Retrospective twitterification (1991 part 2)

Retrospective twitterification : 

Just imagine twitter was there in the 80's and 90's and I were to review movies released then on twitter. 

Year 1991, March - December: 

Gopura vasalile:

It is one of those rare films in which all the departments of film-making confluence in harmony to come up with a thoroughly enjoyable movie. Priyadarshan who makes his tamil debut does so in a sparkling manner. Whether it is P.C.Sreeram's superlative camera work or Ilayaraja's stupendous musical score or perfect casting, Priyadarshan could not have dream of a better debut. 

Bottomline: One of the best feel good movies in recent times

4/5 

Uruvam: 

Jaded Mohan's forgettable comback, "Uruvam" is way off target. It is neither scary nor thrilling. Hideous makeup of the haunted characters that try to spook only make you laugh. 

Bottomline: An amateur attempt 

1.5/5

Puthu Manithan: 

Sathyaraj - Goundamani chemistry is way more sparkling than Sathyaraj - Banupriya's which is the prime reason why one can sit through this fairly mundane affair. The movie's comedy track is going to be one of the most sought after in years to come. 

Bottomline: Watch once for the Sathyaraj-Goundamani banters.

2.5/5 

Chinna Thambi: 

I still can't fathom what is there in this movie other than outstanding Ilayaraja's songs that mandates such a huge response from the audience. Story is about two mentally retarded persons one of whom is a singer who seems to know about everything except what is "thaali"while another who knows only about "thaali" and nothing else and who among the two successfully get to use it.  And to add the female lead's character threads dangerously between naivety and retardness. The climax is the most cringe-worthy sequence in the history of tamil cinema.  

Bottomline: A simplistic reworking of "Meendum oru kadhal kadhai", :P  

2/5 

Captain Prabhakaran: 

R.K.Selvmani, after his power-packed and immensely successful "Pulan Visaranai" that was inspired by "Auto" Sankar, is at it once again with equally powerful and interesting take on forest brigand Veerappan, in his second movie "Captain Prabhakaran". Vijaykanth (100th film)shines in the titular role while the movie's debut villain Mansoor Ali Khan sparkles. Liyakath Ali Khan's dialogues  that are razor sharp does ruffle a feather or two through it's potent political undertones. Ilayaraja's background score elevates the movie a couple of notches as does Rajarajan's jaw dropping cinematography. 

Bottomline: An all-round adrenaline pumping spectacle.  

4/5

Cheran Pandiyan:

A well-written and engrossing family drama, "Cheran Pandiyan" makes an enjoyable viewing. The ensemble cast of solid actors and pleasing musical score of newbie Soundaryan with lots of female pleasing sequences along with awesome comedy track from now in form Goundamani - Senthil duo makes it an instant recipe for a pleasant viewing for the whole family. 

Bottomline: Wholesome family entertainer.

3.5/5 

Sendhoora Devi: 

"Sendhoora Devi" is Rama Narayanan's crude uncredited remake of the yesteryear classic "Kulandhaiyum Deivamum" with the little "Sivaji Ganeshan" Shamili in the lead in a duel role along with an elephant, dog, monkey and horse. It is a perfect example of how can a classy script can be maimed into such a laughable caricature. 

Bottomline: Only for the pea-headed 

1.5/5

Maanagara Kaaval: 

Vijaykanth's fine form continues with "Maanagara Kaaval" too. His confidence in the young film-making graduates from the film institute is paying off rich dividend. When most of his contemporaries are stuck in the masala universe, he is taking up unusual subjects which are getting well received. Vijaykanth and cop uniform seem to be a secret recipe for a sure-shot hit. 

Bottomline: An engrossing action thriller

3.5/5 

Veetla Ezhi Velila Puli:

A remake of kannada movie, "Veetla Ezhi Velila Puli" deals with an interesting concept of equality in the married couple but the execution goes haywire. There are quite a few hilarious sequences here and there, but overall it fails to sustain in entertaining the audience. S.V.Sekhar and Janagaraj are lively in their roles while the same can't be said of the female leads which is an important drawback that contributes towards the lackluster impact.

