Men are all monkeys with a tail in the front

Yes, this was said by an angry, frustrated, dejected woman in the movie on seeing the killings of her fellow Afghanistanis and losing her family in the blood war! I am entitled to use the same because I am agitated on seeing the current state of Tamil Cinema in the hands of communities who are now deciding the fate of the release date of a movie despite being censored who have been given the rights to release a movie and dictate what audience can view the movie. Well, I am against even the censor board for that matter, but now I have to pity on them, well not exactly, ashamed actually as they too succumbed to the group of morons.

This is a serious issue as we have already seen protestors arising from every corner of the streets naming/branding themselves to get an opportunity to see the premiere show and earn themselves some visibility. Very soon, if one wants to get their name registered in the media, leading newspapers, they can follow an easy route and I wouldn’t be surprised on seeing different caste and religion being born based on the movie. The only escape that a freedom thinker (director) can do to release movie is take a movie in a dungeon and release no trailers, no teasers, no press meet, don’t reveal the name and out of the box, come out one day with the release. This cannot happen to Tamil Cinema also known as Kamal HassaR.

Anyway, I am feeling sorry for my fellow Tamilians who are just reading reviews and couldn’t watch the master piece in the theatre and frustrated on hearing the case withheld day by day. Let me get into the movie and I shall try to avoid spoilers as much as I can, so you can be safe to read the review before you watch the movie (if at all).

With this controversy on the cards, it was quite obvious that everyone was so cautious while watching the movie to really understand if at all, there are scenes, dialogues, synonyms, symbolisms in the movie that speak ill about Islamic religion. I swear on Kamal HassaR and of course Tamil Cinema (readers of my review knows when I promise on Tamil Cinema) that there isn’t a single depiction of such portrayal. The plot is the simplest to understand of a Tamil Muslim Raw agent battles to hunt the Afghani terrorists who plans to destroy the U.S. to keep it very simple and clear.

Now on the movie as such, I never went with high expectations, and I was awestruck by the technical aspects of the movie. I don’t know what is AURO and blah blah about these details, but to me, watching those gun fire sequences, the battle between Americans and al-Qaeda is honestly on par with world standards (mind it, I did not say Hollywood). Seriously, it’s terrific and certainly, the best Indian product I have seen so far that has technical brilliance.

The amount of research the man does for the movie is no surprise. When it comes to his direction, one has to start hunting the symbolism in every scene to write a biopsy on the movie. The man has done so much research on al-Qaeda depicting the lives in their country and how the younger generation is taught, preached and practiced terrorism (note that these are Jihads). The shops selling guns, the games played by the kids, the ambition is written by the father, etc., are simply interesting and worth mentioning.

Praising Kamal HassaR on his acting skills is like praising Sachin Tendulkar on his batting skills. But we never get bored on seeing his batting even though crossing hundredth tone and so as Kamal HassaR acting. Every time we see this gifted actor performing a role to the fullest effort, we just end up awestruck with his acting dedication. Starting as a Kathak dancer, he just tickles the audience with his witty dialogues and innocent acting. Later when he transforms, he just makes you bring both your palm together and make you clap till your palm become red. These are the supreme qualities of an artist who deserves more than respect in our state, country.

Now on what’s missing? The movie as such is short for the subject handled and the screenplay could have been more racy especially in the second half of the movie with more scenes on the investigation, just like how we have seen in Vettaiyadu Vilayaadu. But I agree that the genre is slightly different, but still such gripping screenplay will add more race to the screenplay. The background score is not that outstanding in my opinion. The music was far better and cleverly captured at exact intervals. The visuals are really good and of course the technical brilliance stands tall against all other aspects. But the big question is, the 93cr budget is something makes me think again, did the movie really made with such a high budget? May be the technical aspects in the movie would have demanded such a budget, but what you see is what you question.

I just wanted to limit myself with this and I am sure as the movie unfolds in Tamil Nadu, a biopsy will be ready with pigeons ;-)

Kamal in the end has opened the door for the part – 2 of the movie, but those audiences who watched the movie abroad and in other states would have remembered the Tamilians in Tamil Nadu reaction when it is screened in Tamil Nadu.

Verdict – Those who have seen the movie, write the plot 1000 times and paste it on the streets, walls where these morons who object the movie lives, including the Judge because I doubt if he can understand the movie!

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.