Tuesday, June 29, 2010

RAAVANAN

My Review : Raavanan



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 dialogues.


Second half atleast 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 dialogues 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.


Ambience , 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 behaviour 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 splendour 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.


Bottomline : Bad writing.


2/5

Friday, June 4, 2010

Singam

My Review: SINGAM




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 dialogue 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 onscreen.

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.

3.5/5