Vaagai Sooda va - A National award winner

After a pathetic Vedi for the first show, we thought we will end up watching Muran for the night show but later because of a friend, we watched Vaagai Soodava and I came to know about the movie called Vaagai Soodava and felt quite difficult to remember this name until I watched the movie. We would have often seen many movies that carry 'for the namesake message' but I don't recollect any recent movie that has taken a very good plot and conveys a message that benefits child labor in India in rural villages.

The story is set back in the 60s, where Vimal goes to a 'pottakaadu' in order to teach the children there so that he gets a certificate which will help him in getting a government job. This is actually the basic plot of the movie from which the director has beautifully taken the story to tackle the characters giving everyone equal share in the screen. The village where Vimal goes is an absolute 60s village where the children were kept illiterate and were asked to cut the bricks where they work for JP, the person who rules these people to work under him as slaves or utilize the illiterate people.

What I liked in the movie is not exaggerating things or deviating from what the director has intended to convey. You have the coin. Hero, Herione, Villain, people who work as slaves and children. Move the coin in such a way that hero and villain meets. First instance, the slaves support the villain unknowingly. Later reveal the super power of the hero. NO, the same happens even in this movie, but the way it was told is awesome. The character of the protagonist is actually to get the certificate which will help him to get a government job as a teacher and hence, the movie revolves around him and focus is being given on that character and what was his motto during that time. Heroine slowly starts to fall for the hero but without telling him her love.

Casting is playing a vital role in many feel good movies these days. This movie is no exception. You just name a character in the movie and each and everyone in the movie were damn apt casted. I never felt anyone being misplaced here and I am seriously not over exaggerating here. So as their acting which comes quite naturally. The children were handpicked by the director I guess. He made them look like real life brick cutters who are from remote parts of Tamil Nadu. Vimal has done a neat job following Kalavaani, an apt 1960 teacher with the style of that period, he looked neat and clean. The heroine is another beauty without makeup but I sincerely hope to see these people with their actual face to see and get surprised.

I never knew Poraale Poraale belongs to this movie, somewhere in the radio in the night while sleeping; I have listened to this song which didn't attract me at that time. Watching it on screen, learn from this song how to shoot a romantic song. The music director, even now I do not know his name and but I suspect this could be his debut film, is packed with talents in him. The background score is adding more value to the movie and its elevating the scenes as needed. Only in some occasions, I slightly feel that the BGM has over used to make you not understand the dialogue; otherwise it is picture perfect music that soothes you.

Art and cinematography adds another list in the good aspects of the movie. The entire movie is shot in a village; I would say approximately 2 or 3 grounds of land with a few huts here and there. Cinematography is particularly good in the songs and gives a good feel especially the night scenes where the lighting is used precisely.

After giving a feel good entertainer in the name of Kalavaani, the director has come with up a hard message driven movie. As I have mentioned it earlier, the movie never was shifted to a different route even a slightest moment and the screenplay was crafted to utmost perfection. The dialogues, acting, casting everything should be credited to the director and more importantly at this period and giving a period movie of early 60s, the director definitely has done a significant job here.

Verdict - Mark my words, it is a clear National award winner.

58th National Award - Is it justified?

I was at work this morning and my colleagues knew that I am a movie freak and one of them asked a close ended question 'Enna boss Aadukalam super la?' That's when I came to know that 58th National awards were announced and I was in complete shock on seeing Facebook pouring with wall posts that it's a clean sweep for Tamil Cinema.

That's something to feel proud being a Tamilian and all these years we were corned by the Bollywood cine industry, where the preference was primarily given to them be it whatsoever. But, I must say there was a slight increase in the attention to the south film industry in the past couple of years where we had seen Bala, Ilayaraja getting National awards which was long time due. But the key question that I had was about Aadukalam which was released in this year 2011 and obviously had censored last year bagged 4 prestigious awards which includes the main category of Director, actor and screenplay.

