Neerparavai review

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3.5 / 5

Neerparavai is a movie that shows the lives of fishermen living in coastal Tamil Nadu. The portrayal of their lives is very authentic. All the rules and regulations that they follow, their sense of community, the struggles that an outsider has to undergo to be accepted among the fisher-folk etc. have been shown like never before.  The village shown in the movie is replete with Christians and a few Muslims. Hence, there is a lot of weight given to showing the customs and practices at the Church, the respect given to the Father and Sisters and the way they go about preaching, healing and collecting funds from people.

Vishnu scores as the wayward drunkard who finally mends his ways after falling in love. The transformation is not overnight and the movie shows the stages he undergoes in his rehab process. The love and support that he gets from his parents is highly moving. His love track with Sunaina is also not cinematic and has shades of realism. There are some needless songs in the second half though. Black Pandi and Thambi Ramiah are there to provide plenty of funny as well as poignant moments. Both these actors are going places of late.

The movie travels in flashback mode and begins on a dreary note. But after that, only the end again becomes sentimental and emotional. The ending dialog is a real clincher and earns the audience's applause.

• Amazing camera work by Balasubramaniem. Though the actors must have slogged in sultry and humid conditions, it is a treat to see the coast on screen. 
• The number 'Para Para' is a sheer delight to listen to. It comes twice in the movie in different situations. Hats off to N.R.Raghunanthan for this number. The other songs aren't great and one of the BGM scores has been blatantly ripped off from 'A Beautiful Mind''s title score. 
• Saranya Ponvannan continues to shine in mother roles and her supportive ways towards her son particularly while giving him money to drink, make the audience hoot for her. Sunaina and Nandita Das have been perfectly cast in the same role during different timelines. Both shine in the emotional scenes though Sunaina is too de-glam. Arul Dass as Vishnu's father is terrific and tugs at your heart strings. Samuthirakani and Vadivukarasi show their talent in nice character roles. Nandagi shines in a small role while Azhagam Perumal is likable too, for a change.
• The movie has some pace issues at the start of the second half and some needless songs also play spoilsport. 

FINAL WORD: Poignant and touching movie about the fisher-folk of our state. Applause to the entire team for the authenticity and detailing. WORTH A WATCH.

Talaash review

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3.5 / 5

Aamir Khan is known for delivering something fresh and different in each outing of his. With Talaash, the trailers promised a taut investigative thriller with fair amount of suspense. Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhthar helm this project with the likes of Farhan Akhthar and Anurag Kashyap chipping in the dialogues department. With such a heavy duty cast and crew, does Talaash satisfy all the pre-release curiosity and hype?

Talaash is about Inspector Surjan Singh Skekhawat’s (Aamir Khan) search for the truth in a high profile car crash that claims the life of superstar Armaan Kapoor. Side by side, he also has to battle the personal grief caused by a tragedy that took his little son’s life away in a freak mishap. Shekhawat’s investigation takes him through Mumbai’s dark underbelly populated by pimps and prostitutes. One particular call girl named Rosie (Kareena Kapoor) helps him out with key pointers to solve the overall mystery.

As the film unfolds, we not only see the mystery surrounding the car accident unraveling but also the truth behind one of the key characters in the movie. The twist in the tale is a nice shocker indeed though the discerning mind does figure it out halfway through the second half.  

The film works despite the slackening pace in the early stages of the second half. The reason why the pace dips is nicely compensated towards the end when all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle are put in place. The first half nicely sets the movie for the thrilling ride in the second half with the list of suspects being wide open. In that sense, the slow pace at the start of the second half does cause a brief lull, only to thankfully pick up very well again.

Every character in the movie has weight be it Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the sidekick in the red light area, Raj Kumar Yadav as the assisting cop, Rani Mukerji as the concerned wife of Shekhawat and Fernaz Patel as the nosy and mysterious neighbor. All the call girls in the red light area look very genuine and the entire area has been set up very authentically. Most of the movie happens in the night and Mohanan’s cinematography captures the dark and edgy look of Mumbai brilliantly.

Aamir Khan is there throughout the movie in an emotionally heavy role and the star’s grim and serious avatar gels with the character. Kareena Kapoor is by far the star of the movie as the alluring call girl Rosie who facilitates Shekhawat’s investigation. Catch the movie to experience her role in its totality.

