Ponniyin Selvan (It's not about the Film) !

Know what's the trend in South Indian social media right now? It's Ponniyin Selvan. In short, PS-1. 

When I first saw the PS-1 commercial on social media, I immediately thought of anything similar to India's PSLV (The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle). 

Ponniyin Selvan is a well-known classic historical novel in Tamil authored by Kalki that requires no introduction if you are from Tamil Nadu, India's southernmost state. It is a timeless novel that was serialized for three and a half years before being published in five volumes in 1955; now, after many attempts, the book has been adapted into a film by acclaimed filmmaker Manirathnam! 

It is impossible to shrink a five-series novel (a storyline that lasts 8 months) into a three-hour film, so the production team opted to divide the movie into two parts, with PS-1 being the first.   

I have never read such an inspiring and suspenseful historical novel. As captivating fiction, the book tells the story of the greatest king of Tamil Nadu, Raja Raja Chozan, also known as Ponniyin Selvan, and Aruilmozi Varman. I loved reading this book, or more precisely, I enjoyed traveling through it, and it takes us to numerous locations within the Chola kingdom a thousand years ago. 

I had wanted to read this book for a long time. However, I made it in 2022, and I picked the English translation of this mammoth work over the original in Tamil, which I am convinced is more emotional. I  like to read Ponniyin Selvan in Tamil to get that experience again. I've been fascinated by this story for a few months and have become familiar with the characters and wish it could go on forever since I was eager to know what happened next; the novel never lags because the scene varies. 

Even though the book is about Ponniyin Selvan (whose regime the Chozha Empire reached lands beyond the high seas), my favorite character is Vandhiya Devan, the true protagonist who carries the story on his shoulders. Mostly, it was through him we glimpse the beauty of the great Chozha country, and his role in missions was adventurous and exhilarating, adding to the fantastic visions I had throughout the subject. The narration and facts of the Chozha Empire and its clan are fascinating to read and convey the magnificence of the Chozha dynasty. However, pride comes from knocking down a country for revenge, and fighting against other kingdoms only highlights an empire's valor unless the country is in the hold of grief or oppressive rule. 

I am more engaged in this book than in any other book I have read so far, and I was obliged to reread a lot of phrases, paragraphs,  chapters, or scenarios to experience the feel or feel of the content. When I was in the latter half of the series, news about PS 1 started circulating in the media; I strictly avoided everything relevant to the film from entering my consciousness (at least until I finished reading the book) to avoid distractions from the air-drawn imagination I drew. 

Some of the places I visited in Chozha country, such as Thanjavur (the capital of Chozhas at the time of the story), Kumbakonam, Nagapattinam, and Kodikkarai, influenced my imagination. I fantasize about erasing all forms of development and replacing them with wilderness and greenery dotted with small towns and villages and contrasting them with palaces. Every time the story centers on Thanjavur, the fortification and the gateways to the Big Temple and the moat and the river that runs beside it make a magnificent mixture of fort and palaces.

The version (of Ponniyin Selvan) I read was rendered in English by Varalotti Rengasamy; I chose him because when I looked for the book, only he had the entire series of five, so I could read the novel without stopping. I truly enjoy the author Kalki's simple and direct narrative and approach to constructing a plot about the bravest and most powerful kingdom ever known in Tamil Nadu. And crowning it all is the sacrifices of Ponniyin Selvan, according to the author, are the essential component of the story that inspired him to write this magnum work. 

I'm so invested in the book that I believe I could visualize and recall every aspect of it if I decided to sit back and draw scenes without reading it, which is the novel's strength. Please read the book if you haven't already. If you don't want to read, you can watch the upcoming film (releases on Sep 30) instead. But, whether you watch the movie or not, I wish everyone read Ponniyin Selvan. 

Narai Ezhuthum Suyasaritham (A Tamil movie review after a long back)

Manikandan of Jai Bhim, Aela, Kaala fame’s directorial debut “Narai Ezhuthum Suyasaritham” is an excellent reflection of a middle-class retiree’s life and his struggle to cope with the younger generation.  With Manikandan himself as an actor in the role of the unemployed, survives by just drinking tea is a motion poster of a youngster who seeks jobs by trekking across the streets of Chennai. 

For Delhi Ganesh, as a retiree, “NES” is another imprint on his career.  Hats off to the team for coming up with a simple story, the contemporary reality of the former generation that struggles to move along with the IT-based younger generation. 

I admire Manikandan as an actor on screen for revealing realistic acting, and now as a director and writer, my admiration has grown. And he had tried well to fill the generation gap through this beautiful and emotional flick. Manikandan's acting in Jaibeam as a lockup victim is exceptional and sent us to an emotional peak, and his appearance in unkempt hair and beard resembled a typical tribe.

The comedian-actor and anchor in Tamil, Aadhavan, had done a role opposite to his character in nature (as lighthearted) with a formal face and scornful against his retired father is a different experience for him and us as well. A couple of songs in the movie had significantly woven to suit the emotional texture, and the lyrics were of pulling the right strings of the heart. 

The importance of the later generation and their memorization of what the automated and computerized world missed had well captured the director's notice impressed me. Overall, a must-watch movie with the family. I think every family who has a retired person could easily connect with the subject likewise. 

(The movie is available on SonyLiv)

Why I am an Atheist... by Bhagat Singh

The book is quite an ideology - comprising 18 essays of India's great revolutionary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh - wrote from prison. He's a very interesting revolutionary with a different perception of revolution. A young legend with extraordinary bravery, compassion, and wise to compromise to only achieve on ideals. I never heard a revolutionary like him give significant meaning to revolution, and each letter/essay in the book is a thoughtful lesson that he shares from the four walls of the prison. Perhaps the silence and struggles he adheres to along with other prisoners make sense to speak aloud their strains, and his idea of a separate rule for political prisoners seems to lay a new track of struggle that not many had thought, I think. I recommend this book to read with an open mind, like how he respected and response to everyone despite differences of opinion. And he's unusually daring enough to write to the authority about his choice of execution.  Man, I think that no one would have been born with his courage and die out of bravery at a very young age of 23! 

