Mugamoodi

My review : Mugamoodi

One can’t help but come out with a mixed feeling after watching Mysskin’s “Mugamoodi”. Mysskin has tried to present a super-hero movie in his style. Nothing wrong about it. The thing is he could have concentrated on the screenplay of the second half. Lacklustre second half ends up spoiling the movie after a promising & interesting first half.

10 minutes into the movie only one is dished out all the Mysskinisms including the low-angle shots, slow-motions , bar song , Mysskin movie specific character’s mannerisms & what not. Slowly movie builds up interest in the viewers with a fairly engrossing screenplay supported to a great deal by very good background score by K. There are couple of heart-thumping moments too in the first half. By the time movie breaks for intermission air is filled with anticipation for a rocking second half which should have belonged to the “super-hero”.

This time around Mysskin is not able to sustain the intensity in the second half. The pace is painfully slow with pretty much nothing happening in the story. Second half is actually nothing but a very prolonged build-up for the climax. After such a fairly long & tedious build-up the viewers would surely expect the movie to end with a bang with scenes that must have generated goose-flesh. But the ending is damp squib. And to make the matters worse the background score in the second half is pathetic & almost puts one to sleep. A good background score might have actually helped in creating “The” impact that a super-hero ought to have made but sadly here he turns up on screen every time with a whimper.

Inspite of a very poor second half what works in the movie is the action sequences. The movie is almost an ode to kung-fu. Jiiva has done the fights very well & authentic body language.

Jiiva has put in a lot of hard work into his character which shows on screen. He is almost flawless in his rendition of the kung-fu action sequences. If only he could have got some more help from his scriptwriter , this movie would have done wonders to his career. Narein is miscast in the role of the lead antagonist. He neither has the body language nor the demeanour to do a character of that sort. His performance is further confounded by his meek dialogue delivery. One could hear peels of laughter in the climax scene when Narein tries to play a sinister villain.   Pooja Hegde is pretty but her acting is plastic. Thankfully she doesn’t have much screen space. Nasser & Girish Karnad are good in their roles.

As mentioned earlier K’s background score is mixed bag. First half he is brilliant but in the second half he is pathetic. Sadly the best song in the album “Mayavi mayavi” is not there in the movie. Bar anthem & “Vaya moodi summa iruda” are hummable.

Sathya is the cinematographer & he has done a brilliant job. As usual vintage Misskin angles & shots do find their place in the narration. There are lots of camera movements & Satya has accomplished it without causing strain to the eyes of the viewers.

Gaugin is the editor who seems to have dozed off while editing the second half.

On the whole, “Mugamoodi” is yet another failed shot at a super-hero movie in Tamil mainly due the lack of imagination on the part of the writer Mysskin.

Personally this is the first Mysskin movie that is going to get a score of less than 4/5.

Bottomline : Sedative 

2.5/5

Etho Seithai Ennai

My review: Etho Seithai Ennai

"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 debutant 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 & cliched 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

1.5/5

Pandi Oliperukki Nilayam

My review : Pandi Oliperukki Nilayam

Post "Mayaandi Kudumbathar" Rasu Madhuravan's movies are plagued by cliched storylines & uninteresting screenplay. As a result none of those movies create any impact in the box-office. His latest venture "Pandi Oliperukki Nilayam" (PON) is not different. Trying out a (?)"romantic" tale this time , the story is as old as hills that of a rich & pampered girl falling for a humble & gold-hearted boy. Okay that story is nothing new but he could still woven an interesting screenplay to salvage it. But he has failed in that count too. As a result one get to see a half-baked , boring & hackneyed tale of romance & revenge.

Touted to be a romantic movie , the lead upto the hero & heroine falling for each other in not that convincingly told.Since this basic premise itself is shaky the superstructure that the director tried to build upon is wafer thin & fails to create any impact. Screenplay is pathetic with inane so-called comical situations which has nothing to do with the story making the viewers squirm in their seats. Dialogues are stale & in many occasion cheesy & tasteless, especially in the initial encounters between the lead pair.

