2.0

Misses #Sujatha, the genius story teller and sci-fi author!

#Shankar is a professional who doesn’t compromise on budgets. But how did he think the storyline was strong enough to hold all the VFX 3D extravaganza?

Can Indians do an Avatar or Avenger kind of spectacular show? Of course, that’s why we have Shankar kind of directors doing 2.0 kind of films.

When Endhiran was released, I felt good that there is some science behind #Rajini’s super hero acts. Loved it every bit. 2.0 looks like a (meaningless) extension to it. That is all!

Message about how we need to create an eco-friendly environment to human beings and other creatures around alike, is important and good. With some semblance to his earlier movies like #Anniyan in terms of revenge, the storyline still isn’t creating that deep an impact. Moreover, does it need so much spend? End doesn’t justify means!

#AkshayKumar as an ornithologist has done very well. His body language is commendable. The dubbing for him fits his character to the T.

Thankfully #Amy is not what I was fearing her to be - Rajini’s love interest. Relief!

#ARR saves the day with his electronics magic tools!

Instead of watching a regional-dubbed Avengers, Tamil audience can now watch a totally “Made in TN/India” brand VFX movie with 2.0!

I’m now worried what if 3.0 happens with that last scene playing a kind of segue! God save us!!

Sarkar

I’m guilty. For as long as I’ve been eligible to exercise my vote, I have not done so one single time. In the next elections, I will dispense my duty as a responsible citizen of republic India.

For those of you who share the same sentiment of guilt, watch Sarkar just so that you make a similar vow.

Message is that much. But as always, the charmer #Vijay, conveys it with a lot of fanfare. Love his antics. Guess he is one true entertainer. His dance movements are so graceful.

Storyline has made good use of the social media fever and influence on the youth and old, all alike.

IMHO, such strong messages, especially for the masses, coming from youth icons like Vijay, will go a very long way in our kind of state/country. If all the masala items & illogical nonsense are removed, it would be more like a boring documentary.

If you wonder why I have not touched upon #KeerthySuresh, c’mon! I do not want to insult that performer any more. The injustice that #ARMurugadoss has done on even bringing her to such abysmal levels of performance is enough! Keerthy - do not come down from your pedestal. You are our evergreen #Mahanati.

#Varalaxmi and #Radha Ravi had more to do than Keerthy. Varalaxmi is good but someone should mentor her. Having a serious (chubby) face all the time, doesn’t make up for great acting.

How I wish Sundar Pichai could do offscreen, what Sundar Ramaswamy did onscreen! 😂

Good entertainer, Guys!

Parierum Perumal

After hearing some good reviews about this movie, finally found time to watch it over the weekend.

Sheer brilliance in simplicity. The plot is a tricky subject. Actually there are 3 aspects to the plot. While 2 aspects are seen in many films of this genre, the 3rd is something that we blessed human beings would have never thought or imagined about. Kudos to the script writer and director #MariSelvaraj for bringing out that aspect. Parents are parents whatever their jobs are! Very touchingly told and I would have given out a huge sob and bawled over when this 3rd aspect was brought to light in the theatres. Heart wrenching is the right description.

#Kathir has done very well. Emoted appropriately in each and every situation. Good body language and that impish smile is something that makes him look like that innocent boy next door.

Casting is perfect for every role but for the heroine #Anandhi. A duskier complexioned girl with a much better Nellai accent would have been better.

#YogiBabu has done full justice as far as his performance goes. Just that I am unable to accept him as an 18 year old student.

#SanthoshNarayanan, take a bow! Rustic music and apt bg score.

Overall, a touchy subject told in a very bold but subtle manner. I am still not out of the impact that this movie has created!

Padatha poi theatrela paaru de!

‘96

How many times I tell myself not to get carried away by the hype? I have never learnt my lesson.

Yes, #VS is one of my favourites. Yes, #Trisha is not one of my favourites. Yes, Romance is one of my favourite genres. But what could have been crisply told in less than 120 minutes was dragged and dragged and dragged for close to 157 minutes!!! In fact when Trisha finally says she wants to spend some more time with VS, I felt like shouting, “Please do whatever you want, but spare us!”

