Stalin and Em Magan

Adding two more reviews of the movies that I saw during this week...

Stalin [Telugu]
1) You probably would have heard of binary marketing or Referral marketing, (like Amway), where one sells products by referring 2 or more persons and they in turn do the same further to propagate the chain reaction; Stalin has a similar theme but on the social front based on the Hollywood flick Pay it Forward.
2) Stalin has all the elements of a Chiru fare – Action, Dance, Social message, Masala and loads of sentiments; and if you are keen on logic, then its not your game.
3) Plus: Main storyline, Chiru’s dance, Parare Parare song, Certain scenes that steal your heart (especially the running race scene of Physically challenged children, where a child gets tripped and falls to the ground seeing which the other children in the race come back, cooperate with him and they all together reach the winning post. Really touching..) and the climax.
4) Minus: Songs and their inappropriate timing of insertion, Brahmanandam (who was underutilized) and much violence.
5) Verdict: If you are a Chiru fan then, go ahead, it lives to the expectation offered by the MegaStar’s package.

Em Magan (Emttan Magan) [Tamil]

1) Metti Oli Thirumurugan’s maiden direction venture Em Magan is sprun across a village subject, where Bharat plays the subservient son to the loud and tyrant father (Nasser) and the plot ends with a smooth ending where Nasser realizes his folly and gets along well with everyone.
2) Em Magan has a whiff of freshness in its Senti cum Family fare that has all elements of a feel good movie and most importantly has the flavour and nativity of the rustic essence.
3) Plus: Clearly it is the omnipresent Vadivelu this time who has given a good comedy with his typical gramatthu dialect throughout the movie, the Gramaththu Saayal (its long time after Bharathiraja a nice village subject with picturisation has come), Bharat and Nasser’s diametrically opposite characters and Saranya who has a solid performance.
4) Minus: Nasser’s illogical histrionics at some of the scenes irritate you and the too dramatic consequential part after Bharat-Gopika affair when it gets noticed by the elder folks.
5) Verdict: I find it to be very good and give a full recommendation to watch it; also I find a personal attachment and belongingness as the movie is almost fully shot in Karaikudi, which is my hometown!

Friday Review

15/11 (friday) 10 pm (IST)

Hey, hey, hey....It is friday evening. I am in a euphoric state. So I shall be looking into the left out movie reviews now ;-)

Sillunu Oru Kaadhal (Tamil)

1. Sillunu Oru Kadhal released just days before the wedding of the lead pair Surya-Jo has a surprisingly different package with a slight off-the-beat crux inside.
2. SOK doesnt disappoint as publicised which has a bold subject of a Wife(Jothika) going to the extent of making her hubby (Surya) to live at least one day with his former lady love (Bhumika) on knowing the same years later; and as expected Indian Sentiment triumphs! (Watch yourself to see how)
3. Plus: Music (New York Nagaram rocks all the way!), the child artiste (as Surya-Jo's daughter), -- she is choooo cute, Picturisation.
4. Minus: The drag in the second half, Vadivelu part -- Gosh, it was incongruent to the movie with crass humour, Conspiciously excessive Advertising of products (Maruti Swift, Pepsi, TVS Star, Boost, Aircel, Maggi, Head & Shoulders!! !)
5. Verdict: Personally I liked SOK, tho' few may not concur..In any case, it is definitely watchable despite the subtle flaws in the storyline.

PS - Trivia: I saw the movie shooting (and Surya as well) from very near while it was being shot in my college for few of the college locations in the movie..When the football ground (thats our hostel ground) sequence in Munbae Vaa..Anbe Vaa song, I was there seeing!


Lage Raho Munna Bhai (Hindi)
1. Mark my words, this movie absolutely rocks and promises to be on the line of its prequel MunnaBhai MBBS that does not miss the essence and mark of the Munnabhai brand's flavour.
2. Pats to the script writers who have contributed the fresh concept of Gandhigiri (with Satya and Ahimsa) possible to bring about peace in day to day problems involving people.
3. Plus: Gandhigiri, Novel approach in handling the story, the Munna-Circuit pair's Looti, the gorgeous and simple Vidya Balan and cast, which is almost same as that of version 1.0 (except for Vidya Balan)
4. Minus: At times, there are logical flaws (but very few). But overall, it doesnt matter though.
5. Verdict: Bindaas... Ekdum Solid Maamu


Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (Tamil)
1. Another episode in a Police officer's life: Kamal, a Crime branch Cop is in the hunt of a Psychopath who is behind a series of brutal murders. The Modus Operandi of Kamal’s investigation, his past and present personal life and the new lady love (Jothika) forms the rest of the story.
2. Many movies have come with similar story line before, but VV is fresh with its presentation, screenplay and photography but dont tend to compare with Kaaka Kaaka.
3. Plus: Music (Songs are hit since long back), beautiful picturisation of New York Nagaram and the stunt sequences.
4. Minus: Logic part -- Hard to digest that all alone 2 men take the New York Cops and Tamilnadu Police (force) in for a ride with a comfortably large number of murders all the way they go! And likewise many others
5. Verdict: Go for it! Disclaimer: Opinions vary

Bommarillu (Telugu)
1. A feel good movie that primarily portrays the bonding between an excessively caring dad and a son who wants to be independent, their aspirations and thinking.
2. Bommarillu has all the elements of a class movie with decent portrayal of characters, beautiful songs (literally all!) and most importantly promises to deliver more than what you expect.
3. Plus: Though Silly, Genalia is cute with her ChatterBox role; Prakashraj- Sidharth as father-son duo who have done justice to their roles, Music and Comedy.
4. Minus: Err....I dint find any.
5. Verdict: I recommend to all those who havent seen. Definitely a must see, I should say!

FWD-O-MANIA

It was Actor Surya-Jo's wedding yesterday and the affair ended well with the presence of all big-wigs of politics and Tamil cinema. And boy, the couple looked awesome in all the pics... At least a dozen of those forwards I recieved in my mail box today.

Good heavens, nothing this kind of crappy mail came for the past few days.. Gosh, I actually posted this comment on that blog (FYI given below) :

" I too am a victim of many such fwd mails — stuff like Ganesha Mantra, Microsoft and AOL pays u XX.xx $ for every x fwd, 5 yr old child being paid medical expenses for every nth fwd, lady seeking info on her hubby’s rare disease dated years long back, Promotional offer/ Ad campaign by giving free Nokia mobile, Laptops, IPods and whatnot for fwding their mails and the most irritating kind being ‘if u dont fwd within ___days/hrs; u will have bad luck for ___years (curse is at times elevated to even immediate death!) -- Kasi "

Fountain Head

Its been movie reviews all this time in my blog.. Actually I still have left Bommarillu, Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu and Lage Raho Munnabhai to be added..And Munnabhai was AWESOME!

But I feel this is going more kinda Movie Tabloid..So for a change I am not posting the reviews immediately...

I ve come to home this weekend.. Things on my agenda are to attend a wedding and Kumbabhishegam of my oor temple.. And last month, I finished reading Fountain Head by Ayn Rand which I started somewhere back in my B.E 1st year. The first 200 or so pages didnt delight me then and it was long kept unread. Add to it generous circulations among my friends and later getting fabulous reviews on it, I took a sudden interest and finished it in installments over the last few months. I just loved every page of the book in the last few chapters, in particular, when more of objectivism is enlightened through Roark. Got to know and appreciate as well lots of things about Architecture throughout the book... And I should say, Roark's speech in the Courtland Trial is a masterpiece.
I shall add more about it when I get time..

Parijatham

This weekend I had been to Madurai to attend one of my classmates brother's wedding.. It was all fun catching up class buddies after a pretty long gap...

Used the michhum chochham gap to come home and presented my mom a new DVD Player. It was an LG make with all the fundoo features. The player was inaugurated for its operations with the SPY KIDS DVD in the show room on demo[nstration] causa. May be the sales person forgot to remove it and the DVD came to our home along with the player!

Back at home, the first full length movie which we saw in it was Parijatham.. It was first time for me and I really wonder how come I missed watching it all these days... Boy, the movie was Enjoyable! And I declare open the review below!

