Cast : Siva Karthikeyan, Oviya
Direction : Pandiraj
Music : Girish

Education is a tool for development. For a better future, the children should be provided with proper formal education. Director Pandiraj, whose debut venture Pasanga won the National award, has conveyed this strong message through Marina. It is indeed a no easy task to do a film without commercial elements. But Pandiraj has managed the impossible possible in Marina.

It is perhaps Kollywood’s answer to Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire. The life of children in Marina beach, their struggles and the joy and friendship shared between them is what the movie is all about. There is more to the children who sell sundal, mango and ballons in Marina. They have their own share of joy, sorrow, friendship et al. Three cheers to pandiraj, who has done extensive research and zeroed in on such a subject. In a nutsheel, the movie takes the audience on a tour to Marina. The feeling of letting our legs wet, having fun-filled walk on the sands of the beach and joy at watching a human sea is what one would experience watching the film.

Pandian of Pasanga fame, is the crux of the film. From his eyes, the director brings out the compassionate life among people for whom Marina is their Mecca.

Ambikapathy (Pandian) comes to Chennai and the shores of Marina welcomes him. He starts selling water packets. His pleasant and innocent manners wins him the love of young boys who work in the shores selling sundal. There is a postman (Jithan Mohan) who is then mentor and guardian for these children. There an old man (Sundararajan) who turn friends for these children and there are some heartwrenching encounters between the children and the oldman.

The shores of Marina welcomes hundreds of lover couples everyday. So is Senthilnathan (Sivakarthikeyan) and Sopana Sundari (Oviya). They provide comic relief as the director tries to bring a reality check on contemporary love between a boy and girl in a city like Chennai today.

The movie proceeds at a leisurely pace and ends with a rivetting and loud message conveyed without much ado.

Pandian is impressive. His innocent looks adds strength to the character. His body language is apt for the role. His eyes brighten up as he understands every scene and gives in his very best. The group of boys along with Pandian does their part well, while the likes of Jithan Mohan and Sundararaman gels well with their roles. Three cheers to Siva Karthikeyan and Oviya. They have a part to play in the script thought the story primarily not revolve around them.

Debutant cinematographer Vijay has captured the beauty of Marina well. The wide lens brings the human sea at the shore well, while young Girish chips in with a melodious songs and catchy background score.

Three cheers to Pandiraj for he has conveyed a much needed and relevanyt theme that would go down well with the masses. Though a feel of watching a documentary cannot be avoided, Marina eventually makes a good watch.

Verdict: Apt theme, engrossing tale

Rating: 4/10 – Average