Aayiram Porkaasukal

Aayiram Porkaasukal Movie Synopsis: When two men accidentally come across a thousand gold coins, their lives change forever. And so do the lives of those around them.

Aayiram Porkaasukal Movie Review: Ravi Murukaya’s Aayiram Porkaasukal is neither the best nor the most entertaining film of the year, but it certainly has its smartly conceived and executed moments. For those looking for a fun time at the movies, Aayiram Porkaasukal, with all its shortcomings, might turn out to be a compelling watch.

As is the case with almost all rural comedies, a series of lived-in and engaging characters fill up the world of Aayiram Porkaasukal. These characters are what make the movie compelling. There are greedy but likeable villagers who pose a threat to our protagonists (Vidaarth and Saravanan) as they try to get their hands on a thousand gold coins. This includes a snarky neighbour, a tongue-in-cheek police officer, and an opportunistic snake catcher. And, more conveniently, there’s also a romantic interest (Arundhathi Nair) for Vidaarth’s character to fall in love with.

Having said that, when these engaging characters are kept aside, Aayiram Porkaasukal has many loud and clear flaws. A more external fault is the film's treatment of a girl flirting with our hero. Very early into the film, there’s a joke made about her dark complexion, and it is quite frustrating that even in 2023, our filmmakers find no qualms in using such racist jokes in movies. Even the falling-in-love moments between Vidharth and Arundhathi are half-baked, but on a more positive note, this also works for the film as not much time is wasted in undercooked girl-meets-boy scenes.

As for the cast, all actors are unanimously good, particularly those who play the smaller roles. Unquestionably, Aayiram Porkaasukal is a movie where the supporting cast scores the most, while Vidaarth and Arundhathi pale in comparison to the lived-in quality of the other actors. On the other hand, Saravanan spearheads the movie with his understated charm and beautifully toned-down performance.

After a questionable beginning, the film certainly picks up, especially once the thousand gold coins suggested in the film’s title come into the picture. All in all, Aayiram Porkaasukal is a comedy of errors that certainly has its funny bits, like a funny funeral sequence, the stretch where a couple plans to elope, or a cat-and-mouse chase sequence between neighbours.

Written by: Roopa Radhakrishnan