Kazhugu - Only 'Story' is missing

"Wow Munnar again after Mynaa!" was the reaction after seeing first half. Those tea estates, misty mountains very interesting and new characters of those taking out dead bodies of people who have committed suicide by falling into the ghats......... in fact the start of this movie was far more promising than Mynaa. But unfortunately the most important requirement for a movie, i.e. story was not there resulting in boring 2nd half.

Hero Krishna Sekhar, I am seeing him for the first time (He has done few child and hero roles before). Looking like director Vishnuvardhan photocopy (of course he has to be :P) but in some angle he also looks like villain Daniel Balaji. So he has some scope for doing villain roles. Apart from appearance, he is a very promising actor; brilliant performance in this movie. He is going to get lot offers.

Bindhu Madhavi was not very promising like Amala Paul of Mynaa (sorry but I some how feel like drawing comparison with Mynaa). Thambi Ramaiah and Karunaas are strong pillars of this movie. Jayaprakash, for a change is a little more rougher villain in this movie. 

Cinematography by Sathya is the best part of this movie. One should watch this movie in theatre at least for his camera work. Of course tea estates and western ghats will appear beautiful. But the kind of 'close to natural' lighting which he has used gives a great feel. Good work boss!

No typical flashy or catchy Yuvan songs. Paathagathi and Aathadi Manasu dhaan are numbers which will slowly get into us. Aambalaikkum Pombalaikkum and Vaadi Vaadi are not forced kuthu numbers but much needed for the situation. Even BGMs were good. So overall 'Music for Movie' by Yuvan.

Director Sathyasiva is definitely a good technician and movie maker. If he had concentrated a little on the story and gave an interesting 2nd half, this movie would have gone into trend setters list. Now all the blood and violence without any story is unfortunately pushing it to 'headache movies' list

Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Eppadi - Kadhal Padam Eduppadhu 'Ippadi'

Movie industry usually follows a trend. Even though 'not following trend' is a formula in current Tamil film industry, we still feel a trend which is NOT taking 'out and out youthful enjoyable love story'. Of course most of the movies are weaved with love thread but no out and out love story. Director Balaji Mohan might not have consciously tried to fill the void. If he had, he might have taken a 'usual' love story and would have got criticism that it was nothing different from 80s or 90s love story. He might have thought of taking a cool movie presenting the current love life and he has hit the target perfectly. Even the advice part of the movie was within limits and catered in a light and digestible manner. Nothing was over-dose. I salute man, what a refreshing and sensible movie!

Cast....Before or after seeing the movie, I couldn't think of any one other than Siddarth and Amala Paul. Siddarth is already a proven actor for these kind of roles. But what has to be even more appreciated is his wise decision to coproduce this movie along with Nirav Shah.

Amala Paul have already made her presence felt through her earlier movies and this movie has made her also a proven actor. From now on, I am rest assured that there is no looking back for her at least for the next few years.

Arjun (role as Siva) is responsible for most of the laugh busters. Thank you man :)

Suresh...Panner pushpangal paiyan ipdi pannikutti aagittengale! sorry no offense meant. Welcome back Suresh! Hoping to see you more in big screen.

Nirav Shah is always good in cinematography and will he let down his own movie. Very fresh and colorful camera work!

Lastly few words about the most important contributor for this movie. It is music director Thaman. I would rate music of this movie as the best of Thaman. On initial hearing, songs were good but were not catchy as his songs used to me. But when we hear them with the movie, wow! The songs have lifted the movie to great level. Good job man.

Overall, don't miss this movie. I am going to see it at least one more time.

Dhoni - Prakashraj Not Out

Every family (especially middle class) has been facing lot of difficulties because of the current education system (fees, tuition, peer pressure) and the difficulties are just increasing day by day along with added burdens due to increase in prices of essential commodities. So this movie is a need of the hour.

Appreciations to the original Marathi movie Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho, thanks to Prakashraj as a producer and director for presenting this concept in a very realistic manner and SALUTE to actor Prakashraj for showcasing such a brilliant performance. Scene in which he cries and expresses his grievances in Neeya Naana show is enough to tell about his acting excellence!

Movie revolves around Akash Puri and he has contributed accordingly. Radhika Apte was a treat to watch. Very subtle acting. Others were typical duet movies cast. Nasser was perfect as usual!

There were lip synch issues in some scenes. In the scene where Prakashraj meets CM, the actions (happens in background, need special attention to spot) of surrounding cameraman were school drama kind of amateur. Hope Prakashraj would have noticed them on screen and rectify in his future directions.

