Change Your Image
sribornagain-394-460163
Reviews
Thuppakki (2012)
High-octane action thriller
Written and directed by A.R.Murugadoss, "Thupakki" tells us the story of an army man who takes up the mission of eradicating the sleeper cells in Mumbai. He does it almost single-handedly with style and panache, brawn and brain, Tamil movie style. A.R.Murugadoss is back to his old form dishing out an engaging story with almost racy screenplay aided by a best technical team and above all Vijay, that one man entertainment troop.
Movie is not without its share of flaws and logical loopholes, as does many great makers' movies are. But what make them click is that they are masters in camouflaging these flaws by a racy narration which leaves the viewers not that much time to think while you are watching the movie. Here A.R.Murugadoss succeeds in doing the same. He flounders in the romantic portion which is marginally better than his previous very dreary "7 am Arivu". But there few enjoyable portions in between also.
There are at least two or three "wow!" moments in the movie which sure would bring goose bumps in most of the viewers. Pre-interval portion is one of the best adrenaline rush scenes in recent times. Another one which warrants mentions is when Vijay emerges out of smoke after shooting one of the terrorists to save the kidnapped girls. These scenes along with the racy screenplay would ensure success. Also the heroism in this movie is not engineered but appears along the flow of the script.
Dialogues are another strong point in the movie. There are many hard- hitting dialogs that extol the Indian army and the sacrifices of the army men. Also there are couple of enjoyable humorous dialogs coupled with Vijay's excellent comic timing that rocks the theater.
Technically it is one of the best Vijay movies. Santhosh Sivan needs no praise for this movie is like child's play for the great man. His candid shots especially are noteworthy. Srikar Prasad's editing is another astounding aspect of the movie. It is not all racy, where there is need for the pace to slow down he does it with proficiency.
Vijay is excellent in a very casual portrayal of an army man accidentally caught in a mission. His body language, Hindi and English diction, comic timing, agility in action sequences and subtle acting makes it one of the best work from him in the recent times next to "Nanban". Kajal Agarwal is gorgeous and dances well, though in terms of acting she has nothing much to do. Vidyut Jamwal is excellent, he is more of a Hero material than Villain though he has done a very good job here. Jayaram and Sathyan lend good support.
Harris Jayaraj's background score is one of his best in recent times. It makes sure that right amount of adrenaline rush happens in the most crucial of moments in the movie. "Google google" and "Kutti puli kootam" are awesome dance numbers while "Vennilave" is a delectable melody. "Antartica" is picturized interestingly while "Alaika laika" has good dance movements. "Poivarva" is a heart-rending number rightly placed.
Agreed there are few moments in the movie that slackens the flow but the larger picture satisfies the audience to a great deal. May be the songs may irritate a few, but when you have a proficient dancer like Vijay, gorgeous damsel like Kajal and above all awesome songs from Harris Jayaraj why wouldn't anyone have songs in their movies.
On the whole, 2012 would be remembered as the year in which all the big stars of Tamil cinema fell by the wayside except for this one man, Vijay who has hit bull's-eye not once but twice.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Forget the theme , enjoy the heart-thumping action
Christopher Nolon is back with last of the Batman trilogy "The Dark Knight Rises". The movie is a typical mass masala Hollywood style where one man fights against all odds to win against the evil forces. With enough adrenaline pumping throughout the movie it sure does make one forget or rather ignore the logical fallacies.Moreover who cares for logic in a superhero movie.
Movie has all the ingredients a commercial entertainer needs to have. Though the movie seem to have taken a pro-capitalistic & anti- communistic viewpoint , who cares in the final analysis when one can see a fallen capitalist Wayne overthrows the dictator of the proletariat in Bane. What other manner can one expect a movie made in USA to portray the war between the haves & havenots. And what else other than heaping praises as if it the most remarkable movie ever made & watching it umpteen times to feed to the Capitalists in USA we people in the developing world are for.
If one forgets the basic premise of the movie (which we would very conveniently do ) movie is treat for the masala movie fans.
Christian Bale reprises his role of Bruce Wayne/ Batman once more. His hard work shows & his acting is flawless. Tom Hardy's Bane more than stands up to him though he is a far cry from Joker (Heath Ledger) from the previous installment. Anne Hathaway is sincere as ever with her alluring charm she does steals the viewers' heart. Others in the supporting cast Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt & Marion Cotillard does their parts well.
What makes the movie extra special is the background score by Hans Zimmer. It plays a very vital part pumping in the adrenaline in the viewers.
Technically the movie is top class.
Christopher Nolon once again proves that he is master when it comes to making a commercial actioner.If one is able to digest few gimmickry like the prison doctor correcting a dislocated vertebrae (of all bones..!) with just a fist , "The Dark Knight Rises" is an enjoyable movie. Especially for the youth of today who are unconsciously being inoculated with capitalistic ideals , the fun of seeing the Millionaire Bruce Wayne beat the pulp out of those who aspires to create an equal society (albiet they being demonized by a wonderful piece of partisan writing ) is a sell out.
Bottomline: Forget the theme , enjoy the heart-thumping action
Etho Seithai Ennai (2012)
Outdated
"Etho Seithai ennai" (ESE) is yet another comeback movie for Sakthi who is still in search of his first hit. With this movie his search seems to continue. Written & directed by débutant Elvin Bosser , ESE has a very ordinary plot with a poor screenplay which is disjointed & contrived.
ESE is a story of a happy-go-lucky engineering student & her haughty colleague who is incidentally niece of a dreaded don who in turn has a soft feelings towards her. The first half happens mostly in college campus
focusing on the tit for tat game between the lead pair. Nothing novel or interesting happens in the first half. Second meanders towards love & gang war between two factions of dons , one being the heroine's uncle. All lead to a tedious climax & clichéd ending.
Sakthi looks plumper than his previous flicks. He has given his sincere effort but there is nothing to rave about as far as his character is concerned. Liya is good looking & acts well too. Anand & Anand Babu are seen in banal characters as the two arch-rivals hell bent on killing one another. It is sad to look these talented actors restricted to such cardboardish characterization. Srinath does nothing to elicit laughter.
In Ganesh B Kumar's music only "Kadhil mattum inbama" is worth listening to.
Ezhil Arasan is the cinematographer & he has done adequately to capture the college campus & songs in foreign locales.
On the whole, "Etho Seithai Ennai" is a boring romantic actioner which may not get noticed in the box-office.
Bottomline : Outdated
Ek Tha Tiger (2012)
Time-pass
When one watches Salman Khan's movies it is puerile to expect logic either in the story or screenplay or the action sequences. So when one is prepared oneself for the mayhem & madness , his latest venture "Ek Tha Tiger " would be a nice time pass. If you want intelligent screenplay , subtle action sequences & artistic acting , then kindly skip it for it not for people like you.
"Ek Tha Tiger" is a romantic action movie dealing with the love story of a RAW agent & ISI agent. First half is action packed with quite a bit hilarious sequences. Second half gets tedious with one have to endure both Salman Khan & Katrina Kaif trying to "act". It has been a long while since one has seen lovelorn act of Salman which is quite tedious to watch. Second half is replete with lots of unintended comical sequences which would put even the most hardcore Telugu action movies to shame.