Good casting of the junior roles, especially Devadarshini’s! VS is as always but as always his dialogue delivery lets you down. Trisha - of all her movies, I liked her in this one. Since VS is not a chatty character, somehow there is a feeling of the story on his side being incomplete.

We need a lot of patience to sit through this slow paced, unfulfilled, clean romance!

Varathan

Simple story. An everyday happening for many women even today. Very effectively portrayed. The entire movie of 130 minutes had no dull moment. Each and every character felt so real.

Doubt if any other hero would do such a role. That is where #FahadhFaasilsells & shines. Even in the scenes where any other actor would have shown emotions putting every face muscle to task, Fahadh masters it all with just the aggression in his eyes. Remarkable!

Every woman would get wild with such a useless but loving husband. So can totally understand the wife’s emotions. #AishwaryaLekshmi as the young wife has cracked it. She has displayed the right levels of frustration and anger at whatever is happening around her. Her wrath and helplessness have been captured very well.

Directed by #AmalNeerad, the genre is “survival thriller”. Music by #ShusinShyam, gives the chills at the right places. We kind of guess what’s going to befall the characters. But the way in which the story is told is so simple and gripping.

No melodrama or cinematic privileges. That’s where Mallu movies excel. They make it soooo real. Watch it to believe it!

Imaikka Nodigal

It’s more than a week since I watched this movie #ImaikkaNodigal. Had to convince myself to pen these lines.

In the name of twisting the tale, the story/script writer has twisted it soooo much, that the audience is left wondering if they are sitting in a high-twist yarn factory! And the script seems to have been evolved as an after-thought scene after scene. Instead of bringing us to the edge of our seats, it was creating a feeling of boredom. It was tiring as the movie unreels with the so-called twists. In such thrillers, what’s the need for romance and duets? Story (and Dialogues) by Pattukottai Prabhakar. And the movie’s screenplay is by the director, Ajay. Huh!!!

Nayantara & Atharva have done their best.

Anurag Kashyap - he was so irritating. I mean, there’s a difference between “performing” to irk the audience and just irking the audience with one’s presence on screen. Anurag falls into the second category. Wish I could have walked out of the theatres whenever he appeared.

#VijaySethupathi - the audience wakes up only for his 10 minutes cameo. He has a mass fan following for sure. Severe hooting and whistling for every dialogue he utters. Want him back as the VS in Sethupathi kind of films - trimmer and smarter - even if we have to see him only for 10 minutes on the screen.

Overall - could have given a better treatment to the script and made it “Imaikka Nodigal” for the audience as well! Lost opportunity!!

Kolamaavu Kokila

#KolamavuKokila

Never intended to watch this movie. Thought it might be some boring stuff. I was pleasantly surprised that it was not only a good movie but also had me in splits for most part.

The movie opens to a slow pace with some dumb cracks here and there. Just as my doubts were soaring, the sudden turn of events and the non-stop pace after that, make this film a worthy watch.

Other than Nayan, Saranya and Yogi Babu, not many known faces which adds to the reality touch. Weird faces and characters make the movie so next door. No glam. No sham. No item numbers. No dishyum dishyum. It is black humour. But I love humour in any colour. Laughed so much that my head starting hurting.

#AnbuThaasan - what a find! His hysterical love for sweetheart leaves the audience laughing hysterically whenever he appears. This guy will go a long way!

Next to #AandavanKattalai, this is one good movie for Yogi Babu. He has done full justice. #Saranya rocks! Certain things about her ailment and the way she behaves are not believable. But ok to ignore all this for the kind of entertainment that the movie provides. Saravanan has a small but effective role. Well portrayed!

Guess #Nayan’s performance is overrated. Her expressions are good. But why does she behave like the #Kadhambari character in #NannumRowdyDhan. IMHO, she could have done much better.

Music by #Anirudh is good in parts. In some places it is unwanted and jarring.

#NelsonDilipkumar - debutant director???? Wow! A very delicate subject handled with a lot of finesse and class direction and scripting. Kudos Sir!