Ram Sampath’s songs go along with the movie’s flow as montages. To say that all the five songs are nice and apt is an understatement. Jee Le Zaraa, Jiya Lage Na and Laakh Duniya Kahe lead the pack. His background score supports the movie’s haunting and mystical premise.

To conclude, the two ladies, Reema and Zoya, have made this movie for a mature audience who can sit through a movie and experience it despite some pace issues. Those seeking just mass entertainment and song and dance routines might complain. All in all, Talaash is worth the wait and hats off to Aamir Khan for continuing to encourage new attempts from youngsters.

FINAL WORD: An unwavering psychological thriller    

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag | Teaser trailer | Farhan Akhtar | Sonam Kapoor

This is just too uplifting ... What a teaser ... Farhan Akhtar's makeover is astonishing and S-E-L's rock music is kick-ass ... 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' looks like a sure-shot classic in the making ...

July 12th 2013, earmarked for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag ... 

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Paradesi music review

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Paradesi, Music by G.V.Prakash and Lyrics by Vairamuthu

1. Avatha Paiyaa ...
This is a nice melody in true Ilayaraja style, particularly the rustic percussions. There is a delightful flute presence in this song with the veena competing for honors in the second interlude. Both the singers make sure that their vocals are authentic and true to the movie’s rural period setting.

2. Thannai Thaanee ...
This is a gospel song treated like a gaana number replete with ‘thara thappatta’ beats and nadaswaram. Gaana Bala nails it yet again with his typically extravagant style of rendering words. When he goes Hallelujah and Amen in the high pitches, it stirs you in a unique way.

3. Or Mirugam ...
This is a typical Bala number drenched in pathos and philosophy. The string instrumental interludes are heavy and serious while the percussions have been kept minimal. The flute as always stands out with its pure sound. More emphasis has been placed on the lyrics and the meaning in them.  Both the singers have succeeded in delivering this pathos song with the right amount of feeling.

4. Sengaade ...
The song begins on a really mellow note with an elaborate strings section and a poignant female humming portion. Madhu Balakrishnan takes over from here with minimal percussions and sad string instrumentals backing his vocals. This is another song driven by the meaningful and powerful lyrics which give an idea of the movie’s theme. This is a characteristic Bala number, which needs a lot of attention just for the sake of the lyrics. 

5. Sennneer Thana ... CHEERS
Gangai Amaran’s vocals have a really haunting quality and he is the perfect choice to deliver this number which is again supported by very minimal percussions. Priya Hemesh is brilliant as her humming portions leave a lasting impression. The song makes a big impact and can be expected to recur in the audience’s imagination. Pay close attention to the lyrics which are again deep. The instrumentals are Raja-esque in the way violins have been used to deepen the listening experience. 

FINAL WORD: This is a typical Bala soundtrack, which has its fair share of pathos and gloomy numbers. The lyrics have deep meaning while musically G.V.Prakash has kept it in sync with the movie's period and setting.

2.5 / 5

The Boondock Saints (1999)

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This movie is about a pair of fraternal twins, the MacManuses, who start playing the 'vigilante' and rid Boston of the evil mafia (Russian and Italian) and other anti-social scums. They are joined in their hunt by a weird and eccentric Italian named Rocco (The Funny Man) and later by their own father who actually comes to bump them off on a job.

The two twins and their father are nicknamed 'The Saints' by the media in the end after they announce their intentions in public by shooting Papa Joe, a mafia kingpin, during his trial. They earn their own fan following and their share of critics too for their vigilante act.

The movie also has a highly entertaining gay FBI agent who has a thing for opera music and also intricately replicating and deciphering crime scenes perfectly. Willem Dafoe rocks this role with his long locks, unique gait and mannerisms. The twins are highly likable thanks to their rituals and prayers. Their method is detailed and their motive is that of a Messiah's.

David Della Rocco as Rocco is natural and uninhibited in his portrayal. Those long locks of his are flamboyant and make him look the part as a mobster. Billy Connolly is really larger than life in his small portrayal as the twins' father. He makes a huge splash.

On the whole, it is a typical movie about gangsters and vigilantes but the presentation is what makes it stand out. 

Life of Pi movie review

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Life of Pi is an inspiring tale of courage and endurance. The movie centers on Piscine Molitor Patel aka Pi Patel and his extra-ordinary adventures to survive on a lifeboat along with a Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker.