Sabarish is the protagonist who has a lot of work to do as far as acting is concerned. Even his dancing skills looks laboured. It is refreshing to Sunaina after a long gap. She does her bit to prop up a poor etched out role. At many places the costumes she wears look comical considering the ambiance & the backdrop of the story. Singam Puli , Karunas , Suri , Thambi Ramaiah & Vyapuri form the gang who tries to do something which the director wants the viewers to presume it to be comedy.

Kavi Periyathambi is the music director. None of the songs are worth hearing while background score is redundant.  U.K.Senthilkumar is the cinematographer who has nothing much to do other than present the happening as they occur.

Rasu Madhuravan should try to hone up his screenplay writing skills before he tries making his next movie to help viewers escape the banality he has been ditching out over the last couple of years.

On the whole, "Pandi Oliperukki Nilayam" is cliche-ridden , uninteresting & disjointed tale of a jilted lover.

Bottomline: Endless torture

1/5

18 Vayasu

My review: 18 Vayasu

"Renikunta" team is back with their second venture "18 Vayasu". Nothing wrong in trying out a story with a mentally ill person as a protagonist. But before that one wishes that the writer-director Paneerselvam could have done some background research rather than plunging into the project with the help of hearsay. Okay that can be excused , atleast he could have woven a screenplay that is interesting to sustain one's attention throughout the period of two and half hours.

The screenplay is very loose & disjointed with suddenly things happening according to the wishes of the writer rather following a natural course. One of the symptoms of the psychotic hero in mimicking the animals that he sees while distressed seem to have forced into the narrative. After a point that too fails to evoke any interest.

Dialogues are routine with few lines thrown into feed to the misogynists in the audience (who seems to form a sizable number,,!)

Jhonny fits into the role that he plays well though he must do a lot of work improving his emotive skills. He looks stiff in most of the scenes. In certain sequences he evokes unintended laughter from the viewers by trying to mimic animals. Debutante Gayatri is natural in her portrayal of the "damsel in distress " act. She looks pleasant to the eyes & emotes well too. Satyendran as "Jackie" (whom we have seen in lots of movies in brief roles) has got a plum role for the first time in his career & he has done justice to the opportunity.

In Charles Bosco's music "Enakkenave nee", "Unnai Onru " & "Entha Ulagil" are good melodious numbers while he needs to do a lot of learning to do as far as background score is concerned. Background score is  pretty amateurish.

Sakthi , the cinematographer has done a very good job capturing the emotions well. Technically movie is good & glossy.

On the whole, "18 Vayasu" has a good plot but poor screenplay ensures that one's patience is tested by the time movie reaches intermission. By the time movie ends one feels a great deal of relief.

Bottomline: Poverty of imagination.

2/5

Eppadi Manasukkul Vandhai

My review:Eppadi Manasukkul Vandhai

Ridiculous plot-line plagued further by poor execution has resulted in "Eppadi Manasukkul Vandhai" being very superficial unable to create any impact on the viewers. It is a strange coincidence that two movies of similar plot have gotten released within a gap of a week. "Naan" also has the similar plot but the difference between the two is really the screenplay & execution which is poor here when compared to "Naan".

               

P.V.Prasath who is the writer-director of the movie has rehashed many scenes from his previous feature film "Kadhalil Vizhundaen". Though the movie starts of on a promising note , once the story moves towards the hero joining the same college as that of heroine , it is all downhill. The viewers loose interest very rapidly & after intermission movie become unbearable. There are numerous ridiculous turns & twists all hackneyed & forced in according to the whims and fancies of the director.

Vishwa makes debut as the hero. He has acted well , has good foot work for dance as well as action. Tanvi Vyas is pleasant to the eyes & emotes well. Imran has got a good break & he has used it well. Ravi kale characterization is poor but he has tried his level best to keep it afloat.