Overall - worthy of a second watch (so we pick up on the lines we lost while laughing) 😂

Koode

#Koode

Together. Powerful messages. When all is well, the brother loves his sister. When situation arises, will that love continue or would that become a point of frustration and helplessness? We have watched sibling affection in many movies. This one in Koode is at a different level. 

Story (Sachin Kundalkar) and Screenplay (Anjali Menon) hold us to our seats without one dull moment. Anjali has also directed the movie. She’s just good at portraying relationships. She makes us misty-eyed now and then. She brings that lump in our throats and kindles our own memories of our siblings. The slowness of the movie is never felt. As a matter of fact, we end up liking the pace. 

Cinematography by Littil Swayamp. So soothing to the eyes and mind. Marvellous job! Music by Raghu Dixit. It’s the background score that adds the desired effects to the pace of the movie. 

#Prithviraj has always been one of my favourite actors. His subtle yet strong emotions with hardly any dialogues is pure power-packed performance! Wish all girls had such a doting brother!!

#Nazriya - she is magical. Fits the bubbly role to the T. But her characters in her earlier movies have been more or less similar. High time she takes some intense characters. 

#Parvathy - intense, as always! Loved her portrayal. 

All the characters are perfectly cast. No mismatch. How in heavens did they find such younger versions for Prithviraj and Parvathy! Absolutely and strikingly resembling the stars. 

Overall, after a few months, yet another touching Mallu movie! Don’t miss it!

Nadigaiyar Thilagam

Do you love watching good movies? Are you a fan of Indian regional movies that were released between the ‘50s & the ‘70s? Have you adored the black & white epics? Do you still think those were the golden days of Indian celluloid? Do you still fascinate the graceful women who portrayed simple and tough roles equally impressively, who looked like angels even in  black & white contours, who did not have references and encyclopaedia or Googles and YouTube or Wikipedia to look up to learn the nuances of acting? Do you want to relive all of these in a span of 180 minutes?

Watch #Mahanati (Telugu) or #NadigaiyarThilagam (Tamil). Watch history being recreated. Watch how technical movies of those years have been in spite of technology itself not being so advanced. Watch how Telugu filmmakers have always been advanced in movie making not just in the recent Bahubali but ever since the 50s in Mayabazar.

This is one movie that gives you the experience of watching many legendary old movie clippings all in one. Period film and hence a huge challenge as always with such films. Absolutely stunningly made. Every detail is attended to. Art Director - #Avinash, brings the old Madras of the 50s straight thru to 80s right in front of our eyes. The roads, studios, buses, trams, rickshaws, jhutkas, telephones, radios, TV sets - every single prop is remarkably recreated. Kudos to #IndrakshiPattnaik, the costume stylist. Perfect costumes including small details in the costumes including those that of bystanders and passers by, let alone for the main casts. Make up and hair do, especially for the lead casts, fabulous job!

#KeerthySuresh - take a bow, Lady! Plum role 🤢 Savithri was one of the bests in the field. In fact, even till date, there are not many performers who can pull off the array of roles that she has brought out in those times. Almost each of her blockbuster roles were recreated by Keerthy. What a huge risk she has taken! The best part is, the risk is rewarded amply. Keerthy does not just look Savithri. Keerthy has lived Savithri in every frame of the film.  I had goosebumps seeing her on screen replicating Savithri’s scintillating performance in Maya Bazar! It felt Keerthy was obsessed with Savithri’s spirit, if that was possible. Watch it to believe it.

#Dulquer - tricky role. It’s the kind - “damned if you did, damned if you don’t” types. Finely essayed by Dulquer. He has done it so neatly and perfectly. He oozes romance and aptly recreates the magic that Gemini once did! His subtle portrayal in some places adds to the weight of the scene.

#KotagiriVenkateswaraRao, editor - marvellous job of switching between colour and black & white. Still leaves me awed!

#AshwinNag - one needs a lot of conviction to do such films. The director has loads of it. Could have been more careful in representing some facts without dramatising or adding fictional elements for commercialism. Casting of Samantha is a disaster. And the person who dubbed for her in Tamil, adds to the irritation. But these can be tolerated only because his focus and output of the mainstream was terrific. Astounding job!