Salman Khan is again an omnipotent, intelligent & brawny protagonist. He stops a speeding train just with his coat , gets in to a plane which has just taken off with a help of a bike, jumps around numerous buildings all across the globe..what not. Yet all in good fun. Katrina Kaif as said already has tried to "act" but ends up slackening the pace of the second half. She has tried her hands (or legs..!) on action this time & it has come out well. Ranvir Shorey lights up the screen with his funny one-liners. Girish Karnad is sincere as ever.
Background score is adequate for an action movie while songs are average. Music is by Sohai Sen , Back ground score is by Julius Packiam.
Movie is technically top-notch. Cinematography is by Aseem Mishra. He has captures most of the action sequences well.
Kabir Khan , after a good debut with "Kabul Express" & an average second one "Newyork" , has made it a point to entertain come what may with his third movie in "Ek Tha Tiger". The storyline seems to have been inspired by "Mr & Mrs Smith" with actions sequences being grabbed from various Telugu movies.
On the whole, "Ek Tha Tiger" is strictly for those who want to relax & get away from the mundane. Yes there are huge logical loopholes , gravity deifying stunt sequences , average acting but who cares. It is after all a Salman Khan movie which would again rewrite the Box-office records.
Bottomline: Time-pass
22 Female Kottayam (2012)
Respect...!
Aashiq Abu's "22 Female Kottayam" is a must watch. Though seems to have been inspired by numerous female revenge movies ( the makers have actually acknowledged the same in the end titles..! Kudos for honesty) the manner in which the narrative blends in with the brazen reality makes it a compelling watch. The happenings in the movie are just a slice of what is actually happening in the real world. Not everyone of them would have the gumption or courage to do what the protagonist of this movie do to her exploiters. But it surely cautions the vulnerable lot from falling prey to the hounds out there.
Screenplay written by Abilash Kumar & Shyam Pushkaran travels at a steady pace. With ample does of reality & cinematic liberties when needed , the screenplay keeps the viewer engaged throughout. The writers have broken various clichés that one would associate with movies of this genre.The ending is actually more impactful than what movies of this type usually ends with the protagonist killing the antagonist. Also they have managed to keep away from the compulsion that the Indian movie heroine should be embodiment of "so-called " virtues, values & virginity. It is refreshing to see a heroine for a change who doesn't feel shy to admit to her lover that she is not a virgin & boozes on par with her lover.
Reema Kallingal is touted to be the most promising actress in Malayalam currently & she lives up-to the billing with a sparkling performance. Character has myriad of shades & emotions. From being a gullible & innocent nurse to a caring lover , traumatized victim to revenge seeking woman with "what-is-left-be-lost" attitude , Reema scores in each & every scene she is on screen. And what makes her role powerful is equally commanding performance by Fahad Fazil. He too has different shades to his character & his performance in the last 20 minutes or so is topnotch.
Others in the supporting cast including Pratap Pothen , Ravi , Sathar & the rest have done a neat job.
Background score by Rex Vijayan is patchy. In some parts it is excellent but in some other inadequate.
Shyju Khalid's cinematography with various hues depending on the mood of the story is excellent. Numerous transitions the movie goes through has been wonderfully delineated by the change in color tone.
Dialogues are a huge strength to the movie. Especially in the climax when Fahad chides " F@#k you" & Reema retorts "Not any more" one gets a "Wow..!" effect.
On the whole, "22 Female Kottayam" is a neatly written , excellently acted & well directed movie.
Thattathin Marayathu (2012)
Beautiful
"Thattathin Marayathu" directed by Vineet Srinivasan has a very simple storyline but bowl the viewers over by its simplicity, heart & emotions. It's been a very long time since one came out of the theater with heartfelt grin on the face. It once again proves that simplicity is the best even when it comes to movies.
Movie traces the love life of the protagonist who falls in love with a girl of different faith & class. Though the storyline has all the clichés of the love stories of the yore, it is the treatment by Vineet that makes it work big time. The freshness of the narrative supported by intelligent yet funny & sometimes hard-hitting dialogs and fine performance by the actors concerned has ensured that "Thattathin Marayathu" is easily one of the finest movies of the year.
The screenplay moves at a brisk pace interlaced with adequate doses of romance , humor , politics & sentiments. The beauty is that all these elements fall in place within the narrative & doesn't look forced into it. As said earlier dialogs are the major strength. Brilliantly written one-liners laced with humor , politics & the current happenings without any restrain makes one say kudos to the writer. Honesty in writing what bowls one over. That they have used actual political party names without fear is praiseworthy. Hence the mushy & tacky romantic dialogs can be excused.
Though it is a oft-repeated story Vineet has not tried to be politically correct with respect to issues concerning religions. He has courageously addressed issues like the emancipation of Muslim women, respecting their wishes & aspirations and their freedom. All the same he does great deal of maturity without painting things black & white. The dialogs in the end mouthed by Srinivasan are brilliantly said without being preachy.
Coming onto the acting part , Nivin Pauly has done a stupendous job as the protagonist Vinod. He literally carries the movie on his shoulder as the whole movie is said in his point of view. He shows great deal of mastery over emotions. Isha Talwar is luminous on screen & does her part well. Aju Verghese as Abdu , Vinod's friend is a show stealer. He brings down the roof with his witty one-liners. Though Srinivasan comes in a very brief role , he makes a lasting impact in the end. Rest of the cast have done their jobs adequately.
Shaan Rahman , the music director of the movie is another star. He rocked both in his background score as well as in the songs. The background score blends well with the narrative & rings in the ears even long after the movie is over. "Muthuchippi" , "Anuragathin Velayail" , "Thattathin marayathe " are all well composed songs. Songs are definite pillars of strength for this movie.
Technically also the movie is brilliant. Majority accolades for the same has to go to Jomon T John , the cinematographer of the movie. His camera has shot the natural beauty of Thallasery & Kannur is a splendid manner.
Only negative point that one can think of is that movie is almost like a fairytale with everything falling in place without much struggle. One does get jealous of the ridiculous ease with which the protagonist achieves everything in this movie.
On the whole, "Thattathin Marayathu" is a beautiful love story that will sure make you smile at the end.
Bottomline: Beautiful
Billa 2 (2012)
Stale beer in a fancy carton
"All style , no substance " was the most common view for Vishuvardhan's "Billa" when it got released but it got away in the Box-Office by reaping heavy returns. Once reprieved the production house & its leading star Ajithkumar have tried to milk it once more. But with a weaker script & poorer characterization "Billa 2 " vouched as a prequel to the former falls way short. That the makers have failed to make sure that at least the lead two of the script Billa & his aide Ranjith to look younger is only a starting point of many careless shortcomings this movie is replete with. (May be they should tried showing things like both these undergoing cosmetic surgery to look as sauve & stylish as they did in "Billa" in the end titles...!!)
