Tumhari Sulu

#TumhariSulu - Pressure doesn’t spare anyone. Girls, Boys, Parents, Rich, Poor...it just comes in different forms and shapes and sizes. What happens when one such “happy-go-lucky” woman is traumatised by the sheer sibling and parental pressure and decides and designs her own life? How judgemental people could get? How haunting the experience would be? How naive some women are? How such women are taught and made to internalise to safe-guard the so-called “Kahaandan’s izzat”?  #VidyaBalan expresses it all as the titular character and lead, Sulu.

And man! Did I say expresses it all? She probably would have been a tough competition for Sridevi had she acted during those times. Next to Saritha, Sridevi kind of pure play performers, Vidya has directly taken the baton from them. Especially the last scene where she has to deliver a monologue with a heart that is bleeding but lips that are smiling. Simply wow! I can’t get out of that scene! Long time since I wept so hard watching a movie 😊

Now in a female lead subject, would any of the Khans agree to do the male partner to the lead? No way! But c’mon!! We need an actor against such a terrific actress. I don’t have to google. I’m kind of sure the male lead is from one of the best drama schools. He is picture perfect. Only at the end when title cards were displayed, I learnt his name. #ManavKaul. Amazing! We need more Manav Kauls.

#NehaDhupia. Yet another “lived-the-role” actress. These people are not noticed much nor kept in mind when they do glam acts. But such a performance will be remembered in history.

Director #SureshTriveni has done a phenomenal job of making the script and the actors do all the talking! Casting is perfect. Sulu’s son, the poet character, the Principal (with a Mumbai Mallu lingo) - each person has performed very well. Hats-off!

Must watch!

Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru

#TheeranAdhigaaramOndru - after a few misfires, #Karthi is in full form in this one. Wish he continues to pick such solid scripts rather than get sold by the brand. #Vinoth, the director, has researched thoroughly on the subject. The film is more educative about our own history. Based on spine-chilling dacoity and ruthless murders, the movie is quite racy and keeps you at the edge of your seat most of the time. 

If some songs and item numbers were cut down, it would have made the movie a notch above other movies. But wait! When a real life story is being told, if not for some masala, doesn’t it look more like a documentary? Or, we as audience do not how to accept and they as directors haven’t mastered the art of real life story telling! May be the truth lies in between. 

#Rakul’s appearance in the initial scenes make us feel good about her. Nice portrayal of a mischievous girl. Again, we just don’t see such ravishing next door beauties. Do we? The chemistry between Karthi and Rakul is good. Very rarely these days have I felt that the chemistry between the hero and heroine is working. Nothing like the yesteryear Kamal-Sridevi. The movie kind of gives away that characters like Rakul come in just to die! Anybody’s guess. Huh!!

Vinoth has done a fantastic job on casting. Bravo!

#Ghibran has done full justice. Superb music. And the background scores are also very good. 

Overall - please watch to know how safe we are today because of some real life heroes!

Om Shanthi Om!

This episode happened about 15 years back. In our constant endeavor to get the “right” stay-at-home domestic help, we finally found this lady called Shanthi. She came with good reference from people known to us for years.

Shanthi looked slim and slender. She had beautiful features and long black hair. The way she knots up her hair and starts her chores was a sight worth watching. She would go about the morning tasks with so much sincerity that all of us at home were very contended. We talked amongst ourselves (with our eyes) at every task of hers, signifying how happy and satisfied we were with her sense of duty.

The first two weeks, we rejoiced. During the third week, my nephew came up to me one morning. He was in all just about 18 years then. He shut the door behind us and started explaining what had happened the previous evening after all of us had retired to bed. He narrated the episode with a lot of horror. He was in the living room   watching some cricket match on TV. It was well past 11 in the night. Shanthi suddenly appeared from her room, walked straight to the main door in the living room which was all latched up. She started knocking the door a couple of times. Then she walked up to the French door leading to the balcony. A few knocks there…By this time, my nephew asked her what was wrong. She looked at him straight in the eye. Her long hair was left open. She stared at him without saying anything. This boy grew nervous. He immediately switched off the TV and ran into his bedroom, locked himself up and came out only in the morning.

I laughed to my heart’s content hearing his narration. Then I comforted him saying that he is paranoid about such behaviors even otherwise and there is nothing to read between lines here. He was not convinced but I chose to ignore this episode.

A week later, my hubby left to another country for work. People at home were my parents-in-law, nephew, niece, my son and Shanthi! One evening, after I got back from work, around 10 PM, we started having our dinner. My in-laws had slept off. Shanthi had arranged the table and had gone off to sleep. The 4 of us at the dinner table, as is the usual practice in our family, were exchanging our day’s stories with each other. In loud decibels, we were chatting and laughing. Suddenly, Shanthi stepped out of her room and stood behind my son. The same way my nephew had described. Straight looking, hair left open and eyes gazing. I immediately ordered my son to get up and move to our side of the table. Shanthi held his chair, kept looking at me intently raising her eyebrows as though questioning me. The children fell quiet. Their heads bent down in fear. I was left alone to handle this psycho woman.

