Bangalore Natkal

My review: Bangalore Natkal

"Bommarillu" Baskar is a close friend of M.Raja, who is one of the best at remakes in tamil movie industry. Baskar seem have imbibed a lot from his friend as well which is evident in his "Bangalore Natkal" which is a  remake of last year's Malayalam blockbuster "Bangalore Days". Baskar has improvised the script written by Anjali Menon in a more pacier and interesting manner suited for the tamil audience. He is a master of handling family oriented emotions and conflicts which shows this time too.

"Bangalore Natkal" is faithful to the original in its storyline, emotions and settings while I found it to be more focused keeping the viewers' interest intact unlike the more laborious original. The major doubt that was pitched against this remake was its casting whether they would able to do justice to the steller cast of the original. But amazingly the cast of this movie have done a pretty decent job of it all. Another striking aspect of the movie is its dialogues. The humorous oneliners work like a dream. In fact these oneliners are an important factor that masks the weakest link of the cast, Bobby Simha, instead projecting him in a better light. 

Sri Divya's character is the central fulcrum around which the plot is woven and she has done brilliant job of it. It is not an easy job fitting in to a character that Nazriya played so wonderfully well in the original, but she has done just that. Nowhere in the movie would you feel that she has not done justice to the role. She is just terrific. Arya is also good in his role of Arjun who is constantly fighting with the scars of his childhood. Bobby Simha gets all the best oneliners of the movie through which he kind of passes muster. Rana Daggubati is good while Parvathy is brilliant as ever. This role she would do in her half sleep with elan. The support cast is chosen with care and they have done their parts very well. Saranya is top class in the role made memorable by late Kalpana.

Technically the movie is more glossier and richer than the original while Gopi Sunder continues the terrific job he did with the original. 

On the whole, in my opinion "Bangalore Natkal" is livelier, richer and faster than the original that keeps you interested. I liked it more than the original which was sluggish and boring.

Bottomline: Improvised remake.

3.5/5

Action Hero Biju

My review: Action Hero Biju

Nivin Pauly seem to be in the form of his life. He can do no wrong and whatever he touches seem to turn gold. The hit combo of last year's blockbuster "1983", returns once again successfully with this new movie "Action Hero Biju". Abrid Shine gels well with Nivin Pauly and succeeds in bringing him out of his comfort zone and gives him a makeover of sorts with this tough cop role. 

"Action Hero Biju" as the tag line proclaims is "a ride with a police officer". The script written by Abrid Shine and Muhammad Shafeeq doesn't follow the conventional narrative style of a plot, conflict and resolution. The script just takes us into the Ernakulam town police station and leaves you there as a passive onlooker for a few days where we observe varied cases and varied means by which they solve these cases. Along the way they showcase how the local police stations functions as not only a police station but also "as local court, high court and supreme court" as the protagonist says.

Movie wholly belongs to Nivin Pauly who is there onscreen right from the first frame to the last. He has completely reinvented himself from what we have seen him so far as a flirtatious lover boy to a rough and tough honest cop. He effortlessly portrays the demeanor, body language and attitude of a police officer. It is yet another feather in his cap that is already brimming with magnificence. On the other hand the female lead of the movie Anu Emmanuel is just ornamental to the movie and employs the same coyish smile throughout. The support cast is first class.

Rajesh Murugesan's background score is terrific. Alex J Pulickal's cinematography is superb especially the aerial shots towards the end is awesome. Abrid Shine shows his class in many scenes at the same time keeping alive his earthy humor intact. The scene in which the police walkie talkie goes missing is a laugh riot. Another one with the drunk prisoner brings the roof down. 

On the whole, "Action Hero Biju" is a happy ride with a police officer where we are subjected to multiple small episodes in his life.

Bottomline: One man show.

3.5/5    

Irudhi Suttru

My review: Irudhi Suttru

"Irudhi Suttru" is a decent feel good sports drama that has been seasoned with ample dose of mass masala elements. Hence, unlike may of the past sports movies that keep rooted in reality and plausibility, this one takes the diametrically opposite route that is certain to keep both the critics and commoners happy. Movie boasts of many well written mass masala scenes as well in it that could have been a part of any other mass star movie. Only difference is that here the protagonist is a female and she gets all those whistles and festoons. 

Sudha Kongara has almost followed the well proven underdog template in the sports background which she brilliantly blends in the North Chennai milieu. Along with the screenplay which is razor sharp and interesting, what makes the movie work is the characters that she has written and the manner in which they are portrayed on screen by the actors concerned. Be it even the smaller characters like Saamikannu (portrayed brilliantly by Kaali Venkat) or the blink you miss role of Muralikrishnan (again Radharavi shows his mettle), each and every character have their moment in the movie. Nasser, as Pandian who is the assistant coach is again a scream with his casual demeanor and effortless delivery of Madras slang.    