Do watch in theatres and live the golden era, yet again!

102 Not Out

How interesting could a story be when only 3 men, 2 of which are beyond 70 (or more), are featured in it? Dry? Sleepy? Boring? Nope. All credits to the story teller (Saumya Joshi) and director (Umesh Shukla) for making this “102 Not Out”, as interesting, emotional and funny, as they could. And yes it is so relevant to today’s times. 

Amitji - what a phenomenon he is! The scene in which he narrates the way his bahu dies, is so touching. His dialogue delivery, expressions, body language and every aspect of his performance is so remarkable! I am sure this will go as one of his best performances till date. 

Rishi Kapoor has played along very well. The beautiful chemistry between them makes the audience smile to themselves and also laugh at a few places. 

The 3rd character is also fitting in so well. Jimit Trivedi - Is he a theatre artist? Checked Google. Of course, he is! If you know what I mean, we can understand what he is made of from just this one movie. Subtle but strong performer! Kudos. 

No glamour. No lady cast just for that purpose. No song and dance. It is just a “real” life story. 

Overall, a must watch for every Indian. I now feel that I must have taken my mom out more boldly than fearing her poor health all the time. But hey! One of the conditions laid down in the story is not to worry. So let me try! 😊

Wishes, wishes!

The person who made my dream come true - my mother! But not for her broad mindedness, her grit to convince my staunch, orthodox father, her unconditional and selfless love for me, I could not have possibly imagined my wedding with Jayan, my sweetheart! She stood by me like a rock in every life-changing decision that I took and blessed me wholeheartedly for all success, always! My special days never start until I get to hear her wish me. Wish she was around to wish!

Sleep Talking!

Sleep talking

The whole extended family used to gather around when my mother occasionally decides to take an afternoon nap. As she slips into deep slumber, my uncle would ask her, “Manni, where did you keep the left over Upma?”  After a few seconds my mother would blabber in her sleep, “I kept it in the bureau”. And all others sitting around would chuckle. Then the next question. “Where is the new dress?”  She would say, “ Check the fridge”. Another round of chuckles. 

These kind of Q&A were a regular feature in our family when we were children. And once she wakes up we would narrate the whole thing and she would also laugh with us without taking offence of being teased. What a sport!

Much later when Parkinson’s took over, she would imagine many things and say that there are people waiting outside our house, police has come to investigate, press is also waiting, some burglar in the house, someone trying to hit her or kill her, so on and so forth. My brother and family (including the children) would play along and make her feel comfortable every single time she went off into these hallucinations. 

The last few days of hers’, she would talk about my brother arguing with my hubby. She would imagine that The Lord’s procession is on its way and she asked me to get her ready quickly.  She saw things which we did not see. She talked to people who were long gone. In our stupid hopeful minds, all the irrelevant talking and babbling of hers’ were interpreted as hallucinations of Parkinson’s.  We did not think it could be her memory slipping back and forth. She answered a few questions correctly. But when quizzed about what she had for breakfast, she told the doc, “2 puris with sugar and curd rice”. And went on to tell why sugar and why not any potato dish for the sides. In reality she had with much struggle had eaten hardly 2 idlis. In fact I joked with her asking her if the idlis I made tasted like puris! On a different day, she would have laughed at my wit. But this time it struck her that she indeed had idlis that I had fed her and then fell silent. 

Memories, thoughts, ideas, imaginations, creativity - formed the basis of her last few days of sleep talking! Something that we teased her for, became the reason for our tears!! When will I know what she actually went through in her mind!

I am alright!

I am alright!

This is what my mother said whenever we asked her, “How are you, ma?” 

Even as a child, I recall how many times my mom had to get hospitalised either because she was dehydrated or anemic. In those times, we didn’t realise the gravity of the poor health of our parents. We were so much in oblivion and to ourselves. We knew that she will soon be doing her 18 hour chores. When we heard her respond to people checking on her health, she would always say, “I am alright!”  For a 10th Grader, her accent in English and her style of saying that with conviction, will even make the doctor attending on her think, “Does she really have a problem!”