The movie starts of promisingly & first half an hour is riveting. Once the movie shifts to Goa it looses control & disoriented. That one must not look into logic in these kinds of movies is all said & done but there 3 or 4 sequences which would make even the youngest of movie watchers to laugh out loud in their seats. Goa CM murder , rescuing heroine from the kidnappers, smuggling arms consignment unscathed albeit after being surrounded by coastal guards are a few. In the climax when one see Ajithkumar & Yog Jaypee running around the arms mafia's factory with their guns , one feel sorry for them for they have been taken for a royal ride by the writers of the movie.
Ajithkumar is an enigma. Time & again he has come out with a very good movie followed by most pathetic ones. It makes one wonder whether he chooses script by picking from a lot or what. He looks old & apathetic sans any enthusiasm one saw in his previous flick "Mangatha". Among others Yog Jaypee & Vidyut Jamwal have done their parts sincerely. Both the ladies in the movie Parvathy & Bruna Abdullah lack even faintest of acting talent & not that they look good either.
Yuvan Shankar Raja's background score is average & one do get tired of hearing the same music again and again though it is nice to hear. "Unakulle Mirugam" is a nice song & shot well. "Gangster" is another nice number but relegated to the end credits sadly.
Among the few brighter spots of the movie R.D.Rajasekhar's cinematography is one. Cinematography is awesome & on par with any international standards. Color tone used adds to the feel of a prequel in stark contrast to the bluish tone of "Billa".
Chakri Toletti does show some promise with his stylish picturization of many sequences especially "Unakullae Mirugam " song as well as the first 30 minutes of the movie. But after that he looses it & movie becomes direction-less & amateurish at many places. That the story & screenplay is very weak makes things worse. Dialogues by Era Murugan sparkles but after a point too much of punch dialogs makes one cringe.
On the whole , "Billa 2 " does try to have all the ingredients needed for a mass masala movie like Punch dialogs, item numbers , numerous over the top action sequences , logic-less sequences, super human hero & ever faltering villains but the mix is not in proper proportions. As a result it leaves a bad taste.
Bottomline : Stale beer in a fancy carton
Eega (2012)
Buzzing
Right at the beginning Rajmouli is clever in inserting a conversation between a father telling a bed time story to his daughter in the background of the titles. It in a way prepares the audience for the rest of the movie . To enjoy this movie one has to go to the level of that daughter to whom her father is supposed to be telling this story. If one watches by that mindset then S.S.Rajmouli's "Naan ee" would be a joyride , else it would be silly & juvenile.
Movie's story is nothing new but rehash all those Vittalacharya movies of the 70's (which too finds passing reference in the movie ) but the intelligence of the writer does make the viewer to sit up & take notice. It would have been a ridiculous idea when one thinks of a house fly taking revenge against a very powerful villain. But the manner in which Rajmouli has think about it & executed the same deserves kudos.
The professional manner in which the director has gone about the fantasy idea like this is what the movie click with even the hardened of critics. In the era in which movies of even the most powerful of heroes are criticized & rejected for lack of logic & over the top action sequences , everyone end up rooting for the house fly as it takes Sudeep to task albeit with extra dose of humor but nonetheless with logic in place.
First half is good especially the last 30 minutes once the fly makes its entry. Romantic episode is average not that interesting with banal situations & dialogs. But once the fly makes it entry & up to the interval block makes for one of the most engrossing sequence in recent times. The second half however becomes more kiddish with ridiculousness brought into the forefront in the form of fly getting a goggle , mask & doing weight training...sigh!! However movie gather steam in the last 15 minutes & ends with a bang.
Sudeep as the powerful antagonist has done a decent job. Notwithstanding his over the top yelling in the second half the manner in which he effortlessly bring in evilness into his demeanor is excellent. Naani has nothing much to do. Samantha looks pretty ordinary in most of the scenes though her acting skills have improved.
Santhanam makes a "guest " appearance but that one scene where he misunderstands Samantha is in love with him is damn hilarious.
"Crazy" Mohan seem to have lost his touch. Except for the sequence in the end in which he comes no where does one feel the "Crazy " trademark.
Technically the movie is good. VFX is okayish. In some sequence they are very good & in many other bit ordinary. K.K.Senthil Kumar's cinematography is good but not up to his "Magadheera" standards (more to do with budgetary constraints I believe)
M.M.Keeravani's music & background score are pretty much routine.
On the whole , "Naan ee" is yet another example of why S.S.Rajamouli is considered by many as the master entertainer in the south Indian movie circles. Go for it with a childish enthusiasm & mind , you would sure enjoy it.
Bottomline : Buzzing
Vicky Donor (2012)
Brilliant...!
Rarely do the cine-goers come out of the Cinema hall informed, enlightened , entertained & heart warmed , all with the same movie. "Vicky Donor" is one such rare gem , a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of Sperm Donation which is still a proscribed topic in Indian society. That the makers of the movie have succeeded in presenting such a controversial & misunderstood yet medically & legally accepted technique in such a palatable & pleasant manner is an example of excellent film making. It reiterates the fact that conveying a message need not be preachy always.
Written by Juhi Chaturvedi & directed by Shoojit Sarkar "Vicky Donor" is one of the best movie this year thus far. Both Juhi & Shoojit deserve all the accolades due to them. It is a brilliant piece of writing & very casual & restrained direction that has made the movie so appealing. That the viewer genuinely feels blissful at the end of the movie is a testimony to the duo's brilliance.
Even the educated of people do have misconceptions regarding this noble & scientific technique. It is brilliantly put across when not only Vicky's not so educated mother & grandmother misunderstands him but even the highly educated Vicky's wife also has the same level of understanding as them. In the end when she gets to witness the whole bunch of kids , the tears of joy that flows through one's eye is inevitable.
The movie is not just education & information. It has comedy , emotions , sparkling & witty dialogs , wonderful acting , soulful music , & above all "Paani Da rang ". The casual banter between the Bengali & Punjabi families about the stereotypes they have of each other is damn hilarious segment. That the writer is a Punjabi & director Bengali helps. There numerous such hilarious moments in the movie. One more which warrants mention is the sequence in which Vicky goes for his first donation.
It is hard think of anyone else other than Ayushmann Khurrana as Vicky. He is brilliant. The effortless manner in which he espouses varied emotions is awesome. He seems to be a natural actor & it is a worthy start. Yami Gautham is yet another stupendous actress that the movie has introduced to Bollywood. She seems to an actress with substance. Annu Kapoor as Dr Chaddha is brilliant. He has used all his experience to optimum use here. All others in supporting cast have done well.
Written , sung & composed by Ayushmann "Paani Da rang" is an awesome song which is an instant ear-worm. "Meri Jayeyaan " is another good number.
Kamaljeet Negi is the cinematographer & he has done a good job. Technically also the movie is good.
On the whole, "Vicky donor " is a brilliant (wonder how many times this word gets repeated in this review..!) attempt which needs to be celebrated & respected.
Bottomline : Brilliant (one more time..!!!)
4/5
Jackie (2010)
Bindaas...!
