Naan Mahaan Allai

Medium : Tamil
Starring : Karthi, Kajal Agarwal, Jayaprakash, Soori
Director : Suseendran
Music : Yuvan Shankar Raja

Director of super hit movie 'Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu', Suseendran is back with his 2nd project. This time he took a city based subject with Karthi and Kajal Agarwal in the lead roles. Karthi is here after enjoying the success of 'Paiyya'. Though a pupular figure in telugu, Kajal Agarwal ('Magadheera' & 'Darling' fame), has not got any big break in tamil so far, her pevious movies in lead roles being 'Modhi Vilayaadu' & 'Pazhani'. The title, 'Naan Mahaan Allai' is borrowed from a Rajnikanth starrer movie in the 80's. Dayanidhi Azhagiri for Clud Nine banner, has distributed this movie.

Jeeva (Karthi) is an easy going guy who is not interested in doing job and earn money. He lives happily with his father (Jayaprakash), a call taxi driver, mother and sister. He met Priya (Kajal Agarwal) in a marriage function, which later developed into love. As per advice of her father, he started doing job. He was not at all serious in his life until his father met with an accident and had to take bed rest for quite sometime. It has changed Jeeva's life pattern. At one stage Priya's father, who is a leading lawyer, stood against her relationship with Jeeva that later developed into a series of incidents.

The specialty of 'Naan Mahaan Allai' stands in the way in which it is presented. Director Suseendran needs special appreciation for developing two separate tracks in the story which meets at a certain point in the second half. The characterization of the new faces who comes in the negative roles are also different. The comedy situations shown in the movie are also good. The main attraction lies in the natural action sequences directed by Anal Arasu. The whole episode gives us a breathless feel. The violence shown in the movie is too realistic and heavy, since it is an adaptation from the happenings in the real world, no need to raise complaint. Cinematographer Madhi ('Paiyya' & 'Nepali' fame) did a good job, so as editor Kasi Viswanathan.

Karthi is good in the lead role. The jolly type character is developed in an attractive manner. His chemistry with Kajal Agarwal is impressive. Jayaprakash ('Nadodikal' & 'Pasanga' fame) did the lovable father role with ease. Another big name to be pointed out is the music director Yuvan Shankar Raja, who gave the 'life' for the movie with an excellent background score; a couple of songs are also good.

'Naan Mahaan Allai' is a real time pass. It starts slowly with a romance, emotionally travels through the second half to reach its real pace towards the later portions.

Rating : 8 / 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

Goa

Medium : Tamil
Starring : Jai, Premji Amaran, Vaibhav, Aravind, Sampath Raj, Sneha, Piya Bajpai
Director : Venkat Prabhu
Music : Yuvan Shankar Raja

After the grand success of films like 'Chennai 600028' and 'Saroja', director Venkat Prabhu, music director Yuvan Shankar Raja, cinematographer Sakthi Sravanan, art director Vidhesh, costume designer Vasuki Bhaskar etc once again teamed up for their new project named 'Goa'. This time, their producer is also big and different, it is none other than Soundarya Rajnikanth, under the banner of Ocher Studios. The director had tried to repeat the majority of actors that worked with him in his previous films.

The film starts in Pannaipuram, a village near Madhurai where three friends Samikkannu (Premji Amaran), Vinayakam (Jai) and Ramarajan (Vaibhav), lived like 'good for nothing' peoples. Being caught for doing some fowl plays, the panchayat leader decided that those three should never meet again in the future for the welfare of the locals. Being annoyed at this, they decided to leave the place, reached Madhurai where they meet Vinayakam's friend, who is being married to a foreign lady. When heard about the love matters that happened in Goa, they decided to visit Goa and to settle their life after being married to any white ladies. When reached the destination, they met Jack (Aravind), who arranged a good food and shelter for them. Danny (Sampath Raj), a close companion of Jack is also helping them. Samikkannu came across Jessica, a foreign girl, whom he met in Madhurai. Vinayagam is being loved by Roshni (Piya Bajpai), while Ramarajan is mad of Suhasini (Sneha), a rich girl. In the middle, relationship between Danny and Samikkannu is being misunderstood by Jack, which is also treated in a comical way. What happens to the ambitions of these friends is shown in the climax of 'Goa'.

Starting the film with a folk song based on the birth place of Ilayaraja and Gangai Amamran, sung by their descendants Karthik, Yuvan, Venkat and Premji will not be a coincidence. Those visuals which covers the first few minutes of the film gives a village flavor. Later on, the film takes its pace when it reaches the colorful locations of Goa. Those who have seen the previous films by the director know his presentation style, 'Goa' is also not different. It is also told in a satirical way. The lights appearing on the face of Ramarajan when he sees a girl, the poor english language used by Vinayakam, 'kangal irandaal...' song given as background for Samikkannu when he stands with Vinayakam, usage of the dilaogues "enna kodumai sir..." and "evvalavo pannitto...", placement of Silambarasan in a guest role, flashback scenes of the village leader, the protrayal of homo sexual relationship scenes in a funny way which is never seen before in south indian films are all examples of the young writer-director's signature.

Premji Amaran, Jai and Vaibhav did well in the lead roles, especially Premji Amaran's comical body language creates more laughing. Sampath Raj, who has been doing negative roles these days, gave a different performance here. Including two village type songs and a theme mix, done by Yuvan Shankar Raja are good for the mood, especially the background score given with the help of Premji Amaran needs special mention. Sakthi Saravanan's camera work is colorful. The second half area including the climax needs more stability, it is also doubtful whether narrow minded people will appreciate gay relationship scenes, though it is told in a lighter way.

'Goa' is a musical entertainer with full of joy, fun and humor. If you have seen the previous two hits by the same director, then don't miss this one also.

Rating : 7.5 / 10