The concept of a competition to the public, at least in Tamil!, was put forth by Sun TV in the incipient beginnings of the Cable Era during the early 1990s with the show "Sapthaswarangal". As with the growing interest and surging popularity of this show. the competitors namely Jaya TV wouldn't definitely want to be left behind in the race. They had their own version "Raga Maalika" followed by Raj TV who jumped into the bandwagon as well. Just like the Pet Rock fad, these shows were the Pizzas of the audience - liked and loved almost by all to the point that we started to cheese off with the overwhelming glut of the singing spectacle. How a candle wanes off in dribs and drabs, the lustre of the shows began to sheen away. People began to give the shows a big-time time out. It wasn't that the shows weren't aired but no one gave a hoot..!
Flash Forwarding to the the late 2000s - the spectacular emergence of Vijay TV with rib-tickling "Lollu Sabha" ensured that the Tamil audience once again started to tune in to new food for entertainment. Bring in Airtel Super Singer - Season 1. It was a rousing hit that even the likes of Vijay and Ajith (In those days, they had a rough time with blockbusters!) would have been envious of the show's phenom success. Post the stellar Super Singer's crowning achievement, the trails, competitions, eliminations and finals for Jodi Number 1 was also held which once again proved to be feather in Vijay TV's hat. Following Season 1's triumphing TRPs, what followed next was an endlessly insatiable and single-minded focus to glue in the eyeballs to their channel for the I-have-lost-track number of seasons for both the song and dance events. Just like how the X-Men have had many prequels, sequels and spin-offs, the shows branched off to bring in the new talents through the innocent and raw skills of kids.
What ensued then was utter mayhem as every other competitor like Kalaignar TV, Jaya TV, Raj TV, Sun TV etc. desired to have a go at these competitions in their own respective way to the point of taedium vitae of such contests marked and marred by controversies like the Simbu's in Jodi Number 1 to generate enough attention and curiosity for the spectators to not miss to out on the show.
Leapfrogging to 2017 where we have 'Kavan' directed by the canny KV Anand and highly flexible Vijay Sethupathi which got released some time back. I don't have to go into the nuts and bolts of the story or the screen as that had been the talking point for some time in the social media - Real Life? Who cares anymore?? The current generation are almost more of keyboard warriors..!
It seems that the director literally wanted to express his anguish at the plight of the children and artists being manhandled, woman handled and children handled by the makers of the show. As with every trademark KV Anand movie which has a heavy undercurrent of social message infused with commercial elements, he has clearly showed how the producers, just for the sake of TVTs, do not realize that they are dashing the hopes and dreams of the young talents who have big aspirations to come out on top to the next level using the respective platform provided to them. There was no doubt in anyone's mind on which show he was explicitly targeting through his striking narration.
Likewise, the running gag as to how he self-deprecates his earlier movies is also present in Kavan as well when he requests for an award for his film-making abilities. The songs were bit of a high speed breaker in the already long and meandering movie especially in the second half wherein the storyline seemed like losing its plot, pun intended. Nevertheless, the ship steadied herself at certain inflection points of the movie which was in such a way so that the audience goes "Wow. Amazing twist" instead of the twists naturally blend in with the storyline and not standing out conspicuously like Australian Off Spinner Miller's Blue hair color!
Though some of his jokes may have fallen flat, TR had pulled off an astounding performance as ever with his impeccable timing and delivery. As ever, Vijay Sethupathi was fluid and masterful in his portrayal as an idealistic reporter who wants to sensationalize the truth in the form of right news. Madonna Sebastian charms her way in and out of Kavan like a gentle breeze on a hot, sultry day with her expressions and cute smiles though the director could have used her further. I am not sure whether it was only me but the scene where Powerstar drums his way to glory reminded me of Simbu's Manmadhan where STR plays in front of a similar audience for a contest and utters the punch dialogue "Vaazhkaila firstu yaaru poranganu mukiyam ila. Last la yaaru firstu varaanganu mukiyam". Power Star also has a close enough punch when the audience requested for an encore.
Overall, Kavan represented the state of stark reality that is predominant in our society wherein the media really cares only about their ratings and nothing else which is an alarming and worrying trend as put forth by the director.
PS:
The way Vijay Sethupathi transforms and does a Arnab Goswami was the best scene of the movie. However, he says the answers are more important than the questions. IMHO, that holds tenable ONLY IF the answers are true and considering that many of the politicians are seasoned actors and actresses without National or Oscar Awards, the questions are most imperative and asking them in the tough and vociferous manner as Arnab Goswami is of paramount importance when we see the current context of the dynamics.
No comments:
Post a Comment