Vijay Milton has written the dialogues as well as handling the camera. Cinematography is adequate while dialogues are very routine. Technically the movie is good with good production values.

In A.J.Daniel's music couple of songs are good. "Uyir pogudhadi " & "En kadhal neethane " are good melodies. 

On the whole, "Eppadi Manasukkul Vandhai" is a shallow piece of work where everyone concerned seem to have lost interest after initial half hour including the viewers.

Bottomline: Shallow

2/5

Addhuri

My review : Addhuri

“Addhuri” is a romantic comedy which marks the debut for Dhruva Sarja . He has done pretty well for someone who has to carry the whole movie on his shoulders. Writer-Director A.P.Arjun has taken a routine story of misunderstanding between lovers spiced it up with a sub-plot of the hero trying to get back his love within a period of one week before she leaves for her hometown. Whole story is told in a light-hearted manner. Thankfully the melodrama in the end is a very brief.

Screenplay moves at a brisk pace without much space for boredom. The exchanges between the lead two replete with humour & casual day to day lingo makes up for an enjoyable viewing. Though Dhruva & Radhika Pandit who play the protagonists occupy most of the screen space one doesn’t get tired of seeing them onscreen. They have a good chemistry between them. The love-hate relationship between them is captured & enacted well by the director & the lead pair respectively.

Dhruva Sarja is a nice find. He has done exceedingly well for the first timer. He enacts well in almost all the sequences be it humour, romance, sentiments, dance or action. As said earlier he lights up the screen & makes a sparkling pair with Radhika. Touted to be one of the most talented actress in Kannada film industry in the recent times, Radhika lived up to the expectations. She does her part casually & effortlessly bringing about myriads of emotions & expressions without much strain. Considering that the movie almost focus entirely on the lead pair it is vital that their performances must be good enough to do justice to the script. And boy they have done precisely that.

Dialogues by Arjun form a pillar of strength for the movie. The casual language with adequate dose of contemporary usages of the youth form the bulk of the dialogues used. Good that he refrained from mushy romantic lines which may have looked artificial.

V.Harikrishna is the music director & surprisingly songs are not that good this time around. Background score is also average & mundane.

Soorya S Kiran is the cinematographer & he has captured the various emotions of the lead pair well. He shows his talents in the song & action sequences. Technically movie is just about average.

On the whole, “Addhuri” is light-hearted fun packaged with adequate doses of romance & humour.

Bottomline: Breezy romcom

3.5/5

Ek Tha Tiger

My review : Ek Tha Tiger

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

3/5

Julayi

My review : Julayi

Allu Arjun after his not-so-successful "Badrinath" has joint hands with Trivikram Srinivan who himself is recuperating from his dismal last venture "Khaleja". These two have come out with "Julayi" which does nothing much to lessen their misery. Infact it piles up the misery for the viewers with its inane action sequences, logic-less screenplay & routine scenes. Only solace is the comedy track of the movie with Brahmanandam at the helm. 

There is no premise for hatred between the protagonist & antagonist as a result of which whatever that follows looks banal & contrived. It is a unwritten rule that in commercial mass masala movies one can't look for logic but this movie goes too far. Things happen with ridiculous ease for the protagonist who appears to have eye for each & every things , appears in every important places & does all the right things. The characterizations of all the characters are sketchy & hence doesn't create much of an impact overall.

Allu Arjun dances well & agile is action sequences. Acting seem to a far cry for him as does his co-star Ileana. She not only acts pathetically but looks too. She is getting more & more anorexic with each passing movie. Sonu Sood is wasted in a very cardboard like character while Rajendra Prasad uses his experience to come out unscathed in a poorly etched role. Brahmanandam evokes lots of laughs. 

Music by Devi Sri Prasad has one good melody in "Oh madhu". Rest of the songs are aural torture as does the background score.

Technically movie is good except for couple of tacky visual effects. Chota K Naidu & Shyam K Naidu are the cinematographers.

On the whole, "Julayi" has good comedy scenes interspersed with loads of unintended comedy.