As we grew to be teenagers and college-goers, we did not have the time to ask her how she was. Children are selfish. They don’t realise what their parents have to go through to see them achieve their goals. She did fall sick but since we were sure she will be “alright”, we had no worries. 

Time flew! We all got married off and went our ways. My brother and she lived a simple & peaceful life  in Mumbai. She found a simpler daughter-in-law who remained her biggest blessing all her life. What we daughters did not know was how much my mom missed her hubby who she had lost to kidney failure even when he was just 58! We thought she had a peaceful life with my brother and was strong to tide over any grief. When we used to call her rarely and ask about her well-being, the same response, “I’m alright!”

Six years ago she came back to Chennai with my brother and family and stayed only a couple of kms away from me. She was affected by Parkinson’s and we did not know what was in store for us. But every 6-8 months she had some health challenge and was admitted to the hospital, she would always smile and say, “I’m alright!”

The first time in all my memory of her, she never said, “I’m alright” was when she had decided to leave this world. A few weeks back she had a bout of low sugar episodes. She got hospitalised. She was in the hospital for 6 days exactly. I tried asking her in many different ways how she’s coping. Not once did I hear her say, “I’m alright!”  I knew intuitively that this is ominous. It has never happened. Something is wrong. And all my fears were justified when the doctor declared her dead on 1st of April. She did not fool us by saying she’s alright. She did not deceive us by giving false hopes. She knew she was NOT ALRIGHT. When will we see her again and ask her, “How are you, ma?”

The light of my life!

Bright red bindi on her forehead. Tinkling, gleaming eyes. Diamond nose-rings shining on her beautiful, sharp nose. Well structured teeth always smiling. Simple saree clad. Neatly combed hair, though scanty, made into a nice bun. Active and hyper active are the only two states that we have seen of her until her last few days. 

Super independent. Boss. Coach. Mentor. Problem solver. Lyricist. Vocalist. Veena player. Composer. Music Teacher. Daughter. Sister. Wife. Daughter-in-law, Sister-in-law. Mother. Grand Mother. Cook. Washerwoman. Cleaner. 

One of my deep rooted fears got busted on 1st of April. One of my many plans worked well. 

Giving up opportunities outside India was more to be with our parents and siblings. When parents aged, my conviction to continue our stay in India/Chennai increased. But as luck would have neither my father nor Jayan’s had us by their sides on their last days. So I was questioning myself why did we even choose to be here! Felt very unfortunate when we were at the receiving end of the news of their demise. 

As though to reconcile for all that, my mother dearest, had all her 3 children by her side in her last 6 days of life in the hospital. None us were traveling. None of us had anything that kept us away from her. We took turns to be by her side. And we were with her almost until she breathed her last. All 6 of her grand children were next to her. 

And her dearest daughter-in-law did not move from her side even when her 3 children kept coming in and going out. Her dedication and devotion to her mother-in-law is immeasurable. She cleaned her, administered her medicines like a thorough nurse and fed her like her own child. A solid example for how goodness begets goodness. 

Though we kept hoping she would come back home, something kept telling us, maybe not!? None of us could see her suffer so much. The tremor, her hallucinations, her restlessness, her mouth ulcers, her babbling and singing and non stop talking, her inability to even sit up by herself, her inability to recognise some of our relatives....we could not bear to see this!

At one point I did say either she comes back home in a better state of health or she dies gracefully. After all, she had had her quota of life seeing her children get settled and her grand children doing well. She had had her quota of karma in every possible way. Then why put her through this trouble?

God listened to the second part of my prayers. He liked the or clause. Unfortunate us! Nothing can replace a mother. Nothing can replace a woman so strong willed, exceptionally intelligent, abundantly talented, outrageously kind hearted. Nothing can replace my Amma!

Aruvi

After Baahubali, if there was a movie that people urged me to watch, it was #Aruvi. Thankfully, no one revealed the storyline. But people did give away a few hints and my expectations kept soaring.

