Soppana Sundari review: Aishwarya Rajesh headlines this mildly enjoyable fare which offers sporadic laughs

3/5

Story: An economically backward family, that includes a middle-aged mother and two young women, is elated to the core when they win a car worth 10 lakh as prize as part of a contest. However, a family member of theirs who has been staying away from them for a while owing to ideological differences, demands ownership of the vehicle as he took part in the contest. A cop, who happens to be a womanizer, interferes into the issue, leaving both parties disappointed. Who is going to own the vehicle?

Review: The treatment of Soppana Sundari reminds you of Nelson Dilipkumar's approach towards screenplay. Interestingly, some of the actors who have gained popularity with the filmmaker's movies play vital roles in this project. Another striking similarity is the black humour genre which Nelson is known for. 

It begins with Ahalya (Aishwarya Rajesh), her sister Thenmozhi (Lakshmi Priya Chandramouli) and mother (Deepa Shankar) receiving an unexpected surprise in the form of a costly gift. The three of them struggle to make both ends meet, and taking care of the unwell patriarch of the household makes their lives even miserable. 

Their happiness knows no bounds when they are told about a car which they won in a lucky contest. However, little did they know that they have to undergo a slew of hurdles to own the vehicle. From managing her selfish elder brother to a lecherous cop who interferes in her life, Ahalya witnesses several unanticipated events which leave her exhausted. 

This plot is adequate to generate ample entertaining elements to keep the audience hooked. Director SG Charles has attempted to strike a balance between black humour and a sleek thriller. He succeeds to an extent in creating intermittent laughter in spite of the logic going for a toss on a few occasions. 

Aishwarya headlines the film and she effortlessly pulls off her role unsurprisingly. She takes a backseat when Deepa Shankar scores with her one-liners and naïve histrionics. The latter reminds us of her performance in Doctor; that's the positive and negative aspect behind her acting style this time around. 

A sequence featuring her and Aishwarya is a riot. However, Lakshmi Priya's character, despite enjoying significant screen space, suffers from underwriting. The likes of Redin Kingsley, Karunakaran and Mime Gopi do not surprise us, though they come up with neat performances. Sunil, in the role of a shrewd cop, tries hard to impress as the menacing antagonist. 

The visuals by Balamurugan and Vignesh Rajagopalan complement the quirky narration; the vibrant frames aid in lending conviction to the black humour. Ajmal Tahseen's music isn't bad, it reminds you of a few popular compositions from other films though. Despite having a bunch of talented cast and situations that generate scope for entertaining sequences, makers end up providing a partly engaging outing which seldom connects with us emotionally. 

Verdict: The movie comes across as a harmless entertainer for those who aren't mindful of watching something which they have already experienced in other movies.