Bottomline: Good concept on paper but poor execution.

2.5/5 

Azhagan:

K.Balachandar in his latest movie "Azhagan" has opted for a lighter story yet the terrific acting of the whole cast packs a punch. Mammooty, Banupriya, Geetha, Madhoo and all the four kids keep you enthralled with their superlative acting. Maragathamani's musical score is another shot in the arm for KB. 

Bottomline: Enjoyable lighthearted drama

3.5/5

Jenma Natchathiram: 

"Jenma Nathathiram" is a fair enough remake of the cult horror classic "The Omen". In spite of the insipid lead pair, the making of the movie keeps it engaging. Horror elements have worked out well. A relatively unknown cast and crew have done justice to the material in their hand.

Bottomline: Fairly well made remake of the cult movie. 

3.5/5

Idhayam: 

Tamil cinema seems to have unearthed a worthy successor for Mohan in Murali. He aces the "Oru thalai ragam" prototype effortlessly. Written and directed by debutant Kathir supported by a blockbuster musical album of Ilayaraja, "Idhayam" is technically sound and emotionally evocative. Newcomer Heera looks radiant and the movie has a contemporary urbane feel to it. 

Bottomline: A poetic romantic drama, go for it

3.5/5

MGR Nagaril : 

"MGR Nagaril" is a well written comical thriller, a typical malayalam remake. Though not in the same league as that of its original "In Hariharan Nagar", it is nonetheless a faithful remake that retains the essence of the original especially when one considers other malayalam scripts being butchered by tamil directors by addition of  unnecessary commercial elements when they remake. 

Bottomline: An engaging thriller with enjoyable comical portions

3/5 

Nattuku Oru Nallavan: 

It is one of the most irritating movie of the year. Filmmakers should realize that just by having a bankable star and a story that deals with a sensational issue with generous dose of patriotism would not succeed at the box office. A solid story and engaging screenplay is what that is important and this movie lags behind in both these crucial departments. 

Bottomline: A total washout

1/5

Bramma :

 "Bramma" is yet another interesting movie from the talented K.Subash. He seems to have mastered the art of making commercial cinema with loads of intelligence. An apt followup to last year's  massively  impressive "Sathriyan". Sathyaraj-Goundamani combo is in terrific form and regale the audience once again with their fireworks. Kushboo is ravishing while Banupriya is impressive. 

Bottomline: An enjoyable cerebral masala entertainer. 

3.5/5

Gunaa:  

"Gunaa" is yet another vindication of the fact that Kamalhassan is one of the most versatile actors in the country today. A brilliantly written, beautifully made and awesomely enacted (perfect casting) movie, "Gunaa" is one of those movies that would keep making the tamil movie lovers proud for decades to come. Ilayaraja's haunting background score and divine songs keep intruding into your mind for days. 

Bottomline: A soul-stirring classic, an ode to pure poignant cinema.

4.5/5

Rudhra: 

The master of screenplay K.Bagyaraj is back with a bang with "Rudhra". Basically an investigative thriller, he spices it up with his trademark humour and intelligent twists and turns. The initial 20 minutes or so in which Bagyaraj successfully cracks a bank robbery single-handedly is one of the most enjoyable stretches in recent years.

Bottomline: An effortless entertainer that is cleverly written  

3.5/5

Thalapathi: 

Armed with an excellent powerful ensemble cast led by the leading superstars in two south indian film industry, out of the world musical score from the god of music Ilayaraja and world class cinematography by Santosh Sivan, Manirathnam hits the bulls eye once again with his modern day reworking of the Mahabaratha's Karna-Duryodana friendship. 

Bottomline: Masterclass on screen. 

4/5 

Thalattu Ketkuthamma: 

Debutant Raj Kapoor's "Thalattu Ketkuthamma" deals with the topical issue marital rape and maternal mortality,but the same is told in entertaining manner without any scope for complaints. Prabhu's purple patch continues. 