Suri , after the immensely successful & critically acclaimed "Duniya" & not so successful "Junglee", has joined hands with Puneeth Rajkumar for the first time. He once again proves the old adage "Form is temporary but the class is permanent" . "Jackie" is thoroughly enjoyable entertainer with all ingredients to make for a gratifying viewing . Not only action , comedy , romance , sentiment , suspense , message ....all you expect in a good masala pot pouri are there in palatable proportions , there is also a story to back it up.
Suri has once again proved that he is a master storyteller & a talented writer .The lucidness of the screenplay & witty dialogs are the strong points of "Jackie" . Hardly one can feel that 2hours & 30 mins has passed as the movie keeps one glued to the happenings right through. Nowhere does one feels that the movie is dragging or not interesting. Though there are a few logical loopholes here & there , Suri has camouflaged them with élan .
Ravi Kale's character is not that well etched out as well does Bhavana's. The character of the hero's friend who gets killed in the encounter is also not properly dealt with , with loose ends kept hanging. & what is the role of Sampath Raj & his team is not properly explained. But the success of the director lies in that he doesn't allow one to think about these aspects while one is in the theater watching the movie.
Puneeth , dances like a dream , agile in the fight sequences & comes out unscathed in the comical situations too. When it comes to serious scenes he flounders a bit & has to work on it. His dialog delivery is good with a good voice to boost.
Bhavana has nothing much to do but appear glamorous in the dream song sequences. One wonders how come a girl from such a humble background can wear such elegant & classy dresses she wears .
Rangayana Ragu is the real show-stealer with his witty dialogs he brings the roof down with laughter. In the scenes he is in all you can notice is only him with all others taking a back-seat.
Among the strong points of the movie , music is a prominent one. "Shiva Antha Hogutidde" & "Ekka Raja rani" are foot-tapping numbers ruling the charts . V. Harikrishna is the music director .
Award-winning cinematographer Satya Hegde is another major strong ally for Suri . His work is slick & trendy . No wonder he is highly regarded here in Karnataka film circle.
On the whole , Jackie is a good time-pass entertainer.
Uthama Puthiran (2010)
Simply not ready...!
Dhanush-Mithran Jawahar duo has once again managed to vindicate why some movies are best left undisturbed rather than trying to remake it in another language & get it all wrong. After the horrendous remake of "Aarya" as "Kutty" , they have once again managed to do it again in this remake of one of the immensely successful Telugu movie "Ready" as "Uthamaputhran". At least "Yaaradi Nee Mohini" was okay , may be because the director himself was an assistant director when the original was made.
Movie looks jaded , too long & tiring & a perfect example of too much anything is good for nothing. After a point one gets lost & even irritated with the same jokes played all over again & again. First half has nothing happening around while the second one is too long , slow & irritating after a point one begs for the movie to get over soon so that can come out have a fresh air. It getting suffocating after a point of time.
Dhanush needs to choose better subjects rather than trying to make remakes again & again , even after knowing how things can go horribly wrong as seen in "Kutty". And when does he stops mouthing loads of dialogs which gets under the viewers nerves after a point.
Genelia sleep walks her role . Her lip sync is pathetic & she kinda getting typecast in similar roles.
Vivek tries his best to tickle the funny bones & he does succeeds to an extent but viewers can take only up-to a point .
Movie is full of artists of all sizes & stature . Frames gets overcrowded which leaves one panting for breath.
Technically movie is average . Balasubramanyam is the cinematographer. Songs are not that interesting.
Screenplay is erratic with many loose ends & no lucidity whatsoever . Dialogues are trite & on the whole, the movie watching experience tiresome.
Bottomline : Simply not ready...!
Mynaa (2010)
a charming nightingale ...!
I've always liked the work of Prabhu Solomon , be it original or inspired , for he always tries something novel .Whether it is "Kokki" , "Ladam" or "Lee" , each of these movies had an unique storyline & thoroughly enjoyable at the same time. "Mynaa" is no different , in fact THE best of all his works so far , I should add.
The premise is in itself very novel & fresh and the manner in which he has gone about things is brilliant. Though it is billed as "A journey of Love " , the backdrop of how an intense friendship develops between the fugitive & the pursuers within a matter of 24 hours is a very fresh idea , very well executed on screen. "Chemistry " between the prisoner & the constable in pursuit is as striking as that between the lead pair . The seamless confluence of love , sentiment , anger , comedy & tragedy leaves you speechless at the end of 2 hours & 30 minutes .
The screenplay has a seamless flow with no impasse whatsoever making it a worthwhile movie viewing experience . One sequence is suffice to get acquainted with the caliber of Prabhu Solomon . The whole Bus sequence is terrific (I wonder when was the last time we had a sequences in which the viewer goes through such a gamut of emotions in a matter of 15 minutes .Kudos Prabhu). Though I have reservations about the ending of the movie which looks contrived , movie as a whole has disturbed & will disturb anyone who happens to watch it.
Vidarth who in the role of Suruli , the fugitive madly(literally) in love with his childhood sweetheart who goes any lengths to get her , is very good. The body language , though appeared to be borrowed a bit from "Paruthiveeran " , his dialog delivery & histrionics are apt to the character he portrays .He is yet another talent & how the talent is made used of by the Tamil Movie industry is remained to be seen.
Amala Paul's beautiful eyes conveys a lot augmented by an expressive face . As the gullible schoolgirl who too reciprocates in the same manner as that of the hero without knowing what fate has in store for her , she manages to incarcerate the viewers hearts & later their minds.
Thambi Ramaiah in a substantial role where he gets chance not only to do comedy but also various shades of emotions is another strong point of the movie. As said earlier his chemistry with Vidarth is a treat to watch.
Sethu as the inspector with a kind heart is another good find . Supporting cast have a huge role to play in the success of this movie. Especially the actress who enacts the Inspector's wife role is brilliant . She makes the viewer hate her & the fact that people enjoy her getting killed is a testimony to her acting skill.
Coming to D.Iman's music , it is one of the best album of his yet. "Mynaa mynaa manukulle" "Kaiya Pudi" "Neeyum Naanum" are soothing melodies which ringer in the ears for a long time. Background score except for a couple of instances where it is jarring is good overall.
Technically also the movie is brilliant as does all Prabhu Solomon's movies so far. Sukumar's cinematography is astounding & the manner in which his camera plays through the natural beauty of Moonar , Bodi & Theni , one is at loss of words. That he manages to present the human emotions & conflicts in-spite of all the distractions he would have encountered in the rich backdrop speaks for his work & his talent.
"Mynaa" is a fulfilling movie watching experience after a very long time & every cent spent is worthwhile .
Bottomnline : "Mynaa " , a charming nightingale ...!
Va: Quarter Cutting (2010)
Appetizing but not enough kick to offer..!
Puskhar-Gayatri fresh from their different yet successful debut movie "Oram Po " are back with yet another different attempt with "Va "(1/4) . The film's story takes place in one night, in which the protagonist, with the help of his would-be brother-in-law, hunts for a last liquor before leaving to Saudi Arabia. The freshness of the concept & the manner in which the movie has been shot are the strong points while the sluggish screenplay plays the spoilsport.
The direction is also patchy with some good sequences interspersed with some very ordinary & some very amateurish ones. While watching the movie sometimes one get a doubt whether the same due have done this movie too for they have done a very neat job in their debut feature.