Pi finds himself stranded on the lifeboat surrounded by nothing but the blue ocean after the Japanese ship that he and his family were travelling in, gets wrecked by a violent storm. A zebra, a hyena and an orangutan also manage to get onto the boat along with the tiger but they don't survive the tough conditions and become one another's prey.

The movie begins by introducing us to Pi and his early days as he discovers the meaning of God through the various religions. He is constantly searching for answers for his philosophical questions. We are also shown the zoo that he grew up in, the mocking fun that is created around his name 'Piscine' and his first love Anandi.

The reason why Pi got his name is very nicely told through his uncle's obsession for swimming in all the pools that he comes across. Piscine Molitor is actually a marvelous pool's name in Paris. The film has some tremendous visuals created through stunning VFX work. The blue ocean, the various sea creatures like the flying fishes, the sharks, the whales, the surreal carnivorous island with many weird creatures and a small pool in the middle etc etc. The visual magnificence is as close to Avatar's Pandora as it can get.

The way Pi tames and trains the tiger, his struggles to survive on the boat with minimal means, the way he pens his adventures with a pencil, the storms that he survives, the episode at the island and with the flying fishes etc. take the viewer on a jaw-dropping ride. The action and adventure is gripping thanks to the 'never seen before' dreamy visual effects. The movie in fact warrants a repeat watch just for the VFX work and the visual magnificence.

The tiger has been beautifully created. Some shots are of a real tiger while lot of visuals have been created painstakingly. It would be safe to say that the tiger is almost like the main protagonist along with Pi.

Great performance from Suraj Sharma as Pi. The role must have been physically demanding as we see the young actor go through a real physical metamorphosis as he struggles in the lifeboat in the most primitive and brutal conditions.

Irrfan Khan as the adult Pi, narrates the story in his nice base voice to an author who is seeking a remarkable story for his next novel. The boys who play the younger versions of Pi are adequate while Tabu is a beautiful presence in the movie as Pi's mother.

The bond that develops between Pi and the tiger is slowly and gradually told, very beautifully. The movie moves at a slow pace at other times particularly towards the end when Pi narrates a story that the Japanese insurance guys can believe. Also, when he has his conversations with God and when he seeks the meaning of God, the movie becomes a sermon giving out lot of religious 'gyaan'.

To sum up, the movie has tremendous visuals thanks to stunning VFX work and the human interest element in the movie is also gripping and moving. The similarity to Cast Away and to Forrest Gump (a tiny extent) can be excused. 

Dabangg 2 music review

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1.5 / 5

Dabangg 2 

Director – Arbaaz Khan

Cast – Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Prakash Raj

Music Director – Sajid Wajid

Lyrics - Jalees Sherwani, Irshad Kamil & Sameer

Dabangg 2 is probably the most hyped Bollywood movie in recent years thanks to Salman Khan’s brand value and the cult status that Dabangg achieved in 2010. The music of the sequel was released today. Haave Sajid and Wajid lived up to the huge hoopla?

Dagabaaz Re

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan,Shreya Ghoshal,Shadab Faridi

This song is too similar to the ‘Tere Mast’ number from Dabangg; the singers are all the same. Nevertheless, the song is likable thanks to the catchy rhythm that it has thanks to the use of ‘dhol’ and ‘tabla’. Other traditional instruments like veena and harmonium have also been used to make this a good ‘sufi’ style song.

Pandeyjee Seeti

Shadab Faridi

This one sounds similar to a band number and this can be expected to get the appreciation of the front benchers. The upbeat tempo is the biggest USP of the number which also has a small reference to the mega hit ‘Munni Badnaam’ number from Dabangg. This number will also feature ‘Munni’ Malaika Arora Khan.

There is a remix version of this song which has a slightly increased tempo and heavy electronic percussions. The production of this remix isn’t up to the mark of other remixes.

Fevicol Se … CHEERS

UVIE,Mamta Sharma,Wajid,Keerthi Sagathia,Shadab Faridi

This is the item song which will feature Kareena Kapoor shaking her legs with Chulbul Pandey. This song has also been targeted at the masses. The rhythm of the song is rustic and infectious while the singing style is sensual and nonchalant. The string sounds in this song make the song livelier.

This number also has a remix that is akin to the ‘You spin my head right round’ number. Electronic percussions are the only difference between this one and the original. Nothing special!

