Mankatha Review

Where do you begin with Mankatha? From the word go, Venkat Prabhu's directorial ventures have quite a buzz about them so its hard to keep the expectations at bay. Starting with his first Chennai 600028. So ridiculously successful was the audio release, apparently there was requests/pleading from fans to release the film after the exam period. Considering it was from their target audience, request were heeded to and the rest is history. Then came Saroja which met with similar success as well as Goa with Soundarya Rajnikanth stepping into the producer seat. Now the mother of them all, Mankatha, hits screens with some of the biggest actors Venkat has worked with on board. But does all the expectation of Ajith's 50th film, an all star cast, Yuvan's music and a Venkat Prabhu game tag result in a good film? Read on to find out.

There is not much reason to writing a synopsis since the gist of it can be seen in the trailer but just to recap. Sumanth [Vaibhav], Mahat [Mahat Raghavendra], Prem [Prem G Amaren] and Ganesh [Ashwin Kakumanu] plan to heist cricket betting money worth 500 crore in transit when Vinayak Mahadevan [Ajith], a suspended police officer comes into the picture. Intelligent and with his own agenda, there is more to Vinayak than these boys know. However, where there is a crime to be commited, there has to be a hero to stop it. Enter Prithviraj [Arjun], ACP assigned with a special task force to bring down not only the robbery but the whole illegal betting system. Game set and all is falling to plan yet no one will be prepared for the game thats about to begin as the rules have changed without them knowing. The double crosser is about to be double crossed. Who remains and who comes on top forms the crux.

With all due respect, its about time Ajith had done this kind of film and this kind of role. Yes he has done, and very well might I add, negative shaded characters before but this is his first through and through bad guy role and boy does he nail it. He has made some really bad choices in the past but thanks to Venkat's writing and Ajith's acting, none of them come to mind at all. Simply put, Ajith is back and thank god for that! Out with the good guy hero image and in with the bad man, Vinayak is ridiculously cool and stylish. The actor had the time of his life playing Vinayak and its visible. In fact, his counter character Prithviraj played by Arjun who plays the cop role for the umpteenth time, struggles to get the attention of the audience. But he does the role given to him well. Vaibhav gets the meatiest role out of the four friends and plays it to the T. Ashwin Kakumanu is back with a bigger role compared to his last film Nadunissi Naaygal and is believable to a point. Prem G is relagated to funny man once again but doesn't really have a catch phrase this time. Thankfully his "Enna Kodumai Sir Ithu" was used only once through the film. While some may say his mimic act is boring, its become his trademark so its ok. Mahat tries to make an impression for his first credited role but has a long way to go. Now to the ladies. Sorry Andreah, Laxmi Rai, Trisha and Anjali, this one is definitely for the boys.Andreah takes the cake on believable acting, although only briefly. Trisha doesn't really do anything although dubbing for herself does scores her a few brownie points but even then, Anjali is a step ahead of her just slightly. In honesty, you sympathize with these 3 ladies for approximately 5 minutes which is about the same timeframe they are on screen barring their songs. Laxmi Rai is a beautiful lady but she needs to work on her acting and that too in major proportion. Jayaprakash downplays his smuggler act well and doesn't allow his previous stints on the dark side show this time either. The rest flow through.

Ok so stepping back to technicalities, we head to the music department first. Yet again, another round of banging music by Yuvan Shankar Raja and the charts are there to prove it. At the same time, the songs that stand out are Vilaiyaadu Mankatha, Ithu Namma Ballelaka and Nee Naan. However, it cant be said that this is Yuvan's best work. Cinematography by Sakthi Saravanan is passable and editing by Praveen K. L. & N. B. Srikanth could have been a little crisper. But the writing is to blame for any lack of performance here and that is in the hands of director Venkat Prabhu. While this kind of robbery flick from a negative character's point of view hasn't been seen before in Tamil and Venkat should be applauded for his attempt, there is no denying it could have been better. 

First off, we have the misfortune of pretty much every character getting overshadowed by Ajith, with the ladies taking the biggest blow. As remarkable and deserving of praise as his performance is, the focus can be a little overbearing and long winded. Plus you have to think, are the 4 boys, and everyone else for that matter, that easy to manipulate. Understandably, they are not supposed to be as smart as our man Ajith but at some points, it would have been better had they not seemed so stupid or gullible. On top of this, some of the scenes are just a little too long. Keeping the audience on the edge of their seat is vital to suspence flicks. If the scenes dragged out to one point, the songs pitched in on the speed breakers too. Vaada Bin Laada could have had better placing, forgetting that the picturisation/choreography was questionable. Yet it doesn't all head down hill in the second half. Whatever speed was held back through the songs, is picked up with the climax. By the time the film finishes, the out takes begin and you are left in stitches from laughter with the whole team and their fun.

So the final verdict? It may not be a Royal Flush but this one definitely has a Full House and Ajith.

Rating: 4/5

Bale Pandiya Review

I'll be honest. I was thinking of writing a review on the movie the night I saw it but thought I might gush about the wrong things so I put it off. But when you dealing with a fun movie, what else do you expect. Yes, I am the rom-com type but this isnt just your average comedy. Its a comedy about a tragedy which seems to be the trend of the season. Seems Tamil cinema is going through a good run of new filmmakers that have their hearts in their work and their head around technology. Whether its a high-tech or not doesn't matter. Its about how the director holds your attention. But lets get back to the movie.

Pandiya (Vishnu Vishal of Vennila Kabaddi Kuzhu) is not your average down-on-his-luck youth. If a black cat crossed paths with him, it would run home to drink water and ward off bad luck. Even if he tries to end his life by riding head on into a truck one night, it turns out to be 2 motorcyclists riding side by side. But persistant on ending his feeble existence, Pandiya finds himself a contract killer in the form of "AKP" (R. Amarendran). After much explaining, a song and some laughing, AKP agrees on taking Pandiya's life. Date set, premise set but what to do in the meantime? "Peaceful-a Va, piece piece-a po. Jollya iruda, Pandiya" he says [Come peacefully, go in pieces. Have fun, Pandiya]. Cut to next song. But where does Vaishnavi (Pia Bajpai) come into this? Well, while Pandiya is trying to end his life, the baddies have their own agenda (read: politics) and little Miss Vaishnavi is stuck between her corrupt father ( Jayaprakash) and his comical arch-nemesis (John Vijay) but the how's and why's are something you're going have to watch to find out.

To say that I was excited about this movie and was dying to watch it, would be putting it lightly. Siddharth Chandrasekhar is apparently marking his debut with Bale Pandiya as writer and director. So whats his intention? A rib-tickler with all the elements of a commercial flick. No qualms held here about logic lost. And he does delivers. Vishnu has come away from his rustic, rural look in VKK. Playing the part of "Bad Luck" Pandiya, he makes you laugh at his misfortune and does what he can to be your average middle-class youth. Although in certain parts, he seems to be stuck with only a few expressions, somehow he manages. Pia is bubbly, cute and doesn't have much to do, like most commercial flick heroines but puts in her two cents worth with gusto. Vivek is back with his trademark "thinking comedy" but when the secondary cast of henchmen (Apologies as names were not available) tickle your ribs on their own, while still being apart of the story, this separate-track-comedy doesn't sit well with the screenplay. Nevertheless, he and his partner-in-arms Murugan, do a decent job. Big dissappointments though as after blowing everyone away in Vamsam and Naan Mahaan Alla, Jayaprakash hardly comes to mind when the movie is over. In a forgettable >4 scene role, the same applies to most of the cast including John Vijay, who pretty much repeats his Oram Po act. 

Many would recognise the name in the credits under music director. He's been singing, acting, hosting, dubbing and performing for quite some time. Besides the director, BP marks the debut of Devan Ekambaram as composer too. He has shown his versatility with the soundtrack but could have avoided having 2 remakes. He does, however, do a commendable job with background score and is a true asset to the film.


