Deiva Thirumagal(Tamil-2011)

As a person who watches a lot of movies, I knew this one was going to be a fairly predictable affair as I've watched the same movie in Hindi(Main Aisa hi hoon-2005, which itself was an unofficial remake of an English movie I am Sam). But the thing about remakes is that it can be a scene to scene copy, or they can keep the essence of the original and make it different than the original). Where this one stands out is the very fact that after a very long time, here is a clean family movie with emotions and a lot of fun sans the usual fights, foreign location songs and especially item numbers. The technical aspects, the characterization and the stellar performances of the cast are the other things that make you watch this movie

Vikram proves his mettle as an actor once again with a stellar performance. His ability to act such roles with perfection is amazing. Whether it was Sethu, or Pithamagan or Anniyan, are the highlights of his career with varied roles and superb performances. He performs this role with a childlike effervescence. The scenes between M.S.Baskar and Vikram where the former asks Vikram, "Mela sollu", and Vikram looks up and repeats what he said previously is a roar. His chemistry with Baby Sara is amazing. Baby Sara looks very cute and has performed very well too. She talking to Vikram, Amala Paul are the scenes to watch out for.


Its good to see Anushka in this kind of a role for the first time. Even though she acts a girl next in almost every second movie(typical heroine role in mass movies) but the fact that she turns into a girl with skimpy and wierd clothes dancing with the hero during the songs is something I never liked(which is the case with most of the female leads). She is very graceful and looks the part. Her act as a lawyer who is desperate for a case and then helping out Krishna(Vikram) along with her team of Santhanam and her other assistant is good. Looking forward to more such roles from her.


Amala Paul doesn't have much to do as Nila's aunt, Shweta. First she misunderstands Krishna and takes Nila away from her and then looking at Nila longing for her father has a change of heart. Her eyes are pretty and for this movie, that's pretty much about it. Let's look at her forthcoming ventures, hopefully she has more to do there. Karthik Kumar as Shweta's fiancee is wasted. He's just there for like 5 scenes in the movie, ok make that 10, but that's the maximum.


Now to the other hero in the movie, a large part of the success of this movie should be attributed to the man who got the most whistles and claps there, SANTHANAM, the most wanted comedian of this moment. Acting with all the leading heroes in their movies and demanding a following on his own because of his performances is amazing. Lawyer suddenly turning into a Tea shop worker scene is simply amazing. 


Story is predictable but screenplay is good. It could've been a little better as the protest ended far too quickly and wasn't that exciting to me as I expected it to be. But that's my only complaint. Cinematography is amazing. The Rain backdrop song between Anushka and Vikram is worth mentioning. The Graphic effects in the Raja song are great too and kids loved it. Music is nice and easy on ears. Melodies are always a yes for me any day over the totally not required raps and the beats.


So, overall, its a movie not to miss...


Go, Watch it....
Rating: 4.5/5

Fast Five- Furious it is...

Hellos after a long time!!

Back with another review of mine after a long time though since the last post.

Just came back after watching Fast Five in IMAX with Shishir Goswami. Met my other buddy Venkat after the movie ended.For someone who hasn't watched the previous movies(except Tokyo Drift a long long time back and don't remember anything), it was a nice enjoyable movie for someone who enjoys action movies.

The plot is thin where Dominic Toretto is helped escape prison and he along with his sister and Ex-CIA agent turned Thief Brian O’Conner plan a heist of $100 Mn from the local drug mafia boss. They assemble their team comprising of various characters appeared in previous instalments plan it. To foil their plans, FBI agent Luke Knobbs from the USA came in and starts hunting for them. Whether they are successful and if yes, how forms the rest of the plot.

Performance wise Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster were good. The rest of the crew have played their part well. Giesel Yashar looks good and she can act too. She and Sung Kang seem to have a great chemistry. Tyrese Gibson can definitely talk and provides the fun quotient to the movie. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a welcome addition to the crew and he was great in his limited role in this movie. He has come a long way since Scorpion Kind and seems to be the only one who has successfully transitioned from in ring competition(WWE) to the silverscreen while the others are still finding their feet. Whether it is a Disney movie like the Gameplan or an action movie like this, he has covered it all.

This is a transition movie as the franchise itself is moving away from only being a Street Racing oriented movie into an Action movie. You see all of it in it, Fast cars, Gun fights, Fist Fights, $100Mn heist etc. Action is first rate. Couple of sequences worth mentioning are Chase sequence over the roof tops, Fist fight between Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel was realistic and cool. The climax chase scene where they pull the vault using the two cars is a highlight too.

The scene in the climax sets up the plot for the next instalment and it is definitely worth looking forward to since that will see Dwayne Johnson coming back to reprise his role.

Verdict: 3.5/5

Aadukalam Review...

Pongal releases are here and this is my first of them. When you have the team of Dhanush, Vetrimaran(Dir), Kishore, Velraj(Cinematography) coming back together after a gap of three years when they gave an amazing movie, Polladhavan(2007), expectations are bound to be sky high. And these guys along with the girls Taapsee(breath of fresh air in Tamil Cinema) and Sindhu Menon did not disappoint at all. It is a heart touching movie. Much like Polladhavan, the movie shows you a couple of scenes happening now and then it cuts back to the past showing you how it reached the current situation.

Rathinavel and Pettaikaran are two seasoned cock fighters, with Rathinavel being a well to do police inspector still indulges in it as its his family game played since generations and Pettaikaran who has been and still is the only one to always defeat Rathinavel. A lot of enmity ensues between these groups because of this as Rathinavel is desperate to get a win. Karuppu is Pettaikaran's prodigy and learns all the tricks from him staying most of the time at his place. Durai is the unofficial financer of this group running a bar in Madurai. There happens a police raid during one of these fights and every one in the Pettaikaran group suspects of Rathinavel doing this as he cannot defeat Pettaikaran. With that suspicion, they refuse to further participate or to play against Rathinavel. And while everyone was running, one associate of Rathinavel steals one of Pettaikaran's roosters, in search of which Karuppu goes and meets Ireene. This leads to him falling in love with her. Rathinavel using his police brain tries to pursuade Pettaikaran to play against him which Pettaikaran refuses bluntly. This leads to the death of one of Pettaikaran's close associates after whose death he wants to hold a tourney to raise funds where the prodigy defies the mentor and goes against his wishes planting the seeds of jealousy in his mentor... What happens next? Does this situation become better or worse, Does he get love of his life? Answers at a nearest theater...

Overall, the movie is brilliantly shot but we do have a couple of complaints, especially with the way the climax is handled, It leaves a person in a confused state of mind. You will get those questions too when you watch the movie. Also, the character of Rathinavel isn't seen in a single shot in the second half.

Technically, brilliant cinematography, background music, yathe yathe song, porkalam song aptly timed in the movie. Dhanush puts in yet another brilliant performance. Last time we saw a six pack performance from Dhanush in a Vetrimaran movie, here he completely steals the show with his innocence, honesty and has played his part to perfection. Taapsee as I mentioned already, is a fresh breath of air in Tamil Cinema, she is very cute, and has played her part well looking every bit of the Anglo girl she was to look very comfortably. She's got a great future ahead. Kishore, as we know is a very good actor and he hasn't disappointed. Another person worth mentioning is Jayabalan, who plays Pettaikaran. He's played the role of a jealous mentor very nicely.

Well, this is one of those few movies I heard claps(including mine during the intermission). Except for the climax, I liked the whole movie. Climax left me wanting for more, may be Aadukalam-2, what say???

Verdict: 3.75/5