Papanasam – My POV

Papanasam doesn’t need an introduction (at least to the readers from India – the movie has been remade in all southern Indian languages and in Hindi as Drishyam) is a good family pack and to say in a line it’s about a family that commits a crime and how the common man (the head of the family) protect them from law. As a protagonist, for Kamal Haasan, the movie is another milestone on his performance and to add mileage was his access to Tirunelveli accent. But for me the tone reminds Poovaragan, one of the 10 roles he had done in Dasavathaaram with same courage.

Apt to the title, the movie was shot in and around Papanasam and Tenkasi in Tirunelveli. Though it is a remake of Malayalam version and also directed by same (Jeethu Joseph), I sense an imitation of Malayalam while watch the movie – perhaps because of some important roles done by actors who come from Malayalam. Being led by real life partners, Gauthami and Kamal, their intimation has works well in the movie and also exposed beautiful and the tendency, when protecting the children, is quite natural and look normalcy.

Although the movie’s progress was predictable, there’s something grips beyond suspicion esp. the scene where the family undergoes a trail/torture by police would cause an impact on heart. Niveda Thomas and Esther Anil (as the children of Kamal, who’s called Suyambulingam – a self born Lingam, which resemble the character that developed on self) performance is also appreciative and the way they control the emotions and achieving what needed is simply superb! But I was intensely watching will they mess up anywhere.

Another character that impound us is IG Geetha Prabhakar (Asha Sarath), as a ruthless woman police officer with utmost grim to bring out the truth behind her missing son and going silent in ending, when Kalam indirectly confess his sin, is an impression along with the scene. Ghibran music is very sensible, although the movie has only couple of songs it conveys the pain and intimacy at poise. The entire theme and background is effective!

The most interesting part was how the protagonist tries to hide away the evidences by recreating his own and make believe others; including the police (which might sounds overload) is an excel. But I sense rather being a messenger the movie comprehend thriller. The screenplay is quite drastic and with excellent actors/performers we can’t expect more. Glad I watched the movie in theater with great applauds and apprehend.

Leading down to falls

Thirparappu Waterfalls in Kanyakumari is a popular tourist spot in the district which I visited at the end of 2011. I was glad the authorities had built ramps all the way down to the falls for me to enjoy the drizzle at close distance. The water falls from a height of nearly 50 ft, seems to flow with great force for around 7 months in the whole year.

The waterfalls seen behind the garden

Here is a couple of photos took while leading down to the falls... there is a ramp as well steps to reach the waterfalls. For those take the steps, interesting has rails that resembles the fence made in bamboos, which was actually designed in iron/steel. 

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Poriyaalan (Engineer)

Poriyaalanis a Tamil movie I watched this weekend at home theater and the film released in 2014 has a gripping story that explores the life of a civil engineer who aspire to become an outstanding builder but entangled by the dark side of real estate and loan shark. Next to IT field or perhaps in a way surpass the real estate and building constructions have grown a lot in attempt to touch the sky although sometime the buildings fall!  But keeping the message in limit, the movie develops into a thriller.

Saravanan is a dutiful engineer, working at a construction company decides to start his own and for his budget he could get plots only far away from the city. So with the guidance of his friend, who works under Sundar – a merciless loan shark and goonda, they decide to use his money, as he gone to jail, and replace it before he comes out of prison.  In the meantime, they got a nice plot (within the city) from a middleman and complete the registration.

But when they try to promote the land for construction, they learn it belongs to someone else and Shahstri, the middleman, made away with their money. And to make the situation worse, Sundar comes out on bail earlier than expected. What will happen if he comes to know his money was used without his knowledge? And when they learn he’s not just after the money but the women in their families. Could they track down the middleman before it is too late?

The movie begins from the middle; goes back and then front with one friend breakdown for their lost money and fear to be killed by the loan shark. The almost new faces give refreshing look to the scenario with lighter emotion which is more than enough for this kind of movie. Notably the two friends – Saravanan and Prabhu, acting, esp. towards the matter of love, when Prabhu come to know his friend romance his co-sister has been dealt decently and maturely when Saravanan confront his love in front of her father.

Though there isn’t a need for a track of romance, it only put us on intent to know what unveil next and helps the movie run for about 2 hours rather ending 20 minutes earlier to be quite thriller.  The songs aren’t memorable except Gana Bala’s usual song on alcohol! Mohan Raman, as Shastri had done an unexpected role to the finest and outshines as a realistic broker whether to believe he’s good or bad until his escape to Goa.

I find the vital of the movie has been voiced well from the stand of Saravana: that those landmarks are mostly buildings/structures built by a civil engineer and the design of future is also in the hands of same. The movie put us upright throughout, have a strong story and screenplay (written by NH4 fame Manimaran) and was directed by Thanukumar, a debutant and former assistant of Vetrimaran. Unlike VIP, which deals with obstacles during a building construct? The Vetrimaran team has spotlight into the area of real estate and loan shark that grips in every possible way. 

Indru Netru Naalai (INN) – A Travel though Time

First thing I felt coming out of the theater (drive-in), watching the film Indru Netru Naalai (today yesterday tomorrow) was, how creative our filmmakers are? Following TEOA, here is another movie based on science fiction which takes us on a fun ride through time travel. Though many films have come up on this concept, this is the first time the Tamil filmdom has experienced such and the team has also succeed in their mission.

A scientist from the future (2065) sent a time machine to the current year and it lands at the hands of two friends (Vishnu and Karunakaran) and an inventor during an accident. When the inventor falls into coma after an electric shock, the friends take away the machine and use it for their astrology business – Karunakaran being an astrologer; they recover things people have lost by going back in time using the time machine but make believe others it’s quite astrology and earn enough.

During one such travel to past, they make a mistake without their knowledge and it saves a gangster from an encounter who’s targeting the father of Mia George, who is in love with Vishnu. Understanding it later, they decided to correct the mistake by going to the past but landed in trouble even before the time machine broke away with no option to go further. How did they handle the situation is something sustain the eagerness till ending.

The film is quite an entertainer and behind the scientific notion it’s the realistic comedy-drama that put forth the entire sum. Not that the concept of time travel doesn’t work, but without a good story and screenplay even with a subject travelling to space seems to work not well. I would say anyone asking me about the hero of the movie is the story and though the artists/actors are equally important (like everyone given their best here) the story is perhaps one of the finest in recent past.  

I remember seeing couple of movie in past on time travel but I was uncertain about my understanding of the concept until watching INN. The director (Ravi Kumar, a debutant) has simplified the function of time travel and that too watching in our regional language the understanding becomes easier. The invention of time machine is also simple, cool and uncomplicated for viewers to get a fair idea.

Among the performance, the character of Vishnu and Karunakaran was outstanding and their lack of star status helps us easily relate and involved in the story. For a sci-fi movie, the visuals usually used to be mysterious and high tech, but except the beginning and things relevant to machine everything seems to be realistic and happen to be in real. The travel in past to granny age is something bring back the old charms lively which have been seen as images alone.

P.S. Thanks to our fellow blogger Rajesh, if he hadn’t written about this film I would have missed a great amusement. He has started to watch movies on first day first show, but I watched this movie last day last show hence the film was suppose to leave the theater for next release.  

A private beach house off ECR

While driving past few private beach by-lanes on ECR, I find this house and the gate (perhaps made of planks or steel) prettier to capture. The house was outstanding from the many others structures through the traditional kind of architecture and exterior that carries red brickwork. The hip or gable tiled roof is another interesting aspect of the house that has arch windows and portico and balcony supported by pillars.

The other sides (above and below) of the same house

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