Saanson Ne

Sonu Nigam,Tulsi Kumar

This one is an earthy melody rendered by the silken Sonu Nigam and Tulsi Kumar. The song has a melodious string and shehnai section but the ‘dhol’ percussions in the song give it a really dated feel.

Dabangg Reloaded

Shadab Faridi

This is a heroic number which uses the popular ‘Udd Udd Dabangg’ refrain. The tune just seems to be an extension of that song. The impact created by that song is hard to match as this one falls flat almost. The trumpets try to infuse a massy ring to the song.

Remixes for almost every song are becoming sort of an indulgence. Again, just the beats differentiate the remix of this song and the original. The remix fails to deliver anything out of the ordinary.

FINAL WORD: The songs might turn out to be popular among the mainstream mass audience thanks to the brand value that Salman and Dabangg possess. But, the soundtrack doesn’t have anything different or interesting going for it. A flat attempt from Sajid - Wajid.

Son of Sardaar review

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1.5 / 5

Son of Sardaar is yet another movie set around Punjab and it features a whole lot of Punjabis and Sikhs. Like the earlier Punjab based movies, does this one also deliver unabashed entertainment?

Jassi (Ajay Devgn) is a Sardar who returns to his Punjab village from London to sell a property that belonged to his late father and make some money. Little does he know that Billu (Sanjay Dutt) and his gang are out to avenge him at any cost, due to a 25 year old animosity that took a toll on their previous generation.

Billu is a guy who doesn’t even marry his sweetheart Pammi (Juhi Chawla) just for the sake of this revenge. Jassi keeps evading the impending bloodbath by masquerading as a guest in Billu’s home as Billu believes in living up to his family’s culture of treating guests as God and not harming them in anyway. Romance is also part of the mix as Jassi falls for Sukh (Sonakshi Sinha), a girl in Billu’s household whom he meets during his journey to Punjab.

This cat and mouse game continues for an extended time before the inevitable faceoff in the climax between Jassi and Billu. The ending is on expected lines. 

Among the performers, Ajay Devgn is perfect as the Sardaar and turns in a believable and endearing performance. Sanjay Dutt has an imposing and majestic makeover and he passes muster as well. Salman Khan’s special appearance sends the crowd into a tizzy while heroine Sonakshi Sinha isn’t much more than just a pretty chubby face. Juhi Chawla has to be among the most likable performers. She is such a charmer.  

The movie is over-the-top and the action sequences will put even hardcore South masala flicks in the shade. There are lots of punch lines, dry PJs and typical Punjabi cultural references. The Hindi spoken in the movie also has a heavy Punjabi hangover.

The songs by Himesh Reshammiya are foot tapping particularly the title track, Po Po and Rani Mein Tu Raja. Bichdann is a lovely melody track. There is nothing much to speak about the re-recording, though.

The art department has to be commended for the colorful look of the movie. Being a movie about a happy go lucky Sardaar, this riotous presentation is apt and goes well with the theme of the movie.

To sum up, Son of Sardaar has its moments of sheer fun, has decent songs and a lot of bankable names in the cast but the presentation is too over-the-top and loud. The movie also suffers many inactive streaks thereby sending the interest meter down. The simple plot has just been further weathered down. 

FINAL WORD: An over-the-top ‘no brainer’ with a sluggish entertainment quotient.

Ammavin Kaipesi review

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1.5 / 5

I entered the theater expecting an emotional tearjerker dedicated to motherhood. But, at the end of this dreary and teary movie, I felt totally worn out ...

The characters in the film are all loud, dramatic and irritating. Thankar Bachan as Prasad loafs around as the aimless bum until the climax when he realizes his folly and repents. As he cries loudly, even the audience feels the same for having spent close to three hours in the hall.

The film has decent performances from Shanthanoo and Iniya. Azhagam Perumal continues to irritate with his artificial acting style. The movie's music is pretty neat while the locations are, as expected, rustic. The actress who has played the mother either cries aloud or overacts in the dramatic scenes. You don't feel like empathizing with this poor old mother.

Just as we expect a movie dedicated to the mother and her attempts at reaching her estranged son Annamalai using the cell phone, the majority of the movie shows how Annamalai deals with his work at the stone quarry. Two co-workers, Madhesh and Chitti Babu, are hell bent on bringing him down due to his sincere outlook to his job that naturally exposes their corrupt ways. Prasad is the typical timid 'jalra' with no voice of his own and he would do anything for money. He has a voluptuous and pretty hot wife who tries to mend him and his thieving ways.