Bottomline : Headache

2/5

Attakathi

My review : Attakathi

There are few movies which makes you chuckle when you come out of the theatre after watching it. You would be feeling as if you were a part of locality & lives of the characters on screen. You would laugh with them , cry with them & in the end you would miss them. “Chennai 600028” made me feel that way. Now “Attakathi” Written & Directed by Pa.Ranjith (who is incidentally a former assistant director Venkat Prabhu who was the Writer-Director of “Chennai 600028” ) has the same effect.

Suburbs & neighbouring rural areas of Chennai have never been explored this nicely so far in Tamil cinema. Their culture , lifestyle , language , geography & transport have been explored quite extensively & authentically in “Attakathi”.  And the Venkat Prabhu brand of casual movie making makes the viewing a pleasant experience.

The story is nothing novel or great to write about but it is the simplicity of the presentation & sincerity of the approach that makes the movie get an instant connection with the viewers. And the director has tried to be honest & genuine in his screenplay. Instead of having a crowd-pleasing climax, the director has gone with how it is in real life, which is bound to create a good impact in the final analysis.

When one watches this movie , he/she is bound to have fleeting flashbacks from their lives. Atleast one or two sequences from this movie might have happened in our lives. The manner in which when  guys fall for a girl they misinterprets each and every actions of hers’  which in turn reinforces their beliefs until the realization dawns have been portrayed really well. Also shows how nowadays guys don’t bother much about love failures & they move on with their lives.

Dinesh is the protagonist who has made his debut with this movie but he acts like a professional. No one would believe that it is his first movie. The effortless ease with which he has shown myriad of emotions augurs well for his future. Nandiths as Poornima is homely with an earthy face. She too has done her part well. Actually though almost all actors in the movie are newcomers, all of them have done a very good job acting casually & naturally.

Song “Aadi pona avani” is a nice “gana” song after a long time. With easy lyrics & simple tune, it does stays in one’s mind for a very long time even after the movie has gotten over. “Aasai oru pulveli” is a good melodious number. New comer Santhosh Narayanan is the music director. He however needs to learn how to do background score. In many places the loud background music drowns the dialogues. He should learn to use silence judiciously.

Dialogues are another strong point of this movie. They are simple yet witty. There are numerous oneliners few of which makes one smile & other laugh out loud.

P.K.Varma is the cinematographer & he has explored the Chennai suburb’s landscape well. Technically the movie is good with tasteful CG work at appropriate places.

Ranjith has made a promising debut as both writer as well as director. Though there are Venkat Prabhuisque touches here & there , Ranjith has succeeded in stamping his mark with “Attakathi”. Another example of  a movie made with simplicity & honesty that is going to rule the box-office this year.

On the whole, “Attakathi” is a refreshing tale of many heartbreaks after which the protagonist finally gets his due told light-heartedly.

Bottomline : Sharp

3.5/5

Naan

My review : Naan

“Naan” directed by Jeeva Shankar introduces music director Vijay Anthony in the lead role. Incidentally it is also his 25^th film as music director. On both these counts Vijay Anthony has delivered well. As a scheming yet remorseful crook who uses his intelligence to get away , Vijay Anthony has done his part well. Though he is the music director & this is his 25^th movie as MD , he should be congratulated for not influencing the director for more songs in the movie. There are about only 2 & a half songs in the movie which also blends well with the flow of the story.

Jeeva Shankar has shown great deal of maturity in the making of the movie. He has a good visual sense (he should have it as he is a cinematographer) & mastery over his story & screenplay. Movie moves at a steady pace which is ideal for this story & maintains the thrill all through. If the pace was a bit faster there might not have been any impact & in the same way if it was slower movie might have been a big bore. Shankar has struck an ideal pace which ensures that apt impact is made in the viewers.

The story does glorify crookedness & manipulative behaviour. And it finishes with a wrong message of person who has done so many crimes getting away unscathed with his intelligence. May be the makers must have decided to stuck to their script without thinking about the rights & wrongs (movies tagline is “No one is perfect”) or societal values and norms. Who’s rule it is anyway that movie must always propagate virtues & values.  

