Khatta Meetha

Medium : Hindi
Starring : Akshay Kumar, Trisha, Rajpal Yadav, Kulbushan Kharbhanda, Milind Gunaji, Manoj Joshi
Director : Priyadarshan
Music : Pritam, Ouseppachan (bg score)

Notable director Priyadarshan is still enjoying his reign in bollywood through remake subjects. After the remake of a foreign classic ('Bumm Bumm Bole'), he has borrowed a project from malayalam. This time the chance is for his own hit movie, 'Vellanakalude Naadu', written by Srinivasan. The director's favorite star Akshay Kumar, once again tries to make fit in an ordinary role, done brilliantly by Mohanlal, almost 22 years back. South indian actress Trisha make her debut in hindi through 'Khatta Meetha'. It should be noted that she came to the movie field from the modeling area through Priyadarshan's tamil project named 'Leysa Leysa' (remake of malayalam hit 'Summer In Bethlehem'). V.Manikandan, who worked with the director in 'Billu' is the cinematographer. As usual, Arun Kumar is the editor. Director's favourite music director Pritam has composed the songs. Like 'Bumm Bumm Bole', Ouseppachan is in charge of the re-recording section.

Sachin Tichkule (Akshay Kumar) is a struggling pwd contractor. As he is not earning much money, he is taking debts from many peoples and his parents (Kulbushan Kharbhanda and Aruna Irani) are angry and sad about this attitude. His brother-in-laws (Milind Gunaji and Manoj Joshi) are corrupted guys, they have joined hands with the political leader for the illegal activities. They are spending lot of money and even commit a murder to save themselves from a bridge collapse case that killed many innocent villagers. Gehna (Trisha) is joined as the municipal commissioner. Through a flash back, the relationship between Sachin and Gehna is revealed. She is surprised to see the contrasting character of Sachin now. The lack of stability in the relationship between the M.C and the contractor happens in the following days. At this time, Sachin's sister is being married to a political leader. Whether Sachin is able to get success in his current job is shown in the later portions of 'Khatta Meetha'.

To compare the classical satire 'Vellanakalude Naadu' with 'Khatta Meetha', will be a stupidity. Other than copying all the scenes, director has included the lengthy comedy scene inside palace from malayalam movie 'Friends', the scene involving Pappu and James from his own project 'Midhunam' with an addition of three songs (most of them in un wanted situations). The road roller scene, which was the highlight of the original version has not done here in the best way. The visual 'effects' done for the elephant, over acting of Johny Lever, the way in which road roller comes back etc are not realistic and won't be good enough to make us laugh. The continuity is also missing as the particular house is shown without any damage later. The comedy scene with phones involving Asrani, looks like a deliberate one.

We can't expect more from an action hero like Akshay Kumar in this odd role. Trisha doesn't look confident enough to do the matured role of a government servant. Rajpal Yadav, Kulbushan Kharbhanda and Manoj Joshi have done well. The role of Makrand Deshpande (in place of Sreenivasan) is not not neatly portrayed and thus the character has got some negative shades also. Songs by Pritam are not good enough to be remembered. The director has tried to add some dialogues involving the corruption of the system and the necessity of the national integrity. V.Manikandan's camera work is colorful, but how ever the lack of detailing of the road work shots for such a theme, is a draw back. Ouseppachan's bg core is good. The action sequence towards the end is done neatly.


With each and every shots of the original version still in my mind, it is difficult to recommend for 'Khatta Meetha'...


Rating : 5 / 10

Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa

Medium : Tamil

Starring : Silambarasan, Trisha, Ganesh, Babu Antony, Kitty, K.S.Ravikumar
Director : Gautham Menon
Music : A.R.Rahman

Gautham Menon is one of the distinguished technicians in Indian film industry. His first directorial venture was 'Minnale', but it was 'Kaakka Kaakka', that made him popular among the masses in the south. Though his last few films, like 'Pachakkili Muthuchiram' (Sarath Kumar), 'Vettayadu Vilayadu' (Kamalhassan) and 'Vaaranam Aayiram'(Soorya) were also notable ones, none of them stands on top when we consider the commercial and business sides only. Now his new film is special, as he joined hands with A.R.Rahman, leaving his favorite music director Harris Jayaraj, who gave a good company for all his films so far. Silambarasan and Trisha plays the lead roles after the film 'Alai', which happened almost seven years ago. Udayanidhi Stalin, under the banner Red Giant movies, is the distributor of the film. Anthony is the editor and Manoj Paramahmasa, who gave an excellent output in 'Eeram' is the cinematographer here.

'Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa' is a love story of a hindu boy Karthik (Silambarasan), an ambitious assistant director in films and a malayalee christian girl Jessie (Trisha). They lives in the city as neighbors in the same compound. Her native is in Alleppey. It was Karthik that proposed her and though Jessie opposed it in the beginning and gradually it turned into a real affair. Being born in an orthodox family, her father (Babu Antony) doesn't like Karthik, who is still struggling for a good opening in the film field. By this time, her marriage is fixed. In the bride's costumes, she objected when the priest asks for her permission in the church. Later the lovers decided that they will get united only after getting green signal from her parents. In between their relationship gets tensed when they gave more importance to the family and career matters and they departs each other. When got a chance to direct a film, he took his own life story as the theme. What happens to his debut film and the future of their love episodes are shown later.

This lengthy romantic subject is presented in director's style. The ups and downs in the relationship of the lovers is shown in a natural way. Sometimes there is silence, on some other occasions there are tensions followed by regrets. The first half is lovable and it is moving smoothly, in the post interval period there is dragging here and there. The climax needs more clarity and it also causes a confusion among the audience.

Silambarasan and Trisha gave an excellent performance in the lead roles. Unlike from the action image, he has given a new body language in such a character. Trisha is charming and she has handled the matured role well. Ganesh, one of the producers, who comes as hero's companion is also good. Among the seven numbers by A.R.Rahman, 'Anbil Avan...' and 'Kannukkul Kannai...' stands on top, 'Aaromale...' can caught attention due to its negative singing style. His bg score matches the mood well, but the songs are not extremely good enough to dominate the hits that came from Gautham-Harris combination before. The visuals of the songs, majority done in the foreign locations accompanied by english dance groups, should have been done better. Camera man Manoj Paramhamasa had given rich and colorful visuals here. Director's usual editor Anthony gave some neat cuts.


Don't watch 'Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa' expecting it to be a fast entertainer, rather it is a realistic love subject told in Gautham Menon's style. Those people bearing good romantic feelings in their mind, will love it (how ever, avoiding the lagging in the second half followed by a neat and straight climax should have given a better result for the movie)...

Rating : 6.5 / 10