Inquilab Zindabad
Long live the revolution

Mehandi Circus

I watched this beautiful Tamil film last week, in Netflix, and I quite liked the movie.  Taking love in hand, Mehandi Circus did a soothing performance overall, caring us back to the melodious era of 70s and 80s, when the filmdom was under Ilayaraja’s regime; composer Sean Roldan using the maestro’s finest tunes recreated magic in the background along with his own beautiful composition of songs. The director (newcomer Saravanan Rajendran) has set up the tent/plot at a picturesque location that parallelly protect the pretty love story what move us like a cool mountain breeze along Ilayaraja’s rhyme notes.

Did I sound more musical and of course it was and the hero of the film has a music store and he falls in love with a girl from a circus troupe that visits his village. And what could we expect him to do to convey his love other than playing melodious songs to please the woman and what could do it at best other than Ilayaraja’s heartening songs? Set in time of early 90s, the story travels back (to that period) in the colourful memories of the hero (Jeeva) when he goes to meet his love (Mehandi), after many years of part as the caste and other kind of challenges interfered their cute love and break paths apart.

The debutants to Tamil, Madhampatty Rangaraj and Shweta Tripathi carried their lead rolls very decently and as Mehandi, Shweta Tripathi exhibits charming acting what anyone would like watching. And the location of the shoot is dramatically colourful and charming at its own, as it shot in one of my favourite places on earth – Kodaikanal, aka Princess of Hills, was captured in an ever so beautiful and colourful angles and views to feel close to heart. Thanks to the cinematography, by Selvakumar SK, for capturing all the wonderful moments of the film. Though the circus related scene were very less, the impalement arts comes as a real challenge to the hero to get hold the heroin, who lives with his love at heart despite married to someone forcefully, creates a silent revolution at the end!

P.s. It’s been long time or more than a year I wrote a review on movies and mostly I write review on films I watch in theatre but I haven’t went to the theatre in last 1 ½ year. But I like writing reviews on movies that moves me, just like Mehandi Circus, and I feel many good films goes out of sight as soon its release because having no star cast or big budget, I think of writing at least to show my circle there's a film like this.  Right now I’m content with the OTT or used to it but still watching movies in theatre is an experience that not our home theatres produce. The HD contents on online streamings are far better these days and some are available in 4k as well and along with a good sound system you can experience the best. 

New LG Nano cell LED TV, completes my home theatre dream

The year began for me with a real brand new thing; I expected to buy in last few years or at least from the time of purchase of my AV receiver, an initial step in building my home theatre. After a lot research, comparison and reading on various aspects I come down to choose the television that content my hunger for some quality. I was certain I want a direct backlight LED TV, just like my previous 26” Samsung TV, bought in 2010, and I have seen the differences in clarity the led TVs that produced later couldn’t live up to it and many who watched our TV had praise on its sharpness what their own led TVs couldn’t produce. I don’t want to go more on its detail. I know there’re greater TVs in market where finance decides the content and from my budget I looked for the best and I find the year end to be right moment for discounts and the television came in fair tag price of ₹ 57,000 at 35% discount in Paytm Mall online shopping.

We bought a 49” LG Nano cell Led TV and the LG promoted the TV as most advanced Led TV and a step down to OLED TV. Somewhere I read Nano cell Led TV is called poor man’s OLED! Ha ha. The TV has IPS flat screen and Ultra HD resolution with 4K Active HDR and 4K upscaler and wide viewing angle and many more visual enhancers to make watching pleasure. While choosing the TV I was much concern about the visual/image features because I already have the best sound resource in Sony AV Receiver to expand audio up to 7.2 channels, so the TV audio would be seldom used   but still the TV has good sound quality with DTS Virtual surround. Nowadays I watch movies mostly in Prime video (and yet to join Netflix) with almost contents available in HD and 5.1Ch audio, there are some 4K videos too that I am supposed to experience sometime.

I’m someone always lookout for tiny details or observe little things, so the detail was something strongly built within me couldn’t avoid this TV that has Nano cell particle to refine dull colors to accurate colors. The HD movies/videos are a pleasure to watch in this TV than the relayed satellite channels, that are mostly in SD content and it strains the vision with irregular to bright in colors and disband pixels. The best thing about this TV was its magic motion remote. The cursor at the shake of remote is easy to browse the television, access apps and above all it has voice recognition with both built-in Google Assistant and Alexa. The apple airplay and homekit is seems to help connect smart appliances but right away this will only useful to connect mobiles since they are the smart appliance we hold.

I was working on quite a home theatre setting from the wake up of 2018, when I purchased an advanced budget 4K AV receiver at half the price of its original rate through an Amazon offer and discount.  It was a dream comes true for me to buy a proper home theatre system than the regular surround sound existed through the satellite speakers system in market. Following the receiver I waited patiently and particular about the speakers’ purchase that should nowhere loses the signal and compatible with the receiver but the budget was something restricted me to progress step after the other. First I bought two powerful bookshelf speakers from Boston Acoustics for the front right and left, and last year I purchased the centre and surround left/right speakers from Yamaha to get a 5.1 Ch sound and for the sub-woofer I hold back from the previous system. Now with the big Led TV that was installed on the New Year itself my dream of a home theatre had come true really. I’m grateful for my parents to support and understand my need for building a home theatre, although they aren’t much interested they spent quite only because I desired for.  Thank you

Notebook

There are some flowers blooms once in a while and one such blossom was the Notebook! It’s been a while I watched a beautiful film where love is exhibited in an awesome way or mood. Though the Notebook (Hindi film) is written with a simple love story it touched beyond the commonly held romance between a pair of love. Actually love is a part of the movie where each other liked without meeting but carries a silent message in the air blown through the mountain breeze and ripples on a serene lake.