The only notable aspect about the movie is the non-linear screenplay which excites some interest among the audience as they try to fathom what's going on with the time shifted narratives. But, the film just doesn't have any entertainment value and is just one extended mega serial.

Who wants to see people shout, cry and be melodramatic all through a movie! 

Jab Tak Hai Jaan review

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3 / 5

Jab Tak Hai Jaan (JTHJ) puts across the point that true love takes its own sweet time to bear fruition and that the lovers have to hang in there with patience. This point is apt for the movie and the audience too, as it is a long movie spread across three hours which requires a lot of patience from the viewers.

Samar Anand (Shahrukh) is the main protagonist and we are shown two stages of his life. His 20s are spent in London as a struggler doing all kinds of jobs to earn some money. He meets the uptight and pious Meera (Katrina) and she turns out to be the girl of his dreams. Love blossoms between the two but she is a woman who stands by her vows and prayers even if it means putting her love on the back burner.

Later in his 30s, Samar comes across as a daredevil bomb diffusing expert in the Army and he earns the nickname “The man who cannot die” due to his impeccable record at diffusing more than 100 dangerous bombs (These scenes have been borrowed from the Oscar winning “The Hurt Locker”). He encounters Akira Rai (Anushka Sharma), an aspiring documentary film maker who dreams of getting into the Discovery channel in London, through her documentary on Samar’s exploits. She also slowly falls for Samar’s intense charm.

With two beautiful women in his life, does Samar finally find his true love and does he stop flirting with danger in the Army and start living his life with his dream partner? Watch JTHJ to find out.

The movie owes whatever it is, to some stunning work by cinematographer Anil Mehta and A.R. Rahman’s melodious soundtrack. London and Ladakh have been captured in all their pristine beauty and the movie is a colorful treat with brilliant production values.  Each frame is picture perfect.

Rahman’s songs are chartbusters already with Challa, Saans, Heer leading the way. His BGM score isn’t extra-ordinary though. Editor Namrata Rao could have made the movie more taut and crisp. Sitting for close to three hours is a task indeed.

Katrina Kaif dances like a dream in the Ishq Shava number and also in the preceding percussions track. She has improved as an actor and is adequate in the emotional scenes as well. Her beauty needs no further elucidation.

Anushka Sharma plays another of her typical chirpy and bubbly characters. Her intro swimsuit scene seemed to be a forced inclusion in the movie. The youngster is a natural and she nails it, be it the serious scenes or the lighter moments. She is in fact the trump card among all the star performers.

Shahrukh Khan is back in home territory playing the intense and charming romantic. He is at ease as expected and endears. His stubble works wonders and makes him look even more charming. The layers of makeup show, though.

Among the support cast, Sarika, Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh and Shahrukh’s London friend make a mark in the scenes that they appear in. It is refreshing to see Sarika in particular, after a long hiatus.

The movie also has a lovely end credits tribute to the late Yash Chopra and this sequence makes one emotional thanks to the melodious ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ title track that plays along.

Even though the snail’s pace, the length of the movie and the melodrama count among the movie’s blips, the A-grade performances from the lead cast, the mellifluous music and the stunning locales make the movie watching experience a worthwhile one on the whole.

FINAL WORD: An intense ‘old school’ romance that rides on its timeless music and dreamy visuals. 

Podaa Podi review

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2.5 / 5

Set in London, Podaa Podi is the intimate romance between two Indians, Arjun and Nisha. While Arjun craves for commitment and a good family life, Nisha yearns to excel in dance and rock the dance show 'Letz Dance'. Their meeting blossoms to love, proceeds to marriage, has many rocks in its path and finally bears fruition again.

The music by Dharan is the biggest USP of the movie. Appan Mavane Vada, shot in Disney Land Hong Kong, takes the cake followed by STR's intro number - the very stylish and innovative Love Pannalama Venama. The other songs also find a place in the screenplay which has been designed in the form of nicely named chapters.

STR's dialog delivery is pretty muddled and too informal. He needs to tighten this aspect. He shines in the emotional scene when Varu gives birth to their kid and also in the heart wrenching scene in the second half when he feels so badly about losing his baby kid. Varalaxmi  makes a confident debut despite those extra layers of flab. Dancing in tight and short costumes takes a lot of doing for a tall and well-built woman like her.

