Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai (2011)

Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai is based on a short story of the same name penned by writer Bhaskar Sakthi.In 2012, the film was honored with two National Film Awards for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and Best Supporting Actor for Appukutty. Finally I saw this movie. The plot goes like this.

Mallayapuram is a village hit by severe drought due to lack of rainfall . The villagers decide to honor their God, Azhagarsami so that their fortunes change for the better. They start collecting funds for the festival and to repair the wooden horse of the God. But the wooden horse suddenly goes missing much to the shock of the villagers

At this time, a villager (named Azhagarsami) from the neighboring Aagamalai village in Periyakulam loses his horse and this horse comes to Mallayapuram by wandering and the villagers think that this real horse is God’s own horse. Azhagar finds his horse in Mallayapuram but he is hit badly by the villagers and he is refused his own horse. He needs this horse for his livelihood as well as for his marriage.

It is decided that Azhagar will live in Mallayapuram till the festival happens and then he can leave with his horse. The villagers feel that after the arrival of this horse, things have indeed changed for the better and the god-men in the village make a 'killing' thanks to the horse and the blind belief of the villagers.

There are some opposing people who don’t want this festival to happen and they try to harm Azhagar and his horse. There are also a bunch of youngsters in the village who don’t believe in God and are always behind truth and not blind superstitions

But, things change for the good towards the end as the wooden horse is returned to its original place. There is a touching reason for the wooden horse going missing and in the end the festival also happens well. Azhagar manages to get his horse after the wooden horse reappears and his marriage happens as planned

Ilaiyaraja’s BGM is mesmerizing. 'Kuthikkira Kuthikkira' song sung by the maestro himself is another sheer delight. But it is the BGM which proves the man's class. Such variety and such feeling in the music.

Village life has been shown so authentically. Each character in the village has some mischief and uniqueness. This adds to the energy of the movie. The feeling of seeing a 'movie' comes only during the small dramatic episode towards the climax when the horse runs loose and causes some havoc.

Appukutty turns in a powerhouse cameo. All emotions come so easily to him. The fight he has with the villagers during his intro is so raw and real. His bonding with the horse is touching. His humanity even towards a thief is another nice addition to his character sketch.

Both the little romance tracks in the movie are cute and realistic. While Appukutty's marriage is arranged purely on trust, the other love track is between people of opposing castes.

The superstitions followed by the villagers, the culture of god-men and the lackadaisical attitude of policemen have been sarcastically portrayed with good impact

VERDICT: Very realistic portrayal of village life with the 'horse' angle being totally new to Tamil cinema.

Dhoni movie review

Based on the Marathi film Shikshanachya Aaicha Gho by Mahesh Manjrekar, Dhoni is another film that questions the state of the current education system where schools are obsessed with 100% result and students are burdened by teachers and parents alike

Subramaniam dreams of making his son Karthik an MBA graduate. Karthik idolizes Dhoni and is a star cricketer at school. He is poor at studies though.

Subbu is a widower with a girl child as well. He is a typical middle class man with a government job. He sells pickles to add to his income. He lives in a colony with his friends and loyalists strongly by his side.

Subbu doesn't understand his son until a small freak accident occurs and totally turns him upside down. Karthik is comatose and Subbu keeps hoping and trying to cure his son.

Subbu then experiences the follies of the education system firsthand and he decides to take on the system with the help of the media. It isn't smooth sailing as he keeps encountering obstacles. He braves them all and pulls off the mission of getting his son back in good health.

The film has heavy melodrama and the climax encounter with the CM is highly improbable. For a film that focuses on cricket, there are hardly few convincing cricket shots in the movie including the final triumphant moment of Karthik.

Prakash Raj is the pillar of the movie. He is involved all through the movie and it is his baby all the way. What a terrific and earnest actor. He has overacted in the heavy scenes though. Splendid, anyway. All the support characters are solid - the humane money lender, the friends, Nalini - the caring neighbor, the 2 kids, the office colleagues etc etc.

Ilayaraja's songs are serene and mellow you down. His BG score is A-rate as always. The pace of the movie is steady. Never peaks or drags. MSD will feel proud if he ever sees this movie. Such hero-worship :)

VERDICT: Another sincere film that takes on the education system. Prakash Raj, all the way.

Nandalala (2010)

Whats it about:
A grown up retard Bhaskar Mani and a young kid Agilesh go in search of their respective mothers on a common journey. Thaivaasal and Annaivel are their destinations. While Agilesh longs to give his mom a kiss, Bhaskar Mani wants to ask his mother why she had left him in a mental institution for so many years.
   During their road trip, they meet a number of characters. Some of them are hostile while most of them are fine human beings. A helpless prostitute's life is also resurrected during this road trip and she also joins the 2 sons' search for their mothers.
   In a very touching finale we come to know that Bhaskar Mani's mother has become a totally devastated soul ever since her son's admittance to the mental institution  and Agilesh's mother has married another time and has another kid.
   In the end, Mani redeems his mother's life and admits her in a home for the elderly and Agilesh comes to know the truth behind his mother, and accepts the prostitute as his mother. Mani starts a new life as a balloon seller

                                                                 
Hits

• Some terrific performances by Mysskin and the young kid Aswath Ram. Very difficult roles for both of them. Mysskin proves that he is a supreme actor as well and Aswath proves that he is a star for the future
• Maestro Ilayaraja is in tremendous form be it the melodious songs or the goose bumps inducing BG score. 
• Snigdha impresses with her soul stirring performance as the helpless prostitute. Rohini shocks with her appearance in her cameo as Bhaskar Mani's mother
• The feel good nature of the road trip emphasizing the goodness of humanity. 
• Nice camera work covering the vast stretch of empty roads and greenery. 

VERDICT

One of the finest 'mother-sentiment' movies that deserved to strike gold. But it was just another critically acclaimed classic. MUST WATCH