=

Notebook carries the subject of a remote school in middle of a lake in Kashmiri and it was in a condition of closure due to poor student strength. A young ex-army officer joined the school as a teacher, for a change, tries to improve the condition of the school, finds a notebook from his desk drawer left behind by the previous teacher, and he’s nourished with confidence and love within himself as he read her story. The school is back to spring with children turning up to same as his every turn of a paper in the notebook, the former teacher re-joined the school later, found her notebook with comments from him made her fall for him.

Kabir and Firdaus characters as young teachers made a lovely presence on screen and create an affinity of love without meeting and it was really beautiful to watch them expressing their love in silence and voice for child education. The kids make fun at the school, which itself in a poetic houseboat and show emotions in return when its time. The whole setting of the floating school in mid of a lake, partially covered in vegetation, transport us to a world anew where we would love to go back to school! The cinematography is overall a hero of the notebook and the location of the school is a well choice to enhance the subject of rom com drama.

For both, Zaheer Iqbal and Pranutan Bahl, the lead of the film is debuted and so their screen presence was refreshing like the fragrances of bloom and I loved the character name Firdaus to sound very pleasant. For the observer like me, her tiny expressions and smile could be admired. The Kabir’s character is a nice example of soldier mind-set when he saves kids despite what bothers him including his life or love. Notebook is simply made out of love and wow simply like the breeze caress across. The Bollywood movie is produced by Salman Khan!   

New Purchase: iBall Compbook Excelance OHD

Lately I was looking for a compact laptop or netbook after I come across a smart one during a visit to doctor’s clinic and it was a MacBook for sure (which I'm certain apparently doesn’t need to define, as all apple products are smarter) and the way he dealt with it impressed me and produced a desire to buy one. I know I could not go near the MacBook that totally out of my budget and while come down the options were limited but still some renowned brands priced high the netbooks with specifications same as some local and unknown brands.  I did read many a reviews and comparisons on netbooks around 11 inches, anytime I felt and once get to know the Amazon Summer Offer is ahead, I took it seriously and settled at last for the Indian brand iBall – Compbook Excelance OHD – a Full HD netbook at around ₹9000 ($130) + 10% instant discount. 

I bought a chocolate colour compbook at a weight of about 1 kg and being a prime member of Amazon, compbook was delivered within 24 hrs of booking.  I was excited to power on the compbook (after 3 hrs of charging) and the first thing that stroked me was the spectacular color/contrast of the screen that turned the viewing stunning, enriched and refreshing sight! Thanks to IPS panel to turn things magical on screen and the 32GB emmc storage is left by 20 GB of free space and the 2 GB ram is unexpectedly quick for a leisurely operator alike me.  The multi-touch touchpad is super sensitive to my worn out fingers which lost track the gestures in the long run with my former laptop – what is still good and the compbook is only an alternate that I planned to use for  browsing, social networking and MS word.  Photoshop is strictly no on compbook so my laptop (Dell Inspiron) is the only choice for photo editing and storing data.  

The letter keys on compbook is bigger than the laptop to type but the location of shift, backspace and arrow keys are placed uncomfortable or I need to practice lot to make it usable.  The most impressive of the compbook was the battery that could run 8 hrs without charging, which means the netbook could last more than 2 days for my kind of use. The compbook comes with micro SD slot to expand storage up to 128 GB and also has option of adding internal HDD/SSD up to 1TB. I decided to do anything right now or until the system face trouble with speed or storage. It looks overall a good deal and could only wait and watch how worth the purchase was.  

Friday Review: Tik Tik Tik

From the time I heard about this film and its concept (of space travel) I decided not to give a miss, watching it from theatre – and like I told earlier I went for a night show at drive-in, skipping the evening, for the Tamil film Tik Tik Tik . Shakthi Soundar Rajan always comes with different concept and deals with technical aspects neatly and I’m following his movies from Naanayam, even though he has directed only four films Tik… is top-notching.

The film revolves around an asteroid, in the size of Chennai, which is to hit the east coast of India in a week time to create havoc and the Indian space team tries to destroy the asteroid before it enters the earth surface! A team of astronauts head by Vasu (a trained magician and escape artist) goes to a space station to steal a missile, hold by an opponent country, to break apart the asteroid to preserve our country. Did their mission accomplished or not remains the subject which put us upright and holds interest to watch.

Hollywood has manipulated a lot on this concept (of space travel) but first time a movie made in India, using our simple technologies and VFX, want me to consider special and it lived up to  our expectation.  The director has simplified the subject and technical aspects to everyone’s understanding and the film crew had given their best to accomplish the mission. There are many places where logic dies but the illusion helped built up an image or mirage to watch with amuse. BGM was excellent!

The first impressive was the sound effect, where an asteroid hit the earth with force and make a large hole. I could say D.Imman had given his best and every time the BGM hit “tik tik tik” takes the entire attention and congrats D.Imman to accomplish a century, where Tik… was his 100^th composed album. Jayam Ravi in role of Vasu had showed boldness and unpredicted on face keeps intense. (I appreciate Ravi for taking such innovative projects following Peranmai.) Ramesh Thilak and Arjunan made fun and Nivetha is additional attraction to the exact replicative high-tech spaceship and space station.

The editing was magic and one could feel it if you watch filming clips under credit. Cinematographic is quite refreshing and the VFX scenes are pretty clear and feels real!  The movie is a great experiment that deserves attention and keeping away the logic (which I think is not necessary in a Sci-Fi) it’s a sheer entertainment, taking Tamil cinema to a different level and I really wanted to watch this movie in theatre to support their effort and to encourage such experiment in movies. Tik Tik Tik! A must watch in theatre for the terrific effects.