Though there are lots of loose ends to the tale left untied by the time the movie ends, director gets away by implying that this is not the real end & the story continues.  Technically the movie is very good. Cinematography is also by Jeeva Shankar & he shows what he has learnt from his mentor late Jeeva.

Coming to acting Vijay Anthony has chosen right kind of script for his debut movie. Though at many places he is rigid & stiff , he is able to portray adequate emotions wherever it is wanted appropriately. Siddarth is casual , Rupa Manjari is good while Anuya is wasted in an very brief role. Rest of the unknown cast have all done their parts well.

Background score is brilliant. Vijay Anthony has tried to prove his mettle with a good background score for his 25^th venture. “Makkayala makkayala” is a rocking number which is sure going to rock the dance floors while “Thappallam thappe illai” is a good composition.

On the whole, “Naan” is an engaging thriller, well made movie with a wrong message.

Bottomline: Promising debuts

3.5/5

22 Female Kottayam

My review : 22 Female Kottayam

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 cliches 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 upto 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 colour 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.

Bottomline : Respect...!

3.5/5

Maalai Pozhudhin Mayakathilaey

My review: Maalai Pozhudhin Mayakathilaey

" Maalai Pozhudhin Mayakathilaey " written & directed by Narayan Nagendra Rao is aptly titled for it puts the viewer to sleep with its languid pace. Awesome songs , very good background score, sleek & glossy cinematography are some of the very few positive aspects of this movie. But poor , uninteresting & simulated screenplay , cliched characters & situations , unimaginative dialogues & poor acting mars the attempt. Not to speak of the inadequate direction & pathetic pace of the movie.

Concept is good that director-writer has tried to capture slice of life at a coffee shop over a period of 3 hours but the execution is what fails him. It is not that movie of this kind can't be taken in an interesting & engaging manner. But the problem here is the lack of natural flow. Everything looks artificial. Right from the coffee shop manager , the workers there, & each one of the 6 customers that the movie tries to focus on. The situations are so contrived that one can't keep the focus on the movie for long.

Main reason for watching this movie is Music which is a huge hit. "Ennuyire " & "Oh baby girl" are so popular & the director has done justice to these awesome numbers by a neat picturization. Achu the music director has done a good job in the background score also.

Gopi Amarnath's cinematography is another reason one can sit through the movie. His work is sparkling especially in song sequences & the montages.

Among the actors Aari does a neat job & he emotes well. Shubha Phutela is an eye-candy but needs to work on her acting skills a great deal. But one should appreciate the hard work she has put in to dub herself in Tamil especially considering that it is live-sound recording. Director should also be appreciated for this because her way of speaking is exactly how the character she portrays would have spoken. That in the name of aesthetics director has not considered someone to dub for her with perfect Tamil pronunciation is the way to go.

Subbu Panchu , Balaji , Tejeswini & R.S.Sivaji make up the rest of the cast. Since their characterization are sketchy , they don't make much of an impact.

On the whole , "Maalai Pozhudhin Mayakathilaey" is a very leisurely  paced movie which would sure test one's patience. Rather watching the movie as whole , get an audio CD of the movie & go on a long drive listening to the songs on a cool breezy evening. That is the real "Maalai Pozhudhin Mayakam".

Bottomline: Opportunity wasted

2/5

The Dark Knight Rises

My review : The Dark Knight Rises

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 gimmecry 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.

3.5/5

Mirattal

My review: Mirattal

Over the last couple of years Tamil cinema has seen many movies which were remade from successful movies of other languages not faring that well. "Osthi" , "Uthamaputhiran" , "Thillalangadi" , "Vedi" to name a few. Problem with these remakes are that either the story didn't suit Tamil taste & sensibilities or the actor who starred in the remake didn't fare that well as the one who did it in the original or the screenplay & direction faltered. "Mirattal" joins the bandwagon  falling short by all accounts mentioned previously. It is a remake of immensely successful 2007 Telugu movie "Dhee" directed by Srinu Vytla.

