If you’re hoping that M. Rajesh’s Brother will leave you laughing till your sides hurt, well, you might want to pack a couple of aspirins and a heavy dose of nostalgia. Starring Jayam Ravi and Priyanka Mohan, this film tries to be a throwback to Rajesh’s earlier successes, Siva Manasula Sakthi and Boss Engira Baskaran, but instead ends up feeling like the distant relative who shows up uninvited and won’t stop telling the same stories.
Plot That’s Been There, Done That (And Still Won’t Leave)
The storyline feels as familiar as your grandmother’s rasam recipe—except a good rasam actually has some spice. Brother serves up a lukewarm blend of “seen it, heard it, please spare us” jokes, and a predictable family drama that might just have you wondering if you accidentally pressed play on a 2010 rerun. If there’s any “plot twist,” it’s that there’s no twist at all. Rajesh sets us up for a nostalgic rollercoaster, but instead, we’re left on the kiddie rides—safe, predictable, and disappointingly slow.
Comedy Attempts: Where Laughs Go to Die
One of the movie’s main issues is that it’s neither fully committed to being a comedy nor serious enough to qualify as a heartfelt drama. The jokes are sprinkled in like seasoning by someone who didn’t realize the salt cap was loose. We’re talking the type of jokes that might be funny at a family reunion… if the audience is asleep by 10 pm. Forced punchlines, repetitive gags, and situations that feel more awkward than amusing—”Brother” is less a laugh riot and more of a laugh drought.
A Music Score Too Good for the Company It Keeps
Now, let’s talk about the one true star of this film: Harris Jayaraj. The music, particularly the track Makkamishi, brings some much-needed energy to a movie that otherwise feels like it’s running on low battery. It’s like someone invited a DJ to a lecture on tax law—you get a momentary jolt of excitement, but it’s quickly drowned out by the main event. Kudos to Jayaraj for showing up even when the script didn’t.
Jayam Ravi and Priyanka Mohan: Talented, But Lost in Translation
Jayam Ravi and Priyanka Mohan do their best with the material they’re given, but it’s clear they’re fighting an uphill battle. Ravi’s charm and timing, usually enough to carry a film, here feel underutilized and misdirected, as if he’s been handed a bucket to bail out a sinking ship. Priyanka Mohan, too, tries to bring warmth and relatability to her role, but with lines that sound like they were drafted by a comedy algorithm, there’s only so much she can do.
Genre Confusion: Family Drama or Comedy? Or Neither?
What’s most confusing is Brother’s identity crisis. Rajesh tries to serve us a slice of family bonding with a side of humor, but it’s like trying to eat biryani with a dessert spoon—neither here nor there, and entirely frustrating. The emotional moments feel shallow, while the humor is either tired or tonally off. The result? A movie that doesn’t know what it wants to be, and so ends up being nothing memorable at all.
Final Verdict: Less a Brotherly Hug, More of a Cold Handshake
In the end, Brother feels less like a family reunion and more like a lukewarm family WhatsApp chain—unnecessary updates, old jokes, and someone trying way too hard to make things “fun.” If Rajesh had committed to creating a straightforward family drama without these artificial comedic moments, we might have had a film with some real emotional weight. Instead, we’re left with a half-hearted attempt at humor that falls flatter than a dosa left out in the sun.
For those who came hoping for a laugh fest or a touching drama, you might find yourself asking, “Brother, where’s the punchline?”