Evening shows and Kaala

Hereafter, I decided not to go for the evening shows at drive-in theatre as they begin to play movies at 6.45pm itself, it takes at least half an hour to get clear picture on the screen or to say until the sky turns darker. Except winter, all other season has day light up to 7pm and it’s really difficult to get involved watching. The only theatre I could visit here was the Prarthana beach Drive-in Theatre where I could watch movies sitting from the car rather shifted to a seat like regular theatres, and I don’t think Chennai theatres are wheelchair friendly or allow to watch movies from wheelchair. Apart this we could avoid traffic if we go for the night show at 10pm, and it takes only 15-20 minutes to reach and return home.

Last week I went to watch Tamil superstar’s Kaala and it is a movie based on the popular residential area of Mumbai, Dharavi (one of the largest slum in the world), where the superstar protect the people from a political head who tries to evict them to execute his construction plan. The movie was easily predictable, and the director has made it simple so there wasn’t an excitement of watching a Rajini movie. I too went without an expectation perhaps because Rajini has done many don movies and this is another shade in black. Actually at many places it feels and reminds the pro-jallikattu and the tunes celebrating Kaala also reflects the loudness of people gathered at Marina and black being the protesting logo influenced lot.

I thought it was only me, reminded the popular Vivek comedy where he played a fake don in Tamil film Padikkadavan but now I could see many connected this way while watching the movie. For people who went looking for some action from Rajini could have disappointed but ok with bit of styles. At a scene where he says, you may have come without asking me, but to go you have to… I wish Director Ranjith could have made clear notes at some places and also the sub for Hindi dialogues are unclear and noisy when languages blend. All characters did their part well and Easwari Rai had made a nice resurface after long time in Tamil and her slang is typical. Nana Patekar role could have been stronger and the movie is an eyewash overall in black. Could watch ones and you won’t miss anything if not.

Friday Review: Iravukku Aayiram Kangal

After long time went to drive-in theatre to watch Iravukku Aayiram Kangal (the Night has Thousand Eyes) learning that the Tamil action thriller film has come out well. It was last September I went to the theatre and I mainly avoided going to theatre thinking of high ticket price which has gone up from ₹ 120 to ₹ 167 per head apart parking ticket as ₹ 70! There wasn’t a film released for 45 days from March to mid-April protesting against this high rate in theatres but still there isn’t difference and I feel ₹ 120 could be the fair amount.

Arulnithi is one of my favourite actors and I like his choice of subjects and realistic acting which is one important reason for me to watch this movie in theatre and being a night show it well suited the subject and mood. I rarely go to night show when I feel the movie is worth watching in theatre despite any trouble. Iravukku Aayiram Kangal is an excellent thriller surrounds a mysterious murder where the protagonist (Arulnithi) is suspected and he go on his own trial, after escape from the police, to prove his innocent.

The screenplay is so gripping and keeps glue to the seat and most of the scenes surrounds that one night put watchful eyes from others. The movie has lot of plays, gaming within one another to hook with the subject. Arulnithi as a call taxi driver picks up love with Mahima Nambiar, who isn’t cute but also smartly performed. The songs are cut short and adapts to the scenario which is one of the plus to keep it engaged. And all other characters did their job well and Ajmal with chocolate boy look did smart villainy and after Anjathe and KO he got to shine in negative shade once again.

Directorial debut Mu.Maran had created an expectation from him by building a solid screenplay around a simple storyline, and made certain the string doesn’t loose anywhere. The highlight of the movie was the climax even though the movie has twist and turns all over the subject, it gets intensify as we near the end. The cinematography is truly appreciate and it’s the core area where it played well to sustain the mood esp. during the night scenes and Arulnithi balanced the tense and love at the right level.

Iravukku Aayiram Kangal is watchful and worth watching in theatre!

----------------- ----------------

Following is a shot of Yellow Daylilies bloomed against the wall of Tea Museum in Munnar… to join  Floral  Friday Foto 

My first iPhone (SE) experiance

Just two weeks back my brother presented me a Gopro Hero 5, action camera, as my birthday gift while I turned 32 on July 31^st. This week I bought an Apple iPhone SE through a great Indian offer from the online giant Amazon. Though I am not a fan of apple products and had any thought of buying it earlier as I find their product costlier, but when I learned lately that iPhone SE comes with least weight of 113gm and advanced processor as iPhone 6s want me to go for it. Actually I was thinking about 16GB gadgets which come around $311 and I wasn’t in hurry, but the offer advanced my purchasing option and what I got was a 32GB iPhone at the cost of 16 GB!

image courtesy: google

IPhone isn’t new to my family and my brother had used iPhones for many years, but I had no interest of picking it up and I bought my first smartphone only in 2015 and my Samsung galaxy S4 mini is still doing well and smart enough. IPhone SE was in my mind to buy in future if I need an altar, but I didn’t want to miss to offer and to connect GoPro I need an advanced smartphone and SE is more than enough. In between my dad was complaining his mobile is very slow, so I thought why not give my phone to him and get myself an iPhone because he uses social network rarely and my phone is speed enough for his usage and this also one of the reason for purchase.

I am not a person who like big screen smartphones and the screen size beyond 4.5” is out of my comfort and difficult to hold. This’s the main reason I’m sticking to 4” display and I have searched a lot on internet but I couldn’t find an alternate to S4 mini and 4” category lacks great processer and has limited features to access and more over wasn’t weightless. I feel iPhone SE is designed for me personally because it fulfils my priorities and many reviews has praise the iPhone SE for holding a beast within a small cage of 4”. SE has the same technology as iPhone 6s and is operated by the most advanced iOS 10 and I really liked the classic look of this iPhone that comes from 5s.

Thanks to iCloud,  i could easy use the images shot from iphone directly from laptop  and one such picture was this

The iPhone has 12 megapixels camera with 4K video capture and to my surprise this is my third gadget with 12MP camera following my Canon Powershot SX 220 HS and GoPro hero 5. The iPhone camera is really superb and delivers an impressive DSLR quality images with quick shutter. The face detection and autofocus increases the desire to shoot. It has fingerprint security system but what amazes me atop all was the stability of the battery. So far I have charged the battery twice, and the one time change stands two full days for me using internet. Unlike my previous phone I haven’t switched off the wifi once stop using internet and it takes only 2 to 3% of power for the whole night.

