Vasoolraja MBBS is a remake of the Hindi mega hit Munnabhai MBBS. People who have seen Munnabhai MBBS have made an unfavourable comparison, preferring the Hindi version to the Tamil version - even Tamil moviegoers. Well, I am an exception - probably the only exception. I saw VR first, then MB but I preferred VR and watched it again just to confirm my preference. I did not change my mind.
Rajaraman is the son of Nagesh and Rohini Hattangadi (reprising her role from the Hindi version). After an argument with his father, Raja runs off to Madras where he becomes a debt collector (hence the nickname "Vasool" meaning collect), thug and gangster. His father however thinks that his son is a doctor and Raja is forced to pretend as a doctor every time the father comes to the city.
Nagesh meets Prakashraj, a doctor and arranges to meet Sneha, Prakashraj's daughter, also a doctor. However, his maid informs Prakashraj of the true identity of Raja and humiliates him and his parents and kicks them out.
Raja then swears that he will enrol into a medical college, marry Sneha and humiliate Prakashraj. How he does it is the story.
I found the whole movie hilarious. Crazy Mohan's dialogues had me in stitches. It was a Kamal Hassan movie so I am not complaining that Prabu had a secondary role - it does not matter anyway since Prabhu always acts as a brilliant foil to the main stars.
Kamal Hassan did not do anything different in the film, but the dialogues and the twists in the story kept me enthralled.
Prakashraj delivered the goods although I preferred Boman Irani. The "laughter therapy" that caught India by storm was pilloried to the fullest here. Sneha was funny, naughty, sad and went through a gamut of emotions that did not need much work. Karunas had too few scenes but made us laugh whenever he appeared. He tells Raja: " Why are we standing here on the top of this high tower? You know I am scared of height. I get scared even looking at Amitabh Bachchan" (Who is well-known for his height).
The music is excellent and the theme song will make you hum along.
Overall, I would watch this film again and again, whenever I need a good laugh.