Dialogues too are at times funny & at time kiddish. But the thing that make it worse is the bad dialog delivery from Shiva & the one who has dubbed for Lekha. Shiva's rendition of Kovai Tamil is simulated & doesn't jell with his body language.
Shiva is getting typecast & he seems to be doing the same thing all over again right from his debut movie "Chennai 600028". He seem to have reluctance to come out of his comfort zone which would make his survival difficult in the industry which is fraught with heavy competition. Or else he would end up as a comedy side kick in the near future.
S.P.B.Charan does a neat job of it as the brother-in-law of the hero .He has come a long way since "Unnai Saran Adaindaen " in his expressions & histrionics. His dialog delivery is way better than the hero & heroine while his comical expressions are a treat. His innocent & naive demeanor adds up to the effect.
Lekha has nothing much to do which the bane of the heroine of contemporary Tamil movies.She overdoes her expressions in many of the sequences & she needs to learn how to draw a line between comical expressions & insanity .
John Vijay is as competent as ever & after "Oram Po " he gets a meaty role in this movie & he has utilized the opportunity well.
Nirav Shah's cinematography is one of the USPs of the movie . He is as stupendous as ever but the green tone does gets under one's nerve after a point.
G.V.PrakashKumar's music has nothing much to offer while his BGM is pathetic to say the least. Its as if one is watching a amateur drama & BGM being given for it by some part-time musicians.
On the whole , "Va (1/4) " is not as bad it is portrayed in the media . It does keeps one engaged in the goings-on with the intermittent phases of amateurishness that leaves one dismayed .
Bottomline : Appetizing but not enough kick to offer..!
Chikku Bukku (2010)
Total derailment.!
Legendary cinematographer-cum-director Jeeva's assistant Manikantan who completed the former's last project "Dhaam-dhoom" after his untimely demise has come out with his first full feature "Chikku Bhukku". The movie's basic thread is inspired from "Love Aaj Kal " but the comparison ends there for it is like comparing chalk & cheese.
"Chikku Bhukku" is viewer's nightmare & it's like the worst punishment one can go through in the name of entertainment. One shudders to think how can one end up watching such a movie in the first place wasting time & money. Moreover what must have been going through the mind of the producers when they convinced in frittering away their ?hard earned money in such an inane project. Manikantan has just squandered his chance big way.
Movie is very sluggish , amateurish , uninteresting , head-ache inducing , silly , absurd, .....losing at adjectives to describe it. Only solace is the 1985 part of the story even though it is not that novel at least it tries to capture your attention.
Preetika is not only pretty but "acts" well too & an exact antithesis to what all that of Shriya , who looks jaded , doesn't seem to know anything remotely related to acting .Infact Shriya trying to do a "Bommarillu" Genelia or a "Jab We Met" Kareena irritates the already battered & bruised viewer leaving him/her to squirm in the seat.
Arya's portrayal of Sekhar is calm & matured while his characterization as Arjun is half baked & his performance too takes a beating due to that.
Shanthanam is the only reason why one may remain sane while watching the movie & he prevents the viewer from getting into a complete meltdown.
Music by Colonial Cousins Hari-Leslie is nothing attractive while Gurudhev's cinematography is classy & the color tone he has employed to show variation between the 1980's story & the present day one is good. Technically movie is sound but content wise it has nothing to vouch for.
On the whole , please don't recommend it to even most nastiest of your enemies.
Bottom-line: " Chikku Bhukku " – Total derailment.!
Nandalala (2010)
Thalaatu..!
Based on the Japanese movie " Kikujiro" , Mysskin's "Nandhalala" is a travelogue with a brilliant background score by Ilayaraja & excellent cinematography by Mahesh Muthusamy. Mysskin the director takes the third place only though he is the man behind the movie as the whole.
Ilayaraja is back with his haunting violins which made movies like "Veedu " & "Sandhya Raagam " memorable. He is one musician who knows the value of silence . In many poignant sequences where a customary music director would have tried his level hard to put in some music to fill in the emotion , Raja just makes the silence evocate the emotions in the viewer. Ilayaraja is the foremost person why many would have ventured into the theaters showing this movie & he does satisfy them whole heartedly.
All the three songs that find a place in the final cut "Melle Oorndhu Oorndhu , "Onnukkonnu."', "Thalaattu Ketka Nanum" are haunting pieces . Hearing Ilayaraja & K.J.Yesudas after a long time in itself brings back the nostalgic memories in you.
Mahesh Muthusamy is the second most significant person of "Nandhalala" . Movie has lots of long shots & the manner in which he has literally played with the camera in his hand is astonishing. With the aerial shots , low-angle shots which he used to great effect in "Anjathey" in that famous sequence & the number master shots in the movie , Mahesh must have had a ball in showcasing his talents which he has in abundance.
Mysskin , the director has done a decent job while the screenplay writer must have dozed off a bit while the actor is completely off target. The confusion in which he has conceived & portrayed the mentally ill character is average to put it mildly. Bereft of the sensitivity , poignancy & authenticity Myskkin's mentally ill protagonist is stereotyped , ill-etched & far-fetched from real.
Except that aberration, rest of the characterization are well-etched and conceived & brilliantly portrayed by the actors , be it Aswath Ram as the other protagonist or Snigtha , the bikers , the shepherd , the lorry driver , the coconut vendor , etc. Nasser , though he comes in for just 20-30 seconds or so , he leaves a mark in your mind . And Mysskin's specialty is the situational humor & the angst which come out effortlessly on screen. Rohini is too young to be Mysskin's mother , at least some make-up would have done some good to hide her youthful demeanor.
The final 15-20 minutes disturbs you & leave a mark where the director & writer in Mysskin some to the fore but the two reasons why the movie makes a greater impact are one ,Ilayaraja & two , Mahesh Muthusamy.
On the whole , "Nandhalala" is a journey worth traveling .
Bottomline : Thalaatu..!
Enthiran (2010)
For the kid in you..
Wait is over & here it is for all to see, Shankar's dream project "Enthiran", starring Rajnikanth & Aishwarya Rai. Movie is produced by Sun Pictures & music by A.R.Rahman & is billed to be the most expensive movie ever made in India. So naturally movie of such magnitude gets & has gotten everyone excited. Does all the hype & hoopla gets reflected in the end product is a different question altogether.
If you detach Rajnikanth & the amazing visual effects from the movie, with all its wretched writing & appalling screenplay it would have been easily the worst product from Shankar. Somehow the performer in Rajnikanth (he is amazing in the role of the Robot especially with the negative shades reminiscent of his memorable villainy of yesteryear) & the visual effects of the US-based Stan Winston Studios and Industrial Light & Magic seem to blind everyone of the many pedestrian aspects of the movie.
While watching the movie one gets resonating thoughts from one of Shankar's own production "Arai En 305il kadavul". Like how Shanthanam & kanja Karupu make use of the power of the almighty , here too Shankar seems to have done the same with the mighty money that has been invested in the movie. Especially the final 30 mins are freaking insane which sure gratifies juvenile instincts of the grown up kids.