Vinay looks ill suited for these kinds of roles & he only reiterates this point by his performance in this movie. He looks ill at ease in comedy sequences & fails to tickle the funny bones. The story is pretty old & Tamil cinema audience must have seen umpteen movies with this kind of story line over the past decade. The screenplay of the movie is poor with scenes suddenly appearing & disappearing , sequences disjointed from one another. Poor editing making the matters worse. Direction by R.Madhesh is non-existent with characters just enacting what comes best to them with no sense of purpose.

As a result "Mirattal " once again proves that remaking a successful movie into a different language is not a child's play. Many have tried & not everyone seem to as successful as few like Raja who has perfected the art of remaking. Even Shankar (Madesh's mentor) has done a decent job of it in "Nanban". R.Madesh has done 2 pretty ordinary works as director before this one. This one also does nothing to enhance his reputation.

Coming to acting Vinay looks clearly uncomfortable as said earlier. Sharmila Mandre does a decent job aping Genilia's bubbly act from the original. Shanthanam's is far-cry from what Brahmanandam did in the original. Except for couple of one-liners his roles falls flat. Prabhu does a decent job albiet his role is replete with buffoonery. Pandyarajan & Mansoor Alikhan completes the comedy team . Kanja Karupu irritates with his hamfest once more.

Music by Praveen Mani is not that interesting. Background score is loud.

D.Kannan is the cinematographer. His work shines in the song sequences.

Movie touted to be a comedy fails to do just that. The closest one comes to view hilarity is when Vinay & Sharmila blissfully dance to the tunes of the song in a busy street of some foreign country with bemused onlookers looking at them with disbelief. Ridiculous & one wonders how many more years directors would make these hapless actors do the same & subject us to this tomfoolery.

Bottomline: Poor remake

2/5

Thattathin Marayathu

My review : Thattathin Marayathu

“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 theatre 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 dialogues 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 , humour , politics & sentiments. The beauty is that all these elements fall in place within the narrative & doesn’t look forced into it. As said earlier dialogues are the major strength. Brilliantly written one-liners laced with humour , 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 dialogues 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 it with a great deal of maturity without painting things black & white. The dialogues 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 onscreen & 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 

3.5/5

Godfather

My review : Godfather

“Godfather” is a remake of K.S.Ravikumar’s “Varalaru” starring Ajithkumar in a triple role. Upendra has tried to do what Ajithkumar did in the original but falls way short in the final analysis.

Actually it is a very ordinary story of revenge & remorse made special by Ajithkumar’s portrayal of father with feminine body language & the vengeful son. Upendra spoils both these characters by his over the top acting. He tries too hard & all the time self-conscious in the role of Shiv with feminine traits. And his Abhinayas especially in the fight sequences are ridiculous. No wonder every time he does that theatre is bursts with laughter & taunts.

In the role of vengeful son he overacts a lot. He himself is confused with the characterization. Instead of portraying with cunningness & anger, he does an act bordering on psychosis. But the sincerity of the man is seen in each & every frame of the movie. It is only that these roles have already been done brilliantly by Ajithkumar in Tamil & Upendra fails to match up with it.

Soundarya does a decent job in her first movie. Catherine Tresa looks out of sorts. It is funny to watch her perform mentally challenged old lady act. Rest in the cast put in their sincere efforts.

A.R.Rahman’s songs from the original have been retained. Background score is pretty ordinary. Technically the movie is shoddy with low production values.

Sriram is both the cinematographer as well as the director of the movie. Direction is not that spot on. At many places movie looks amateurish & drama like. Histrionics run haywire while many sequences & dialogues are right from the 80’s cinema.

On the whole, “Godfather” fails to live up to the expectations.

Bottomline : Fails to deliver.

