Two Line Reviews - #487

Movie: Raja Rani (Thamizh, 2013)

Plot: Regina & John are forced into a marriage for emotional reasons. John keeps irritating Reg post marriage. When Regina recuperates from a sudden epileptic attack, he gets to know of her failed love from the past. John has an equally emotional flashback that makes him start loving his wife. He later realises it would take more than a sudden change of his mind & actions for Regina, who has plans to shift to another country for work, to reciprocate his feelings for her!

What Works?

• For a first time film-maker that Atlee (an assistant of Director Shankar) is, he shows sparks in the way he handles specific scenes in this rom-com. (For example, the marriage scene in the title, the scene at the registrar office etc.) but has a long way to go if he is to leapfrog other budding film-makers.
• The major bulk of screen-time goes to Nayanthara and Arya. Nayanthara has carefully chosen a solid role for her Kollywood comeback and excels in emoting; Arya shows adequate & subtle differences in style in the 2007/2013 episodes he enacts. Not far behind is Sathyaraj in a short, sweet role as an uber-cool urban pop!
• Santhanam does a fine job in occasionally bringing the roof down! But, it is about time directors who cast him realise people are used to him as well as he is used to such roles.
• The film is technically slick with eye-catching sets by Muthuraj, breezy music by GV Prakash & apt style of cinematography by George C Williams.

What Doesn't?

• The love stories in the flashbacks are way too easy to be practical & have been handled very casually. Net result is the lack of impact which films in a similar genre like Mouna Raagam & Rhythm have been able to create.
• Jai & Nazriya don't have roles of substance and their characters too are weakly defined.
• There are a lot of stereotype scenes & comedies we have seen in umpteen films before (The software engineer boyfriend of Nazriya, Naan Kadavul 'Rajendran''s role reminding us of Boss e Baskaran etc.)
• Arya has an emotionally shattering flashback but the way he behaves post marriage doesn't exactly reflect that, which would leave the audience clueless!

Not so kingly to be taken seriously!

Two Line Reviews - #468

Movie: Gangs of वासेपुर 2 (Hindi, 2012)

Plot: It takes off from where we get left at in GoW-1. The revenge saga gets into a 3rd generation and shows how determination, scouthing & responsibility can transform a hopeless drug-addict into a huge headache for the 2 guys bossing around the big towns of Dhanbad & Wasseypur. The Pathans are not done with Sardar, they come back for more!

What Works?

• The tale only heats up. In this part, you are comfortable with the characters and what they mean. You are much inside the film and you get to appreciate a lot more than you would GoW-1.
• Nawazuddin Siddiqui is a revelation and his scope is a lot different from what he does in 1. His Paijal (Faizal) showing is definitely a cult character, at least for me, and would warrant repetitive watching! His expressive eyes & face language is his asset and Kashyap has feasted on it!
• Richa Chadda, Mishra, Tigmanshu Dhulia & Zeishan Quadri (Depnet) offer instrumental supporting roles.
• The background score of GV Prakash is more prominent in this one (catch hold of the climax track!)
• The collaboration Sardar's sons from his two wives offer scope for entertainment & fun.
• The climax blood-bath is a new for Indian films and is apt for a film that builds this up for more than 4 hours!

Scouthing & Bloodbath continue! A tale of how Freddy becomes Michael Corleone!

Two Line Reviews - #467

 Movie: Gangs of वासेपुर (Hindi, 2012)

Plot: In 1940s, a gutsy Pathan takes on the Qureshi head of Wasseypur and is sent out of town for his mis-deed. In Dhanbad, his lofty ambitions of killing the owner of the Coal mine and owning the business gets him killed and that sets the vengeance saga 'On'. The son of the dead Pathan seeks to avenge his father's death after years but his job gets tougher as the Dhanbad Singh & the Wasseypur Qureshis are more than a formidable duo to out-duel!

What Works?

• The film doesn't work on you like Chloroform does, but it works like a sedative - Sets the pace slowly and takes you deep into the annules of perspectives of the dead Pathan's family. Anurag Kashyap weaves that magic to make the film deserve the 'Cult' status bestowed upon it!
• As regards to performances, the conniving and wicked deeds of Sardar Singh are brought to the best on screen by the talented Manoj Bajpai. Richa Chadda, Piyush Mishra, Jaideep Ahlawat offer quality company to Sardar & with his sons coming up towards the end, it is hard to leave their names out as much as it is needful!
• The native soundtracks show who Kashyap gets heavily influenced by & so does the colourful and effervescent narration!
• Dialogues are as local and as rugged and lively as they can get. Character names like Tangent, Perpendicular etc. add style to the flow of things!

A 'Sardar Singh' version of Sonny Corleone!

Two Line Reviews - #463

Movie: Paradesi (Thamizh, 2013)

Plot: In 1939, villagers of a barren land are given an attractive promise of work and wealth upon migration to the British managed tea estates. When they reach, they understand the cruelties they have to go through. They are exposed to exploitations and unfair extensions of their work tenure, giving them miserable years of suffering. Through his hero, Bala even shows their miseries in not having even the chance to communicate with their dear ones back home!

What Works?