Shankar needs to get all the accolades for making this movie happen in the first place. Notwithstanding the run of the mill script , he has shown the hard work , perseveration, imagination & moreover guts to conceive & create movie of this magnitude & making the world turn back & make notice of a Tamil movie. If only he had concentrated more on the script , then it would have made Indian film industry proud .
Rajnikanth is the prime reason why the movie is getting all the notice it is getting . It is a delight to watch him the role of the Robot with all the negative shades. One saw glimpses of that in "Chandramuki" but here he has satiated many people's desire to see him a role with hard core villainy. Even at 60+ , the charisma he exudes on screen is unbelievable.
Aishwarya Rai looks radiant & dances well. Unlike in most of her movies here at least she has done some amount of work albeit in showcasing his dancing skills. Otherwise she continues in her merry ways as far her acting skill is concerned.
Danny Denzongpa , Shanthanam & Karunas are all grossly underutilized.
A.R.Rahman's music , which was proclaimed to be another main point of the movie , falls flat. No song has the quality that the previous one's of the Shankar-Rahman combo had. Background score is at best mediocre.
Rathnavelu's camera work is adequate. His efforts couple with that of the visual effects team make the viewing grand & in some instances jaw dropping.
Anthony's editing is adequate overall but at times very ordinary especially the song sequences jumps out all of the sudden.
On the whole , "Enthiran" is a "Pizza made in Muniyandi vilas"
Bottomline : For the kid in you..
Boss Engira Baskaran (2010)
No-brainer for your lighter side ..
M.Rajesh has shown in his debut movie "SMS" that humor is his forte which he has reaffirmed in his second one too , "Boss (a) Baskaran" . It is a funny ride all through with no scope for boredom in between. Those who have liked "SMS" would definitely like this one too though it is not as fresh & as humorous as the former , it is good in its own way.
Its been long since one has 'LOL'ed even though many movies which proclaimed to be a full length comedy came & went without whimper. It speaks a lot about the comic talent that the director M.Rajesh has for not many directors have ventured into comedy scripts on & on , that too successfully at that.
Story wise there is nothing novel to expect but the presentation laced with ample doses of humor does the trick. Shanthanam high jacks the movie single handedly with his witty humorous one-liners . M.Rajesh who used Shanthanam's potential to the maximum in his previous movie too has once again done justice to the comedian's talents. And to his credit Shanthanam has taken maximum advantage of the scope provided & he acquaints himself well.
Arya is good in a lighter role after loads of serious roles in the recent past. It is good to see macho Arya in such a down to earth role with lots of scope for comedy .
Nayanthara is good though her scope is limited she too does well in comedy parts. Support cast includes Vijaylaksmi , Panchu Subbu , Chitra Laksmanan , Lakshmi Ramakrishnan , Rajendran & the rest provide fine support .
In Yuvan Shankar Raja's music "Thathi Thaavum Paper Naan" , "Iyley Iyley" & "Yaar Antha Penthan" are delightful melodies. BGM score is average though.
Sakthi Saravanan has nothing much experimentation to do but prudently show the happenings to us through his lens in a diligent manner.
At 2 hours & 15 minutes , "Boss (a) Baskaran " is a crisp comedy caper & good time pass . If you like Shanthanam brand of comedy , then it is Non-contest.
Bottomline : No-brainer for your lighter side ..
Irumbukkottai Murattu Singam (2010)
IKMS- not roaring loud enough to merit attention.
Simbudevan known for his fantasy movies with comical undertones has come up with yet another one with "Irumbu Kottai Murattu Singam" (IKMS) .Here he has tried to pay his tribute to the cowboy genre of movies of the yore. The setting in itself is an interesting one – quiet fascinating for the kids while a trip down memory lane for the older viewers.
Movie has typical Simbudevan stamp of political satire & political references sprinkled all over which are enjoyable but he ought to have worked hard as afar as the scripting goes which is very loose & lackluster to be honest. Scenes tend to get repetitive & frankly tiring to say the least with people jumping onto horses every now & then ,songs springing out of nowhere adding to the misery of the viewers.
Another downer is that the comedy quotient is very low in the movie & hence when enters the theater looking forward to having a blast laughing , naturally one is bound to get disappointed with when things are on the contrary.
Dialogues are the major strong point of the movie which keeps the viewers awake . None is spared with writer Simbudevan having a field day taking dig at all & sundry ,especially the India- US nuclear deal , Western World Imperialism , state of affairs in Sri Lanka & our apathy towards it , to mention a few.
The attention to details that Simbudevan has is amazing. In fact the background & the minute detailing in the background are more enjoyable & hilarious than the main movie in itself.
The casting of the movie is also impressive with everyone from Raghava Lawrence to V.S.Raghavan playing their parts well.Special mention to M.S..Baskar who have the audience in splits whenever he is on screen with his bizarre language. Saikumar gets to mouth almost all the hard hitting dialogs .Nasser is another actor who stands up tall among the crowd.
Na.Alagappan's visuals pay homage to the grand old man of cow boy genre movies in Tamil ,Karnan. Also his use of color tones are interesting for he tend to use them in accordance with the original movie that is getting referred to , like for instance the camera work & color tone used have a heavy inspiration from the "Indiana Jones " series of movies. Whether it is intended or coincidental is for the makers to clarify.
G.V.Prakashkumar's songs are very average with none hummable while Sabesh-Murali's BGM reminds that of the old cowboy movies.
On the whole, family & kids may enjoy IKMS for its petty humor & novel settings but for the majority of the cine-goers it is a tiresome experience .
Bottomline : IKMS- not roaring loud enough to merit attention.
Singam (2010)
Racy entertainer.
Surya's 25th movie "Singam" written & directed by Hari is a treat for the action lovers.The movie moves at a breakneck speed even before one realizes the movie gets over leaving very little time in between for the viewers to think about the logic or lack of it.
To his credit ,Hari has tried to make it as much plausible as he possibly can while maintaining the tempo of the movie right through except for maybe the songs which are only 4 ,thankfully.The flow of the screenplay is lucid & vivid that makes the viewing enjoyable & less strenuous.
When one enters the movie hall with a preconceived notion that it may be yet another masala potboiler nothing much to look forward to , what follows is two and half hours of engaging cinema .It is time for Sun pictures to rejoice & repeat their successful association with Surya after that immensely successful "Ayan" last year.
Surya is charming & dashing as ever though he tries hard to portray the role of the ruffian police.He is clearly uncomfortable in the areas where high decibel dialog delivery is mandated. He has improved his dancing & fighting skills . The makers' hard work in masking the massive difference in height between the lead pair is appreciable on screen.
Anuskha has nothing much to do but to follow in similar vein as to her performance in her previous movies like "Vettaikaran". She however sizzles in the song numbers though.
Prakashraj in yet another role of a dada which he will do with ease even in the middle of his midnight sleep.
Vinek does succeeds in spewing humor in couple of instances in a role which is a takeoff from that of Vadivelu in "Marudhamalai".
Devisriprasad's music has nothing to note while Priyan has done a decent work as the cinematographer.