2/5

Romeo

My review : Romeo

“Romoe” starring Ganesh , written &  directed by P.C.Sekhar is a throwback to the misogynistic movies of the 80’s & 90’s. With its ridiculous plot line which actually portrays a “misogynistic” bigot as its protagonist movie does a lot of disservice to the society as a whole.

Take a look at the ridiculous plot of this movie. The protagonist is a slum dwelling graduate who falls in love with his office manager. He manages to woo her by telling loads of lies that he is a well to do rich guy & when she gets to know it he physically abuses her. She rightly moves out of his home & gets divorce. After a few months, when they again meet he tries to ignore her which rekindles in her love for him.....sigh..!!!!

When movie portraying intelligent & strong female characters have started coming & successfully at that , this movie portrays a heroine who is dumb to say the least. Which sane woman in this current age would be taken for such a royal ride as it is portrayed in this movie?  By trying to hide behind in the name of comedy would not be forgiven in the longer run. It is time to move on & writers to begin thinking wisely & neutrally.

Inspite of the ridiculousness of the plot , the actors have put in their sincere efforts. Ganesh is good back to his comical timing . He has a ball with other veterans Rangayana Raghu & Sadhu Koklia. Raghu is brilliant as ever with his immaculate dialogue delivery & timing sense. Sadhu Kokila brings down the roof with his comic act. Bhavana is gorgeous & has performed well too in a banal role. Avinash is in a caricaturised role.

In Arjun Janya’s music “Alochane ” is a brilliant melody while “Everybody rock ” & ”By 2 bedsheetalli” are nice foot-tapping numbers.

Vaidhi is the cinematographer & technically the movie is good.

P.C.Sekhar has tried to make a romantic-comedy-cum-family-drama & has succeeded in his attempt too. Only that he could have tried to stick on to a decent contemporary plot.

On the whole, “Romeo” is for those who enjoy chauvinistic plot & mindless laughter.

Bottomline: Few laughs at the cost of your conscience

2.5/5

Dandupalya

My review : Dandupalya


Based on real life incidents that rocked the city of Bangalore in the late 90,s & early 2000's , "Dandupalya" is a riveting movie. The raw & ruthless manner in which the movie is been shot might be too much for weak hearted people. One does need courage & gumption to withstand the goriness & the brutality of the happenings on the screen. More so when one think of it that these things actually happened & people based on whom this movie is made are still alive.

"Dandupalya" is directed by Srinivas Raju , starring Pooja Gandhi, Raghu Mukherjee , Makarand Deshpande , Ravi Kale , Priyanka Kothari, Bhavya & Sudharani. Movie moves at a brisk pace with no slack moments in between except for the small detour it takes following the romance of one of the victims. Though there seems to be umpteen censor cuts still the movie manages to have continuity .

At the end of the movie the director succeeds in sending down shivers in the spine of the viewers. Also the movie takes a neutral viewpoint without taking sides yet it comes out powerful , therein lies the success of the director.

Technically the movie is mixed. Most of the movie following the gang & its activities have been well shot. The amateurishness comes in the court sequences as well the Priyanka Kothari side plot. Cinematographer Ram Prasad has shot the movie nicely with good quality. Arjun Janya's background scores amply supports the gory happenings on screen. However his songs letdown but these kind of movies songs doesn't play that important a role.

Coming on to the performance of the actors almost all of them have done brilliant job. Makarand Deshpande walks away with the honours not by that bigger margin from the rest. His menacing eyes & perfect lipsinc makes it a pleasure watching him emote on screen. Raghu Mukherjee is also brilliant while Pooja Gandhi is a revelation in her role of Laksmi. Ravi Kale is dependable as ever while Bhavya & Sudharani use their experience to a great deal. All the others who form the Dandupalya gang have all done a very good job. Only usual suspect Priyanka Kothari once again fails to act on screen even after all these years trying to do the same.

On the whole, "Dandupalya" is a hard-hitting movie which makes a huge impact on the viewer.

Bottomline : Not for the weak hearted

3.5/5