Manithan

My review: Manithan

"Manithan"is a remake of "Jolly LLB", a hindi movie that was a sleeper hit in 2013. The tamil remake stars Udhayanidhi Stalin in the titular role and Prakashraj as the antagonist. Movie directed by I.Ahmed. There is a visible improvement in his narration and direction this time which was suspect in his previous two movies. Though it is a faithful remake with some additions with respect to the female lead's portions, Ahmed come out with a gripping movie. This is by far his best work yet.

The coming of age stories are not that new to tamil cinema. The story of "Manithan" is simple, movie is told in a linear easy narrative style yet it strikes a chord or two with the audience. It is one of the well written and well made movies in the recent times and a perfect launch vehicle for Udhay away from his tedious rom-coms so far. Dialogues play a very important role in creating the impact the movie does create and the credit for it should goes to Ajayan Bala. 

Udhayanidhi Stalin is good in his role of Sakthivel, a fumbling young lawyer who decides to take on the mighty. This is by far his best though he has a long way to go before he can take claim of being a reliable actor. Prakashraj is terrific while Radharavi is stupendous in a role only he could have done with such panache. Hanshika Motwani looks awfully out of place from the milieu in which the movie is set. On the other hand, Aishwarya Rajesh has a better role. Vivek is reliable as ever. 

In Santosh Narayanan's music all the songs are good while background score elevates the narration to a great extent. Madhi's cinematography gives the movie a glossy feel. 

On the whole, "Manithan" is one of the better written and well made movies in recent times tough it is a remake. 

Bottomline: Nalla manithan

3.5/5  

U Turn

My review: U Turn

Pawan Kumar's "U Turn" after his pathbreaking "Lucia" had a lot riding on it which further got accentuated by the curiosity enhancing promos and teasers. This time he tries to deal with a topical issue of traffic violation and the consequences it would lead to.

Movie is terrific as far its making is concerned as well as its staging. Like he effortlessly did in his previous two movies the narration takes a while to set its pace but gradually it does sucks you into it. After the initial lull you end up getting engrossed to the proceedings. The first half is terrific with the plot neatly staged and the twists and turns neatly packaged. At the halfway mark you leave for the intermission with anticipation of what is going to happen in the second half.

I think upto 50 % of the second half Pawan Kumar in his terrific form has done such a flawless and meticulous narrative filled with mystery and intrigue that it back fires him when he takes a recourse to horror trope not able to find a suitable salvation to the mystery he has built all the while. Once the horror turn happens, there is a "U turn" in the narration and movie nosedives towards ordinary. You end up feeling cheated all the while and in the end you come out of theatre with mixed feelings. What could have been another masterclass from the auteur, the movie ends up just about okayish.

Movie solely belongs to Shraddha Srinath, the fulcrum around whom the whole movie revolves. She is just terrific. The gamut of emotions that the character goes through is brought out neatly by her. She is ably supported by all in the support cast. Special mention should be made on Roger Narayanan as sub-inspector Nayak.

Technically the movie is top-notch. All the three cinematographers and the music director have done their jobs with perfection to make it a visual and aural treat.

On the whole, "U turn" starts of well, builds up momentum and reaches a crescendo by the three quarters of its length following which there is a steep fall that brings down the movie from the exalted position it ought to have reached to somewhere near the ordinary.

Bottmline: Faltering climax undermines a wonderful cinema

3/5

Iraivi

My review: Iraivi

Karthik Subburaj after his two previously immensely impressive works falters with his self-confessed ode to K.Balachander, Balu Mahendra and Sujatha, "Iraivi". In my opinion Karthik Subburaj's noble intention in doing a movie that deals with the travails and tribulations of women gets diluted and the message gets lost due to the focusless screenplay and unintended glorification of the errant men.

 I don't know where he went wrong exactly but the wrong message seems to have gone into the viewers which is elucidated from the fact that when S.J.Suryah tells "AAn" the crowd goes into raptures while when it is followed by "kevalamana piravigal illa naama" with dead silence. Also the glorification of the male lead leads to even when he shuns the worried father of his wife, people clap and whistle, which is shocking. I think movies such as these are more dangerous than the routine masala crap which objectifies women as no one takes them seriously. 

You know something is wrong when you don't feel for any of the characters in the movie. Be it the hardships undergone by both Ponni and Yazhini, or the final tragedies that befall Arul and Michael, the movie didn't move me emotionally. Some may say it is subtle film making at its best but i doesn't mean that you fail to connect emotionally with the audience. 

When you look at it as a cinema, the making and execution of the shots are all great. Acting is terrific, led by S.J.Suryah in a once in a lifetime performance that might surely get him an award or two, ever reliable Vijay Sethupathi, and brilliant understated work by both the lead ladies, Kamalini Mukherjee and Anjali. The making is first class, technically movie is awesome backed up by brilliant musical score by Santosh Narayanan. 