For a moment, I thought to myself, what can happen...worst possibility is that she can hit me. But If I hit her back she is sure to die. That gave me a world of courage. I asked her, “Shanthi, what happened?” in a commanding tone. She looked at me deeply and nodded her head and said, “What? What? (in Tamil, that  is, Ennama, Ennama). She kept saying that. I realized she is trying to scare us. So I immediately left my hair open. I am blessed with thick, long, hair which I put to good use in this instance. I started behaving exactly like Shanthi. So much that she got scared for sure. She got herself in quick composure and kind of pretended shaking herself up. Then she tied her hair up. Wiped her face. I still kept springing on my feet with my hair left loose. She sure thought I have got possessed. She asked me if I wanted water. With some groans, I said yes. She quickly ran to the kitchen and fetched some water for me. After drinking that, I pretended to have calmed down. I ordered her to go and sleep.

After all this drama, the terrified kids, looked up at me and I winked at them. We finished our dinner quickly, ran to our bedrooms and started roaring with laughter.

Meanwhile in the middle of this commotion, my MIL had slightly opened the door of her bedroom to see why there was so much noise outside. The moment she saw Shanthi and me in the same form, she quickly shut her door and never came out until the next day morning.

We still laugh heartily whenever we recall this episode!

Maids & their tantrums!!

Nibunan

#Nibunan - means Expert. My mistake. Shouldn't have relied on some reviews. Nothing was different from a typical Arjun starrer action movie. Why romance and family in a thriller like this? Which psycho killer makes such intelligent (!) The Hindu kind of crossword clues for his next victim? Does anybody know anything like this in real life?

Arjun is ageing. But he has maintained his fitness. That is impressive! Prasanna is handsome. I'm stating facts, I know. But there is only so much to write. Having a smart woman cop as part of the police crime intelligence team is refreshing. Varalakshmi has essayed this role without much efforts. A slimmer cop would have done more justice to this super active role.

In the backdrop of Aarushi murder, spin a yarn and add a psycho killer. You get Nibunan!

Hmmmmmm.....

Vikram Vedha

After months of watching the teleserials as a child, the song still rings in my ears loud and clear, "Vikram aur Bethaaal....". And so will the movie "#VikramVedha" for some more months at least!

Any film that captures audience attention must have one or more of the following: good story, great script, perfect casting, nice narration, impressive cinematography, interesting editing, appropriate music and visionary direction. When most of the ingredients are in the right mix, even if a couple of elements are not in the desired proportions, the feast is still enjoyable. Vikram Vedha is immensely enjoyable.

#VijaySethupathi's antics definitely add to the enjoyment. He is just a perfect fit for the role. His casualness is his biggest asset. The only minus is his dialogue delivery. His expressions during sentimental scenes (his eyes speak a lot) are worth a watch!

#Maddy is super fit and has done a fantastic job. He has started doing only tough roles, looks like. His charm hasn't dwindled a bit. He continues to be as romantic as ever. And as a cop, the act is different from the usual movie cops(not sporting the police uniform at all is such a relief)!!!

The gangster is a lovable prankster and the cop is a heart throb for many a fan. So who do you think will win your hearts? Watch to decide 😊

Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum

#ThondimuthalumDriksakshiyum. Please do not think I'm babbling. This is the latest Malayalam film by #DileeshPothan. This is his second movie (wow) after the much critiqued #MaheshintePrathikaram. Both movies carrying the super awesome #FahadhFaasil.

My awe for Mallu movies and their makers keep soaring high up with every movie off late. The pace of this movie is quite slow only to give a run to the art movies. Barring that, I doubt if such natural film making would ever be practised by the other regional film makers.

The story (like in many of Mani's movies) can be written behind a stamp. The articulation of the subject is what matters. All the actors live their roles. So much so that, especially if you have spent time in the villages of Kerala, you would for a second think you are part cast of the movie. Suraj, Nimisha (what a find!), Alencier and every other member bring so much life to their characters. You are sure to find them on the roads of Kerala. Such is the portrayal!

I will not justify this post without expressing my admiration for Fahadh. Did his father coach him on acting when he was still in his mother's womb??? His body language as a petty theft criminal is unmistakable. His voice modulation, looking through the corner of his eyes with head tilted at 45 degrees showing his inhibition to speak up especially when interrogated, showing the subtle
sense of humour such criminals carry, and his cool approach to people other than the police! He is sure to go a very long way! He has never been a contender in looks to his contemporaries. But that hardly matters! He is a wow package of performance!

Overall, a 90 minutes movie stretched to 135 minutes. Leaves the audience with a mix of emotions - all subtle!

Maragadha Naanayam

Hate to be acidic about movies. But what crap is this #MaragadhaNaanayam! Genre was horror-comedy. Neither goals achieved. Post Baahubali, for almost 3 months, did not feel like watching any other movie. Should have stuck to that decision for some more months. Waste of time!