1. Backiaraj's home Production Parijatham is a hit which also happens to be a launch pad for his daughter Saranya, who is cute with her pleasant demeanour.
2. The suave Hero Pruthviraj has done good job with his enjoyable Mallu'ed Tamil Accent and the Music is good, especially the numbers Unnai kandathum.., theme music et. al stay close to the heart (I ve made the next point lighter by putting this here!)
3. Plus: Backiaraj's subtle humour, etching and portrayal of characters and sensible dialogues topped with some good old sayings as a pleasant reminder to the situations in the movie; Pruthviraj's jovial protryal in the First half of the movie (for the fictitious Parijatham Novel penned by Saranya)
4. Minus: The hackneyed Niruthunga Intha Kalyanatha at the climax making a bakra and bakri out of might-be prospective bride/groom of the hero/heroine and Pruthviraj has nothing worthwhile to do in the second half, may be he could have been utilised better.
5. Verdict: I definitely would recommend watching this feel-good-and-leave-better fare, but dont get much deep into the logic part of the second half...

Marathon Movie Reviews

Hold your breath.. I am gonna post my trademark 5 point movie reviews - this time it is much much longer than ever. It almost accounts for the new movies that I ve seen in the past 2 months. Well, I am going in the reverse chronological order I saw.

Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna [K.A.N.K] (Hindi)

1. Karan Johar's new venture disappoints with its weird storyline unlike his previous blockbusters KKHH, K3G and KHNH.
2. For a change, I guess SRK has taken Emraan Hashmi's job by fitting into his Infidelity bill!
3. Plus: Music - All songs rock especially Party song and Mitwa as well the Rock n Roll number, Comedy in the first half and cinematography
4. Minus: The story itself - fails to appeal and empathize the Indian Audience
5. Verdict: KANK may be a KALANK; but very much watchable once though .

Thimiru (Tamil)

1. Following successive hits - Chellamae and SandaKozhi, Hero Vishal comes all packed for yet another opening, which has all the ingredients of a racy masala cum action movie.
2. First half of the movie goes with ease when compared with second half, which drags with a unjustifyingly poor flashback with the acerbic Shriya Reddy (she does a very artificial and unconvincing Negative Role).
3. Plus: Stunts (Action), Vadivelu comedy, Vishals Background music and First half.
4. Minus: Songs (Except Manamadurey) and Second half.
5. Verdict: Can be watched once but dont expect it in the genre of Dil, Dhool or Gilli.

[Something..Something]Unakkum Enakkum (Tamil)

1. Yet another colour xerox copy from Remake Raja, this time from Prabhudeva's Telugu blockbuster Nuvostanante Nenodantana, which has a fine blend of DDLJ and Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya.
2. Has all the elements of a feel good movie, an impressive star cast and yup nice songs too!
3. Plus: Story, Music and Santhanam's comedy.
4. Minus: The drag in the climax and Jeyam Ravi's choice for the UK-returned-chilled-out character unlike Sidharth (with his long hairdo) in the original version which he did it with ease.
5. Verdict: Good. Watch it if you havent seen the Telugu version, else leave it as it is the same!

Omkaara (Hindi)

1. Vishal Bharadhwaj's Omkaara is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello confining to a UP village with power, politics and lust in the game.
2. The movie has an impressive star cast and there are no songs here.
3. Plus: Definitely Saif with his Langda character, Ajay Devgan and the typical deep rooted Hindi dialogues with the flavour of authentic-rustic-ambience of rural UP/ Bihar .
4. Minus: A conspicious drag through out the movie, love making scenes and incoherence at times in the movie.
5. Verdict: Not a family movie, watch it if you have inclination for such bold movies.

Amma Cheppindhi (Telugu)

1. A novel attempt in presentation, Amma Cheppindhi is an off the beat movie sans masala, the whole story which is spun around the colony and people of a fictious Nuclear Power Plant Nagar.
2. Central theme focusses on the sacrifice laid by a Not so intelligent, funny and adorable Hero Shravan.
3. Plus: Picturisation, Clean presentation, First half and Suhasini's character.
4. Minus: The not so convincing melodrama in the climax and drag in some of the scenes, esp. the senti ones.
5. Veridict: Amma Cheppindhi may be like Amma Champindhi, but it is definitely bearable on the whole.

Uyir (Tamil)

1. Hmmm.. Uyir is on the lines of 'Vaali' or the recent 'Kalabhak-Kadalan', only change this time is it is the female who has an incest love on her young brother-in-law.
2. Apparently, the movie has done good business without getting stuck into any kind of controversy and if I am not wrong it has got rare reviews too.
3. Plus: The electrifying Sangeetha's Arundhati Character (she shadows Srikanth in the movie!) and two of the songs that are quite melodious.
4. Minus: Samvridhi, the actual Heroine and some of the irritating kinda Sangeeta's expressions.
5. Watching Uyir is not suicidal ;-) though one gets to see too many suicides in the movie which noticably starts with a Non Suicidal note !

Imsai Arasan 23-aam Pulikesi

1. One of the best movies made in recent times, Imsai Arasan 23-aam Pulikesi with the ambience of an East Man colour movie has all the flavors of a quintessential Comedy hit.
2. Though I am not an ardent fan of Vadivelu, I find him good in this movie where he does both the roles with finesse and comic mettle (Vadivelu has double Action here).
3. Plus: Comedy,dialogues, the chaste Tamil used in the movie which one rarely gets to hear these days and yeah Vadivelu, of course.
4. Minus: The heroines who had nothing worthwhile to do and though I appreicate the language used, I personally found tad difficult to follow some of the dialogues.
5. Verdict: A roar out laughter riot, 23 aam.. definitely is the watch of the season.


Vikramaarkudu (Telugu)

1. Vikramaarkudu is again another Masala Mass movie from Ravi Teja which has all the proscribed dance, crass comedy, masala songs and yeah dialogues so much typical in any telugu mass movie.
2. Movie has no great plot, it simply is a fine mixture of previous movies, but yes, it has a refreshing element in it with Anna Ravi Teja is double action for the first time.
3. Plus: Ravi Teja as Rathore and his dialogues
4. Minus: Songs that doesnt match the pace of the movie, Crass comedy and Violence part.
5. Veridict: Hmm.. I wouldnt really advocate to watch it, but if you are simply left with nothing to do and laze away around 2 and a half hours, then go ahead!

Thiruttu Payalae (Tamil)

1. With a refreshingly new plot, the movie is certainly far away from the cliched approach when looked at any angle.
2. The way the characters are etched, especially Jeevan's is fabulous and things are presented nicely without much boisterous screenplay.
3. Plus: The gorgeous Sonia Agarwal, songs especially the opening number Thiruttu Payalae and Poi Solla poraen.. which pulsates me even now and the climax that goes totally unexpected.
4. Minus: Not much though and its quite long time since I had seen the movie that I am unable to ponder upon its minusses!
5. Verdict: Watchable once and even twice, pats to Susi Ganesan (director) for the good job that has a good message in the climax.

Godavari (Telugu)

1. This is one of the best movies that I must say I ve seen in the recent years; surely it is a landmark in the annals of Telugu Kollywood's 'Klass' movies.
2. Watching the movie is a treat to enjoy Godavari's splendid picturisation and the movie goes in a decent pace, doesnt make you bore throughout the fare.
3. Plus: The Godavari backdrop with beautiful lightening and cinematography, pleasant songs, the suave Kamlini Mukherjee, soft spoken but bhatka and confused sa Suman and also the doggy that speaks gr8 thought provoking dialogues!
4. Minus: Couldnt find any, the story was natural and it was a wholesome pleasure in watching it.
5. Verdict: Hats off to Shekhar Kammulla, the young director who has presented us such a wonderful movie that has a long lasting impression. Go and watch the movie, if you havent!

As I see, I dare !

Place: Chennai
Date: 22-July-2006, exactly a week before
Time: 11.55 am (IST)
Situation: Me sleeping all the way to glory till this time . Perhaps, then realised that its the wake up call and grabbed The Hindu lying in a corner of the Hall. Now...

As usual, I flipped through its pages to the Business and Sports section, when this ad by the Nani A Palkhiwala Foundation somewhere in the middle suddenly grabbed my attention. The ad read:

"Talk on women Empowerment and....
Speaker: Smt. Kiran Bedi, Magsaysay Recipient
Venue: Rani Seethai Manram, Near Anna Flyover
Time: 11.30 am(and yeah)
All are invited"

Plus a request to occupy the seats atleast 15 minutes before the commencement.