• After a very mediocre outing in Avan Ivan, Bala is back to his gruesome best and delivers an intense and well-thought out subject in his impeccable style!
• Among the baggage of surprises is the efforts of Atharva Murali! He has definitely shown how talented he is, with his spontaneity. His Rasa/Ottuperukki character is sure to be remembered and held alongside some very prominent characters in Thamizh Cinema.
• Vedhika, Dhanshika, the couple who act as the hero's friends & the local village characters are perfectly cast and enact their roles superbly, which is not surprising given Bala is at the helm of affairs!
• Bala, for the first time, has moved away from the Raja family for music and G.V. Prakash's score and tracks give ample proof on why it wasn't a bad decision after all!
• The unperturbed camera-work of Chezhiyan aids the story-telling and elevates itself in shots such as the Interval & Climax sequence! Kishore's editing comes in handy in such sequences as well.
• Bala & team's careful research is clearly visible in terms of the art-work, the costumes, the accent of the dialogues, the references made to Gandhi (who had worked for the rights of Tea Estate workers in Bihar and elsewhere during that time!) & a gutsy take on the exploitation exercise underwent by Christian Missionaries during that time (whose effects are still to be seen in hill-lands dominated by Christians)!

Bala is back to what he does best - Giving Intense, Disturbing films high on artistic values!

Two Line Reviews - #428

Movie: Thaandavam (Thamizh, 2012)

Plot: A blind man with a secret identity lives in London to avenge his wife's brutal death in a bomb blast. The perpetrators are being helped by someone he knows. He gets them all and gets to the known helper in this predictable thriller.

What Works?

• A disappointment of sorts, given the potential of the men who have handled the film (Vikram, A Vijay etc.). If I had to list some positives, they have got to be the picturisation of Oru Padhi Kadhavu & the tunes of that and some other songs by GV Prakash.
• The flashback back at home had its moments, though wasn't all that refreshing.

What Doesn't?

• The film doesn't have any surprising twists one would expect from a thriller.
• Top RAW official travelling to London seeking a couriered pen-drive: may have been convincing in early 2000 but it ends up a joke given the timeframe of the film!
• There isn't much scope for performances too; Vikram and Santhanam somehow delay the sinking of the ship.

Yawn inducing predictable thriller.

Two Line Reviews - #308

Movie: Mayakkam Enna (2011, Thamizh)

Plot: A wannabe photographer falls in love with his friend's date who too has her sights on him. In the midst of it all, his pursuit of passion gets badly hit when his inspiration - a leading photographer - denies taking him as an assistant & steals his click which brings instant national & international fame. Meanwhile, he marries the girl he was fatally attracted to but loses his mind. That's when his girl steps in determined to get him on track from the mental trauma he undergoes, and that she ends up doing successfully.

Highlights:

• The last 45-50 minutes of the film is where all the pluses lie - Be it the grit of the lady ( played well by Richa) in wanting to get her husband to recovery mode, be it dhanush's performance, be it the music - and that's when Selvaraghavan shows stuff.
• The photography, by the highly talented Ramji, is a huge plus.
• Music by G.V. Prakash moves well from catchy in Oda Oda to touchy in Pirai Thedum during the film's course.

Lowlights:

• This time, Selva goofs up the first half instead of the second! The first hour and a half is utterly unrealistic - the friend's character being the worst of them all.
• The irrelevant situation in which Kadhal en kadhal song pops up is example enough to show what we see is not what Selva must have initially had in mind for the film.
• There are cliches aplenty from his previous films - a heroine who stares pointlessly, a friend who doesn't even know who his date is after etc.

Didn't enthuse or inspire me ( which it seems to have done many)

Two Line Reviews - #274

Movie: Dheivathirumagan (Thamizh, 2011)

 

Plot: A person whose mental growth is retarded at 5 years isn't bothered by his ailment when it comes to fostering his daughter. The duo's bond breaks under unfortunate circumstances when the kid's maternal custodians take her away from him. With his relentless efforts & a lawyer's help, he presents his case of an able caretaker on court & ,finally,wins; only to make a sane decision at the end!

 

Highlights:

• Vijay presents a moving,emotional film; Inspired by I am Sam, except for 2-3 direct scene lift-offs, the film has been tweaked a lot (especially in the second half) and the smart screenplay ensures that the film reaches its target audience.
• Vikram - as Krishna from Avalanchi - plays his role to perfection , proving yet again that he's the next big thing (though a distant second) after Kamal. His mannerisms,voice tone are consistent right through the film which is a must & he takes care of all that with ease.
• The little girl Sarah is charming, cute, acts well and that makes her an instant darling.
• GV Prakash's songs and background score are significant points in the film - The theme & the Vennilave off-shoot background scores which get played time and again warrant a mention! 

Lowlights:

• The entire courtroom portion & the scenes from 'The Park' hotel were shoddy & bring down the quality of the film to an extent.
• The climax act between the father & daughter were highly emotional - true. But 'Was it substantial?' for a sudden change in decision from all parties remains a question.

Good, infact, a very good film, but has been enjoying more appreciations than what it probably deserves!

Dheivathirumagan - Unusal & Enjoyable songs!

There are some director-music director combinations that arouse expectations & interest. Not surprisingly, quite a lot of them produce scintillating music every time they shake hands. Only rarely do such combinations fail.On top of such a list is Ilaiyaraja/AR Rahman – Maniratnam, AR Rahman – Shankar & there are quite a few directors who team well with Yuvan. The tried and tested Gautham Harris team is yet another example. The latest to join the elite list is Vijay-GV Prakash duo. Their latest offering is the album of ‘Dheivathirumagan’. Looking at the promos and now with some beautiful songs, it is highly likely that the film is going to be a blast with Vikram at his best yet again.

Before any further praises, the dissection of all the songs now begins:

1. Kadha Solla Poren (Vikram, Kids)
This one , on the lines of Raja Chinna Rojavodu Kaatu Pakkam song will be children’s delight. With a pleasant guitar loop , some funny kiddish lines and a lively rendition by Vikram, the song is sure to hit the bull’s eye – the proverbial bull here being the kid in each of us. The grand interludes to depict a funny Raja story will demand some nice picturisation which, going by the lofty standards he has set with his picturisation of songs in Kireedom & Madrasapattinam, Vijay is sure to provide.

2. Jagada Thom (SPB)
What starts off like a gloomy number gets its kick with a nice unusual beat and turns into a pretty inspiring motivational song. Who’s better than SPB to sing songs placed for such situations. The lyrics are passable. The highlight is the repetitive tune that SPB and a lady sing together. The flute & humming in the middle is a nice fit.

3. Vennilave (GV Prakash)
This song is touching and emotional thanks to an inspired singing performance by GV Prakash – Here’s one music director who doesn’t have an unusual voice and can pass off as an effective run-of-the-mill and not-so-peculiar singer. He seems to have taken cue from his uncle’s Anbendra Mazhayile but has delivered a pretty moving song at that.

4. Vizhigalil oru Vaanavil (Saindhavi)
This is the staple GV Prakash melody of the album. He has been good in this genre of slow soliloquising melodies and this is not much different. It is sure to be appealing. The beats have traces of Akkam Pakkam and the delivery of the song by his to-be-wife Saindhavi is to be appreciated. The laudably good intermediate flute and piano portions are reminiscent of Ilaiyaraja’s influence on modern composers. A particular tune that comes time and again reminds me of some famous Yuvan song.

5. Pa pa paa pa paa (Vikram)
Songs of this type come once in a bluemoon. And when they come, they become instant pleasers. Full credits for GV Prakash for this mature composition that literally combines many instruments into a song of such a peculiar genre. Here again, he shows his brilliance in flute with yet another pleasant bit. Vikram , with his altered voice, is at his expressive best with this rendition and he seems to show his massive improvising skills in this area too! His effort is enjoyable (enviable, probably for some of his peers). The amusing lyrics add to the fun and this is my pick of the album.

6. Life is Beautiful (Theme)
There is a tune (a familiar one) that is first whistled. The same tune rendered with a flute makes one take notice. Then, the mother of all instruments Violin plays the tune adding value to it. What follows next is thorough improvisation of the tune with a violin chorus and that takes the note to a higher pedestal. This theme music, if used at the right places in the film, is sure to add to the emotional effect.

7. Aariro (Haricharan)
This is more or less a stereotype nonchalant melody that falls easy on the ears. The song starts off on a soft piano note and slowly gathers momentum to reach its high point at a high pitched note. The tabela flute medley in the middle is classy and bears resemblance to a similar note in the all famous Kannukku Maiyazhagu song. The singing of Haricharan would be best described as a dedicated effort.

With variety within a periphery, the album looks neatly poised to bring the apt feeling that the film is expected to evoke. Yet again, with a versatile show GV Prakash shows his calibre in giving different but winnable tunes for differently winnable genres of films. The combo has more than satisfied my expectations after all!

Two Line Reviews - #162

Movie: Aadukalam (Thamizh,2011)

Plot: A trio comprising a guru and two proteges are seasoned experts in arranging seval sandais across their district. In a big event, a difference in judgment of the capabilities of a seval by the guru and one of his proteges shifts the focus from rooster-clashes to ego-clashes setting up an intriguing finale. The honest protagonist has an anglo indian girl as his ally in testing times.

Highlights:

• Vetrimaran's radiant story, screenplay and direction. All actors have performed nicely. The screenplay is of the no-nonsense type with a superb shift from cock fights to the fall of a giant possessed by his king sized ego.
• Dhanush's action. He exceeds benchmarks and does everything - Humour,dance,emotion,speech accent - perfectly; A role tailor-made for him and he makes full use of it.
• The core areas of cinematography,editing,stunts have been handled with perfection. Credits to the team for acknowledging Indian and foreign films that have inspired the cinematography techniques employed.
• GV Prakash's songs and background music. It's a pity that En vennilave wasn't picturised completely but the picturisation of the rest of the songs more than makes up for it.
• The pre-interval rooster fight scene - Suspenseful and brilliant aided by some very good graphics work.

Verdict: Celebration of Commercial cinema. Hits the Bull's eye!