Not to forget the iPhone Se is superb easy to use and instant response at the touch make feel awesome. The Space Grey color is admirable overall and l love the rear fining of the iPhone, so I have ordered for a transparent case cover for the iPhone to keep it visible. I’m happy about the real handset and it’s inspiring to use it more. 

Vikram Vedha

I wasn’t sure to write a review on the interesting action crime thriller Vikram Vedha, because many have given great reviews about the Tamil feature film, but like to note down few things that impressed me. The title itself would give clue that the movie is based on the concept of Vikramadithyan Vedhalam ghost story, where Vedhalam ask questions hugging from the back of Vikrama, the king to quest answer through the stories he narrate.

Vikram Vedha has Madhavan and Vijay Sethupathi and it isn’t a regular cop movie but a very interesting and different level of play between an encounter specialist and notorious gangster. First thing I felt watching the opening scene (shooting between police and gangsters) was Gautham Menon’s movie, though I know it was Pushkar-Gayathri’s combo (who made Auto and Va Q cutting) the action sequence were such casual that no one could expect at such a venture.

The name Vedha continued to travel for some time into the movie creating hype and sounding demon, were all broke into particles the way Vijay Sethupathi entered the scene in his own idle style of walk. What applaud from the audience! He appears in front of cops and escapes, revealing a story with questions to let Vikram answer through his investigation and at the end of each story Vedha escapes leaving a clue to glue on seat. 

The balance between the Madhavan and Sethupathi had been handled well and they played an excellent teeter-totter entertaining the people. Madhavan on his side exhibits great body language and his rough tone is apt.to the role of cop and Sethupathi, as young and mid-age did effortlessly the job of gangster and those watched his movies could understand what I mean the effortless i.e. natural acting.

Though not so parallel to the male dominate subject, the female characters of the movie do speak even it’s for few scenes. Shraddha Srinath and Varalakshmi have raised their voice and hand as well   protecting their rights and liberty as advocate and love affair of Kathir (of Kirumi fame) who played Vedha’s brother. Shraddha is a wonderful choice for the wife of an encounter specialist, acted pretty and though working again him their not let down relationship was impressive.

Through Vikram Vedha, Pushkar and Gayathri (the director duo) has touched an extremely high level and also raised the expectation which I’m sure going to give them more pressure to retain the success, although I don’t believe well done movies are the best. Alike everyone else and being concerned on the interesting screenplay, the songs and music doesn’t take attention and the BGM also resembled Miruthan.

Vikram Vedha - a nice suspense movie to watch in theatres and it’s a blockbuster already. 

Friday Review: Vanamagan, the Son of Nature

After the success of Tamil horror comedy flick Devi, director AL Vijay is back on his path of unusual he left with Madrasapattinam and Deiva Thirumagal. Though Vanamagan isn’t impressive as the former ones did, I really want to appreciate him for taking different subjects and experience things. For a tribal role Jayam Ravi isn’t new, as he already done one in Peranmai but what makes difference was he comes from remote and expresses emote instead of dialogues.

Vanamagan (Tamil movie) is about how modernisation and industries destroys the forest and disrupt the tribes who adopt nature as their belonging… but wished the movie adjoin this subject strongly rather moving around cities for first half of the film.

Plot:

Kaviya is a very rich girl and orphan, growing under guardian of her uncle, is carefree and enjoys life on her wish. During a holiday in Andaman Island with friends, she broke into a protected area and accidently hit a tribe by the car. Seeing him bleed, they took him to hospital and later brought to Chennai for further treatment without let know anybody. Back to conscious, the tribe Vaasi got into violence and she was force to take him home, where she learns about the tribe’s behaviour and try to control him. At a moment things went wrong, Vaasi was caught by police and shifted to Andaman where they tried to kill him, but Kavya interrupt and they both escape into forest. And what remain answer everything.

Features:

You can’t keep away the thought of Tarzan or George of the jungle even looking at the poster or trailer, where Jayam Ravi hanging from a root. For Ravi, his body, look and height are apt to the role of Vaasi (Kattu Vaasi), an indigenous tribe unexposed to outside world. But his role as tribe there isn’t much action for him to do or we to feel adventure or we lack interest to watch it as we have seen similar movies earlier… the humour isn’t that much fun or interesting.

Sayyehaa as Kavya is beautiful and captured my attention through her dancing skill than her acting! Perhaps the songs were choreographed by Prabu Deva who’s also called as Indian Michael Jackson. She tried to be beautiful with her expressions and being shown as senseless on things   and turning positive all of sudden doesn’t suit her well or she did about. Thambi Ramaya did little bit comedy and his eagle map line is good.

The film captures the beauty of caressing here and there and the feeling of touch, the real one, which has almost lost in the gadget world, is perceived well. Stroke arrows on animals on television, watching through car sunroof and the tiger fighting like Captain (Vijayakanth) and the tribe on-board to Chennai all makes senseless and boring. Feels the director has approached the movie from a common perspective rather studying well about tribes of Andaman, to give more emotional detail to the subject.

Music is by Harish Jayaraj and Vanamagan was his 50^th composition… the songs were good to listen and the cinematography is wonderful and captured the beauty of forest and waterfalls so well. But the BGM is a bit old charm and is tuned for African forest instead of Asia, which I feel has a distant tone. While I appreciate the effort put by the team to give a different experience and explore a world at its brim, could have scored an interesting screenplay rather applying Hollywood shades.

I feel Pulimurugan is better than Vanamagan! 

