Thillaalangadi

Medium : Tamil
Starring : 'Jayam' Ravi, Thamanna, Shyam, Vadivelu, Prabhu,Suhasini
Director : M.Raja
Music : Yuvan Shankar Raja, Thaman (bg score)

The successful director of remake subjects, M.Raja ('Jayam', 'M.Kumaran s/o Mahalakshmi', 'Something Something Unakkum Enakkum', 'Santhosh Subramanyam' fame), had once again joined hands with his brother 'Jayam' Ravi, for the new movie named 'Thillaalangadi'. It has got charming girl Thamanna as the heroine. This home production of the actor's family, has got the story borrowed from the telugu flick 'Kick', directed by Surendar Reddy starring Ravi Teja and Ileana. Shyam ('12B', 'Leysa Leysa' fame), who has done an important character in 'Kick', has been maintained here also. Yuvan Shankar Raja is the music director, Thaman, who composed songs for telugu version, has been given the chance to do re-recording here. Rajasekhar is the cinematographer.

Krishna ('Jayam' Ravi) is an easy going guy. He wants to see some difference in each and every activities he got involved, in short he wants 'kick' in all such things. Krishna's contrasting but notable character, was not all liked by Nisha (Thamanna). But later her angry towards him got converted to passion and love. Nisha wants his lover to be serious in his career, thus Krishna entered a job. After few days, he left the job, telling that he doesn't feel 'kick' in it. She is too angry and this made a split between two, later she reached Malaysia. As per wish of her parents, Nisha meets Krishna Kumar (Shyam) and as both of them like each other, they decided to get married. There is a purpose behind Krishna Kumar's visit to that country and whether Nisha is able to meet Krisha again is told in the second half of 'Thillaalangadi'.

The director had made the carbon copy of every shots of 'Kick'. With the experience got from working with his brother in the previous projects, 'Jayam' Ravi, did well in such a role. Thamanna had tried to imitate Ileana's performance in many areas. Shyam is good in the powerful role given to him, the unsuccessful actor with an experience of about 20 films, is expecting to get a good break by this role. Though it is a repetetion, the scenes involving Vadivelu creates laughing. Santhanam is appearing in a couple of scenes only, the director had not given a chance to deliver the actor's style here, rather it is also an adaptation of Ali's role from the original version. The 'jil jil...' words told by Manobala (as saint) is also the same as the original, it should have been given a different version. The attitude of the politicians needs more seriousness.

R.D.Rajasekhar's cinematography is rich and colorful. Yuvan had given some fast peppy numbers that goes with the mood. The choreography of the songs are attractive, especially the visual effects done in 'solppechu...' song for Shobi's choreography is notable. Thaman's bg score is also good.

It is not a good custom to cut short few scenes from the censored project. Though they are doing this to reduce the length, it will affect the continuity in few areas; I am not sure whether editor Sasikumar is aware of such a fact, the culprit may be the theater owner, the distributor or the director himself. It is not a matter that I found it since I watched the original version of this movie, an ordinary viewer may be able to find the problem happened in the link between certain scenes...


If necessary, you can watch 'Thillaalangadi' once, for a time pass.


Rating : 7 / 10

Sura

Medium : Tamil
Starring : Vijay, Devgill, Vadivelu, Thamanna
Director : S.P.Rajkumar
Music : Manisharma

The new tamil film 'Sura' (meaning Shark) is a special one, as it is the 50th film of the most popular actor in the kollywood today, Vijay. Born as the son of director S.A.Chandrasekhar, he has reached the field in the early 90's through the films directed by his father. He has acted in action masalas like 'Rasikan', 'Deva', 'Vishnu' etc (all directed by S.A.C) in the beginning and later on achieved a romantic image through some good films like 'Poove Unakkaga', 'Love Today', 'Kaathalukku Maryadhai', 'Thullaatha Manamum Thullum', 'Kushi', 'Priyamaanavale' etc. He has given many hit films in a row like 'Gilli', 'Thirumalai', 'Madhurai', 'Thiruppachi', 'Sivakasi' etc. These days, he has acquired the real action hero image with a minimum guarantee market and most of his films including 'Pokkiri', 'Vettaikkaran' etc were hits in our state also. Now his new film 'Sura', released in 600 centers world wide, shows the popularity of the young star, nick named 'Ilayadalapathy'. In the middle of the strike between the exhibitors, producers, distributors and other related groups in the film industry, release of some malayalam films are delayed, but the Vijay film got succeeded in releasing in as many centers here.

After the success of 'Vettaikkaran', mega banner Sun Pictures once again bagged the distribution rights of a Vijay film. It is directed by S.P.Rajkumar, who gave average films like 'Azhagarmalai', 'Kaarmegham', 'Ponmanam' and 'En Purushan Kuzhanthaimaathiri' before. Anyway, this former assistant of director K.S.Ravikumar with an experience of more than 15years in the field, is good enough to write-direct a Vijay film. Top heroine in tamil, Thamanna is pairing with Vijay for the first time. Telugu actor Devgill, who is notable through hit film 'Magadheera', does the negative role.

