Aravan movie review

A period movie that professes that capital punishment must be banned. Set in the 18th century, it talks about an era when people are actually given as human sacrifice. The director has taken his own sweet time to tell this message. But, the movie is grand. The DI work is elaborate. The cinematography is terrific.

Aadhi has given his heart and soul to this character. He looks the part as the monumental Varipuli / Chinna. Great choice for a rustic period movie. Pasupathi is the other pillar in the movie as Kombodhi, the thief from Vembur. The ladies in the movie all have small parts. Archana Kavi is impressive as Kombodhi's boisterous sister who falls for Varipuli.

The villagers way of life, their customs, the way the robberies are planned and the gradual bonding between the 2 lead men make the first half very impressive. The suspense behind Varipuli's identity introduces the twist in the script.

It is later known that Chinna is the head guard in his village called Chinniveeranpatti. His mother is from Vembur and he is a married man. Their village has frequent problems with Mathur, a neighboring village. A mysterious dead body result in things snowballing between the 2 villages again and one thing leads to other and finally its decided that Chinna will be given as sacrifice. Chinna starts digging up the mystery behind the dead body and comes to know the actual truth. He escapes and goes underground for 9 years. That is how he becomes a thief, encounters Kombodhi and becomes a part of Vembur.

The truth behind the dead body is told in a laborious way. There are far too many shifts during the narrative in this section. Bharath plays this small cameo. Anjali is another guest appearance. Swetha Menon, the bomb, seduces for a few moments. The man who plays the king is a real letdown with his stupid Tamil and bulky body language. The comedian in Chinniveeranpatti is another irritant.

Things really drag with 3 songs in the second half. Karthik's BG score is good. One of the songs in the first half makes a mark. By the time, the expected tragic climax arrives, its close to 3 hrs.

VERDICT: A novel attempt for sure. If only, the pace had been crisper, it could have been a classic. 

Engaeyum Eppothum (2011)

The Plot
The film talks about a very important issue amid the backdrop of 2 beautiful contrasting love stories.

Kathiresan and Manimekalai are a pair in Trichy. While the guy is very shy and ever obedient, the girl is the exact opposite. She dictates terms and makes her guy move according to her wishes. But, it is true love between the two.

The other love track between Amudha and Gautham happens in the span of 1 day as Gautham helps a totally helpless Amudha around Chennai for her interview. Their love travels through the Chennai buses, lanes and after they part at the end of the day it becomes stronger.

Kathir and Mani board a Trichy -> Chennai government bus as Kathir wants to introduce his girl to his family at Arasur near Villupuram. Gautham and Amudha go in search of each other to Trichy and Chennai respectively. While Gautham is in the aforementioned Trichy -> Chennai bus, Amudha is in the Chennai -> Trichy bus.

A terrible bus accident happens involving the above 2 buses and what happens to the 2 pair of lovers and their lives is the climax which has high impact and is very emotionally involving.

Hits

• All the 4 performers Anjali, Jai, Ananya and Sharvanand. Anjali is boisterous, lively and turns in a spellbinding performance in the climax. Jai is perfect as the shy and soft guy who doesn't have any bad habits. Sharvanand is the suave Gautham who slowly falls for the naive Amudha and Ananya is the beautiful innocent small town girl who slowly starts falling for Gautham. 
• The Jai - Anjali track is very lively and entertaining thanks to the contrasting pair. Ananya makes the other love track tick with her innocence and suspecting nature. The emotions in both the love tracks make the occurrences in the climax even more involving. 
• The much hyped bus accident scene is a total shocker. Such details, such pain and such impact has never been seen in Indian cinema before. 
• The songs are lovely. Great debut by composer Sathya. The 'Maasama' song has been beautifully picturized. It has one highly addictive shoulder movement as part of the dance. 
• The editing is top notch. The post accident and pre accident scenes are beautifully juxtaposed using certain elements.
• The cinematography by Velraj gives the required jerk, nervous energy and tension. 
• A poignant message about organ donation is thrown in the climax amid all the blood and death. Hats off. 
• Each character in the bus has a beautiful story board. So touching. 
• The climax is a complete emotional pot boiler. Uff. 

