Plum,
I think veshti/perusu are irrelevant issues. Would a camera-shy/media-shy person be cool to grow to be isai puyal? I would think the music speaks much more than the person or character, let alone dress sense. What's working against IR is: the huge expectations he has set himself against in view of his monumental works in the past. People are looking for a mouna ragam or ithaya koyil standard songs - but not exactly the same songs. E.g. repeating 'that' same style like in mayilu is bound to fail. Also not even trendy/hip songs. Maybe the janta want to be surprised with 'something' of IR calibre.. (Note: these are not my personal feelings ;) )
manappalo, therattupalo.. oru alpa santhosham adaya vida maattelaa..