But the movie belongs to its lead pair, Madhavan as the temperamental coach Prabhu and Ritika Singh as the maverick prodigy, Madhi. Both have given equally powerful performances complimenting each other. It can be compared to Kamalhassan-Sridevi from "Moondaram Pirai" in terms of chemistry and complementary acting. Special mention about Ritika, she has effortlessly transformed into a North Chennai fisher girl in terms of body language, personality and attitude.Her's is one of the best acting debuts in the recent times by a female lead.

Santosh Narayan's terrific background score, and lilting songs, especially "Ye Sandakaara" and "Vaa machaney" are great value additions to the movie. After his mighty impressive work in "Vidiyum Mun"Sivakumar Vijayan has again done a stupendous work here. Both the background score and the cinematography aids in fostering the rustic feel to the movie.

Sudha could have avoided couple of "cinematic" scenes in the end like Madhi kicking the head coach after winning and her father undergoing a dramatic change in his character and apologizing to his wife (for what..??) which rears out like a sour thumb in an otherwise might impressive movie.

On the whole, "Irudhi Suttru" is the year's first mass masala commercial action entertainer that has a female lead who packs in all the punches, literally!

Bottomline: Paisa Vasool.

3.5/5   

Kathakali

My review: Kathakali

Pandiraj's tryst with action thriller, "Kathakali" promises much with its mood and making but falls short with its lackluster pace and paucity of thrills. A good script on paper would have been a pacy, hair-raising thriller in the hands of a better director who is adept in making movies of such genres. Pandiraj who is used to be making mild, slower family oriented feel good movies kinda directed this script also in the same manner. As a result the kind of impact the movie ought to have made with the viewers remains unfulfilled. 

Since most of the story takes place within 24 hours time frame, I would have liked a little more meat in the proceedings rather than presenting us with the same happenings again and again giving you a feeling of being exasperated. Also there is nothing much in the name of twists and turns in the plot that keeps you glued to the screen. The stretch with Iman Annachi is a case in point which just drags the screenplay without much to offer to the plot. And they could have very well done away with the thread involving Catherine Theresa and focused more on the cerebral manner in which the protagonist tries to get away from the muddle he is trapped in.

Vishal has done very well in his understated performance after similar one gained accolades for him in "Pandiyanadu". The manner in which he has allowed his character to get bullied and ragged by female lead augurs well for him. Catherine Theresa's characterization is straight out of the files of homes that look after intellectually challenged. Karunas' is another irritating character along with his wife's which is more of a cartoonish caricature than anything else.  Others in the  supporting cast have performed adequately.

Hiphop Thamizha's background score is a torture to your hearing sensibilities while the two songs that the movie has are all good. Movie is technically sound and rich. Major part of its credit should go to the movie's cinematographer Balasubramaniam. 

On the whole, "Kathakali" is an average thriller that promises a lost but some how fails to deliver.

Bottomline: Mundane making.

2.5/5

Rajini Murugan

My review: Rajini Murugan

Ponram seems to a person who looks at life in an uncomplicated and lighthearted manner. That assertion comes from how his debut movie "Varuthapadatha Vaalibar Sangam" and his second movie "Rajini Murugan" have panned out. Both the movies have an unerring air of casualness, feel-goodednes, simplicity and festivity in them. There is nothing complicated about these movies. Not that they have anything new to offer too. Yet at the end of the movie you come out happy, satisfied and feeling good. 

"Rajini Murugan" is a fairly enjoyable commercial potboiler that can't be defined by a particular genre. It is like a three course traditional Tamil meal (sorry for the most cliched of example ) that has something for everything. It is a movie that is very difficult to review for there is nothing too special to rave about nor too bad to criticize also, but in the final analysis you feel satisfied. 

Main reason why the movie works is Sivakarthikeyan. There is something about him that is attractive. May be he has that charisma that only few in the Tamil cinema industry like Rajinikanth, Kamalhassan, Vijay and Dhanush have. There is some inherent likability in him along with his casual humour that come so naturally to him. He has struck a wonderful chemistry with Soori. The scenes these two regale the theater are a throwback to the days of Sathyaraj-Goundamani enthralling the audience in a similar mould. 

Keerthi Suresh is a pleasant addition to the line of beautiful yet performing actress from Kerala unlike plastic dolls that roll out the northern part of the country. Rajkiran does well both in the sentimental as well as the comedy scenes. 