Bottomline: A sweet lullaby

3.5/5

Pondatti Sonna Kettukanum: 

After starting the year promisingly with "Naan Pudicha Mapillai" where he dealt with father-in-law and son-in-law dynamics, V Sekhar ends it with an equally compelling take on the father-in-law and daughter-in-law dynamics in "Pondatti Sonna Kettukanum". This time around the emphasis in on humour and it has worked out very well though at times it borders on crudeness and crassness. Goundmani is in fine form. 

Bottomline: Fun-filled family entertainer with a message 

3.5/5

Retrospective twitterification

Retrospective twitterification : 

Just imagine twitter was there in the 80's and 90's and I were to review movies released then on twitter. 

Year 1991, January - February: 

Sigaram:

One of the best musical albums of the year undone by poorly executed movie that is not gripping enough. SPB is in form both as the lead actor and the music director, if only Ananthu was also up to it, "Sigaram" would have become a cult classic.
Bottomline: Buy it's audio cassette and save money
2/5

Eeramana Rojave: 

Another terrific musical album spoilt by cliched story and inane direction. The lead pair who make their debut have a long way to go before they can be considered as actors. Chinni Jeyanth and co's comedy track is the only redeeming factor other than the songs.
Bottomline: Wait for Oliyum oliyum for the songs, skip the movie
2/5

Dharma Durai:

Remake of a kannada movie, "Dharma Durai" showcases Rajnikanth in a very mellowed down avatar which is the main reason why it has not gone down well with his fans. However, the family audience are lapping up the over the top melodrama and Ilayaraja's terrific assortment of songs.
Bottomline: Actor Rajni is back
3.5/5

Kumbakarai Thangaiah: 

It is a middling movie that is neither good nor bad. Gangai Amaran fails to sustain the success rate that he had last year with couple of Ramarajan flicks. Prabhu sleep walks in the titular role. Ilayaraja's songs are the only saving grace.
Bottomline: Poor execution of a okayish story.
2.5/5

Thai Poosam: 

Rama Narayanan is back with his snake and baby Shamili in this movie that is most suited for kids and those who are still juvenile in their minds. Watch out for the scene in which snake types a letter in a typewriter, priceless. Baby Shamili is the only competition for Sivaji  Ganeshan as far as expressions in the playing of Nadaswaram is concerned.
Bottomline: Cult classic :P
2/5

Naan Pudicha Mapillai:

Movie rides solely on the shoulders of Janakaraj in one of the roles of his lifetime. As a demure and naive father-in-law he has the whole set of female audience rooting for him, the main reason why the movie has become this successful.
Bottomline: Janakaraj's one man show
3/5

One minute reviews: From Sully to Angamaly Diaries via D16

One minute reviews: From Sully to Angamaly Diaries  

Sully:

"Sully" is yet another real life story that has Tom Hanks playing a real life hero. Based on the autobiography of Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, "Highest Duty" and directed by Clint Eastwood, what would have been a boring docu-drama is made into a engrossing procedural thriller. The screenplay is written in such a nuanced style that it keeps you on the edge of the seat though you would have known the actual story beforehand. An inspiring movie.

Devi: 

"Devi" is an enjoyable horror-comedy which scores higher due to its comedy than the meek horror elements. It is a joy to watch Prabhu Deva dance on screen after a long time and the nod to the "chikku bukku rayile" with his brother was nostalgic.

Kodi:

"Kodi" is a middling political thriller that might have become a better movie with a more powerful antagonist. Danush is adequate while Trisha is too meek to carry out such a powerful character. And the mindless masala turn towards the end further accentuates the decline.

Accham Enbathu Madamayada: 

"Accham Enbathu Madamayada" has a bearable first half, unbearable second half and insane ending indicating that GVM has lost his mojo. Jaded STR and bloated Manjima fail to redeem a poor movie. A.R.Rahman's terrific album wasted. 

Kavalai Vendam :

 Except couple of comical moments which can be seen anyway in the comedy channels there is absolutely nothing in this inane movie. Jiiva's pathetic form continues. 

