Vettai movie review

The plot is set in Tuticorin and we have 2 brothers who are diametrically opposite to each other. While the elder one Thirumurthy is a timid man who fears everything, the younger one, Gurumurthy is a fearless bloke who doesn't mind getting into a hustle now and then.

Thiru incidentally gets into the police force after his father's death and he is helped by his brother while dealing with the rogues and rowdy elements in town, in the form of Mari and Annachi. The brothers get hitched to a pair of sisters. The elder pair's is an arranged marriage while the younger pair fall in love and get married later.

Thiru gains the respect of his colleagues and family due to his brother's timely 'action' interventions. The villains are baying for his blood and they eventually find out that Thiru is actually a timid guy and they bash him to pulp. Then with his younger brother's encouragement, Thiru turns a new leaf. It is like a rebirth and he goes around town wrecking havoc on the villains in his new 'action' avatar.

After a cliched climax where the brothers' wives are also dragged in, the villains are hunted and the 'vettai' is complete.

Hits

• The movie moves lightheartedly for the majority of the first half and it is enjoyable till then. Maddy and Arya bond well with their comic timing and their contrasts in character. In the second half when Arya and Amala play around with the NRI groom, it is entertaining too, thanks to the NRI guy's artificial accent and antics. 
• Amala Paul is really fresh and has a long career ahead. She carries off any costume gracefully and emotes well too. 
• Sameera goes overboard at times but is decent as the talkative and bold elder sister.
• The camera work by Nirav Shah makes the film look glossy. 
• The scene where Ajith's Mankatha intro scene comes on screen, sends the crowd into frenzy. The mini cameo by Jiiva on screen in the movie Ko is another mini-highlight. 

Misses

• The villains are cliched and are a caricature with their loud voices, stale punch dialogs, long hair, unkempt beard etc etc. For how long will this continue? 
• Whenever the movie becomes serious and action oriented, the audience mocks. Such is the formulaic treatment. The climax in particular is a major drag and is totally stale. The scene where Maddy gets up from the wheel chair seeing his brother getting hit, is hilarious and silly. Unintentionally funny scenes galore. 
• Arya and Maddy hardly look convincing in action and Maddy sucks during his dance in the opening number. 
• The BGM by Yuvan is a major letdown. 

Comments

• Average songs which have been placed just for sake to fill time. Kattipudi is the pick of the lot. 

VERDICT

The light hearted scenes make the movie watchable while there are lot of unintentionally funny scenes as well. Half baked hunt. 

Tanu weds Manu (2011)

The Plot

Manish Sharma aka Manu returns to India from London to get married according to his parents wish. He is arranged to meet Tanuja Trivedi aka Tanu in Kanpur on a marriage alliance. But Tanu turns out to be a brat who changes boyfriends frequently and she is currently in love with a railway contractor. But, Manu falls madly in love with her. Yet, he being such a simple and decent man lets go off Tanu.

But he encounters Tanu again in his friend Jassi’s marriage with Payal, who is Tanu’s friend. There, the fire is rekindled. Manu’s loyal aide Pappi, his friend Jassi and Payal are all in favor of Tanu marrying Manu. But Tanu takes a long time to realize this and there is also a suspense regarding who her lover is. Raja is the guy and they plan to elope and get married and Manu also helps in getting their marriage approved by their family too.

But, in the end Tanu realizes all the sacrifices and the pure love that Manu has for her and decides to get married to Manu. After a major scene created by Raja on the wedding night, Tanu weds Manu. 

                                                                     

Hits

• All the support characters Pappi, Jassi, Payak and Raja do a great job. They are the major plus points of the movie. Jimmy Shergill does aggressive characters very well.
• The music and the songs are all peppy and melodious.

Comments

• Maddy is overweight and looks plump. He underplays in the entire movie and the one scene where he bares his heart to Tanu is impressive. He needs to watch his weight but for this role of the decent middle aged London returned Indian, he is perfect.
• Kangana Ranaut is heavily made up but is cute nevertheless and does her part well, as always. She is perfect for such brat roles

VERDICT

Though the movie is just under 2 hrs duration, it drags to the finish line. Not much going for this movie but, it will appeal to the families as proved by the super hit status of the movie. 

Aayitha Ezhuthu (2004)

What’s it about:

             Set in the world of Tamil Nadu politics, it shows the lives of 3 young men, a student leader Michael, a ruffian Inba and a typical city youngster Arjun.

             Michael wants to serve the people of TN and he shuns even the high profile scholarships that he gets. He inspires all his college mates and the villagers of Neykaaranpatti.  He has a lover and is supported by his concerned mom and 2 sisters.

             Minister Selvanayagam panics due to Michael’s proactive stand and he takes the help of gangsters like Inba to somehow curtail Michael’s growth.  Inba has a troubled relationship with his wife and is caught up between his wife and his own greedy money minded intentions.

             Arjun is hell-bent on going to the US and but he changes his mind after a shootout by Inba to Michael. Arjun saves Michael and he gets inspired by Michael’s ideals and he also joins politics along with Michael and his gang.  Arjun has a nice lover Meera and his father and brother to support him.

             In the end, the team of 4 youngsters lead by Michael wins in their respective constituencies and is shown entering the assembly.

                                                               

Hits

• The same incidents shown from the 3 protagonists’ points of view, is something very new to Tamil cinema. Very novel and classy handling of the screenplay by Mani Ratnam.
• A.R.Rahman comes up with one of his best ever scores, both the songs and the BGM. The title track in particular gives goose bumps all over.
• The 3 heroes are dashing and apt to the core. Suriya as Michael is a dynamo and is aggressive as the ambitious young leader. Madhavan as the local ruffian Inba looks macho and is a real natural as the gangster . Siddharth as the carefree youngster turned politician Arjun is competent too.
• The 3 heroines look beautiful and have their parts too. Meera Jasmine, a terrific actress is obviously the best of the 3. As the concerned and emotional wife Sasi, she is top class. Trisha is very cute and emotes well. Esha is also very cute and like-able.
• Some very good support characters. Bharathiraja as the politician is very natural and utterly believable. The lady who is a sisterly figure to Sasi is again very natural. Sreeman as Dilli, Inba's friend and well wisher is first class. Other characters like Michael's mother and his sisters are all life like too. All the other student politicians make an impact too. 
• The sound design is top class. The sound effects for the fight scenes in particular make a supreme impact
• Some of the stunts are awesome. Michael’s first stunt and his stunt with Inba on the broken bridge are superb

Misses

•           The graphics during Michael’s shootout are tacky
•           The climax fight on Napier Bridge is also very amateurish.
•           After the 3 protagonists’ perspective sequences, the movie somehow loses grip and fails to inspire. 

VERDICT

Deserved a better run. The making style is supreme. Kudos to the master Mani Ratnam for bringing together such a star cast and giving them equal footage.