My advise to all the movie lovers, never ever go by the hypes. Check it out for yourselves. Go with zero expectations.

This movie is a bold attempt. The way the story is told so swiftly is refreshing. Editing is brilliant and that adds to the swiftness. No drags. No stretches. No pulls. No commercialism. No unwanted masala. But there are tonnes of messages. Every frame carries a message if only the audience is attentive. Humor is clean and that is another big plus.

It takes a highly creative person to deal with this intense subject adding liberal doses of humor alongside. Director #ArunPrabhu, take a bow!

What a plum role for the fresh face #AditiBalan!!! She has done a good job, no doubt. But I’m unable to give her full marks. Her monologue could have got delivered much better. There was scope to emote better in a few scenes. Her physique suits the role to a T.  After a very long time, a full-fledged lady lead subject. Highly satisfying!

All supporting roles are cast perfectly. Music is good especially in the scenes where the momentum is building up.

Overall, I could complete the review of the film Aruvi thus - BOLD!!!

PS: can someone explain what this poster signifies please?

Velaikaran

What I was two-minded to watch, I ended up watching thanks to my extended family. Originally I thought it’s ok if the movie is preachy (as stated in many a review), the fun is in watching it with near and dear. But guess what? I ended up liking the movie.

Yes. #Velaikaran. I see a trend here in making of a mass hero.

Simply put, the film educates the masses on ills of consumerism. Dialogues are quite powerful and hard hitting. There are unwanted sequences. And overdone characters.

#Sivakarthikeyan - good dialogue delivery. Good acting in most parts. Does not have any scope for romance with #Nayanthara. Even the couple of scenes where romance is supposed to happen, it’s kind of matter-of-fact. No chemistry and no time to build chemistry.

Expected something more meatier for Nayan. Rohini had more screen space than Nayan. Charlie, Prakash Raj and whole host of great performers are in the cast each doing justice to their roles.

But the highlight of the movie is #FahadhFaasil. I’m as such a huge fan of him. One of the main reasons I wanted to watch this film. If at all I advice people to watch this movie it would be just for him. No actor can match the gleam and greed he displays with his eyes. Watch to believe!

Mohan Raja bets on his villains more than the heroes, I guess. Great bets! Good entertainer!!

Thaanaa SerndhaKootam

The name of the movie didn’t impress me. And to justify the name, the star says it a couple of times in the 140 minutes of the reel.

Suriya looks fitter and handsome.  And has performed well. Ramya Krishnan is a riot. Super talented and gorgeous looking woman. Keerthy Suresh is overshadowed by RK. In many places, we do laugh out loud. Karthik has not performed in such a role earlier. So that was refreshing. But guess he can deliver dialogues only in a certain style. IMHO, that style didn’t suit the character he portrayed. #TSK revolves around the concept of “fixing problems using the same tools that created the problems in the first place”. As we say in Tamil, “Mulla mullala edukkanum” funda. Good thinking but as in all such movies that preach about how to change our society for good, this one also will just remain as a far fetched imagination.

#VigneshShivan excels as a Writer-Director. He knows how to bundle the heaviest of scenes in a light-weight manner. Kudos!

#Anirudh’s music was enjoyable. Good job!

Overall, for some rib-tickling and thought-provoking 3 hours, worth a watch!

Hichki

Melodramatic in small portions, emotional in some others, quite predictable lines of story - but leaves you thinking and teary-eyed. That is #Hichki. 

In an otherwise routine story with the spin of RTE, the story tellers add to the mix a “wanna be teacher” struggling with Tourette Syndrome. Now that makes it intriguing. How will she manage to hold any class?

Not one dull moment. No unnecessary song and dance. Songs travel with the film and the story. No aberrations. Other than Rani Mukherjee all actors are either debuts or from theatres. So performance is solid through and through. No one fails. Not even 9F!

Kudos to Rani Mukherjee! Though her age shows up, her tinkling eyes and sweet smile remain ever green. She has done a fantastic job of living Ms. Naina Mathur every frame of the film. The scene she breaks down is very touchingly portrayed. 

Overall, a movie that would really move you! Don’t miss.