'Laadam': mindless gangster flick

By Ayyappa Prasad, Film: 'Laadam'; Cast: Charmee, Aravindh, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Jaya Prakash; Music: Dharan; Cinematography: Sukumar; Direction: Prabhu Solomon; Rating: *

'Laadam' (horse-shoe) is a mindless gangster flick with an oft-repeated storyline and a cast dominated by artistes from Andhra Pradesh who worsen the proceedings with awful performances leaving one with the feeling of having watched a badly dubbed version of a B-Grade Telugu movie.

The bad blood between gangsters Paavadai (Kota) and Vembuli (Jaya Prakash) takes a turn for the worse when the latter bumps off the male offspring of the former.

A computer geek Kunjithapatham (Aravindh) is hired to kill Vembuli within 16 days.

Angel (Charmee) helps the hero complete his rather predictable task.

Direction, performances, music and the cinematography - the vital ingredients of a movie - are as useful to this one as a hole in a bucket.

Director Solomon possessing a track record of interesting fare like 'Kokki and Lee' has obviously run out of ideas.