Raja decides to disguise Kalyanam as a girl to shoot the ad. Thus is born a new and utterly ridiculous avatar for Santhanam as Kareena Chopra, a Mumbai based model.
Meanwhile, Raja very predictably meets and falls in love with Chitra Devi Priya (Kajal Aggarwal) and conveniently forgets all his dreams for his TV channel.
Devi Priya is the pampered and spoiled daughter of a rich theatre-cum-wedding hall owner, who believes that she is the next Queen of Melody.
We also have a flashback scene set in the 1980s, where we learn about Prabhu’s previous history with Devi Priya’s family. Karthi plays the role of the young Prabhu and we have yet another character for Santhanam, this time as Prabhu’s sidekick.
There seems to be an overdose of characters, two roles for Karthi and three for Santhanam. There is too much happening in the film. But nothing to keep you interested. Santhanam’s presence is inevitable in all Rajesh’s movies with not much change in his role or characterisation. Though he does have his moments in All in All Azhagu Raja, the comedy seems to be forced, many of the scenes greatly exaggerated, and his portrayal of Kareena Chopra, a disaster.
Kajal Aggarwal has given a decent performance, but her character seems totally over the top and needs a good dose of reality.
Prabhu, Saranya, Naren and Nassar have little to do in the film.
M S Bhakar, however, does deserve a special mention. Though brief, his role as Kajal’s dance master is hugely entertaining.
Saguni and Alex Pandian, Karthi desperately needed a hit.
Unfortunately his bad luck continues, as All in All Azhagu Raja has absolutely nothing to offer to an actor of Paruthiveeran calibre.
The film is a mess. There is nothing to even remotely suggest that it is directed by M Rajesh, who is considered the master of comedy in the Tamil film industry with three back-to-back hits--Boss Engira Bhaskaran, SMS and OKOK.
Verdict: All in All Azhagu Raja is a painfully long, altogether boring and surprisingly pathetic attempt by the director. A total waste of time and money.
Score: 1.1 / 5