Kadhalil Sodhappuvadhu Yeppadi movie review

The much acclaimed recent super hit. Finally, got the chance to see it. The movie is a light hearted college fare that is enjoyable most of the time. It's basically about how a pair fall in love, fall apart and then fall back in place again in the end.

The way Arun and Parvathi fall in love is pretty cute particularly the episode around missing one another through sms. They start falling apart gradually due to no particular reason. As Arun himself says, he behaved like a guy and she behaved like a girl. That's what happens every time they have a lengthy discussion.

Amala Paul's hairstyle is the clincher. It adds to her cutesy value. Siddharth manages to look boyish and he can pass off as a college kid even now in his early 30s. But, Siddharth's constant PTCs get tiresome beyond a point. The same voice modulation and the same frustrated gibberish about love failure.

Thaman's songs and BG score are in sync with the mood and feel of the movie. They are youthful and peppy. The 'Thavarugal Unargirom' song in the climax is well placed.

Parvathi's parents' problems in their marriage and subsequent patch-up is a prominent subplot in the movie. Suresh as Parvathi's dad has an atrocious wig in place. But, a good show by him. His wife in the movie looks ravishing. Arun's parents are very light-hearted and always trump for their son. The small references to FB are enjoyable. Another subplot is the love between Cathy and John and how Cathy's ex-boyfriend tries to play spoilsport between them. The 2 SS Music VJs Pooja and Shyam play these parts. The hunky Shyam has a long way to go in the acting stakes

Arun's 2 friends are a riot. While one keeps getting into trouble with some nonsense, the other makes us laugh with his innocent and fidgety moves with one of the junior girls in college.

On the whole, it is definitely a new experience.

VERDICT: Love, the most common parameter in our movies continues to entertain us through another take. 

180 movie review

The Plot

Ajay comes to Kasi and decided to lead a fresh life as Mano after seeing the careless attitude of a small kid towards death. He then moves to Chennai and gets a home and helps all the people around him. His policy is to live for the day and not bother about the past or future.

He helps the small newspaper boys; he helps his house owners set up a mess etc. His neighbor Vidya, a reporter falls for him due to his jovial, playful and helpful nature. She confesses his love for him but he refuses. Later, due to a freak accident, Ajay is forced to take Vidya to the US for treatment.

There he revisits his past, his love marriage with Renu, an NRI girl. He was actually a doctor and he uses his contacts to get Vidya treated in his very same hospital. What leads to his present attitude and state, is told in the flashback that moves in parallel with the present. The significance of the title is also proved in the flashback scenes. 

                                                                      

Hits

• Siddharth is perfect for the role of the cheerful NRI doctor. His costumes are awesome and he looks very handsome. He contrasts well during the emotional scenes
• The 2 heroines are very expressive and emotive in their own way. While Priya Anand is so slim and svelte with some terrific costumes, Nithya Menon is voluptuous and cute at the same time. Both act very well though; Nithya’s costumes don’t suit her huge frame. 
• The film has high production values rivaling Hollywood films. The cinematography by Balasubramaniam is a major plus. The US locales are a real treat to the eye and the final Rio de Janeiro shots are a real dream. 
• The songs by Sharreth are superb. Many hit songs and the opening song in particular "Rules Kidayadhu" shot at 1000 frames per second with awesome detailing is a huge highlight. 
• The 2 friends Julie and Sambasivam play apt foils to the lead roles.
• Some of the love scenes and dialogs are enjoyable. 

Misses

• The film drags in the second half, the emotional scenes in particular 

VERDICT

A Manirathnam style romantic movie that is worth watching for the beautiful people, beautiful locales and the beautiful songs. 

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.