VTV Ganesh's makeover makes his role in the movie funny while Shobana has a weird 'single' character in sharp contrast to her real life image. The movie is colorful thanks to the London and Hong Kong visuals. The lead actors look stylish and trendy thanks to good grooming and costumes.

The movie has traces of English rom-coms and the Hindi movie Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. It is definitely something new for the Tamil audiences though.

For a guy who is allergic to dance, STR's character in the movie dances like a dream in the songs. Also, his character in the movie has ideals that are opposite to his supposed real life image. The climax of the movie is a dance ride all the way with salsa and kuthu thrown in to the mix.

The film on the whole will appeal to the youth but might piss off the masses who are looking for masala entertainment. The movie could have been a nice Valentine date for the multiplex audiences but as a Diwali mass treat, Podaa Podi isn't the apt watch.

FINAL WORD: Podaa Podi is short, cheeky yet intimate. A somewhat different take on romance, marriage and thereafter, targeted at the youth. 

Thuppakki review: FIRST ON THE NET

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3.5 / 5

Thuppakki released today amidst gargantuan hype and high fan frenzy. The audiences are expecting a lot from this Vijay – Murugadoss association which has a highly acclaimed technical team comprising cameraman Santosh Sivan and editor Sreekar Prasad. Have the team succeeded in giving the perfect festival entertainer?

Thuppakki is basically about Jagdish (Vijay), an army captain, who returns to Mumbai for a 40 days’ vacation. He has a loving family, comprising two sisters and his parents, who wish to get him married to an appropriate girl. After some cat and mouse episodes with Nisha (Kajal), the arranged bride, Jagdish’s personal life is set with her.

On the other hand, he has a greater task at hand as he has to eradicate sleeper cells that are out to bomb and terrorize Mumbai across 12 prominent localities. These sleeper cells are controlled by one main man (Vidyut Jamwal) who is also later drawn into the city thanks to Jagdish’s proactive and intelligent moves in eliminating the cells through a secretive mission which he carries out with the help of his colleagues, who assemble for a marriage.

Later it becomes a straight game of one-upmanship between the main man and Jagdish. How Jagdish vanquishes him and how Jagdish manages to save the lives of people who are lured into this mean battle, is the remaining part of this extravagant and stylish entertainer which rides on the ever-dependable Vijay.    

The film gets off to a slow start after Vijay’s mass intro with the ‘Kutti Puli’ number and the romantic episodes with Kajal Aggarwal are bearable thanks to some high-voltage songs by Harris Jayaraj (Alaikaa Laikka and the wildly popular Google Google stand out) and Jayaram’s (playing Jagdish’s senior in the Army) funny interventions.

Kajal is the typical commercial cinema heroine who makes a glamorous appearance in the songs and is also there for some comic relief. The tomboyish voice that has dubbed for her enhances her character. Her stylish costumes and youthful beauty are a nice distraction from the main action packed plot. Jayaram’s legendary comic timing is intact while Sathyan has a commendable and sizable presence in the movie as Jagdish’s police friend. His proficiency in the English and Hindi speaking portions is a pleasant surprise. Vidyut Jamwal looks a million bucks with his long locks, stubble and macho physique. He is a nice match-up for the invincible hero. 

Coming back to our main man Vijay, he looks ever youthful and the V shape that he so painstakingly maintains looks even more tight and muscular in Thuppakki. His prowess at dance and fights is well-known and Murugadoss has packaged and presented the movie perfectly in sync with Vijay’s skills at commercial cinema. While on the one hand, Jagdish is a brainy guy who uses the Rubik’s cube and his apple laptop to decode maps, on the other hand, his brawny side is also prominent thanks to his blazer, glares and a stylish gait. The pre-interval scenes with the twelve sleeper cells and the fight scenes with a sniffer dog in tow in the second half are a royal treat for Vijay fanatics. The star’s comfort level with Hindi and English makes his character as an urban Mumbai Thamizhan appear more genuine and real.

Harris Jayaraj’s BGM has a portion which is so similar to the ‘Varayo Mona Lisa’ song from Aadhavan while a tune similar to one from the Hindi movie ‘Race’ is also regularly used in the BGM track. The songs are a raging hit already and this is a nice score on the whole from Harris.  The music that repeats while Vidyut makes an appearance on screen is pulsating. 