Though I pay attention to details, what attracted me instantly was the speaker and then straight I looked for the time and venue only to find that time was already 12.20 in my watch! I felt very bad for waking up late and I told Satya, my roomie about this. He replied -- "These people seldom come late for occasions like this da unlike politicians where the actual speech begins comfortably hours later than the scheduled time". And he made some time calculations and advised me not to go as even if I start immediately I might be able to see only an empty hall. But I was already prepared to go even if it were to see an Empty hall. Within 2 minutes like the Maggi Instant Noodles, I was ready (of course, bathing is a luxury in this time and had to be avoided). Rushed from my apartment across the road to the Autokaaran I could see first and then started to the venue.

It took almost half an hour to reach there and the time was 1 pm. I sped across the stairs and asked the attendant whether its still on. Yeo, he said yes which sparkled my face and added "Ulla Ponga Saar. Mudiya poguthu..". As I went inside crowd was less than what I expected (I had expected to stand but fortunately there were enough seats left unfilled). As it happened, Kiran Bedi was answering the last audience question from the dias and I came to know that the programme started at sharp 11.30. Ms. Bedi clad on a baby-green Pathan style Patiala suit was radiant and effervescent amongst the galaxy of dignitaries present on the podium. Seated along with her on the dias was Apna company CFO too. After her answer to the last question, Vote of thanks was proposed by the Palkhiwala Foundation Secretary.

Then the folks off the stage were disbursing, but how could I? I had come all the way atleast to say a 'Hi' to her. She was flocked by the foundation members, some socialite women and few who wanted to see her from near. Oh la, she readily interacted with all the junta and her mere presence electrified everyone. I had this strong urge to get an autograph from her; and Kiran is a star in her own right. I made the first move to get her autograph and with me making the intiative, others too followed.. [Autograph from movie actors is not my cup of tea though I ve taken snaps with Vikram and Saami team when some of its sequences were shot at my uncle's place, Radhika and Annamalai (Sun TV sop) team during its shooting at Keelapoongudi, near my hometown].

I dared to go and conveyed what I really wanted to. I said yours truly is so and so and told that and this. She was happy when I said that. She immediately extended her hand which was spontaneous, congratulated as well as wished me good luck. Though I didnt take my camera, one kind soul was generous enough to shoot few of my snaps as well and sent them across to me. And yeah I am posting 2 of them here.





Also when I said where I am working, Apna Company CFO who was behind her looked at me giving a sense of belongingness. With his pleasant dispostion he asked about me and how I find the work. As obvious I was ready with the stereotypical answer -- "Fine.., Er..Its actually good." He smiled and decently made my way to hang around Kiran jee. This time, few more folks joined to get autograph from her and I watched from behind. Meanwhile, a cute looking Hindu Reporter joined in a for mini chat. She gave me tid bits of info and told me about the Palkhiwala foundation.

The apparent delay in posting this despite being a week since I met Kiran Bedi jee is because of my interest to research on her career, life and biography after friday when my work would get over and whereafter I could devote time for that. I read a mini biography of Ms. Bedi from this. Visited http://www.kiranbedi.com/ and explored that fully too.

Though that meeting-Kiran jee-moment didnt last for more than a minute, her instataneous gesture and what she talked is still vivid in me. I definitely am more proud to consider that moment as an honour!

PS: Trivia - The title of this post -- As I see, I dare has a relevance to her publications. I dare is Ms. Bedi's biography and As I see is a collection of her articles

Back from the usual hibernation !

I am back from the mini hiberantion (as usual). Nope , neither my blogspot was blocked nor was it inaccessible as with the hue and cry of many bloggers across India. Bloggers all over India are back in business, definitely giving heaps of relief to the Indian blogging fraternity. Dept of IT and communications has communicated over this issue yesterday.

Procrastination and/or lethargy,which is inherently present in me loads and loads deterred me from posting anything, especially when I had lots of things to put down and share. Yep, lots of posts are still pending -- reviews on Godavari and Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikesi (movies), Rendezvous with Madam Kiran Bedi( I have this strong urge to call her 'Madam' after meeting this iconic personality) last saturday, the happy ending to the struggle of a 6 year old boy Prince over 50 hours in a deep pit in Harayana (60 feet, My God! and more here...), me reading Tin Tin series these days (hmm.. I was a fan of Tin Tin during my school days) et. al.

Hope all these would materialise into the blog soon, but I shall post my meeting with Kiran Bedi first and the rest next (well this old rugged cliche '..first and rest next' still sounds good, isnt it?).