A scene of ‘Chutney Sambar’. Photo Credit: @disneyplusHSTam/YouTube
After being underestimated amnesia from malaysia And disappointing BommaiDirector Radha Mohan is back in his comfort zone with his film ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’. Chutney SambarThe series, which marks the streaming debut for him as well as its lead actor Yogi Babu, draws inspiration from the filmmaker’s hit films Mozzie And Abhiyum naanum, and focuses on resolving conflicts in interpersonal relationships and family background.
In Chutney SambarAiling restaurateur Ratnaswamy (Nizhalgal Ravi) reveals his deepest secret to his son Karthi (Chandran). Before his marriage, he had a relationship with a woman who bore a son. As his last wish, Ratnaswamy appeals to Karthi to find this son and ensure that he is also a part of his funeral. When Karthi discovers that roadside food stall owner Sachu (Yogi Babu) is his half-brother, a series of events bring them closer than ever expected.
Except for a few films, Radha Mohan’s works never had any villains; situations and misunderstandings between genuinely good people were often the subject of conflict in his screenplays, and Chutney Sambar This series is no different: it talks about the importance of acceptance and family bonds. What makes this series different is that the makers have tried to take advantage of the available runtime with multiple characters and several side plots, which, despite being random in some cases, connect well with the overarching story.
Chutney Sambar (Tamil)
Director: Radha Mohan
Mould: Yogi Babu, Vani Bhojan, Chandran, Elango Kumaravel, Myna Nandini, Nithin Sathya
Runtime: 6 episodes (35 to 45 minutes each)
Plot: A street vendor learns from his stepbrother about his estranged father, who is on his deathbed. Will the new relationship be accepted by both parties?
Despite a rich supporting cast, Yogi Babu has single-handedly carried the series. Making a film around comedians is nothing new for Radha Mohan – he has directed several films before.uppu karuvaduThis has happened with Karunakaran before and it would not be an exaggeration to say that Vrindavanam Discretion and From Malaysia to AmnesiaMS Bhaskar is considered even more important than the respective heroes of the films. The filmmaker made sure that he presented a different perspective of the artistry of this talented group in those films and here, he does the same with Babu. Though there is no doubt about his comic talent, films like Bommai Nayagi And Karnan brought out the serious artist in him and Chutney Sambar Babu’s one-liners are funny, and like his films, it’s obvious he added many of them during dubbing; but that’s no complaint considering the way they liven up the scenes.
Several jibes are made at Babu’s looks, but one character asks another not to engage in body-shaming; another character refuses to let a child sing Song They sing songs, but Sachu replies, ‘Why can’t convent kids sing? SongThese are examples of how the makers surprise you with their self-awareness, and it’s a pleasant surprise how they’ve put in that extra effort to appeal to a new generation of audiences who may not be familiar with the filmmaker’s biggest hits.
A scene from ‘Chutney Sambar’ | Photo credit: @disneyplusHSTam
Apart from the story, what doesn’t work in this series’ favour is its numerous subplots; one of these involves Sophie (Vani Bhojan) and her alcoholic father Subha (Charle), another about a city bigwig and his son who is out on parole, Karthi’s love story with Samyuktha Vishwanathan of ‘Kacchi Sera’ fame, and flashback scenes featuring young Sachu with his mother Amudha (Deepa Shankar). Though the makers have tried their best to bring all of these together, these dull subplots add little value to the main plot. The fact that the secondary characters seem one-dimensional doesn’t help either. The comic scenes that unfold in Babu’s absence also have little to no impact; there’s a running joke about a kid’s bathroom pranks, a man “joking” about his marriage, and his wife’s cooking abilities or lack thereof… you get the gist.
Thankfully, Yogi Babu and the good nature of the series make up for these minor annoyances. At a time when producers are painting the screen red with violence and gore, this series — on the lines of Uppu Puli Karam And Sweet Caramel Coffee — is a very welcome change. Perhaps naming series after food items is the trick! In the series, Ratnasamy’s restaurant is famous for its sambar while Sachu’s is famous for its chutney, but in reality, the collaboration between Radha Mohan and Yogi Babu — like the chutney and sambar — makes it even more special. Chutney Sambar A lovely watch.
Chutney Sambar is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar
