Azhagarsamiyin Kudhirai 2011 Tamil Movie Review

Cast:    Appukutty, Prabhakaran, Saranya Mohan, Adwaitha, Soori, Aruldass
Direction:    Suseendran
Music:    Illayaraja
 Tamil cinema has evolved a lot coming out of cliched themes. It’s no more hero running around trees romancing heroines or an angry young man bashing a bunch of anti-socials.

A young breed of filmmakers has come laying hands on unexplored themes and dwelling on sensitive and emotional ideas, taking leaf out of our daily life. Director Suseenthiran is one among them, who has proved his mettle with ‘Vennila Kabbadi Kuzhu’ and ‘Nan Mahan Alla’ before.

‘Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai’ by Suseenthiran is more a children's tale narrated with utmost maturity capturing the emotions and sentiments of rural people with all sincerity.

The story is wafer-thin, but the screenplay and dialogues are its life and blood giving a fresh feel. Two horses are found missing in two different places. Their disappearance leaves a big impact on the lives of many.

What happens if the lost horses are found forms the story. There are no familiar faces and the hero is no suave-looking or a smart fellow. But what makes the movie count is the way Suseenthiran has handled the story.

Perumal (Azhagan Thamizhmani), a village president, along with his men wants to conduct the temple festival of Lord Azhagarsami. The general belief in the village is that if the deity is taken out on a wooden horse, they would receive copious rain and all things would go well.

But due to various reasons the festival could not be conducted for many years. As it happens, the village reels under drought. Amidst great difficulty, Perumal arranges for the festival.

But to his horror, he finds the wooden horse missing. A police complaint is lodged and a couple of constables are posted in the village to investigate the incident.

An innocent cop (Suri) enters the village disguised as an ordinary man to trace the horse. Meanwhile there is Ramakrishnan (Prabhakaran), the atheist son of Perumal, who is in love with Devi (Advaitha), belonging to a lower caste.

Enters a white horse and all villagers gets convinced that it is Lord Azhagarsami's horse and it has come alive. Things change in the village and all good things start to happen.

When they decide to conduct the festival with the white horse, comes to the village a youth Azhagarsami (Appukutty), claiming that it is his horse. He even lodges a complaint with police.

Azhagarsami is all set to get married to one Rani (Saranya Mohan) and the wedding is halted because the horse owned by him has gone missing. It is eventually agreed that the horse would be handed over back to Azhagarsami after the festival. But fate has other plans.

Appukutty is tailor-made for the role. His caring and sharing for his horse, his desperate search for his four-legged friend are brought out well. Saranya Mohan in a breezy role walks away with applause.

Azhagan Thamizhmani as Panchayat president brings out his best, while debutant Prabhakaran as rural youth is impressive. Devaraj, who played Ameer's father in ‘Yogi’, is Saranya Mohan's dad and is apt for the role.

If Suseenthiran is the captain of the ship, cinematography by Theni Eashwar, dialogues by Baskar Sakthi and re-recording by Ilayaraja are its guiding force. The three combine well.

At many places, the innocence of village life is brought out well by the maestro's background score, with cinematography and dialogues providing enough support.

A major eyesore may be the movie's pace in the first half, but due credit should be given to Suseenthiran for compensating it in the latter part, which goes fast and furious without losing its nativity.

Produced by Escape Artistes Motion Pictures and presented by Cloud Nine Movies, ‘Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai’ is a movie to cherish and celebrate.

Ko 2011 Tamil Movie Review

Banner:    RS Infotainment
Cast:    Jeeva, Ajmal, Karthika
Direction:    K V Anand
Production:    S Kumar and R Jayaraman
Music:    Harris Jayaraj
Headline. Scoop. Byte. Edition. These words are familiar with all journalists. For a layman it's the newspaper that he reads finally counts. A photojournalist-turned-director, K V Anand, with 'Ko', has rendered a movie that is like reading a newspaper fresh and folded very early in the morning from page one till the last.

Journalists are until known to be portrayed in a cliched manner in Tamil cinema, wearing a pyjama kurtha, spotted with a beard carrying a long shoulder bag. Times have changed and so are the lives and struggles of journalists.

With 'Ko', Anand has turned the arc light on the unsung heroes of modern India, the neo-journalists, their dedication and passion towards the profession.

Anand has proved his mettle coming with intense thrillers with great detailing, thanks to writers Suba in his side as it was evident in 'Kanna Kandein' and 'Ayan'.

'Ko' speaks about power struggle and press freedom, laced with all commercial ingredients in an interesting manner. All credits should go to the script and screenplay. Tautly written, there are hardly any logical loopholes.

Be it a hardworking scribe or a photographer who are chasing sensation news, a power-lust Chief Minister, or an opposition leader, or a youth who wants to change the political system, all characters do have a say in the film. Anand has woven all of them craftily.

The movie revolves around Ashwin (Jeeva), who is a talented photographer in a Tamil daily Dina Anjali. He is the sought-after lensman in his newspaper for his images speak a thousand words and bring awareness.

There are a couple of other journalists in the same media house- Renuka (Karthika), who covers sensational events and entertainment -in-charge Saro (Piya). They develop an affinity for Ashwin.

A battle begins in Tamil Nadu as Assembly elections are announced. It becomes a direct war between Chief Minister Yogeswaran (Prakash Raj) and opposition leader Alavandan (Kota Sreenivasa Rao). As typical politicians, as they are portrayed, they do everything under the sun to come to power.

But Renuka and Ashwin's brilliant investigative reports and photographs, help a third force led by youth Vasanthan (Ajmal) emerge the front-runner. He is a symbol of modern Indian youth who believes in clean politics.

At an election rally of Vasanthan, a bomb goes off killing Saro. Vasanthan goes on to win the polls. Now the onus falls on Ashwin and Renuka to find the real culprits behind the attack. Get ready to watch an unpredictable climax.

Jeeva is impressive and played his part exceedingly well. He looks a typical photojournalist. His body language and dialogue delivery are worth a watch. An intense performar, Jeeva pulls it off with ease.

Karthika as Renuka brings out the nuances needed for the role well. She has not exaggerated. She downplays her emotions to gel with the character. Ajmal is a revelation as an aspiring politico Vasanthan. His looks compliment the character.

The veterans Prakash Raj and Kota Sreenivasa Rao have played their part well. They have given right emotions needed for the roles. Piaa in the supporting character is adequate. Watch out for Sona in a cameo. Chinmayi's dubbing for Karthika is apt.

Harris Jayaraj is a major attraction. All his songs pep up the environment. 'Ennamo Yedho...' is pick of the album.

Anand deserves all accolades for rendering a brisk entertainer that is devoid of cliches. Racy all through, it is a movie that is worth a watch, if you are really not bothered about logic at certain places.

Engeyum Kadhal 2011 Tamil Movie Review

Banner:    AGS
Cast:    'Jayam' Ravi, Hansika Motwani
Direction:    Prabhu Deva
Production:    Kalpathi Agoram
Music:    Harris Jayaraj
Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence, they say. No one can understand this better than choreographer-actor-director Prabhu Deva, for reasons which are obvious.

So expectations were high on 'Engeyum Kadhal', his directorial venture. Though romance reigns supreme in this film, lack of enough care in the script and narration mar the flow. But hold on! Harris Jayaraj's music, Nirav Shah's cinematography and the crackling chemistry of 'Jayam' Ravi-Hansika Motwani set things right to a decent extent.

From Laila-Majnu to Karthik-Jessy, romance has been celebrated in various ways on screen. 'Engeyum Kadhal' follows this formula, and who knows, it may strike the right chord in today's youngsters, who vote for candyfloss stories.

Unlike earlier Prabhu Deva films that were more noisy, 'Engeyum Kadhal' is rather quite, sedate to start with. The movie is more like a gentle breeze touching your face on a cool evening.

It is a tale of a suave, rich and a successful young business man Kamal ('Jayam' Ravi) who wants to break all hectic shackles around him to go on a vacation to Paris, the capital city of France.

It's boy meeting girl story here. Destiny brings Kayal (Hansika Motwani), a Indian girl brought up in France in his life. Rajasekhar (Suman), Kayal's father runs a detective agency.

She is shocked when she comes to know from reading his father's case that a client (Sonu) is currently behind Kamal, only to kill him. Kayal decides to save Kamal's life. The saviour act turns as love between them.

Kamal leaves France and Kayal is shattered. After almost a year, they meet again and things take a turn.

'Jayam' Ravi is impressive. He plays his part extremely well and seems to have got under the skin to deliver his best. Especially as a stylish entrepreneur, he fits the bill well. Hansika, the bubbly, girl is awesome. Her presence itself is a big plus, not to forget her performance. Suman and Raju Sundaram play their part well.

If Prabhu Deva is the heart for 'Engeyum Kadhal', Harris Jayaraj is its soul. His mesmerising tunes catches admiration of one and all. Nirav Shah's lens captures the Paris at its pristine glory.

There is no surprise more magical than the surprise of being loved. It is God's finger on man's shoulder. Perhaps the movie ends proving this point. Go fall in love with 'Engeyum Kadhal'.

Vaanam 2011 Tamil Movie Review

Cast :    Silambarasan, Bharath, Anushka Shetty, Prakashraj, Saranya Ponvannan, Sonia Agarwal, Vega Tamotia, Santhanam, Jasmin Bhasin, Jayaprakash, Radha Ravi, Ravi Prakash, VTV Ganesh.
Director :    Krish
Story-Screenplay:     Krish
Dialogues :    Kannan and Giri
Music:     Yuvanshankar Raja
Cinematography:     Nirav Shah
Editing:     Anthony Gonsalves
Banner :    VTV Productions, Magic Box Pictures
Producer   :  VTV Ganesh, R. Ganesh
Distributor  :   Cloud Nine Movies
CBFC :    U/A


Since couple of months, 'Evan Di Unna Pethan' was not just a song in Vaanam but it was a synonym for the movie and Silambarasan, to whom belongs the lyrics and voice credit. Vaanam is a remake of the Telugu movie Vedam, which turned out to be a mega hit of 2010. Director Radhakrishna, introduced in Tamil as Krish presents Vaanam, which shows the lives of five individuals, their needs, their desperation to achieve it and their destinies, which brings them together. Will they abandon their needs for others? Is it really a materialistic world we live in?

Cable Raja (Simbhu), a slum dweller in Chennai, who works in his neighborhood cable TV. Bharath (Bharath), a military brat from Bangalore, who aspires to be a rock star against his parent's wish. Saroja (Anushka), a sex worker in Andhra, who wants to flee her brothel to start her own. Hamid (Prakash Raj) from Coimbatore, who is in search of his younger brother, who had fled the communal riots. Revathi (Saranya) a weaver in Thoothukudi, who is neck deep in debt and penury.

Their desperations in life?

Cable Raja, pretending he is a wealthy, is in a relationship with a rich girl hoping he could get rich the smart way. The d-day arrives when the girl wants to introduce Cable Raja to her parents. The venue, a pomp new year eve party with an entry fee of Rs.40,000.  How can the poor Cable Raja afford the party?

Bharath walks out on his mother and leaves to Chennai to attend a rock concert, which he believes will give him the break, he has been longing for. His rock band drives to Chennai but gets a flat tyre on the way. When Bharath's friends leave to fix the tyre, he is left alone with his girlfriend on the lonely highway. A gang of ruffians encounter the couple, subdue Bharath and abduct with his girlfriend. How can he rescue her?

Saroja had reached the height of tolerance servicing her clients day in and day out. In the brothel, an abusive police inspector ravages her repeatedly. Saroja, along with her trans gendered friend, give a slip to the inspector and her madam, and flee to Chennai. Lusty men  are always on Saroja's trail. Will she be independent make a living for herself?

Hamid, his pregnant wife and younger brother get stuck in the middle of a radical right wing procession. They get viciously attacked and Hamid's wife suffers a miscarriage. An Inspector, who is also a right wing sympathizer, frees the attackers and insults Hamid for his religion. Humiliated and denied justice, Hamid's brother flees home. Hamid goes in search of his brother, who vowed he would fight back. Can Hamid find his brother and bring him home?

Struggling weavers Revathi and her father-in-law owe Rs.40,000 to a loan shark. Their only hope in life is Revathi's son, who is a topper in academics. When the loan goes unpaid. the loan shark takes away Revathi's son and puts him on bonded labour in a salt pan. With no other way to give her son an education, Revathi decides to sell her kidney through a broker, who brings her to a doctor. The sincere doctor, suspecting a commercial kidney transplant turns down Revathi. Can Revathi sell her kidney to manage the money, which would grant her child's freedom?

Vaanam's first half brings you to this edge of the seat situation. What would happen if these individuals' struggling lives overlap? That is revealed in one of the most fast phased scenes ever seen in Kollywood.

Director Krish hasn't just got a new name in Kollywood, but had earned a velvet seat too. The story, screenplay and appealing editing is bolted tight, with not the slightest of space for flaws. Five stories within one, which are edited with equal importance and flow to all the characters is Anthony Gonsalves' magic. Nirav Shah's camera quickly adapts to dusty villages to crowded slums to posh dance floors with ease. Cinematography in the thrilling climax scene, along with Yuvanshankar Raja's heart thumping music is a huge bonus. Cable Raja is Simbhu's best role till date. He had abandoned his cliched' young guy image, and had lived the character and its emotions. We opine, last decade was Simbhu's honeymoon phase in Kollywood, some demanding roles are headed the actor's way henceforth.

Santhanam as Tan- tana-tan Cheenu has repeated the partnership he offered with Arya and Karthee, in Boss Engira Baskaran and Siruthai. Anushka as the mirchi hot sex worker is too hot to handle this summer. Vaanam's first half is reserved for 'Evan Di Unna Pethan', the rest of the songs perfectly swing with the moods on screen. Saranya as the impoverished weaver is the poignant face of our struggling farmers and artisans in rural India. Her tale throws light on the atrocious bonded labour widely prevalent in our country. Happy go lucky Cable Raja, throughout his escapades says “Enna Vazhka Da” (What a life!). We saw, wow, what an entertainer!