Two Line Reviews - #478

Movie: Soodhu Kavvum (Thamizh, 2013)

Plot: A guy who kidnaps for a living has the conviction that 'Blind arrogance' can be of great help in his profession. He recruits 3 friends who are in helpless positions in life. Their strategy of kidnapping low-profile people is revised when they greedily attempt to kidnap the son of a minister. The minister doesn't budge and brings a psycho-cop from some other town to nab the culprits. The cop chases the guys down and things go crazy when the kidnapped becomes an active partner in crime as all of them go behind Kaasu, Panam, Dhuttu, Money money!

What Works?

• The film is such a riot because of the treatment it gets. It is casually serious, laughably intense and some more of such oxymorons would define it well!
• It is one thing to watch, enjoy a Guy Ritchie crazy film and quite another to make a regional film of that kind which succeeds! Claps to Nalan Kumarasami and team for doing exactly that.
• Vijay Sethupathy and his novice kidnap team members evoke enough laughter. MS Bhaskar does quite well as the honest politician and Yog Japee is a nice fit for the psycho cop with little or no expressions at all!
• Sanchita Shetty relives that Mr.Brooks role & is such a delight when she makes sarcastic comments sitting by Vijay's side/ on his laps(!) and when Vijay asks her to change costumes etc.

What Doesn't?

• Towards the end, the film sags a bit as there is not much left and a repetition of events is On.
• The Hit ratio of one-liners isn't very high. Some of the mokkais fall flat.

Guy Ritchie stuff, Local Style: A Winner!

Two Line Reviews - #437

Movie: Naduvula Konjam Pakatha Kaanom (Thamizh, 2012)

Plot: A bridegroom-to-be slips while playing cricket a day before his marriage and goes into selective amnesia! When three of his friends try to hide the episode from others to carry the ceremony off smoothly, the victim becomes a menace to all their plans showing up his amnesia whenever he possibly can! Aporam?? 'Yennachu' dhaan!

What Works?

• Balajee Tharaneetharan is a welcome addition to the list of new-age unorthodox directors who prove their substance in their first outing! It must have been mighty difficult to convert the one-line into a 150 minute script which he has done quite stunningly!
• His choice of actors and crewmen has been impeccable - Most of them newbies, but that doesn't show up! The friends in particular have rocked!
• Vijay Sethupathi, is quietly climbing the stardom staircase. His essayal here is probably among the most difficult as he has to give lifeless expressions when there is a riotous ruckus going on around him, because of him. He pulls it off quite easily!
• The background score adds life, so do the witty explosive dialogues and the camera work in the pivotal scene at the start was especially good.
• Some sequences remain memorable: The ones at 'Hairport' saloon & the Hospital for example!

What Doesn't?
At a point towards the end, the extreme comedy turns a bit arrogant on the audiences' senses!But normalcy resumes and it ends with a fitting tribute to the original story on which the film is based on.

A thoroughly enjoyable Laugh Riot!

Two Line Reviews - #432

Movie: Pizza (Thamizh, 2012)

Plot: It is business as usual for a Pizza delivery man who goes for delivery to a bungalow. When he is about to get the job done, things get creepy and he gets to see 1, then 2 and then 3..murders in the house alongside events unfolding in mysterious circumstances. More happens before he escapes and after a brief period of recovery, the suspense finally shows up!

What Works?

• It's been long since we had a gripping horror-thriller in Thamizh & it is to be welcome with utmost pleasure that a debutant director (not even coming out after being an assistant) Karthik Subbaraj could break the routine & quite convincingly too!
• The creepy, at times psychic narration, works brilliantly sending the viewer into anxiety and the setup (home & pizza place) with limited characters helps the film stay brisky throughout.
• Performance-wise, the hero Vijay Sethupathi has a nice role and his expressions and dubbing have been realistic. Giving him nice company are his Pizza place colleagues and lover, played by Ramya Nambeesan.
• Music by Santhosh is apt and experimental at the same time (western symphony type notes) & songs are good too. Ninaithadhai has the European jazz flavour oft seen in title cards in Woody Allen films.
• A lot of the film happens in dark and indoors. So, the camera work which is easy on the eye deserves a special pat for being so good; Some nice editing makes this crispy too!

What Doesn't?

• The twist, though not easily predictable lacks the punch giving a short-film effect; The climax, though, makes up for it!

Spicy, Tasty & Creepy - Pizza that is served Hot & Pizza that's worth the price!