Hari's career is a mixed bag with a mixture of commercially super hit movies like "Saami" , "Vel" , "Tamil" as well as duds like "Seval" , "Aaru " , "Arul"
.. "Singam " is sure to find a place in the former list.
On the whole , it is a time pass movie for the commercial film lovers.
Bottomline : Racy entertainer.
Raavanan (2010)
Bad writing.
Manirathanm's "Ravanan " a perfect example of self-indulgence at it's pinnacle. One is at loss of words when such a pathetic writing comes from one of the legends of Indian cinema.
It is a good idea to recreate an epic in it's modern interpretation only if it is plausible to the situations &scenario the writer has in his mind. "Dalapathy" is a good example for that. But if the writer starts at making a movie with the one &only aim of doing a modern day adaptation of the epic & all the situation and scenarios are forced into for that end we get to see only such half backed & unpalatable attempts like this movie or for that matter the recently released & very over- rated "Raajneethi".
The movie boasts of one of the best visuals that we have seen in Indian cinemas yet. It has first class acting from all the actors concerned.But the movie gets let down by a very average writing both script as well as dialogs.
Second half at least had some semblance of sanity in it but the first half is as wretched as it may get.To make the matters worse Suhasini's dialogs are horrible with people then & there mouthing different dialect as they wish. Prithviraj asking for a lie-detector test on Ashwarya Rai will go down as one of the most hilarious moment (howsoever unintended it may be ) in Indian cinema.
Ambiance , attires as well as the backdrop all look alien to Tamil culture & ethos which reminds us of that misadventure Maniratham & Barathiraja ventured into , "Tajmahal".
Vikram has done his part well but his role is shoddily written. Whether he is a normal person or a maniac with hallucinatory behavior is anyone's guess.
Ashwarya must have worked hard for the role with all those risky shots in such a unfriendly terrain but as far as acting goes she has nothing much to do with her wooden face to make the matters worse.
Prithviraj's role is another example for the bad writing the movie plagued with.As far as others go Prabhu, Karthik & Priya Mani have done well.
The main attraction is the cinematography ,credits shared by Santosh Sivan & Manigandan. The manner in which they have captured not only the nature's splendor but also the human vulnerabilities is a poetry on celluloid. If only they were backed up by a solid writing things would have been even better.
A.R.Rahman's music is average .His music for Maniratnam's movie seem to have fallen to a pattern which he must address in the future.
On the whole, "Raavanan" is a complete letdown.
Thillalangadi (2010)
Sicko Sick...!
"Jayam " brothers Ravi & Raja have always given remakes of Telugu movies & each and every one of them used to be a good choice which went on to become hits. They have tried to keep their records straight this time too by remaking immensely successful Telugu movie "Kick". But the law of averages tend to have caught up with them this time.
To begin with "Kick" is a bad choice to remake though it was a huge hit in Andhra the story line is very much confusing with a lots of loose ends untied. Whether the screenplay is to blamed or the editing , the final product is stale one with scenes ending abruptly & beginning hurriedly.
And nearly 3 hour is too long a length for a movie of this genre & after a point of time viewers get disinterested of the happenings in the movie. Comedy which was billed as one of the USPs of the movie falls flat . Both Vadivelu & Shanthnam fail to tickle the viewers.
"Jayam" Ravi looks smart in his new hair style . Either bad acting or poor characterization or a combination of both , Ravi's role is one of the most irritating one I have come across in the this year so far.
Tamannah fits the bill of the heroine with scope to do some comedy which she does amply. Her footwork has also improved immensely as her lip sync.
Shaam is adequate while other supporting actors ham their level best to make it a aural torture which is further aggravated by the background score of Thaman.
"Sol Pechu" is perhaps the only song which stands both in the picturization & music is concerned. It is a delight to watch multiple Ravi's & Thamannah's dancing around. Novel concept & well conceived.
Rajasekhar's cinematography is excellent in the chase sequences & action scenarios.
"Jayam" Raja has miscalculated this time perhaps for the first time. Lets wait & watch what he does with his first "original" feature film next.
On the whole , "Thillalangadi" is a easy route for a severe headache.
Bottomline : Sicko Sick...!
Naan Mahaan Alla (2010)
Must watch.
Most of the directors whose debut movie is a hit try to take a conservative path by repeating the genre of their first movie in their second one also. This invariably ends up as a disaster while those who endeavor on an altogether different path would succeed more likely than not. Suseenthiran has taken the second path & the result is all for us to see " Naan Mahan Alla" . After a lackluster "Paiyya" this one has come as a refresher for Karthi.
All accolades for Suseendiran for he has improved leaps & bounds as far as story telling & effective use of visuals are concerned. Its been long since one has seen action sequences presented in such an aesthetic manner as in this movie. Director has succeeded in creating as much impact by not showing gore or violence explicitly which only substantiate the growth of him as a director. Movie is realistic and disturbing yet artistic which is a very difficult combo to accrue .
On the downside , Suseenthiran may well have avoided certain scenes & sequences which reminds one of "Pollathavan" & kudos that he has resisted the inclusion of meaningless duets & song sequences and also irritating comedy sequences.
He is amply supported by his troop headed by Mathi , the cinematographer . He has executed the vision of the director as visuals which is a sheer poetry on screen.
Karthi is improving with each one of his movies & his choice of movies are amazing for a newcomer. But still he shows some amounts of "Paruthiveeran " hangover in him especially in the action sequences & sentimental scenes.
Kajal Agarwal is just ornamental while Jayaprakash has improved a great deal in his histrionics. All those 5 youngsters in the anti roles are amazing in their enactment . In fact almost all the supporting cast are remarkable .
Kasi Vishwanathan's editing is crisp while Baskar Sakthi's dialogs are crisper & casual.
"Iragai Pole" in Yuvan Shankar Raja's Music & voice is a blissful number while his BGM is awesome as ever.
On the whole , "Naan Mahan Alla " is a promising movie from a promising youngster.
Bottomline : Must watch.
Manmadhan Ambu (2010)
Pleasant..!
The master story teller is back this time with a romantic comedy drama "Manmadhan Ambu" (short for "Man"nar , "Madan"agopal , "Ambu"jakshi ) . The manner in which screenplay is etched out lucidly with each & every details propounding a meaning in itself which comes out neatly & effortlessly is in itself a treat for cinema lovers.
The dialogs are crisp , intelligent & razor sharp & Kamalhassan has played with the language be it Tamil or English. "Intha ulaguthula nermaya irukaravangalukku thimiru than sir veliye.." , "Matrimony was lousy , but alimony was superb " are just two of many such genius writing. The scene in which the lead pair exchange with their poems is not only a great piece of cinema in recent times it also evokes nostalgic memory of such a sequence in one of yesteryear Kamalhassan movie "Varumai Niram Sivappu" -"Chippi irukuthu muthum irukuthu".
Story is nothing new but the treatment Kamalhassan has given is different with many characters whom one may think not related to the story comes to their own as the story unfolds. The way in which romance , drama , sentiments & not the least of them all comedy are blended into the story makes it a healthy cocktail refreshing your tired mind. And the last 30 minutes is one of the most rip-roaring hilarious sequence Tamil cinema has seen in recent times. Look out for the way in which the words are just played with & the " crazy" Mohan influence is all for one to see.
