Transporter 3

W have already discussed the fact about making a sequel to a project which is a sure bet. So here is yet another series, 3rd one for ‘Transporter’ film is released. Since films like ‘Transporter 3’ belongs to the action genre, I don’t have to take an extra load while writing review for such an English film. For a normal person (like me) who watches most of the English films releasing here, all those types of action films can be categorized into a single group. Though films like this hold a base story line, we give importance for its presentation and its thrilling visualization. In ‘Transporter 3’ also the situation is same.


In the beginning we are shown a ship under the custody of some villain gangs, their leader blackmails the minister for getting an important deal, attaining the contract of oil refinery or something like that. Meanwhile the baddies kidnaps the minister’s daughter also. She is being kept in custody for forcing the minister to sign the deal. At the same time the gang also targets the hero and he is being asked to take the lady with him. Both of them cannot escape; since a remote bomb sensor is being attached to their body, if hey tries to ran way, it can result in total destruction. Anyway nothing unusual happened in the end. The hero saves the girl and the villain gangs are destroyed, ship is saved by the commandos.


In this ordinary story line, some of the scenes have to be mentioned here. It is the action scenes, which is enriched by some chasing sequences. The hero usually travels in his “Audi” car, villains chase him at ultimate speed in their “Benz”, such scenes are exciting and it can be used as a promo for “Audi” also. The visual effects and the real shots are neatly blended here.


The climax is mixed with chasing involving train and car shots. The scenes in which the car lands over the train, hero entering the train, also the car is shown jumping from one boggy to other in a maximum speed etc are unbelievable, but the team behind had presented them in a believable way. Usually we don’t tolerate such scenes in an Indian film, but we have given the English guys for the ultimate license to kill.

The heroine is presented in this film in an unusual makeup. She has got sunburns all over her body. Hero Jason Statham in his muscular outfits is serious and manly.


Those who like watching English action movies can try ‘Transporter 3’ also.

Rating : 3 / 5

Thenavettu

Sun Pictures, the giant name in the TV field is producing yet another film, ‘Thenavettu’. Hope you know their previous project ‘Kaathalil Vizhunthen’ has got big success through “Nakku Mukku…” song which has got a rapid tune and choreography. But here they don’t have anything big like that to project. Since, the project came from Sun group factory; I decided to go for a ride.

Jeeva, producer R.B.Chowdhary’s son is the hero of this film. He has acted in films like ‘Keertichakra’, ‘Raam’ and ‘Dishyum’ before. Poonam Bhajwa is the heroine. Jeeva hails from a poor family in a village area in Madurai. This angry young man reaches Chennai, there he works under the rich man Ravi Kale (‘Cyanide’ fame), who is having some underworld connections also. As expected, gradually he is in fond of the heroine Poonam. Finally when the rich man’s son who is a womanizer tries to attack the heroine, it is the hero who comes for the rescue and in the fight he is being brutally killed. The lovers escaped from the city, the villain’s father is in search for them and whether they succeeded in their love is what shown in the climax of ‘Thenavettu’.

There is not much entertainment you can imagine in this film with such a story line. Only thing you can expect here is the songs and action scenes mixed with some humour. Sreekanth Deva has given some fast songs with folk touch, but I can’t recollect anyone of them now. Anal Arasu has given some fast fight sequences. Ganja Karuppu is placed to create laughter, but that also didn’t work much effectively. Some fast cuts by the editor Raja Muhammed and shaking frames by the cameraman Vetri has made the film to look like a fast paced.

The new director V.V.Kathir has directed the film in such a way that it look like an ordinary action flick in the 90’s. He has created some dialogues praising Madurai people and their guts. In the later portions, the problems faced by the eunuch (“shikhandi”) people are also discussed; they gave shelter for the running lovers. Even then, I don’t think this film can create big news among the public.

‘Thenavettu’ means “guts”, but here no need to show your strength through muscles, use your brain and just stay away from the show which is good for non-movie maniacs.

Rating : 2 / 5

Seval

Hari, the director who gave films like ‘Thamizh’ (Prasanth), ‘Sami’ and ‘Arul’ (both by Vikram), ‘Kovil’ (Simbhu), ‘Ayya’ (Sharathkumar), ‘Aaru’ and ‘Vel’ (both by Surya) and ‘Thamirabharani’ (Vishal) has come up with his new project ‘Seval’ starring Bharat and new face Poonam Bhajwa. They are supported by Simran, Vadivelu, Sampathraj etc. Camera is handled by Priyan, director’s favourite coworker.

Those who have seen any of those films mentioned above might be able to know Hari’s style. He has given maximum films based on village subjects stamping the tamilian culture. It has got usual masala ingredients like songs, humor, family sentiments, action, friendship, vengeance etc at its best.

In ‘Seval’ also the treatment is same. The film tells the story of a village youth who hails from lower middle class flower merchant family. He gets in love with a girl from Brahmin family; meanwhile the villain is also fond of her. In the end whether he is able to save her and lead a successful life is what shown here through a story happened more than 15 years ago through flashback.

Bharat, who was introduced through ‘Boys’, is the hero in ‘Seval’. He has got some notable films like ‘Kathal’, ‘Veyil’ and ‘Nepali’ in which he comes in the main role. He has given a good performance here. The new face Poonam has got the village girl face. Simran, who is doing matured roles these days (like ‘Vaaranam Aayiram’), comes in elder sister’s role. Though she has not got anything big to perform, her role can create sympathy towards the later stages. Vadivelu who comes as hero’s uncle is there to create the comedy.

