R ARIVANANTHAM
Sembi a serious movie on child sexual abuse with lots of humour from the most sought after Kollywood director Prabhu Solomon after his block-busters ‘Myna’ and ‘Kumki’ hit the screens across the country on Friday.
This film is like Jythika’s ‘Ponmagal Vandhaal’ which centred around child sexual abuse and the law enforcement agencies.
Comedian Kovai Sarala plays the lead role as a tribal woman in a tiny hamlet in Kodaikanal.
Thambi Ramaiah and Ashwin Kumar Lakshmikanthan play key roles. The story revolves around the lives of 24 people during their journey from Kodaikanal to Dindigul in a private bus.
Music director Niwas K Prasanna has scored well in ‘Sembi.’
Kovai Sarala is a resident of a tiny hamlet in Kodaikanal and lives with her grand-daughter Sembi after she lost her daughter in a forest fire while trying to safeguard others. People around the town make ends meet by doing menial jobs.
Meanwhile Sembi is gang-raped by a politician’s kin and two of his friends when they visit the village.
Sarala seeks police help in bringing perpetrators of the crime to book. Does she get justice is the rest of the story.
Kovai Sarala has breathed life into her character and delivers a spellbinding performance. Nila, who plays Sembi character, stands out in her role and given her best performance.
Even though the subject is serious, Prabhu Soloman manages to bring in some humour as a relief to the audience.
While Sarala shines in the first half, Ashwin Kumar as a lawyer keeps the audience on the edge of their seats in the second half with his brilliant show.
Ashwin has made full use of the opportunity to prove his acting prowess in ‘Sembi.’
Prabhu Soloman highlights the problems associated with the police department. There are some hard hitting dialogues too. The BGM is good and elevates the story.