D.Iman's songs some of  which are already chart-busters are a valuable augments for this movie. "Un mela oru kannu" is a delectable melody while "Yennama ippadi panreengalema" is a mischievous "soup song" that rules the roost in the FM channels. 

On the whole, "Rajini Murugan" is a perfect festival release, a clean family entertainer.

Bottomline: Paisavasool. 

3.5/5            

Tharai Thappattai

My review: Tharai Thappattai

Bala's movies off late have become templated to such an extent even an average joe can predict each and every scene in his movies. Only difference is the setting of the story. It can be a bonded labourers  in a tea estate or physically disabled with a begging mafia, the route the story is going to take and the fate that befalls the protagonists are a given. In "Tharai Thappattai" it is folk artists and the manner in which they endure the torture which in turn is extrapolated on to the viewers. Only this time the movie is superfluous unlike any of his included that forgettable "Avan Ivan". 

The whole conceit of "Tharai Thappattai" is redundant. Nothing happens in a flow. There is contrived situations one after another to such an extent that by the intermission point one can only hear cries of exasperation from the viewers. At point no one knows the whereabouts of the female protagonist and right in the next shot we see the male protagonist just nonchalantly walking into the place where she is housed. Similarly the climax too is straight out a below average masala potboiler of the 80s where the male protagonist can do no wrong except that to remind us that we are watching a Bala movie he can't save the heroine as she is only destined to die.

Except for the hard work put in by all the actors with the exception of the caricatured villain, this movie offers nothing either in terms of entertainment or art. It is sad to see the actors like Sasikumar, G.M.Kumar, Varalakhsmi putting in such a superlative performances which is just going to go down the drains in the end. Ilayaraja's terrific background score also can't redeem this slugfest.
Bala just seems to have concentrated on extracting superb performances from his actors while he himself just floundering in his screenplay and film making. 

On the whole, "Tharai Thappatai"‬ is the weakest of Bala's movies so far.  

Bottomline: crude, crass, tacky, hackneyed, plastic, irritating, torturous,........

2/5

Charlie

My review: Charlie

Many movies you enter fresh and come out with a headache but while watching "Charlie" I entered with severe headache but came out very fresh and elated. It is such a feel good movie that is made with some special powers to infuse positive energy in the viewers. It is not your conventional movie that can be confined into a particular genre. It defies these phoney boundaries that is part and parcel of screenplay writing. It is a thriller at one point, it becomes a romantic comedy at another, a sentimental drama at yet another and an abstract fantasy at some point too.

Having been brought up with stories where the male protagonist is the one who always drives the story forward, "Charlie" is a pleasant deviant where female lead does it. She is there right from the first frame till the last, she is one who goes in search of the almost angelic persona, a genie in the form of human named Charlie. It is an audacious role reversal of sorts that can only be carried forward by a power-packed performer like Parvathy, an inspired piece of casting that. It is her movie, where she is the protagonist, narration is in her point of view and the emotions of the movie is all her's. Dulquer Salman's is mostly an extended cameo of sorts, which warrants special appreciation for him being so selfless and generous.    

Movie though progresses sluggishly in the first half traversing many a genres and keeping the viewers guessing about the course it is going to take, second half just fills the viewers with overwhelming positive energy that at the end you just stand up and applaud in elation at the happenings. There are two specific scenes that just brings tears of joy and reflex applause from the viewers. One when Kunjappan meets his long lost love of his life, the other when the lead finally meet each other and their mischievous banter through to the surprise tiny little twist. This is the type of movie making that just engulfs and sucks in the viewers into the narrative flow that you long for that state of ecstasy to stay for ever. 

As I have mentioned earlier, "Charlie" is an out and out Parvathy movie. She has dished out yet another power-packed treat. Her emotive skills are totally in a different league altogether when compared with her unidimentional contemporaries. It is yet another impressive addition to her already terrific resume. Dulquer on the other hand has nothing much to do. In the limited scope that the movie offers he has acquainted himself credibly. Movie boasts of quiet a list of power packed performers as its support cast who all lend that extra to the movie's final impact. 

Martin Prakkat, after his impressive "ABCD", has once again proven that he is adept in handling movies of feel good themes. He  also shows  he is a maker who believes in subtle portrayal of emotions and the one who trusts the intelligence of the viewers. The two aforementioned scenes are perfect examples for this claim of mine.

On the whole,  "Charlie" a very well made feel good movie with power packed performances from its cast with Parvathy leading from the front.

Bottomline: Cinematic ecstasy 

4/5