Sura (Vijay) is a fisherman living in the coastal area. His ambition is to build concrete houses for the entire families living there. He came across the heroine (Thamanna) and started loving her. At this time, a minister (Devgill), who is involved in illegal activities and real estate business, tried to buy the land, where the hero lives. Sura opposes this and the minister tried many ways to evacuate the families. The hero is adamant that he will build the houses for the fishermen at his own cost and how he succeeded in it is shown in the climax of 'Sura'.

The dullness in the environment selected to tell the story is evident in most areas. Vadivelu, who is placed for comedy scenes, has given a below average output only. The heroine is as usual a 'product' for the hero to sing duets. The suicide attempt scenes and the reason told by the heroine for doing make up are all childish. The villain character lacks stability and Devgill, who came in such a role is not flexible also. The revenge episodes are not done in a thrilling way. The inclusion of foreign girls in the temple song is not an attractive sight. The introduction shot of the hero and the song followed it, are not done neatly. The walking style of the hero (imitating Mammootty in 'Oru CBI Diary Kuruppu') is not good.

The only good thing for Vijay to select this project might be, some of the hero oriented dialogues related to the the theme of 'building houses', which he thinks as an added advantage, if he enters the politics in the near future (?). The experienced actor or his father or the director himself should have been aware of the fact that they have chosen an usual theme with an ordinary presentation only for a 'mile stone' project like this.

Action director Kanal Kannan, who has given notable punches in recent hits like 'Paiyya' and 'Vettaikkaran', had given a couple of fast sequences, especially the first one where hero chasing the villain is excellent. Music director Manisharama had given some peppy numbers (many of them are his own tunes borrowed from telugu) and the bg score is also healthy. Choreography by Robert for 'naan nadnathaal...' song and Prem Rakshit for 'thanjavoor jillakkari...' song, needs special mention. Ekambaram, who did recent films like 'Drona' (M), 'Den Dena Dun', 'Kanthasamy', is the cinematographer and Donmax, the malayalee editor, who worked in 'Aadhavan', 'Jaggubhai', 'Silambaattom' etc gave some neat cuts.


'Sura' might be a prestigious project for the actor, not for the viewers. Even a die hard fan of Vijay can't promote a movie like this.


Rating : 4 / 10

Paiyya

Medium : Tamil
Starring : Karthi, Thamanna, Milind Soman
Director : Lingusamy
Music : Yuvan Shankar Raja

Karthi, younger brother of actor Soorya, has done the lead role in 'Piyya', after films like 'Paruthiveeran' and 'Aayirathil Oruvan'. So, this is the first modern youthful role for the hero. Thamanna, who acted in films like 'Kalloori', 'Ayan', 'Padikkathavan', 'Kandein Kathale' etc has acted opposite him. She will rise as a successful heroine in the south, with films like 'Thillalangadi' with Jayam Ravi, 'Sura' with Vijay also has to be released soon. After 'Pachaikkili Muthuchiram', once again Mumbai model Milind Soman comes to the south for doing a special role here. After giving films like 'Aanandam', 'Run', 'Sandaikkozhi', 'Ji' and 'Bheema', Director Lingusamy has come up with this new project. It is produced by Thirupathi Brothers (director's brothers) and distributed by Dayanidhi Azhagiri under the banner Cloud Nine, after giving the super hit film 'Thamizhppadam'. The younger representative from the 'Raja' family, Yuvan Shankar Raja, who worked with the same director for 'Sandaikkozhi', is the music director in 'Paiyya'.

Shiva (Karthi) searching job in Bangalore. There he sees Chaaru (Thamanna), happens 'love at first sight'. On one such occasion, he even left the office without attending an interview, when he saw her passing by that way. One day, while waiting for her friend with the car in the railway station, she and his uncle came, asking for a trip to Chennai by misunderstanding him as a taxi driver; seeing the girl he agrees. On the way, when the uncle got down at petrol bunk, she requested him to take her alone. She asked him to take her to Mumbai. She told the reason why a gang is following her. On the contrast, another group from Mumbai is in search of the hero. They found him on the way, but he got succeeded in winning them physically. Shiva's flashback is shown in the second half. During the journey, Shiva and Chaaru became close to each other. Finally they reaches the destination and what happens to their relationship is shown in the climax of 'Paiyya'.

The way in which the hero seeing the heroine in many places in the beginning, is a cliche. After being departed, once again hero finds her standing in the street in the later portion, is a cinematic coincidence. The scene in which painting is done on the car to save from the villain gangs should have been done on a more realistic way. In the climax fight, villain hitting the hero to the maximum and then hero arises from that position, has happened in Indian films unlimited number of times. Karthi is not flexible in the songs and dancing sequences; he needs more practice in such an area. A couple of songs in the post interval area happens in short intervals, which can make few audiences restless.