On the whole, "Iraivi" in my humble opinion didn't made me angry or sad or happy when it ought to, a well made movie which fails to communicate what it wanted to. 

Bottomline: Less about Iravi, more about Sathaan.

2.5/5

24

My review:

24 is what you get if a writer-director from the 1950's time travels and make a movie with a crew of 2016. To call it 'science fiction' is the worst disrespect you can give to that term. It is a movie for dummies.

Bottomline: Paatti sonna kathai.

2/5

Fan

My review: Fan

Maneesh Sharma's Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Fan" is a delightful cinema. It has been long since SRK is seen in a movie as an actor rather than a star, though in one of the roles in this movie he portrays a star. Movie has terrific writing diligently supported by stupendous acting by SRK. Though there are gaping logical loopholes in the narration, the screenplay and direction by Maneesh Sharma is such that it gets camouflaged by the proceedings that keeps you hooked to the screen. 

"Fan" is a one man show of Shah Rukh Khan. Both as the dangerously obsessive fan Gaurav Chanda as well as a headstrong star in decline Aryan Khanna, SRK is tremendous. This is one movie in which both the roles in the dual role has generous shades of grey. At one point you root for Gaurav and at others you sympathise for Aryan. But in the end you hate neither of them. Such is the beauty of the narration and performance by the star, SRK. 

We all knew that SRK is a terrific actor but the star in him has overshadowed him for a really long time we have almost forgotten how SRK, the actor is. We get more than glimpse of him here. It is almost a throwback to the days of "Darr" and "Baazigar" where the actor in gay abandon enthralled the audience. Here he has handled both the complex roles with elan and confidence of the veteran. 

"Fan" is a delight of those who are a fan of SRK, the actor and might disappoint those who are fan of SRK, the star, but on the whole it is a wonderful cinema with terrific acting.

Bottomline: One man show

4/5

Theri

My review: Theri

In my view Atlee's debut movie "Raja Rani" was overhyped. It didn't have anything new in it in terms of storyline but somehow managed to salvage it by his treatment. The same holds true for his latest venture "Theri", starring Vijay. If not for Vijay, this movie would have fallen flat. If "Raja Rani" was heavily inspired by various movies that dealt with love failure and marital problems, "Theri"is heavily inspired by many cop movies that have graced Tamil cinema. 

The storyline is banal, a routine revenge drama where both the protagonist and antagonist suffer collateral damages. Screenplay is tailored to the need to cater to the mass masala friendly audience. In spite of all this what makes this movie work is only one single person, Vijay. His awesome charisma, screen presence and acting masks all the inadequacies and keeps the audience going. He is terrific in whatever he does in this movie. Just the manner in which he carries himself be it as a timid father or a dynamic police officer or a charming lover/husband, Vijay is just outstanding and if the movie garners good reviews and success then it should be wholly due to him.

Since the movie is a one man show, almost rest of the acting crew just gets relegated to the background. Among them Rajendran and Nainika scores. G.V.Prakashkumar's music is good, both songs and background score. "Chella kutti" and "Jithu jilladi" are my picks. George's cienmatography is outstanding, giving the movie a very rich look.

On the whole, "Theri" is amalgamation of scenes already done by Rajnikanth, Vijaykanth, Ajithkumar, Surya, and many other actors but when Vijay does it, it is just 'theri'fic.

Bottomline:One man's "Theri"fic show

3.5/5

Kali

My review: Kali

Sameer Thahir's, Rajesh Gopinandan written, Dulquer Salman and Sai Pallavi starrer "Kali" is a well made thriller. It deals with how short temperedness can create havoc in the lives of most unassuming of people. Writing is neat, especially the first half of the movie up till the mid second half until the movie gets a cinematic push towards the end. 

The first half of the movie is relatable to anyone who has adult ADHD and knows someone who has it. It is a very educated portrayal of a person with a person with impulsivity and minimal frustration tolerance, both by the writer-director team as well as by the actor (Dulquer Salman) enacting it. The problems such a person has and the coping means of the partner are well crafted. Even the intermission part till the separation of the lead pair the movie moves very naturally that you does get taken aback by the sudden change in the movie's sensibilities thereon. The movie motors on in a full blown cinematic mode from that point which kind of waters down the overall impact of the movie. What could have been a very good naturalistic thriller becomes a mass masala thriller. 

Dulquer Salman is terrific in the role of short tempered Sidarth who gets seething with rage at the drop of a hat. The gamut of emotions he goes through in the second half is superlatively portrayed by him. It is a perfect follow up for Sai Pallavi after that ethereal "Malar". Movie gives equal scope for her as that of the male protagonist and she has lapped it up with elan. The support cast is okay with the antagonists being portrayed in a carboradish manner with cinematic idiosyncrasies. 

Gopi Sunder is just awesome with his musical score. Technically the movie is top notch. On the whole, "Kali" is a neat thriller that could have been a bit better if the screenplay of the late second half complemented the rest.

Bottomline: Good, could have been better. 

3/5