Saithan:

3/4rth of the movie is a well written thriller that is engaging and keeps you to the edge of the seat. But the problem starts when Vijay Antony's character takes a turn towards masala universe from where the movie nosedives into the abyss which no redemption undoing all that it achieved until that point. 

Chennai 600028 2nd innings:

Though can't compare with the naivety, novelty and audacity of the first innings, 2nd innings does have its moments that are numerous enough to keep you in good spirits. Cricket portions however don't have the punch of the former.  

Bairavaa:

You know movie is terrible when only good part of the movie is the 20 odd minutes of flashback portion that doesn't have Vijay in it. Movie is late by at least a couple of decades. Vijay , what next, a movie directed by S.P. Muthuraman? !

Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru: 

A well written and made thriller with perfect casting and first class acting. It is a fantastic debut by Karthik Naren who seems to have total confidence on his script than anything else, a trait most seasoned directors in the industry seem to have forgotten. 

Dangal:

 Aamir Khan's and wrestling's "Chakde India", more rooted and more cinematic than the former. Amazing performance from Aamir and almost everyone in the cast. One of the well made sports movie in the last few years.

Munthirivallikal thalirkkumbol:

 It is a feel good family entertainer that hovers in the zone between average to above average. It is almost a fairytale where all the potential conflicts getting resolved very conveniently.

Bogan :

Bogan has a good concept on paper that suffers due to poor execution on screen and improper casting. It needed a charismatic protagonist to match the devastating screen presence of Arvind Swamy than the earnest Ravi. And more importantly they could very well would have done away with the mentally retarded female lead character.

 Singam 3:  

Si 3 is injurious to your ear. Still not recovered from hard of hearing, dizziness, nausea, tinnitus and headache. This movie is a perfect example of how one can abuse technology, worst use of Dolby Atmos. All I can remember is the screeching sounds of the cars breaking and flights landing.

Ezra :

A horror movie with high technical finesse but a routine mundane storyline, engaging nonetheless. Movie scores mainly due to its first class casting. Technical finesse they achieve at the budgets they use in Malayalam cinema is astounding. 

Yaman:

Yaman has interesting premise and story but the lackadaisical screenplay tries it's best to shoo away the viewer's interest in the proceedings. Vijay Antony is developing into an actor with terrific screen presence. But please avoid something that you were doing in the name of dance, Bhagyaraj would have felt better seeing that. What could have been a topical and currently relevant engrossing entertainer "Yaman " fails to live up to it.

Kutram 23:

"Kutram 23 " is a thriller sans any thrills. It is predictable throughout and the medical aspects would make you go ROFL. Arun Vijay with totally artificial and stiff body language and trite voice modulation tries his best to sell his cop role but in vain. Making is good but the end product leaves a lot to be desired.

Yakkai :

It is time tamil movie makers learn a lot from their malayalam counterparts about how to make engrossing thrillers. It will be a disservice to the word thriller if anyone calls this inept movie as one. Kreshna's characterization in this movie is " legendary " :P

Managaram: 

An example of solid film making and flawless screenplay writing. Casting is superb but somehow when you leave the theatre you miss that "WOW" factor.

Badrinath ki Dulhania: 

It is a pretty average romcom mainly due to its terrific lead pair. If not for them, the movie would have become a washout. Intentions are good but the execution is below par.

Kavan:

"Kavan" is a mediocre, superficial and focus less movie with a disinterested Vijay Sethupathi and miscast TR further pulling down a already sinking ship.

Angamaly diaries:

It is one of the rawest movies in Indian cinema in the recent past. When you see a good romantic movie you feel lovely, a comedy movie light and a masala movie adrenaline pumping. In the same way this movie elicits disgust, nausea, dizziness, numbess of mind which I feel is the success for the makers of this movie. Pure cinema.

Rekka

My review: Rekka

This seems to be the season for dumb movies. Couple of weeks back I thought "Thodari" would be the dumbest movie of the year, but I din't expect that so quickly there will be a strong contestant vying for the title in "Rekka". Vijay Sethupathy who was on a purple patch seem to have hit a dead end with this insane movie. And the movie answers the reason as to why the director Rathina Siva's debut movie is still sleeping in the cans. 