KamalHaasan has not only excelled in these mentioned three departments of the movie , he is gracious enough to give a more challenging & more attractive role to Madhavan & let his role do the underplaying. Movie has nothing much to showcase the acting talents in him , however in couple of instances he shows us why he is regarded as the most talented actor the country has ever produced. The sequence in which Trisha reveals the truth about the accident is the just an example. All there was glimpses of his suave stylishness in couple of instances like when he rearranges the fallen garbage can , put his mobile into his pocket & the initial steps of the ""Dhagudu Dhattham" song.
Madhavan has the plump role in the movie & boy he has utilized it to the max. He steals the show & this will be one of his career best performances. He looked absolutely confident in his role & the manner in which he effortlessly managed to bring out those slapstick acts of his were commendable. His dialog delivery has grown leaps & bounds & it was a carnival seeing him perform his role in this movie. Trisha has also done her part well & "act"ed this time after she started doing so in "VTV". Her dialog delivery was also good especially the confidence in which she has mouthed those poetic lines were praiseworthy.
Sangeetha is yet another performer , who has done a good supporting job. Though initially her role irritated a bit , she more than makes up for it in the last 30 minutes or so. Others like Kunjan , Manju Pillai , Urvashi , Ramesh Arvind also have done well.
Music by Devi Sri Prasad is good. "Neela Vaanam" is a good melody while "Who's The Hero" & "Dhagudu Dhattham" are foot tapping numbers. BGM was also fine , no qualms.
Manush Nandan's cinematography aids in the travel of the story without undue gimmickry.
K.S.Ravikumar is the director who has helped his bit in bringing out the final product.
On the whole, initially though the pace is sluggish , after "Dhagudu Dhattham " the movie picks up the pace building up expectation in the interval slot & after which it again reaches a plateau then really taking off in the final 30 minutes.
Bottomline : Pleasant..!
Nanban (2012)
All is well...!
"3 Idiots" was such a flawless movie with a great cast & superb direction that when it was announced that Shankar was going to remake it in Tamil, many might have had apprehensions in their minds about how it might turn out.
Considering the current crop of young stars in Tamil cinema the three chosen to reprise the roles of Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi & Madhavan were the best of the lot. And they have done justice too.
Shankar's remake of "3 Idiots" , "Nanban" is a very well done remake with certain punches added to suit the Tamil audience.It is new terrain for Shankar remaking a movie but he has done a good job of it. There are trademark Shankarisms here & there but overall he has remained faithful to the original. And along with Karky , Shankar shines in dialogs too.Dialogues are witty, informative (I don't know how many of the viewers knew about "Jamais vu "before), touching with typical sarcasm of Shankar movies here & there.
Vijay has underplayed a great deal & it has done wonders. In the initial parts he does reminds one of Aamir Khan but as the movie unfolds he sparkles. Be it in the comical situations or in sentimental parts , he shows one & all what we have been missing over the past few years. He rocks in the hospital sequences especially when Jiiva starts responding and in the delivery sequence just after the baby gets resuscitated.
Jiiva has done a good supporting part & his one-liners are hilarious to the hilt. He has lots of witty ones to mouth. In the sequence in the classroom where he does an "induction motor" he brings down the roof.
Srikanth has tried hard & comes out unscathed. As a narrator of the story his voice is soothing.
Sathyaraj has done what Boman Irani did in the original mimicking most of his mannerisms. He also hams a bit but overall it is a decent performance from the veteran after a very long time.
This movie will be a turning point in Sathyan's career for sure. As the irritatingly haughty "Silencer" he has performed well. It is definitely his career best so far.
Ileana has nothing much to do not that she promises much in the acting department. Andrea's voice somehow elevates her presence in the movie.
S.J.Suryah & Anuya are adequate while Vasanth Vijay is miscast.
Harris Jayaraj's songs are already chart-busters. "Aska laska" , "En nanban pola yaru macha" & "Heartile battery " are enjoyable numbers. His Background score is way better than many of his recent movies.
Manoj Paramahamsa's cinematography is awesome. If there is anything that outscores the original then it must be the cinematography. Welldone Manoj.
Though the movie is 3 hours & more , one doesn't get the feeling of dragging anytime. That the movie manages to keep one engaged & involved over a period of more than 3 hours is in itself a great achievement by Shankar.
On the whole, "Nanban" is a feel good entertainer with a pertinent message that will be lapped up by the family audience as well the student community in this festive season.
Bottomline : All is well...!
Vaagai Sooda Vaa (2011)
World class cinema
"Vaagai Sooda Vaa" deals with a heavy subject but presented in a very subtle manner yet makes a powerful impact on the viewers , therein lies the brilliance of the writer-director Sargunam. Marxist ideals & views are the basic thread of the story but it is more covertly portrayed rather than being on the face jingoism of the same.
Not only the Marxist views that the director has touched upon , but other issues like how the education system doesn't make an educated person a man of wisdom .The village illiterate elders as well as kids have more intelligence in matters of activities of daily living than the so called educated lot. But all the same he has also touched upon how education is vital for one's understanding of his position in the societal ladder & how one is exploited by the bourgeoisie.
The pleasant love story that form the backdrop of the narration is tastefully portrayed & here again Sargunam scores in the "subtlety" . The song "Naan pesa ninapathellam" is so brilliantly used to take forward the love story & it's appearance towards the end of the movie will sure give goose-flesh.
The dialogs are simple yet full of meaning. As said earlier there is no sermonizing or lecturing on the topic taken. The points to be taken home are conveyed in a more understated yet clever fashion.
Another brilliant aspect of the movie is the art-direction . Sabu Cyril's erstwhile assistant Seenu has done a tremendous job in recreating the 60's village & era. The landscape , the props used , the village , vehicles , money , letter , pen ..... attention to details that the production team has shown is fabulous .
Cinematography of Om Prakash is yet another cornerstone of the movie. Special mention regarding the picturization of the song "Saara saara saara kathu" . It is one of the most elegantly pictured song in recent times.
Music director Gibran's songs are already a huge hit. "Saara saara saara kathu" in Chinmayi's voice & Vairamuthu's verses is a killer. The song is so addictive . Not far behind is "Poraane poraane" & "Senga soola kaara" numbers.
Vimal once again showcases his dexterity in his job. His casual dialog delivery & effortless portrayal with his elegant body language makes one confident that there are still talent out there & future is looking bright.
Iniya is yet another promising find from the God's own country. Heroine of a Tamil movie never looked so pretty with absolutely no make-up whatsoever. Her eyes speak thousand languages & her expressions are captivating.
Among others Bhagyaraj, Thambi Ramaiah , Kumaravel , Ponvannan , Thennavan , Nambiraj & the other unknown debut actors & children all have done more than a worthy job & are one of the pillars of the movie.
On the whole , "Vaagai Sooda Vaa " is a movie that satiates the movie buff in you.
Bottomline : World class cinema.