Pulimurugan

Watched this excellent action adventure movie in Malayalam that includes Tigers! The title itself inspired me to watch the movie that was released in mid-2016 and being an ardent of forest, nature and mountains I couldn’t miss the movie that shot at the lap of forest. Mohanlal is portrayed as Puli Murugan (Tiger Murugan) and he acted as a trained hunter killing the man eating tigers that invade his village. But the movie isn’t all about Tigers; he also fought against dangerous humans who forced him to move out of forest.

Murugan lives in a small village, inside the forest called Puliyoor and he lost his mother in childhood after his brother was born and later his father in a tiger attack took him for vengeance, where he traps the tiger with the help of his uncle and kill it. The Murugan grows into Puli Murugan, now a lorry driver, married and has a daughter, but he hunt rogue tigers whenever they invade the village.

Meanwhile he was forced to escape the forest/village for killing a tiger, and getting a job for his brother he smuggles Ganja (marijuana) in his lorry which directed him toward another face of trouble. How the hunter weed out all this using his Vel (a kind of spear, his main weapons) remains the subject.

Mohanlal is an apt fit to the subject and the character, and his physique and face structure led him valiant looking against the predators. But the movie doesn’t exhibit great violence yet knives pierce tigers, its watchable quite as family.  The most impressive thing about the move was its action and stunt sequences.  I think I don’t need to say more about it, because it was such skilful to won the first ever National Award for Stunt Choreography.

Peter Hein has executed the stunt choreography and Mohanlal himself preferred to do all the stunt scenes rather using stunt doubles, which is normally used in films where the heroes stand aside and dupes do the stunts. Mohanlal’s involvement really amazed me and having a considerable size structure he performed so well. The little boy, who done Mohanlal’s childhood role, too capture the attention esp. facing the Tiger without fear.

The tigers involved in the movie were real ones and the scenes fighting with tiger were all shot at Thailand using the tigers from a Buddhist temple there, since filming with wild animals is prohibited in India.  Though the tigers were trained ones, the shooting seemed to conduct according to their moods! So was the team hard worked for the success of the movie. An additional fact about the movie was it was the currently highest-grossing Malayalam film ever done and the film is expected to release in Tamil soon, along with a 3D version.

Pulimurugan has some lovely songs to soothe listening and excellent BGM! Kamalini Mukerjee’s performance as Mohanlal’s wife was fair and Lal bring out the best character and Telugu actor Jagapati Babu, Bala and Vinu Mohan (Puli murugan’s bro) were all done their job neat. And not to forget the cinematography, the capture of natural resource of God owns country was fabulous and the lorry chasing and action scenes were stunning.

Puli murugan – fair and interesting to watch

Kodi

There are many films with political scenario, but I think for the first time a movie portrayed a woman politician was Kodi, though Dhanush led the movie and plays the title role. Kodi comes out as a mass political entertainer and to keep things interesting, Dhanush led a double role as elder and younger brother and Trisha as his opposite, as well as opponent, made certain its sound victory.

Growing up with equal status in politics, Rudhra and Kodi make their political carrier with their parties being opposite to each other, they hold affaire secretly away from the politics. Though both being passionate in their political carrier, Rudhra is bit further in upgrading her status and ready to go any extreme to fulfil her dreams whereas Kodi seeks straight forward and true to his love. How this differentiation mingles makes the movie.

Movies with equal importance to opposite gender aren’t frequent, and Kodi generated the theme well using the strong characterization of Rudhra (Trisha) and this could be a milestone role for Trisha who had done number of films. For the smart looking actress, the negative shade is quite new and for most of scenes she appears in her natural tone.  Dhanush, as usual becomes the show stealer and this time in two characters shown the variation well and worked simply.

With two back to back hits (Ethir Neechal and Kakki Sattai), director R.S. Durai Senthilkumar has sustain his success with Kodi, having  a fast paced screenplay boredom has kept away. Though we sense dullness in picturization, perhaps due to the condition of weather or mistake in display at the drive-in theatre, and the story being not unpredictable there are some twist to keep it interesting.

Kodi also highlights the issue of toxic mercury waste (that threatens the pristine of Kodaikanal) but it was just a matter of fact and doesn’t take serious foot. Santhosh Narayanan’s composition has supported the movie at its best and I liked the songs that make nice listening and intertwine the subject.   Anupama Parameswaran makes a cute presence as second heroine and S.A. Chandrasekhar’s role as Thalaivar (leader) done with honor.

Overall, Kodi well flew among the Deepavali release and could be watch with family

Chevrolet Enjoy, Test Drive

I have an eye on this Indian MPV for some time now, as I thought it could be convenient for me in both ways: as a passenger in front seat and taking away the wheelchair in the boot and another was to climb into the car along with the wheelchair by using a ramp. Currently we own an SUV and what’s the problem I hold with the car was except my brother, no one can put me into the seat and would be much difficult if try with others. We are using Mahindra Scorpio for nearly 8 years and before my fracture in femur (Oct 2013) things were fine and I was able to stand for a while for my father to lift me into the seat. But now I was depending on my brother every time to use the car and I have to drop plans many time because of his unavailability. Due to this we bought a hatchback (Suzuki swift) to movie around the city, but being a second hand car it gave us many trouble and we are force to sell it.

Because of this I have to miss many chances of going out and to keep this away I was looking for an alternate vehicle and found Enjoy will be suitable for me. Keeping my new wheelchair in mind and the reclining seat option; I thought Enjoy’s high roof and low chasses will allow me to access inside the car without getting down from the wheelchair. And Enjoy’s sedan like seating will allow my father/mother to transfer me from the wheelchair to car seat without looking after my bro and the huge boot space will accommodate the wheelchairs easily. But to confirm this I really wanted to check the vehicle personally and thus booked for a test drive. The car was in front of the home within 2 hours of booking and I eagerly went out to explore the vehicle, though it started to drizzle and before it turn showering dad transferred me into the front seat.