I had to refer sites in order to get the statistics as I am not regularly following movies being in a different country. A quick view on the deserving candidates movie wise, I could see very minimum numbers. The names include Angadi Theru, Madarasapattinam and Mynaa. Well, I must say Aadukalam is quite lucky have censored last year because as movie, Aadukalam is definitely a better production than the other possible contenders in Tamil Cinema. Now, let's try focusing on the buttering industry Bollywood. I am not a lover of Hindi films; hence, I had asked my friend to have a look at the list of movies released in 2010 and list the movies which is a worthy bet for National Award. Only two movies which he thought were Udaan and Peeply Live. Moving to the industry which is always a dark horse and wins the primary category hands down, Bengali industry, I have seen the movie Autograph which is a remarkable movie involving the plot of remaking the Master of director Ray's Nayak. That's definitely a worthy contender. And not to forget our closest state Malayalam industry, which had won the award for the best movie 'Adhaminde Magan Abu'. That again is a neat and clear winner. Just like how the award for the Best Actor was shared, I expected the same in the Director and screenplay category as well. The sad part is that if you search for this movie, all you get it the recent details on the National Award that it won and you can't even find the movie poster online.

Dhanush, a national award actor. 50-50 choice to accept to be honest. Leaving aside the tamil industry for the year 2010 as I earlier mentioned the term LUCK factor, there were arguably good performance in other industry. Paresh Rawal, Prasenjit Chatterjee and of course Salim Kumar had an edge over the performance of Dhanush in Aadukalam.

There is a balancing factor that 'Thenmerku Paruva kaatru' was recognized nationally. This movie went unnoticed by many and now you will see leechers and seeders hunting the movie from the torrent portal for sure. On the whole, it's a good sign and clever message to the nation that there is a fantastic talented industry in South when it comes to Film making.

Kanchivaram

Plot : A story of a common man caught by the forces of the society he live in and between the conflicting idols and individual dream.

The film is supposed to be based on an true incident happened during the peroid of independance. From the history, it tells us that during the time of independance, weavers at the silk city protested against their work lord to increase their wages and also some welfare for them monetary wise.

Priyadarshan picks this plot and mingles a story of a common man, Vengadam's (Prakash Raj) dream and it's consequence. I do not want to reveal the story anywhere. He dreamt big and how he manages to fulfil his dream and what path he choses and in what situation he overcomes are the key areas where the director proves.

To talk about the Camera, Thiru, has handled camera beautifully. In a few movies which showed the yesteryear, they were brilliant, but this one has become a master piece and benchmark for others. Of course, the art involved in the movie plays a vital role in this section, but you need to appreciate the lights handled by Thiru. He gave us a fresh and appealing 40s. Be it the rainy travel in the bus or the rich landlord's house or the city temple or the regular streets and the houses. Thiru should get an internation accolade for this brilliance.

Music and the BGM is simply apt and remarkable and perfect for the movie. When Thamarai, Prakash Raj's daughter is born, during the usual rituals, there will be a song and the same song will be tuned different for the climax which gets us goosebump. BGM too is outstanding for the movie. It had a meaning for the situation where it was used.

Art is another brilliant factor in the movie. They have concentrated heavily not to make even a single mistake with respect to the 40s style. I should say they have WON.

Priyadarshan, the man behind all the work, has done a remarkable job. The pace he takes us throughout the movie is excellent. Excellent continuty to the script. A special mention needed for the dialogues and the slang. Some noteworthy slang which is quite typical in those days are
ethana naal pa vidupu (holiday)
pattalam(military) vendaamya

Prakash raj's acting needs not explanation. After Iruvar, I just had a feeling that he has acted after Iruvar. Amazing man. Especially in scenes where he tries to convince his co workers to satisfy his greed and climax needs a special mention. I can even take a bet, the climax will make you feel the lump on the throat.
I REQUEST MEMBERS NOT TO REVEAL THE SCREENPLAY OF THE CLIMAX
Of course, other cast, Sherya Reddy, Thamarai and others have done their job neatly.

I am just waiting for the movie to release.

Verdict : Good things happens at right time, Kanchivaram is too late. A MUST WATCH for cinema lovers.