Santosh Sivan’s camerawork is flawless and has captured the raw energy and crowds of Mumbai very well. The locations in the ‘Vennilave’ song are a treat. The VFX for the blast scene at the start could have been better. Sreekar Prasad’s editing is seamless and makes sure that the movie is not boring one bit. The ‘Vennilave’ track in the end could have been avoided though.

Vijay’s costumer and stylist deserve a big round of applause for making the star dazzle in a suave manner with stylish and trendy clothes. His Tees are truly rocking thanks to his toned arms and dashboard abs.

On the downside, the last encounter between Vijay and Vidyut could have been better given the nice manner in which the movie was laid out for the finale. But, this is just a minor blip in an otherwise wholesome commercial treat. The manner in which Vijay manages to keep his mission wrapped in secrecy from his higher authorities in the Army is another question mark.

To wrap it up, Thuppakki should turn out to be a hugely profitable venture for the makers and a rewarding experience for the audience. The last dialog, about Army men living in tough conditions for 11 months based on the memories of their short vacation, makes Thuppakki’s intentions of being an ode to the Army, a commendable one.

FINAL WORD: A fully loaded festival package from Vijay, Murugadoss and co.

Kalakalappu review

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2.5 / 5

This is a typical Sundar C madcap entertainer where the jokes are dry at places and work pretty well at other times.

A hotel in Kumbakonam named Masala Cafe, two brothers and their lady loves, the struggles to keep the hotel alive and running, a person who wants to buy this hotel land at any cost, a greedy policeman, a set of 20 diamonds and many mad characters are a part of Kalakalappu@Masala Cafe. It is a fun ride particularly in the second half. 

The 20 diamonds are the main reason why the movie is a real laugh-riot particularly towards the climax. In the first half, the film limps as it is lively only at certain instances. The title credits sequence is enjoyable though. In the second half, after the entry of Santhanam the film is slightly better with the climax being the highlight. His three stupid aides also provide some extra fun with their absolutely nonsensical antics.

All the characters in the movie converge in the climax thanks to the diamonds. It is a healthy episode in the movie and scores high on entertainment.

The songs are catchy and the sound effects given for the funny moments aid in making the scene funnier.

The girls in the movie have really exposed their assets whenever possible, particularly in the songs. They don’t have nothing much to act. Mirchi Shiva’s brand of dry mokka comedy is in full force here too while Vimal continues to kill English words. He has nothing special to do but is present throughout the movie. Vimal and Shiva as brothers is a good casting coup. The brothers’ romantic escapades form a majority of the movie’s running time.

The policeman who has lost his mind in the climax, Ilavarasu with a sprained neck, John Vijay as the trouser-less policeman, Panchu Subbu and his stupid relative and other such characters make the climax one to remember. A chase sequence in the second half featuring three cars is another imaginative episode, done well. 

On the whole, it provides entertainment as expected with some dry moments too. The climax scores high!  

Kazhugu review

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2 / 5

This film shows the lives of people who work in hill stations as corpse-retrievers. Suicide victims are aplenty in hill stations and that’s where corpse-retrievers come into play as they need to go several thousand feet down the mountain range to retrieve the dead bodies and return them back to their families. 

They are heavily dependent on alcohol to do their work due to the stench that comes from the bodies.  They call such bodies as ‘piece’ and we are shown the lives of four such retrievers led by the hero Sera (stylishly Se). Nandu, Shanmugam (Chithu) and another mute man are the others.  

The episodes showing their work and the struggles they go through, are terrific and gripping thanks to the stunning locations and Yuvan's RR.

There is a typical love story between Sera and Kavita, who happens to be the elder sister of one such suicide victim. The villain in the piece is a respected man in the village who is into illegal smuggling of goods. The film hardly has any plot other than this love story and the revenge plot which plays out in the last 20 minutes.

The film really loses steam in the finale as it becomes bloody and the body count just increases. The ending is also very very weak.

Thanks to the Kodaikanal locations, Yuvan’s neat work with the songs and the RR (particularly one scintillating accordion piece which is repeated in the movie), Krishna’s apt shaggy looks, earnest performance and the typically top notch performances by Karunaas and Thambi Ramiah, the film is a watch worthy affair most of the way. Bindu Madhavi has sharp features but is limited in expressions.

If only the ending had been different, the film would have been a winner. Still, the different premise, the visuals and music make Kazhugu a decent one-time watch.