G.V.Prakashkumar is the music director here. Though he has given a good background score, the songs are not good enough to be remembered once we are out of the theatre. Priyan has captured the natural beauty of interior Tamilnadu. Rocky Rajesh helped the director to deliver some good action scenes.

There are not much unusual things happening in the story line here. Only I can say that this is a real tamil film which tells the revenge story in the village backdrop with songs, humor and action scenes in it. I always love to watch such kind of films (opinion differs).

Those who can withstand “real” tamil films may be able to watch ‘Seval’ once.

Rating : 3 / 5

Pakal Nakshatrangal

Rajivnath, who took films like ‘Kaveri’, ‘Aham’ etc which were not so big hits, has directed his latest venture, ‘Pakal Nakshatrangal’. The film is scripted by Anoop Menon, who acted in films like ‘Kattuchembakam’ and ‘Thirakkadha’. It is something special to be noted here, since Mohanlal has done the main role in the film. Sureshgopi and Anoop himself has got some prominent roles. Other star cast includes Lakshmi Gopalaswamy, Kalpana, Reena Basheer (“Vanitha Ratnam” fame), K.B.Venu (“Samakalikam” fame) etc.

‘Pakal Nakshatrangal’ deals with the subject regarding the search for the reason of the sudden demise of a great film director Sidharthan, done by Mohanlal. Though the story is based on the father, it goes through the findings of his son (Anoop Menon), who is an NRI return. The latter is writing a novel based on the life history of his father. He wants to know how his father died. Though police claims it as a suicide, he can’t digest such a thing to be done by the bold film maker. After certain enquiries and findings he finds the reason in the climax.

The film starts with a TV news in which the government has decided to takeover the “Daffodils” house which is a traditional one, where many artists and cultural leaders are having their evening gatherings. Sidharthan was also a member in those groups. He has got companions from various areas in the society. It includes some ladies also. An abnormal person (Suresh Gopi), who has got an extra ordinary power to talk with the spirits and souls, helps the son to find some truths regarding his father.

Watching ‘Pakal Nakshatrangal’, which is serious and a straight film with solid dialogues, we will feel that this would have been scripted by some experienced script writers, but you will be astonished to realize the fact that it is done by the young guy which has not got much track record in the big screen, Anoop Menon. The story and the way in which it is presented with the sharp dialogues need special applause.

The good thing is that this film won’t make you boring as most of the subjects like this do. Also the there is no lagging apart from one or two scenes in which Suresh Gopi’s character talking with the spirit. His role might be unbelievable and odd, but since the title of the film is relevant and complete only through his findings, no issues. The climax here is acceptable, but I personally feel that a third party could think that it should have been done in a more sensible way.

Mohanlal’s performance is outstanding. The script writer has made such a track for the versatile actor to travel. So, Lal doesn’t need a special good certificate here. Especially his combination scenes with Kalpana and Reena Basheer are notable. Anoop Menon has also come in a matured role after ‘Thirakkadha’. (You can also feel similarity in some areas of story telling between ‘Pakal Naksharangal’ and ‘Thirakkadha’). Kalpana is also seen never as before.

Gazal mood song by Hariharan for Shahbaz Aman’s music goes with the mood. Sharath has given the background score. Ramachandra Babu has handled the camera without many gimmicks. Director Rajivnath can also project this film as his best work. The talk of the town here after will be the young Anoop Menon, who happened to be the matured writer of the film. You will feel like watching a Bharathan-Padmarajan-Mohan type of movie in the 80's.

‘Pakal Nakshatrangal’ is a good film, but it is very strange to say that audience these days are addicted to masala entertainment only, so a question of commercial success here is out of the way.

Rating : 4 / 5

A Wednesday

Personally, I don’t like encouraging Hindi films coming with its usual ingredients like romance, family melodramas, sentiments, songs etc. There are many who like to watch such kind of subjects. But on the other side there are also films handling some variety subjects. I love such films which are shown in a realistic manner. You can’t classify such films as main stream films or parallel films, but they are good films. Such films may not be big hits here; some of them even wont release here. But I will try my level best to watch such films. Recently I watched a Hindi film which can be projected as one of the best films so far made in our country; its name is ‘A Wednesday’.

The main characters of the film are played by two legendary actors who are in their 50’s, Nasrudeen Shah and Anupam Kher. All of you might know these names, if anybody asks you about their best films, it will be complicated, but hereafter it is easy for you to quote the name ‘A Wednesday’, since they had given their career best performance.

I am not ready to mention a single line regarding the story of the film. Only I can say that in the current situation of our country the theme of the film is very relevant. Yes, it deals with the issue of terrorism. Usually I won’t recommend others to watch films, since taste and opinion differs, but this time I say it will be a great miss if you have not seen ‘A Wednesday’.

The film is scripted and directed by Neeraj Pandey. No words to praise this newcomer. He has entered the top position among the list of the best film makers in the country. This film produced by UTV, stands best in all its technical aspects. Cinematography by Fuwad Khan, Music by Sanjay Chowdhary, Editing by Sreenarayanan Singh etc needs special mention.

A friend of mine asked me before, what is a good film; I replied, it is very difficult to tell, but if one can watch a film without boring, one should also don’t feel restless, then it can be categorized as a good one. In that way, ‘A Wednesday’ is an example for it.

‘A Wednesday’ is an edge of the seat thriller. Please don’t miss it...it is a request.

Rating : 4.5 / 5