Nanban - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

It is not the first time we had such remakes or rather as others say a successful or a faithful remake. Can't understand what is a faithful remake?? Well, basically there are two things here when it comes to remake. A very popular wholesome entertainer remake like Bommarilu, Pokkiri and a class movie remake just like A wednesday. It's quite obvious here that Shankar preferred the first which is quite a safe bet but a risky one as well because we all know what happened to Sholay. But to put it simple, what Shankar has done is what Raja had done in the past. I am not degrading Shankar here but the considering the films that he has done in the past, he is certainly capable of more than this copy paste thing. But in the end of the day, it's the quality of the final product matters to the audience. In that aspect, Shankar really had cherished.

The Original production '3 Idiots'. Well, first and foremost, 3 Idiots is not an EPIC movie. I would rather say this is an overrated movie. But that doesn't stop the entertainment the movie gave to us. It's a full fledged wholesome entertainer which as Shankar said in the audio release function, will entertain you for the whole 3 hours nonstop. It's quite hard to find out the boring scenes in 3 Idiots which will leave the director who is going to remake the movie unclear on whether or not to cut/remove any portion from the original product. It is also a good gesture that Shankar in the audio release function clearly given full credit to the original script writer of the movie and the outcome of Nanban should be credited to him and not him.

The Blondie

The actor Vijay. Probably the first time, I am using the term ACTOR adjacent to Vijay. With the stereo typed roles that Vijay was doing in the past and the mass that the actor carried from all his previous movies, I guess there isn't a single movie which has done without action sequences. It is indeed an appreciable fact that the actor leaving his mass fan following and gave his full liberal to the director for the movie. I hope this continues in his usual movies as well. The comparison is something you cannot stop and that too for a movie like 3 Idiots which I guess many would have seen. On that note, has Vijay given justice to Aamir? Hmmmm, I would say partially yes. Why partial? I can come in detail on the TUCO part in my review.

The director has not changed anything from the original production. Which is good as well as bad. Good for the people who have seen 3 Idiots (once or twice) will be satisfied that it is a genuine remake. It is very good for the people who haven't watched 3 Idiots and they will be satisfied to the core.

Jiiva, probably the one person, who has tried to be original instead of 'dittoing' his character from 3 Idiots. At nowhere in the movie, with his screen presence, he has given a slightest feel of Sharman Joshi. I would say he is the best cast in the character for Nanban without any doubt.

The Tuco

You enroll all good actors who are capable of doing more or rather have their own style brand. And when you ask them to succumb it becomes artificial to an extent. That's what happened to Vijay, Sathyan and even Sathyaraj. Before watching the movie, I was seeing reviews and comments that these three actors have given their best exceeding the expectations. But, honestly what I felt was they were asked to imitate from their respective characters in 3 Idiots. But I am not trying to say that they didn't do well, but they looked artificial in many scenes. Sathyaraj was pick of the lot where the way he tried to stress 'S' as 'issss' trying to imitate Boman Irani. Initially when he was introduce with the lecture lesson at the hostel, it sounded interesting but when it was moving along, it started a bit annoying. Same goes with Sathyan. His talents are left unused by many directors. This guy is actually capable giving stunning performances. He has done really well in this movie but just because the script is being ripped even he too had to render the same as his character counterpart in 3 Idiots. Had he given his standard way, I felt it would have been livelier and even more entertaining.

Vijay on the other hand, had tried to imitate Aamir Khan but didn't work as expected. We all know the character of Aamir and we all know the capability of Vijay especially in such character. He has given his best in Kushi which is more or less similar character. I am not trying to call the roles enacted by these actors are bad but I am trying to say that the movie would have been even more brisk and entertaining or rather a new look if they were asked to play their natural game.

The Angel Eyes

First character to spoil the sport is Ileana. PERIOD. The runner up is Srikanth. I wonder what made Shankar to pick this guy who is pretty important in the movie because he is the narrator. Basically, he lags in expression and he has got more screen presence where he has to express when he talks to his parents and in the climax. The way Maddy brought the feel is completely missing in Srikanth.

And comes the Legend 'Harris'. Be it his background score or his songs, at nowhere in the movie it synchronizes with the movie. Two of his songs were saved because of the picturization which are 'Asku Asku' and 'Heartiley Battery'.

Verdict

A neat remake of 3 Idiots. If you have not seen 3 Idiots, this movie is a perfect entertainer. If you have seen 3 Idiots (once), this movie is a good entertainer. If you have seen 3 Idiots many times, better to SKIP.

