The songs by Sabesh Murali and their picturisation are a take off on old Tamil songs and the Ugraputran character is modeled on MGR in his early swashbuckling days. On the downside the dialogues are in chaste Tamil and too many songs mar the tempo especially post interval. A dumb Pulikesi makes a huge stadium for the public to conduct caste wars between two groups and the man who killed more number of people is awarded something similar to the ?man of the match? in one-day cricket matches! In another instance, Pulikesi parcels off a particular area to a bandit to loot the common man, similar to present day politicians giving each dada an area to operate and allowing an aerated drink made out of earthworms (sheer coincidence to pesticides in Cola)to be popularized in the state. He throws all rules of the book out of the window by his unconventional storyline and presentation. Simbudevan has succeeded to a very large extent in making the audience laugh with dialogue oriented comedy and not falling back on slapstick variety. He joins hands with Dalapathi (Sreeman), brings new reforms, exposes Rajguru and saves the land from the British. Soon Ugraputran comes to know about his past and to save the land from Rajguru and British he replaces Pulikesi as the king. Meanwhile the other child is adopted by a childless couple and he grows up to be Ugraputran (Vadivelu) an educated young man and a patriot with lot of vision for his country. Pulikesi is an idiot, womanizer, coward, illiterate and puppet in the hands of Rajguru who is hand-in-glove with the British to loot the state.

The child is named 23 am Pulikesi (Vadivelu) and he grows up to be the new king after the Kings death. But the queen gives birth to twins and among them the smarter one (according to the astrologer) is ordered to be killed while the dimwit survives. Little do they know that the queen?s brother Rajguru (Nassar) is behind the death of their children as he wants to be the next ruler! But when the palace astrologer predicts that the 23rd child will be a dimwit, Rajguru is happy. In a faraway kingdom the ruler (Nagesh) and queen (Manorama) are craving for a child as all their 22 kids die at birth. The story is a spoof on many films that we have seen in the past. And as his twin brother, he is a revelation as you get to see the other side of this talented actor as a serious, head strong, intelligent man. He is no Nagesh (in his prime) but Vadivelu does manage to make you laugh as Pulikesi, the dimwit king. Shankar the producer and Simbudevan deserves a pat on their back to cast Vadivelu the most solid comedian of Tamil cinema in the main lead of this mad laugh riot. You will either love this eccentric film or just hate it! But one thing is sure- You are sure to love Vadivelu. Simbudevan the cartoonist turned writer-director has made a scathing attack on how life has not changed much for common man since time immemorial as they are always exploited by rulers (today?s politicians) of the day.

It is whacky spoof, a satire on the Machiavellian politics practiced in the late 18th century which is laced with present day happenings in politics, sports and all areas in a hilarious manner. Those who think that period films are boring should watch Simbudevan directed Imsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi.

Imsai arasan 23am pulikesi kakapo