Singapore Saloon

Singapore Saloon Movie Synopsis: Inspired by a barber in his village, a young boy grows up with dreams of becoming a hairstylist. But can he continue to hold on to his dream amidst the challenges that life keeps throwing at him?

Singapore Saloon Movie Review: There's a reason that 10 years after its release, Gokul's Idharkuthaane Aasaipattai Balakumara continues to be his best work yet. The director has a distinctive comic sensibility, and when he naturally gravitates towards it, we get moments that are laugh-out-loud fun. In Singapore Saloon, we get that in the riotous pre-interval stretch, where Gokul lets loose an unabashedly caricaturish Sathyaraj, who forges comedy gold with the absurdist writing. It's only January, but we already have a strong contender for the funniest comic moment of the year!

But after this high, the director decides to take the melodramatic route in the second half - which feels like another film entirely - and only ends up making us giggle at the unintended humour in the scenes. Instead of the lightness with which the premise - Kathir (a subdued RJ Balaji, who cannot rise above the shallow characterisation), a young man, inspired by Chacha (Lal, who instantly lends dignity to the character), the barber in his village, wanting to become a hairstylist against all odds - is treated in the earlier portions, we get heavy-handed messaging that just doesn't work because of the broad beats in the writing. Even as the protagonist is pushed into a corner, his way out of all his troubles comes across as too convenient. All it takes to turn his fortune is to give a makeover to a group of boys from the slum! That we never see how he achieves this makeover through his hairstyling skills is also not shown; in fact, more than hairstyle, the boys' new looks come across as the result of their costumes!

But Gokul's attempt at magical realism, involving a surprise cameo from a star, who appears at the protagonist's doorstep, and a flock of parrots, works to an extent. The director also gives a new spin to scenarios that we have seen before. Like Kathir's dad (a likeable Thalaivasal Vijay), who, unlike dads in films in this genre, is practical and supportive; the miserly father-in-law (Sathyaraj), who instantly agrees to marry off his daughter to the protagonist; and even the rival who stops being one after a point! Eventually, it is these fresh spins and the humour that ensure our experience from turning into a bad hair day.