Finally comes the anchor of the movie Ilayaraaja. Of course, Prakash Raj is the flashy not out batsman of this movie but it would have not happened without the support batting of Isaignani. Even without giving separate ears to BGM, you will strongly feel how Raaja has elevated some scenes to great levels. Vaangum Panathukkum was pictured so well and synching so much with the movie that it scores better than musically better (in my view) vilayaatta padagotti. Thaavi Thaavi in Raaja's voice is a soul touching number and the same song was even more effective at the end of the movie.

Marina - Collection of Humor, Emotional and few mundane "Scenes"

Marina beach has seen and is seeing so many visitors. There should be no Thamizh film maker who has not been to Marina, still it occurred only in director Pandiraj's mind to make a movie with Marina as base; good thought! May be it is Angadi Theru which gave him the inspiration to make a movie about life of people in a Chennai location. Feel wise, emotional scenes of Marina is somewhat similar to Angadi Theru.

When it comes to Humour, Pandiraj scores high like he scored for Pasanga; laugh busters spread across the movie. He is the best among all in showing the life of 'boys'. He can definitely take Pasanga Series. Sarcasm about modern girls is also shown in a realistic and fun-filled manner through Sivakarthikeyan-Friend of Sivakarthikeyan-Oviya.

Marina doesn't have a story line and that is what which makes it stay away from the league of Pasanga, Angadi Theru etc. Marina boys, beggar thaatha, singer uncle, Sivakarthikeyan-Oviya pair... all have their own stories and good scenes associated with those stories but they were not weaved together properly.

'Pakkada' Pandiyan is the protagonist and he has done a very good job. This guy has a big future in his film career. So are the performances of other boys.

Sivakarthikeyan is not the same as he appears in TV shows. He has done the role perfectly without personal influence. In one of the songs, he looks good in clean shave; some resemblance with Vaibhav Reddy. We  have to wait for '3' release to predict anything about his film career. So far so good! Oviya fits perfect for this 'light'a pasikkudhu' role :)

Cinematography by Vijay is commendable, especially in competition scenes. Few elevated shots of Marina beach would have been great.

Good debut by Music Director Girish. Vanakkam Vaazha vaikkum Chennai is a big hit, even the other songs are good and sink well with the movie. 'Life in Marina' and 'Marina Theme' used as BGMs definitely lifted those scenes.

Overall it is a very good entertainer by Pandiraj.

Vettai - Ottai Masala Tupperware

Let me first decipher what is that "Ottai Masala Tupperware". I called it as 'Tupperware' instead of satti/dabba because the concept of a timid person being police and his brave younger brother acting on his behalf is kind of new like a Tupperware. 'Masala' should be pretty clear. If you are a masala lover then this formula movie (heroes intro song, heroines intro song, 2 romantic songs in between, finally 1 kuthu song followed by climax and action scenes spread across the movie) might be a complete entertainer. Why is it 'ottai'? I am referring to the logical flaws, of course it is obvious in a masala movie.

Madhavan definitely makes us laugh (though not a laugh buster). He is very good as a timid police officer. But in the 2nd half when he turns into a real tough cop, he appears as a 'comedy piece' instead of 'terror piece' except for the "Enakke shutter'a?" dialogue. If the 'thoppai' he has developed is intentional, then it is fine!

This is an important movie for Aarya. He has touched his border of being an action hero without losing the lightness which is expected from him. He was interesting both in the lighter and action scenes. Hope he would have realised his limits and wil not try to be a mass hero from the next movie and ruin like many Thamizh heroes.

Sameera Reddy is in her fade-out phase. Slowly she will become heroe's elder sister, aunty and gone forever. On the other hand Amala Paul in her fade-in period. This movie has given her lot of scope as a full fledged heroine compared to her earlier movies like Mynaa, Deivathirumagal. She with Aarya form a good pair.

Villains in this movie were not irritating and at the same time not very different from usual.

It should have been a disappointment for Yuvan fans. Kattipidi was ok and Pappappa is a decent foot tapping number but none of the songs were "catchy" according to Yuvan standards.

It is director Linguswamy's "another" movie but definitely better than Paiya. If he satisfies his target audience, then we can definitely tell he is doing good. Is he satisfying? I don't know because I am definitely not his target :)

Nanban - A neat remake

Will Nanban be very different from 3 idiots? Did Shankar add any value to the original? Most importantly, did Vijay screw the character done by Aamir?