Hope you remember the thrilling action sequences in 'Run' composed by the debutant Peter Hain; this time director has asked Peter's guru Kanal Kannan, an experienced one in the field, to repeat the same thrilling effect on the action sequences. As expected the output is extra ordinary, the best of this kind we have seen in the recent past. Almost all the songs by Yuvan Shankar Raja are good and his background score is excellent to give a good pace. This is cinematographer Madhi's best work after doing films like 'Veyil', 'Nepali' and 'Silambattom'. He gave some colorful visuals, most of the scenes inside the car (tough task for a person behind the camera) are portrayed well. The most expensive editor in the south, Anthony, gave a good support in 'Paiyya' with his fast cuts. After the big flop 'Bheema', though there are some hurdles here and there in this story and its presentation, director Lingusamy can relax to a certain extend, by giving a road movie like 'Paiyya'.

'Paiyya' is a time pass movie, mixed with romance, good songs and excellent action scenes. No need to rethink on the logic in its theme, you can watch it once.

Rating : 7.5 / 10

Eeram

Medium : Tamil
Starring : Aadhi, Nandha, Sindhu Menon, Sharanya Mohan
Direction : Arivazhagan
Producer : Director Shankar
Music : Thaman

S-Pictures is a successive production banner in tamil; they gave films like 'Kaathal', 'Veyil' and 'Himsai Arasan 23am Pulikesi'. Don't you know that the banner is owned by super hit director in tamil, Shankar ('Shivaji-The Boss', 'Anniyan', 'Indian' fame)? It is also appreciative that many new directors are getting a chance through him and also different creativity are happening in tamil, in such a way. Each films came under this banner had got unique themes. Now their latest project, 'Eeram' is different in its title itself. It is a horror based murder investigation subject. Aadhi ('Mrigam' fame), Nandha ('Punnagai Poove', 'Mounam Pesiyathe' fame) and Sindhu Menon have acted in the lead roles.

The story is mainly based in an apartment which forms the background of majority of scenes. The film begins with a murder happened to one of the prominent characters in the story. The investigation is handled by the ACP (Aadhi). While the case study goes on, a series of murder happens. At the same time, the flash back story of the hero and the heroine is also shown, which gives a lead to the current investigation. In the end, the cause for the murders and the real culprit is revealed.

The excellent presentation of the film is notable. The lighter bluish color grading of the film makes it more serious. Aadhi has got a different appearance compared to his tough look in 'Mrigam'. All the artists have performed well, especially Sindhu Menon. The romantic scenes in the flashback are neatly done. By giving good visuals, Manoj Pramahamsa (former associate to cinematographer Saravanan) had done a good job behind the camera. Music director Thaman (he was one among the gang in the film 'Boys') had given background score matching the mood. There is a scene in the film, where the 'water' from a tap becoming a villain which is good enough to prove the talent of the new director.


'Eeram' is a murder investigation thriller told in a different style. Such a variety of subjects still happens in other languages and are accepted well by their audience.


Rating : 8 / 10

Kandein Kaathale

Medium : Tamil
Starring : Bharath, Thamanna, Santhanam
Direction : R.Kannan
Music : Vidyasagar


Yet another remake subject has been released. This time there is an U-turn, from hindi to tamil. Shahid Kapoor & Kareena Kapoor starrer super hit film 'Jab We Met, directed by Imtiaz Ali ('Love Aaj Kal' fame) has been remade as 'Kandein Kathale' with young actor Bharath and the current sensation Thamanna. It is produced by Moserbaer and distributed by Sun Pictures. The film is directed by
R Kannan.


The film tells the story of an young business man (Bhararth). After being frustrated with the official matters, he left the city. On the way he met the heroine (Thamanna). Though he doesn't like her smartness in the beginning, gradually he adjusted with her behaviors. He accompanies the girl to her native. Her marriage is fixed with her relative (Santhanam) whom she doesn't like. Anyway she ran from the house with the hero and he leaves her at the lover's residence. He is back in the city as a new man. Inspired by her attitude, he has got immense growth in career. After few months her relatives reaches his office in search of the girl. He agrees them to find her soon. Whether he is capable of meeting her this time is where the story of 'Kandein Kaathale' ends.


The attraction of the film is the performance of Thamanna. Bharath had also given good support to her. Vidyasagar had given some good songs and a neat background score. Cinematographer, Muthiah had given colorful frames. Different from the hindi atmosphere, there are some comedy sequences added at the heroine's house. R Kannan, the director who gave the hit film 'Jayam Kondaan' before, had not done anything bad here. But, as always the original version stands above the remake.


'Kandein Kaathale' is an entertainer. If you had missed 'Jab We Met', you can watch this remake version as a substitute.


Rating : 7.5 / 10