After the spectacular ‘Baahubali’, we were all set for an encore with ‘Puli’, yet another period fantasy from the South. But this one is a crashing bore.

Puli wastes Sridevi on a silly, boring fantasy…

Certainly director-writer Chimbu Deven could have thought of something better than this juvenile romp into fantasy land.

Director Chimbu Deven is known for his simple, yet unconventional films, most of which have done quite well. But working with a mass hero like Vijay seems to have taken its toll.

The film ends a compromise that does justice to neither the director nor the actor.

Puli is a fantasy but its failing is that it is told in an amateur fashion. Coming as it does, after the humongous success of Bahubali that raised the bar as far as fantasy, animation and give-it-all-you-got cinema goes, Puli disappoints. The film works as a visual extravaganza, but it fails to entertain. Even Vijay fans may find it hard to lap up his snazzy song-routine. Sridevi’s arched eyebrows are more expressive than the rest of her. Hansika and Shruti only wiggle their backsides and shake their bellies. Aah, even that’s disappointing.

Vijay’s film is a visual treat, but the screenplay is disappointing…Watch the film if you have nothing better to do this long weekend!

Puli could have been an interesting film but a shoddy script and lose editing pull this film down.

After all the buzz which Puli had generated, you would expect it to pounce on the audience. But Vijay’s Puli crouches and crouches till you are bored to death.

Much on the lines of Bahubali, Puli is also a fantasy, adventure drama except that this one is an ordeal to sit through. Pedestrian to the core in almost every department of film making, the good old Chandamama stories were a zillion times better than watching this story unfold.

Puli’ has its moments but they’re short-lived — like the wonderful stretch where Vijay embarks on an Indiana Jones kind of adventure. It’s a great idea that goes haywire in the execution. Chimbu Deven is a creative filmmaker, one with good ideas, but doesn’t quite succeed in translating them on to the screen in a way it will appeal to everybody.

You must have heard the caption ‘Save the tiger’. Well this tiger aka Puli is sure to be hunted down by critics and I advice you to save yourselves and stay away from Vijay’s Puli if you want to maintain your sanity. I am going with one and half stars for Puli just for the sake of Vijay’s earnest efforts and one or two stand out scenes.

Puli Stands up with amazing visuals and good performances from Sridevi and other lead cast. Vijay’s fans may not like him in this particular flick, but Puli can be watched once for the visuals and effort put in.

A crisper script and a lighter directorial hand is what are missing here. Alas, it’s a fantasy film without any of the fun and excitement that ought to go with it. You wouldn’t mind a 3-hour film in fantasy genre even today, provided it has the power to keep you glued to the screen. In this case, the 154 minutes seem never-ending.

Verdict: Disappointing!