Vaaranam Aayiram - Narrative masterpiece

Very late review in deed, but I waited and watched as many number of time. I can also take the honour of watching this movie the uncut version before the release. Vaaranam Aayiram is a biopic, where it makes a son to refresh the life when his father passed away.

Surya, plays the role of the son as well as the father. I should say, he has done his job fair enough except for the father role, where he did not make it 100%. But the transition from a student of +2 to an army Major was given or shown picture perfect. If you notice the school student Surya, you can probably get an attention to his moustache. Normally at our school, we are left with a thin moustache (poonai mudi). And the instances, where he fights back with the fellow class mate for the girl and getting beatings from him is just a refreshing memorable experience.
Transition from a school boy to a college guy is also shown in a realistic way. A special thanks to the cinematographer Rathnavelu, who has shown Surya with a cool look especially at US. Even in songs, he had made sure that he is a guitarist where he swings his hand often.

Now the depressed Surya, who gets addicted to drug. You should perhaps notice, he has not only portrayed with unshaven face and long hair, but also built some extra pounds and looks a bit bulk. And now the change in his life after saving a kid, where he won the bravery award, which motivated him to join the Army. Again, the transition from a drug addict to an army major.

The same transition starting from a married life to the old life is what portrayed by the father surya. But I would say, it's not as good as what the son had performed. Even the scope of acting and the depth in the character is very minimal. But it's certainly not a bad attempt though, should be appreciated for doing such roles at this age.

Talking about the female cast, Simran has given a performance to her capability. She is no longer fit to be shown as a heroine. I am not at all happy with the way she was shown in Mun Dhinam Paarthaena Song, she was looking very bad and aged woman [:(]. But her performance as an aged woman was appreciable though not a great one. Sameera was catchy and clean, whereas Ramya was as usual hot and humid[;)].
Harris has always been an important contributor to Gautham's movies. VA is no exception. Chartbuster songs. A great picturisation of Adiye Kolludhey, though I am not happy with Sruthi Haasan singing for Sameera, which makes me feel that she is lip singing. Another neat picturisation is the depressed gana number, Anjala song, which had a good choreography striking balance to the lyrics. Last, Anal Mela is actually speaking, a very good melody, but spoiled because of the time the movie ran and the time that the song came. But the BGM is not that great in this movie. Most often, the duet or fav numbers were been used for the BGM both tragedy and happy moments. BGM is something variation in the tempo of the songs used in the movie.
Rathnavelu, the man. Amazing piece of work. Be it the opening cloudy scene of Surya intro in the helipad or the US with just enough space to reveal the purpose or the POVs, he has just excelled. Notice the POVs in the movie. It's just the amazing part in the movie as the narration goes. And if you notice, POVs are meant only for the son Surya as he is the one who is narrating the story. Of course, not all narration part has POVs, only those sequential cuts from the present to the past has the POVs, which indicates the narration. And POVs in this movie is even more powerful as the camera shakes or responds. This can been seen in scenes where Simran pats Surya's head when he returns to India or when Simran keeps Viboothi and blows off the excess from his face.

Now comes the direction piece. Movie is dull, movie is slow, movie is boring in the second half???? I wonder how can one expect a biography to be fast and racy? It's quite obvious that the movie will be slow and dull since it's being a biopic. Why is the transition between each phase of life is so short that it happens swiftly? Again, when the director wants to show the complete life cycle of a man, he cannot focus on each and every phase with a thorough basement or more depth to a particular phase. Frequent usage of english throughtout the movie. I can agree this to an extent, but still, it happens everywhere and most of the family where family members were qualified with some degree. Often, we tend to communicate in english. But still, if it has been reduced to an extent, I believe that it would have reached a few people as well.

A few scenes where he excelled. If you notice the scene where Surya composes a song sitting in his house and his sister comes and asks him from which movie does it come. Surya replies its a brand new composition after 15 years, it's gonna rock the town. If you clearly notice, try to identify what song or rather what's that composition is?

The scene where Surya calls his dad from US to inform that his girl expired, this scene is very natural from both son and the father. When his father is unable to bare, he gives off the phone to his wife, but Surya without knowing that he is speaking to his mom, he still continues to say Daddy. Great piece of direction and performance.

Surya often praises Ilayaraja in this movie then and there, it's quite evident that he is a Raja fan, as he inserts the guitar button in to his jeans tic pocket, you can find Maestro label there. This happens very next to the scene where he sings En Iniya Pon Nilaa Ve song.

Two stages of olden days has been shown in a great contrast. Mundhinam Paarthaena song is in the late 70s and Raja na Raja song is somewhere in the mid 80s-90s, again the transistion to the Madras City is shown perfect.

Verdict : Don't miss it. A great narration makes you rewind your past.