Some movies can be boring yet you can sit through it with redeeming features coming in the form of bearable comedy or hearable songs. But "Rekka" is a masterpiece that doesn't allow you to relax even for a while. It is a full blown saw slayer. Though couple of songs are melodious, the visuals just make you aversive. When things are already going haywire, the flashback scenes are one of the most dumbest sequence ever. Why should every one beat up Kishore to the extent that he becomes mentally deranged when every one in the village were after that girl. 

Vijay Sethupathy seems to be clearly uncomfortably doing this role. In the action sequences where he just tosses around people like they are five rupee coins, he looks as if he is trying hard to control his laughter. Everything about Lakshmi Menon is terrible in movie, right from her make up to make up of her character or her family's. The villains are comical caricatures that you keep laughing our loud at the effort these unsuspecting individuals are putting in such a poorly written and portrayed roles.

On the whole, "Rekka" with its A-grade cast and B-grade sensibilities is THE dumbest movie of the year beating "Thodari" by miles.

Bottomline: Rekka romba mokka 

0.5/5  

Remo

My review: Remo

"Remo" is 9th film for Sivakarthikeyan as a lead hero but still he has not learnt to act on his own other than in comical portions . A top mimic he is, he only mimics the actions of actors mainly Vijay, with situational mimicry of Rajnikanth, Karthik, Madhavan, Surya, etc as when the scene warrants. Even in the lady get-up what we she is a spoof acting that one can see in the Sivakarthikeyan's most famous TV show of the past, "Adhu Idhu Ethu". He can scrap through with such histrionics in movies like "Varuthapadatha Valibar Sangam" and "Rajni Murugan" as emphasis is mainly on comedy in those movies, but when it comes to mass movies like "Kaakki Sattai" and for that matter even "Remo" his efforts can be seen as nothing  but a mimicry of a Vijay wannabe. 

Bakkiyaraj Kannan seems to be content with playing it safe with what he considers as the mandatory ingredients of a commercial entertainer, but only mistake is that all these ingredients are a decade older.  Good for nothing roadside romeo falling for a girl in matter of seconds, stalking a girl in the name of love, misogynist dialogues, female bashing love failure song, child sentiment, etc, etc, etc, have been battered to death in tamil cinema. Hence this movie is so predictable that it  just bores you no ends.

Coming to comedy which is Sivakarthikeyan's forte, this movie boasts of nothing in that regards, except may be couple of scenes in which now in form Yogi Babu enthrals. Keerthi Suresh is getting type cast as a "loosu ponnu" whether her character is a doctor or a makeup assistant. After a neat introduction in "Rajni Murugan", things are going downhill for her. Satish doesn't evoke any laughter anymore. Saranya is terribly typecast.

Movie's only positive is it's cinematography which is awesome. The colour tones are stuff only a legend like P.C.Sreeram can produce. Anirudh's music is only average. "Senjitaale" is a good song but others are letdown. background score is loud and scratchy. 

On the whole, Bakkiyaraj Kannan has wasted a golden opportunity. Touted to be a romantic comedy, "Remo" is neither romantic nor comical, utterly predictable and boring except couple of sequences here and there.

Bottomline: Misogynists' delight 

1.5/5 

Thodari

My review: Thodari

Prabhu Solomon's "Thodari" is one of the most regressive movies of the year. It is shockingly inept and boring that one can only wonder what made the makers support such a half backed attempt. Poor scripting, bad direction and over the top acting makes it a tedious affair to sit through. Prabhu seems to have been caught in no man's land in trying to make a "Speed" like thriller with "elements" which ought to have been mandatory for a "star" movie to keep the commerce of the movie afloat. But precisely these elements along with poorly written cardboardish characterisation that pulls down this movie. 

When was the last time when you had a movie that had the lead actors perilously caught in a speeding train and just after having escaped being burnt alive on a moving train breaking into a song and dance routine "pona usuru vandhudichu ". Yes, "Thodari" is that dumb. Every actors go over the top, starting with Keerthi Suresh. This should be one of the most forgettable performances of her till now including her other language movies. Dhanush just sleep walks through most of the movie with occasional "Sullan"ish recourse. 