Comments

• Gutsy production by Murugadoss and Fox Star. More such small budgeted gems need to be rolled out at regular intervals. 
• The BG score is too loud at places. 

VERDICT

A movie that entertains and yet gives out a very socially relevant message. Miss it at your own risk. Flawless debut by director Saravanan. Another stunner from Tamil cinema. 

Mankatha movie review

The Plot
"THALA 50" finally released today. So much frenzy. So much hype. The movie lives up to the hype gloriously and provides the best Thala treat since 2007. The best 50th movie any fan can get from his favorite hero.

The plot is as expected about cricket betting. The 500 crores worth money is expected to come to Golden Theater in Dharavi that is under the control of Chettiyar a big shot who is into many businesses and has many contacts.

4 guys plan to loot this money and settle in life. Ganesh, Mahat, Prem and Sumanth are these 4. Vinayak Mahadevan, a suspended cop also joins in the game and takes over the planning and execution in style. The money is looted but problems start cropping up.

The cops are after the money, Chettiyar's men are after the money and of course the 5 men also have their eyes on the money. Mahat and Prem escape with the money leaving Vinayak and the other 2 fuming and desperate for their share. A mad elimination game begins. What happens next is the movie's thrilling ending that has so much entertainment, fun and one helluva twist in the climax.

                                                                       
Hits

• THALA THALA DAN. What style. What mass. Debonair to the core. His grey hair, the light stubble, the coolers, the smoking style and the casual dressing are a REAL TREAT for Thala veriyans. Just fell in love with him all over again. Couldn't take my eyes off him.


• Venkat Prabhu has outshone all his previous works and really sprung a surprise with his handling of this dark, deadly, action packed and thrilling movie for the men. 


• The interval block is an example of what Thala can do in negative roles. This scene gives a mad adrenaline rush to all fans in the theater. 


• The way the title card screams out THALA 50 with all the different faces of Ajith's film career after Thala's intro fight in police dress, is a goose bumps moment for all Thala veriyans. 


• His look in the climax in another surprise and Thala carries off this look brilliantly too. The climatic twist is another big highlight. 


• The end credits are funny and light hearted. 


• Arjun as the cop Prithviraj is smart, fit as always and very agile in stunts. An apt foil for Thala. 


• The editor Praveen deserves a royal salute. The look of the film is top notch and he has showed Thala like a real rock-star with his stylish cuts and techniques. Cinematographer Sakthi Saravanan must also be lauded for his contribution towards the look of the movie.


• Yuvan and co.'s BG score is terrific and lifts the mood for all the thrilling action scenes and chases.


• The scenes showing Thala planning how to get into gang and the way they pull off the heist is very interesting and pumping. 


• The action sequences have been shot grandly though they are quite long at times.


• Premji lightens the mood in many scenes and his pranks as the IIT genius are funny most of the times. 

Misses

• The song placements particularly 'Vada Bin Lada'


• Some blips in the VFX

Comments

• Too many scenes glorifying Ajith's smoking style and his drinking antics


• Lots of bad words and beeps heard in Ajith's dialogs particularly in the second half when he becomes mad about the missing money. 


• Too many fights that might put off a few in the family. 


• The girls in the movie don't have much work. Trisha is Ajith's pair, Anjali is Vaibhav's wife and Andrea is Arjun's wife. Lakshmi Rai is also part of the heist and she has the best part among all the girls. She is SMOKING HOTT. 


• The remaining boys in the movie are mostly standard in all Venkat movies and they do their part. Ashwin as the cop Ganesh is smart and impressive in particular. 

VERDICT

A royal treat for Ajith fans. THALA MANIA all over again after Billa in 2007. The best 50th movie Thala could have provided to his hard core fanatics. Venkat Prabhu rises to the occasion like a true talent and THALA shows his grey side in all its glory