Vaagai Sooda Vaa (2011)

Veluthambi is an educated young man who is looking to become a teacher in a government school. Before that he is sent by the Grama Seva to work in a village for some time and educate the kids there. The particular village is one where small children are used as child laborers to lay bricks. The parents of the kids are also not aware of the ulterior motives of the proprietors. It takes Velu to put some sense into them that education is the way forward.

The kids take a lot of coaxing to finally agree to learn. They keep playing funny pranks on the teacher. There is also a young girl, Madhi who falls in love with the teacher seeing his charming and funny ways.

Towards the end, Velu becomes too attached to the village and gives up on his own ambitions and decides to live for the villagers' cause. It reminds us of Swades in a small way.

The movie doesn't preach. It just is a small attempt to aid awareness about child labor and about education being the only way forward. Nicely done.

All the kids in the movie are very natural and so is Iniya who seems to be a natural talent all the way. She is very expressive. Vimal could have done better though. A better hero could probably have lifted this movie to commercial success as well. Thambi Ramaiah and Bhagyaraj show their experience in nice little roles. Kumaravel has a very striking role as the supposed mad man and his makeover is extensive.

The soundtrack of this movie by Ghibran is delightful to say the least. The songs and the BGM are lovely. 'Porane' and 'Sara Sara' will stay with you. The way they have been picturized is an added bonus. The lyrics for the songs are poignant and very meaningful.

The camerawork is grand, the art work is intricate and makes sure that the period setting is authentic. Old songs have been tastefully woven into the narrative.

VERDICT: Honorable attempt that is not too preachy either. Good message and nicely delivered. 

Thoonga Nagaram (2011)

What’s it about

The tale of 4 friends, Kannan, Maari, Aiyyavu and Rajamani, who come from different backgrounds and meet and develop their friendship in Madurai, the Thoonganagaram. They have their fun and also the small misunderstandings and are thick friends. Kannan is in love with his childhood neighbor Radha and is ready to marry her after some opposition from his family due to an old conflict.

        The 4 friends get into trouble with one of Madurai’s bigwigs when they expose the bigwig’s son who is into voyeuristic pleasures at his clothing outlet. In a drunken state, Kannan and his friends come to know of this atrocity from one of the affected parties and they go and attack the bigwig’s son, ultimately blinding him. The bigwig is obviously pissed off and orders his men to nab the 4 and kill Kannan in particular.

        The 4 friends leave Madurai and go back to their home towns to save their lives. The bad men slowly come to know of these 4 through Maari, the mute guy. Kannan’s 3 friends are threatened and are forced to kill Kannan to save their families. Everyone assembles for Kannan’s marriage with Radha and there the 4 friends plan to clear the mess and execute it to perfection. All is well in the end.

                                                                     

Hits

• Very good songs by Sundar C Babu
• The initial half an hour or so is really lively.
• Fairly interesting though it could have been crisper
• All the lead actors have done a fair job of what is expected from them.

Misses

• The climax is quite implausible and the 4 friends have their way so easily.
• The main villain is very bland. A better choice was needed.

VERDICT

Fairly good show by the debut director cum actor Gaurav. An average movie that starts promisingly but could have been more crisp and taut.