Movie's direction is so stupid that most of the CG shots are so manifestly seen on screen and very pathetically done. In the shots where the train is moving forwards, you would expect the hair of the ones standing on train to flow backwards, but in this movie it is just the opposite defying the law of physics. The making is that careless. 

For a thriller of this kind, establishing and sustaining the mood is important. But when you have cartoonish comedy by Thambi Ramaiah and co and idiotic banters between the lead pair that just kills the mood, the end product is such a dumb one.

Bottomline: Dumbest movie of the year.

1/5 

Aandavan Kattalai

My review: Aandavan Kattalai

Manikandan seems to be one of those rare creators who don't know how to make a dishonest movie. In the three films he has made so far none of the movies had anything that can be characterised as contrived, or artificial. He has this knack of taking up a simple knot and weaving a very interesting plot that keeps you hooked to the screen. And another strength of his is the casting and the work he extracts from his cast. In none of his movies do you feel like watching actors act instead you feel like a spectator keeping a voyeuristic view of  real lives unfolding on screen. 

Co-written by Manikandan along with Arul Chezhiyan and Anucharan, "Aandavan Kattalai" is one of the best written movies of the year. A fan of such well written Malayalam movies, this one gave me a feel of watching one of those. That the movie deals with a message that crooked path never succeed, you don't feel even for a second that this message is fed to you. Instead as you leave the theatre you keep ruminating about it and keeps you thinking. And that the whole movie has a breezy, feel good feel with a healthy  undercurrent of humour is a task that even the most established names in the Tamil film industry fail to achieve time and again or never attempt to achieve.  

There are numerous scenes that are gems and keep you cheerful and thinking at the same time. The stretch that deals with finding a house for rent for bachelors in Chennai, the one in the court room where there seems to be more people vying to get divorces that those who are getting married, the casualness with which there seems to be a web of corrupt individuals who cut across various departments who get glued by the brokers or middlemen in dealing with each and everything that seems impossible for a common man to even think of, the list keeps going on and on. 

When was the last time you have a srilankan refugee character portrayed with such dignity and reality without making them a caricature to make political statement. When was the last time you have seen a movie that deals with corruption that doesn't paint these corrupt individuals in black and white. When was the last time you have seen a movie in which the strict straight forward officials portrayed with humanity without compromising on their honesty. When was the last time you have seen amovie that deals with corruption and doesn't end with the protagonist going a long sermon in the end towards the audience. 

Casting is topnotch in this movie in which each and every character is written memorably however minor it may be. The family court judge, the CBI officer, the regional passport officer, the house owner, the old man who fudges signatures, Karmegakuzhali's mom, Sri lankan refugee friend, the fake passport dealer, the counsellors, the advocate and his assistant, the list is endless. Casting for each of these roles are perfect to the Tee and the performances of these actors so effortless and natural. 

Vijay Sethupathy is terrific in an understated role. It has been a long time since one has seen him so casual and natural without having to try prove his acting prowess. Rithika Singh once again vindicates that fact that she is one of the astounding talents to looks out for. Unlike "Iruthi Sutru" this movie doesn't have much for her as far as stimulating her acting prowess is concerned yet she makes her mark in the limited opportunity. Especially watch out for that scene towards the end when Vijay Sethupathy proposes to her and her reactions to that, just terrific. 

Movie gets rounded off with a very supportive back ground score by K and seamless and fluid cinematography by Shanmugasundaram. Manikandan in my view is the next big name to contend with in tamil cinema, who makes pure cinema with content that is both classy and that which strikes a chord with the audience too. I rate him better than other overrated yet talented auteurs like Karthik Subburaj, Vetrimaran, Ram, etc. 

On the whole, "Aandavan Kattalai" is one of the most well made and thoroughly enjoyable movie of the year with a pertinent message for the current society.

Bottomline: Extraordinary cinema

4.5/5