My brother took the steering and dad climbed into the 2^nd row of the rear seat and the company persons get into the 3^rd row and we went for a drive around the Besant Nagar. My first impression once got into the car was the wide windshield with great visibility all-round and the door windows are also big enough to get nice views, light and wind if unrolled.  The dashboard was very similar to a car than an MPV and has an impressive dual tone interior and reaching the dashboard and the controls on them where handy. The door armrest exactly comes under my elbow to support rather hitting the elbow like in Toyota Innova. The front seat has spacious leg room even after pulling the seat to maximum front. Though the seat is soft and virtually flat (like the familiar Scorpio seat) rather deep bucket, I find mild discomfort with the backrest which I think could be resolved.

The Enjoy they brought was a top end diesel (1.3 LTZ 8 seat) equipped with dual airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Driver Seat Adjustment, Alloy Wheels and Integrated (in-dash) Music System, along with many other security features and comforting things to move on. Being tall, my brother find little difficult at steering but the seat height adjustment and tilt option made comfort. The ride quality is really wonderful and cushioning and even on the potholes and speed breakers the vehicle maintains smoothness despite the small/midsize wheels (175/70R14) for a tall MPV. Though the diesel engine releases heavy noise outside, there’s enough calm inside once the doors are closed, which perhaps because of AC and the cooling coil come blower on roof makes the cabin chill in few minutes of running.

The Enjoy is almost the height of Toyota Innova but the seat height (from the ground) is lesser than Innova, so the headroom has more than enough space and anyone taller could accommodate the vehicle easily. Inside Enjoy no one could complain on views, because the seats of the second and third rows where higher than the front ones and has much spaces to stretch the legs. The sales manager who accompanied us revealed the MPV can touch 140 km/h steadily at reasonably 78bhp (petrol is 102bhp) and a mileage of about 18 kmpl (petrol 14 kmpl). Before returning the vehicle I want to check the inner height/width, so insist the company guy to open the boot and placed the wheelchair by folding the rear seat, which can be folded quite, but if removed the space could be abundant.

Though the inner height is about 4 feet, sitting on the wheelchair (ordinary kind), it’s impossible to access into the car, but I still believe it’s possible with my new reclining wheelchair where I could lean back to travel for short distances. But for long travel, I could only place the wheelchair and other accessories at the rear and only 5 people could travel on the car. Being a low chasses (low floor) loading things into the boot is very easy esp. the wheelchair and also the person lift I bought for transferring.  When I think again, overall the vehicle is adaptable for me, though many don’t like the look of the Enjoy (being boxy in shape) I feel it provides the comfort and space that not many stylish vehicles could give. We aren’t in hurry to buy the car, but were in serious consideration. 

Appa, the Best Father (Movie Review)

There are very few films share our personal views and things we thought could be right if the outcome was this manner. Appa’s subject is very close to my heart and what I really thought how a parenting should be has been highlighted in this Tamil flick Appa. What a feel it was to watch a father son related movie along with your father? Actually I didn’t feel anything wonder (as i went with my father and bro to watch) but the scrip does enough and what it delivered is best.

Though it is a father son/daughter relationship subject, the objective has been parenting and the movie exhibits a model where the child was himself rather following the serious modes and being a replica of others. Directed and acted by Samuthirakani, the film deals with three different kind of parenting and the outcome of the children and parents reaction make it worth watching and also   entertaining.

Samuthirakani has played an ideal role model of a father, who wants to bring up his child with individuality and morality rather forcing him into certain kind of pressure the other children go through. Right opp. to him, his wife, being an arrogant and comparative person, wants her son to do what all other kids do instead of concerning his real needs and deeds. The parents were separated and the boy grows on his father’s guidance as a confidant, friendly and cheerful young man.

On the other hand, Thambi Ramaiya is as a strict father who dominates his son’s life and wants him always to be topper in academic. Being an anti-Samuthirakani he keeps his son away from them and later put him into a residential school against his wish. The third one doesn’t come into either category and with a son of retarded growth wasn’t encouraged or disregarded, but the short guy was the real show stealer.

After a gap of two years or so, Samuthirakani has took the Saattai (whip) in hand once again to drive away the force that implemented on children in name of education, supervision, suspicion and authoritarian. In Saattai(Samuthirakani’s previous movie), as a teacher, he took reform in education system and function of school and in Appa, he took a step further exhibiting certain kind of attitudes from the parents side to observe and put right  things.

I believe not everyone would get a father like the Samuthirakani’s character in the movie, because the way he handled his teenage son’s confused state of meeting with a girl and facilitates his discomfort feeling when he understand his unfamiliarity towards the opposite sex is absolutely wonderful and best ever expressed. I don’t think any father or mother would discuss the children about the things happen during the teen, like the film emphasis, because this is the phase decides ones behavior pattern and if it wasn’t designed properly the incidents against the women are impossible to avoid.   

Appa carries message on the shoulder which is apt to the current leading society and the movie is a testimony to the misconception happening in the education and children’s growth. Vignesh (the one played as elder brother in Kaaka Muttai) as son of Kani expressed smart and intelligence, although being an average student his character is quite impressive. Mailvagam (Nasath), the child with retarded growth, is one of the best aspects of the movie and his every move is noteworthy and amusing.  

Thambi Ramayai has continued his role from a teacher (in Saattai) to parent in Appa with same frustration, and has proved his ability in twisting his character in the rear end. The boy acted as his son expressed almost everything on his face and the two girls as their friends has given their best. The movie doesn’t have songs (though music by Ilaiyaraja) and also I couldn’t remember the one what lyrics, because Samuthirakani’s dialogues have saturated. It’s a movie for everyone to be must watched. 

Friday Review: Thozha – A Reliable Friend

Thozha aka Oopiri (in Telugu) is a neat Tamil movie I watched from the drive-in and the drama deals with the relationship between a quadriplegic and his caretaker. The film is an official remake of the French film, The Intouchables, and the Tamil-Telugu version was directed by Vamsi Paidipally featuring Karthi, Nagarjuna and Tamanah. The film opens with Nagarjuna and Karthi inside a car, racing through the streets encompassed by police chase, traces the past on the journey they come together and the bond shared between them.

