Aadhavan - Absolutely Horrible

It has become a pattern in Tamil Cinema to have such stories where the hero, who initially is a goon turns into a good boy with a supporting flashback. Aadhavan too joins the list. With this traditional 'paarambariyamaana' story, KS Ravikumar with the help of Suriya and co, tried something which is NEVER NEW to us.

Suriya, the actor who has seen progressing his star status in the recent past, has also started the same formula followed by other top stars in the field. Too many self praises, favouring punch dialogues, dragging the line up MGR-Sivaji-Rajni-Kamal-?????, etc., Well let's get into the review.

Professional Assassin is our Aadhavan, SURIYA, who is shown immediately with an introduction song with one of the good old dialogue, "UNNA AZHIKKA ORUTHAN PORAKKANAM". Goodness, how long are we going to use this dialogue for the hero introduction??? He has been assigned a project to kill a judge and this happens to be the first target failure in Suriya's career. Suriya takes this as a challenge and enters into Judge's family and tries to kill him is all the story about. Well, there is a so-called suspense in the story, if not, then I would be contradicting that tag 'paarambariyam'.

The judge, late Murali's family will challenge someone to remember the names and the type of relation. I guess, remember, I guess the strength of the family will be close to 30 excluding the National Security Forces who safeguards the family on their vacation. The yesteryer actress, Saroja Devi, is the eldest in the family and her son is Murali and the rest and their relationship??? Even the director didn't bother to explain them as it might waste a length of reel in their introduction. Well, the main item, sorry, the main heroine is also a part of the family, our thaara, yes Nayanthaara. Assuming she is calling Murali as Uncle, we can come to a conclusion that she is not the daughter of Murali. These are small nuances in the movie which will make the audience to identify their relationship. Also seen are around 4 couples in their family. We shall Ramesh Kanna, what are they, who are they, when time permits!

The way Suriya enters into the family blackmailing Vadivelu leaves us a clear picture about some suspence which was very hard to find. Having shown Suriya as a professional assassin and the attempt that he makes to get inside the house and the series of attempts to kill the judge is horrific. But we need to assume that they are a part of the humour track. To be honest, the humour part of the movie is really good and full credit goes to the co-hero Vadivelu. It's probably the best part in the first half except the interval that comes immediately after the first half.

Just before the first half ends, we had a song, I couldn't even remember what the song was? Second half started with a song? Man, you just gave us the interval, why again??? Well, the interval will leave the audience go mad as Suriya breaks the suspense to Nayanthaara and of course the audience will still be clueless whether to believe what Suriya said is true or false!!! Well, it's been quite a while since Suriya has entered into the house, so, there should be something that strikes the actual villian to raise his tempo isn't it?? Yes yes, we never go disappointed. So now, the story breaks further deep as Suriya is almost caught and that is when, Surya unwinds the flashback. Remember, the flashback is actually about the connection between Nayanthaara's birthday & her mom Anu Haasan's death falling on the same day. But the 10 year old computer graphics Suriya makes each and every scene a roll on the floor laughter. Man, why do you need this? Just because your childhood photo is being used to describe your young age, we never asked you to come as a 10 year old boy. Please think something before you do and there are something in the world which is not possible and you must be knowing it or at least now learn.

Moving on to the technical aspects, cinematography is decent enough for this movie. Locations are pretty cool and attractive and makes it look rich. But again, they aren't mandatory thing for this movie. It's not worth spending money to shoot songs in foreign locations and that too places where they never shot any movie. But the attempt should be appreciated and overrall a decent photography.

Editing was strictly OK in the movie. The editor has used all possible effects in the song 'Hasli Pisli' song. Otherwise, the editing was kinda ok in the movie.

Stunts in the movie was horrific. It has become a trademark in Red Giant movies, where the hero keeps flying instead of other modes of transport. The climax fight choreography is absolute pathetic with 0% logic and 100% humour. The first choreography is nothing but the bond choreography with ropes and dupes playing a vital role.

Music, Harris, perhaps the first time, just 2 songs were good in the movie. Both the songs, comes in the second half out of which one is picturised very badly. Vaarayo song was amazing to listen, but horrible to visualize. Hasli Pisli is only the saving soul for his music. The first time ever in the history of Tamil cinema, there is a punch dialogue for the music director. It's been noted that Harris lifts tunes. In order to stop the bad mouthing, there is punch in the movie that says 'lifting tune is not the matter, all we need is a HIT'. BGM is nothing great in the movie. Often an english track is used for stunts, which doesn't elevates the scene at all. It's an average number for Harris.

K S Ravikumar fails to concentrate on the screenplay and he heavily used Vadivelu in the movie who almost occupies equal space in the movie with Suriya except for the songs. Too much of casting is seriously ridiculous and annoying. The same movie could have been moulded into a very good commerical entertainer if he hadn't followed this usual 'Paarambariyam' concept. But the cameo role of KSR and Udhayanidhi Stalin is a tip to the audience that 'Oru Nayaagan Udhayamaagiraan'

Verdict : Save your money

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.