But all that glitters is not gold. The story has some memorable characters and while most, on face value, dont need a backdrop, the character of "Katchitham" is just plain weird. In fact, the whole episode at the end with the kidnapping and rescue lacked the suspence it needed. As mentioned the music is applaudable but where " Bale Pandiya", "Happy", "Kangal Kamalaalayam" and "Aradha Kobam" have decent visuals to enhance the song, "Sirikkiren" tries to bring back the superb comedy from the "Mama" track of the 1962 "Bale Pandiya". Sorry guys, it ain't working.


So while I recommend you watch this film for the crazy comedy it has, I warn you that there is an unavoidable lull. 

Vamsam Review - Royal Bloodshed

Before we go into detail about this movie, there is one aspect that I need to clarify. The premise in which this movie is set is based on beliefs and traditions that todays society may not be aware of or in most cases, completely forgotten. Within reason, certain cinematic liberties have been taken but the essence is true, very much alive and kicking in rural India.

The story begins with people of varying backgrounds heading to the lineage festival or "Vamsa Thiruvizha" at a rural village called Singampidari. The local constable explains the traditions of the festival and the importance its given to the newly appointed Inspector. Yet the relevance lies in the violence that occurs during these festivals. Its during these scenes, you are shown our rivaling lineages, Anbarasu (Arulnidhi) of "Eppadu Pattalum Pirpaadu Kodathavar" (he who excels in native sports such as Silambam, Rekla etc) and Seenikannu (Jayaprakash) of "Nanjunda Ma Oh Si" (he who avenges any humiliation). Introductions complete, we are then taken back a year in time, where the story really begins. 

With such a tried, and tested story of revenge, and a debut of a political leader's grandson, one sincerely hopes for something different in the screenplay. Thoughts of how many formerly mentioned "cinematic liberties" will be made does not fail to pop up as well. In all honesty, I dont hold a lot of faith in celebrity kids making their debuts. But personal issues aside, I was genuinely excited about Vamsam. My reason? The one and only amazing director, Pandiraj. Much like Suseendran (Naan Mahaan Alla), he has the gigantic task of proving he's not a one-hit-wonder. And I feel he succeeds. Even though this story too is based in a rural backdrop, the similarities stop there. Undeterred by the success of his first feature film, Pasanga, the expectations upon him from the awards it garnered and the hype surrounding Arulnidhi's debut, he depicts with honesty the violence, honor and tradition that a society lives with and swears by. But its not all blood, sweat and aloe vera trees. He may have shown his more serious side, but he does not forget to add in his trademark humour. Simpletons are rarely shown so sweetly in revenge flicks so it is definitely a highlight for the film.

Special mentions must be made about Sunaina who plays Malar. Yes, she is Arulnidhi's ladylove but she is much more than that. Having seen her debut in Tamil (Kadhalil Vizhuthen), I would say this is the first time you dont see Sunaina but the thorned rural rose Malar. Simply put beautiful, lovable, passionate and full of emotion. Watch as she spits fires through her eyes and then does a complete 180 within minutes. Arulnidhi has done a decent job especially in the comical scenes with Ganja Karuppu, who is a laugh riot as his bestie.  But the one that snatches the praise yet again is Jayaprakash. This man is pure evil as Seenikannu and if he continues with his surprise performances like this, I believe we may have a contender for my beloved Prakashraj. Kishore as guest appearance is sufficient but could have been so much more.

With everyone performing so well, there is always a sour grape. This one has a few. Although the movie beautifully captures the village, it tends to shift between surreal and real visuals depending on the sequence. Also, it tends to drags occasionally,especially in the Kishore sequence and during the fight sequence at the  already-guessed climax. Debut music director Taj Noor, who hails from the school of A.R.Rahman, too has expectations pinned on him but I find his debut just average. So what's the conclusion? Watch it for Pandiraj, Asin the cow and the curiosity it stirs within your self. I'd be surprised if you didn't try to find out more about your own lineage once you have watched this movie. I know I did.