Seenu is a culprit comes out on parole and seeks jobs that could showcase his humanitarian and thus attends the interview for the caretaker of a quadriplegic billionaire, Vikram Aditya. Though he was attracted to the magnificence of the house and prettiness of Keerthi (personal secretary of Vikram), the obvious reasons he confronted wants Vikram to go for him and what happens from then becomes a life changing for both.

Although the film concern about things happening between them, it goes beyond and touches the lives of their individuals and personal feelings so well. The film carries emotions in lighter manner yet reached the sense and makes come out of theatre without any compassion and sorrow to keep us down. Though Karthi showcase cool attitudes always, the director and the script has utilized him so well and his pair with Tamanah is not new but looks afresh on screen, perhaps because she does look like over makeup!   

Nagarjuna, who is always seen as action hero in Telugu movie and last seen in Rathamohan’s Payanam (in Tamil) as a commando, chose to do the role of commanding from a wheelchair. I anticipated some actions scenes by him, at least in flashback scenes, but just stills to go. The car racing in Paris city was stunning and funny with paragliding. The comedy with paintings and the character of Prakashraj as Naga’s personal advocate was very good.

The music and songs were enough kind, but somehow sprinkles Telugu essence. The camera work was good and the lightning in darkness of Paris and the interiors of the house captures the mood of romance and loneliness well. The expressions and feeling of a wheelchair bound was nicely navigated, without making any negative impact and impressions. The attitude of making surprise and indifference make sense and I also liked the way the character of Nagarjuna was displayed to see apart from compassion and sympathy.

Thozha – stands as a reliable friendship! 

Friday Review: Pichaikkaran (Beggar)

I watched the Tamil action drama, Pichaikkaran, from the drive-in on Wed. evening and it is a movie based on the life of a millionaire, who turned down his richness for a time period to save his mother’s life. Arul Selvakumar is a MBA graduate, flew down to India to take charge of his mother’s spinning mills. But within a short span in office his mother met an accident and falls into coma. With no response to any of the treatments, a sage guides him to beg for 48 days with a condition to not to use his influence in anyways and begin each day with bare hands, to get back her mother. The affectionate son decides to go through the term in belief of saving his mother and what all he faces during this course remains the topic.

Actor and music director Vijay Antony played the man behind the subject. Though he couldn’t adapt quite into the look and attitude of a beggar or perhaps the subject doesn’t need it, has given his best in acting and do stunning actions. He carries the look of smart and intelligence throughout the film, reminding his previous roles as Salim. Debuted Satna Titus as his love interest, exhibits elegant acting and the places where she reveals he’s a beggar and the hesitation in practicing with him later were all done in pretty manner.  And of course she’s beautiful!

Already there’s a movie released in Tamil based on beggars. Yes, Bala’s Naan Kadavul had dealt with the subject but were treated with brutal.  The beggars here were shown with little dignity and expressed intelligence, perhaps because the plot was set in metropolitan – Chennai. The movie has some merry scenes esp. the perspective on economics by a beggar gets great applauds at theater, and make certain entertainment. The background score was good and with each drag on the title (pichaiiiikkkkaran) upraise.  

According to director Sasi, the film was an inspiration from the real life story of a millionaire he knows, who would beg for 6 months annually and look after his job the remaining months. Though he didn’t put forth any fact about him, but has done his best communicating the lifestyle of beggars and the public’s perception on them. Particularly this scene where Vijay Antony express annoy when a police handshake him when come to know he’s a millionaire, but who was knocked early in beggar veil. It was a nice execution distinguishes the differences in society. Pichaikkaran – is a social messenger through entertainment. 

Friday Review: Miruthan

After long back I was at theater (drive-in) to watch the sci-fi thriller Miruthan, which was advertised as India’s first zombie film in Tamil. Jayam Ravi as protagonist and Lakshmi Menon as his love interest, the film was directed by Shakti Soundar Rajan of Naaigal Jaakirathai. I was amused to know he was the director of Naanayam, one of my favorite Tamil films, based on bank robbery but shot on an innovative platform. 

I see Miruthan as an experimental movie and the concept of zombie is pretty new for Tamil audience who haven’t exposed too many zombie movies in Hollywood. Even I wasn’t familiar with this genre. The film begins with a mishap where some toxic fumes split into the road and a stray dog that sniffs become violent and bites a man who in return becomes a zombie and the virus spreads from one human to another through a chain of violent bites.

Jayam Ravi is a traffic police with a grade to become a police inspector, but chose to retain to the former to take care of his little sister. And he loves Lakshmi Menon as one side; although she’s engaged to someone their meeting always end at sending bad reputation about him to her. At this moment the virus spreads rapidly and many zombies rise among the residences of Ooty – from where the story starts, and Jayam Ravi supports the doctors’ team, which includes Lakshmi and let them to Coimbatore in search of antidote to prevent the virus and violent spread through.

Though they reach CBE, the situation blocks them into a shopping mall right opposite to the medical hospital, where a team of doctors waiting for the sample to find prevention, how did they cross the lane full of zombies in killing mane and a bite that could transform them into zombie? Was set in a bizarre and yet light emotional and thriller. Though there are spaces for emotion, the film travels on a matured lane and straightforward keeps the length of movie short.

The director has applied light-hearted moments here and there to keep track on entertainment rather going serious and keep discontent. Kaali Venkat, RNR Manohar and Sriman has done their bit pleasing the audience as naive and Jayam Ravi led his role well and shooting most of them is something sounds overwhelmed. While I appreciate the director for coming up with different subjects, I wish his films carry some realism for us to believe on the concept. I don’t find a strong reason for those becoming zombie, but still has done a good job and leave us with an anticipation and fierce version 2!