NO is the reply for all of them. Yes Nanban is a scene by scene repetition of 3 idiots, but that is why it is called a remake. 3 idiots is a movie which can be seen any number of times and it is definitely a good experience to see the same rendered different way in our language (instead of seeing 3 idiots with subtitle).

Vijay is PERFECT! (Mind you I am also a Vijay hater just like most of those reading this because of his many meaningless movies) I would say that even the so called soft role of him in 'Sachin' was over-acting. This is the best simple acting of Vijay after REALLY long time. He never appeared different from the movie as he used to be. He did nothing more than what the important character of 3 idiots script should do. Good man!

Srikanth is another actor in my hate list and that guy is also good in this movie; all in the hands of director. Jeeva was awesome and natural as usual!

I feel that Ileana belongs to "extreme slim" case ;). Elumbum tholumaa irukka but of course she has precisely replicated the cute role of Kareena.

Omi Vaidya (3 idiots) had set a high benchmark and it was actually tough task for Satyan but he did meet it brilliantly. In my opinion, he was the best of Nanban. I laughed more for 'Karpazhithaar' when compared to 'Balaatkaar'.

Satyaraj was appearing like a 'over acting headache' in trailer but I was completely wrong. He was fabulous. Experience speaks!

Manoj Paramahamsa's camera was aesthetic and pleasing. Those elevated views of Pamban bridge, tea estates were magnificent. Frames were fresh!

Harris Jayaraj has done exactly what is needed. He being known as a Copy (or to put it decent Inspire) King has given an almost original songs. Nalla Nanban is of course m favorite but I personally liked all the songs. BGMs were neither out-standing nor standing-out. There were enough silence which itself is a good sign.

Remaking 3 idiots was a risk (that too with a hyped hero like Vijay who is sunk in image) but director Shankar didn't appear to have taken that pressure. He was cool and clear. He should have definitely felt relaxed while taking this movie after a painstaking Endhiran. A well written and established script was in his hands and he just had to present it for a different set of audience. I can bet, not many can do that but Shankar didn't disappoint.

Overall, Nanban is a neat and best remake of 3 idiots!

Veppam - Tasty but non-crispy Chips

With the kind of expectation Joshua Sridhar had created with his songs (esp Mazhai Varum Ariguri) and Photon Kathas banner (we may mock at Gautham but his name is definitely a value add at least with respect to expectations) this movie had good basement for a hit.

But director Anjana didn't build an aesthetic building on that basement. She had just built something mundane. When it comes to Chennai gangster stories there are many benchmarks. After seeing movies like Aaranya Kaandam which was cool and at the same time high-class presentation of gangsters, Veppam was just looking ordinary.

Though there weren't any spectacular shots (which in my humble opinion is not mandatory. Camera shouldn't disturb the screenplay), it was the pleasing visuals which helped the movie get going. Good work by Cinematographer Om Prakash.

Naani has an inspiring look. He is young but at the same time doesn't have childish personality like Santhanu (S/O Bhagyaraj) or Adharva (S/O Murali). Nothing to tell about his acting skills since he didn't have scope to showcase that in this movie.

Karthik Kumar has done a decent support role again. But it is not his career-breaking role though his role had all the needed importance. His death in the movie doesn't create much impact.

Nithya Menon is another homely (and bubbly) arrival to Thamizh cinema. Her role in both 180 and this movie is quite good. If she don't take the wrong decision of doing glamor roles, she has opportunity to get good roles

Bindhu Madhavi was looking like a real call girl. Sorry to say that but that's how I felt. This itself might be an appreciation for her acting in this movie.

Amma ji role is supposed to be serious like Sorna akka (Dhool) but it didn't create any impact. Jothi character was good and so was the Bai character (though he appears in only couple of scenes). It would have not been a bad choice to have swapped Bai and Amma ji's characters.

Balaji (brother) character (done by Muthukumar) was given too much hype since the plot started but he had a low profile right from beginning to end. Gautham Menon's voice for him was not a good choice. Gautham has a unique voice and it didn't blend with actor Muthukumar's acting.

I think it was the brother character which the director didn't handle properly. If she has brought in intelligence through that character, the movie would have been another crispy gangster movie like AK. Just because she was convinced with some casual screenplay, even the taste she had added became non-significant. Even though tasty, who will prefer eating non-crispy chips?