Theri - A Sparking BABY's Day Out!

'Puli' was a disastrously forgettable nightmare not only for Vijay but also for all of us. Does 'Theri' also join that elite rank? 

'Raja Rani' was a movie to remember and reckon with - be it the comedy, sentiments, romance, songs or dialogues especially the dialogues. I was crying like anything when I finished watching it. Atlee showed his class in his debut flick and he nearly pulls the rabbit out of the hat yet again in 'Theri'. The only stumbling block which Atlee faces is the choice of hero for the film - Vijay.  It is extremely sacrilegious to his millions of fan followers who revere and cherish Vijay's films for his larger-than-life 'Mass' image - Hyper-energetic songs, breath-taking dance steps, fiery, loud and noisy punch dialogues that is sure to reach Pluto!, hilarious comedy scenes and superstormic action sequences. In short, it is extremely difficult to make a movie like 'Raja Rani' with so many conditions to satisfy and Vijay as the lead actor. However, Atlee shows his intelligence in the screenplay by wiggling through, struggling and finding a common middle ground by incorporating all the mandatory necessities for a Vijay film without forgoing on his own style of delivery.

For example, take the first scene where a rash car driver splashes muddy water on Nivi and Vijay chases him down on his rickety bullet. In any typical Vijay's movie, you will expect the hero to physically or at least verbally thrash the person who was responsible for making his loving daughter cry. In this instance, you don't see either of the above scenarios but a very subdued Vijay requesting the person to apologize to Nivi for his irresponsible actions. Though it was different from a normal Vijay flick, it was a complete no-brainer that there was a serious flashback closely on the horizon. Why do you think that? It's uncomplicatedly simple. YOU ARE IN A VIJAY FILM. The imperatives have to be ticked to click with his ardent fans. That's where Atlee falls down on a slippery slope. He would have injured himself gravely if he hadn't insured himself properly not just financially but also investing his time and effort in creating a story that matches the aura of Vijay's indelible and indestructible image which has been meticulously imprinted in the minds of his large receptive audience for years together.

As Joseph Kuruvilla, Vijay is really amazing as a caring dad for the charming Nivi. As DCP Vijay Kumar, he is both  murderous and comic in the handling of the thugs, hoodlums and scoundrels. Unfortunately, several of his dialogue delivery, hysterical laughter and mannerisms is very much reminiscent of the blockbusters 'Kathi' and 'Thuppaki'. Since it is self-evident that he is just an average actor with a remarkable and a sensational screen presence much like Rajnikanth though their style quotients are entirely different, you tend to overlook the cut and dried certainty that he is simply a one-dimensional actor. Despite all his limitations, Vijay has once again given a thoroughly entertaining performance especially the bridge scene where he speaks with Rajendran. 

As usual, Samantha is scorching not just in her looks and attires but with her acting as well. It was indeed a poignant moment in the movie when a dying Mithra asks the DCP what sort of a wife was she to him. Amy Jackson strolls in and out of the screens by lip-syncing Malayalam against a beautiful backdrop. As Vijay's mom, Raadhika is bubbly bubbly with energy and sparkles with her warm and pleasant personality in the elaborately restricted screen space allotted to her. But, the real heroine is Nivi. OMG! Her cuteness. Her appealing and delightful way in the conversations. Her innocent expressions though sometimes you get the funny feeling that she was speaking too much for a kid! However, Nivi's endearing personality is such that you fall in love with this little charmer. She is truly the darling of 'Theri'. Hats off to Atlee for his keen eye to finding such a talent. She really elevated the film to another level sans Vijay's routine acting, Atlee's excellent penmanship and GV Prakash's electrifying BGM. As we are on the topic of BGM, GV Prakash's music humongously falls flat. The songs fail to make a mark and it was like they were merely present to satiate the hunger of Vijay fans.

Overall, Theri is just another predictable revenge potboiler though Atlee has wielded it in such a manner to give it a different color and hue. I am neither an Ajith or a Vijay fan. So, if a direct, non pussy-footing question as to whether I liked Theri is posed to me in a rather casual fashion. It's a resounding YES.

X-Men:Apocalypse - An Okayish Cataclysmic Entertainer

 From being slim and fit, the X-Men series is fast turning into bloated and portly with their numerous prequels, sequels and spin-offs. The sequel (still technically a prequel to the original X-Men trilogy) to the smashing 'X-Men: Days of the Future Past' begins in Egypt where En Sabah Nur is buried in a pyramid along with his followers. In the present day, Professor X's lady love and CIA agent, Moira is tracking down a secret cult who is actually trying to revive En Sabah Nur from his deep sleep. They are successful in achieving the objective but with global ramifications. A powerful earthquake ensues and Apocalypse is woke up after many a century. He displays his vicious powers while recruiting Storm before she earned her moniker. You have the feeling on seeing the doomy powers in the mighty, daunting, formidable and invincible Apocalypse that this movie is going to be head and shoulders above the rest of the X-Men films that have been released so far in the franchise even beating the likes of 'X-Men:First Class and Days of the Future Past'. Is it going to be the case with this new flick? 

Singer has certainly and very assuredly sung a wonderful song in the first half which is really tightly packed with character introduction and induction of some characters into Apocalypse's fold. We actually get to see Cyclop's and a bit of Nightcrawler's early lives which were missed out in the earlier films.  Likewise, just when Erik thinks that he has put his days of manipulating metal behind his back, tragedy strikes when the Polish police officials accidentally kill his daughter and wife thus enraging him to get back to his old days and making him to join as one of the Apocalypse's horsemen. Psylocke and her backdrop completes the quartet of his horsemen and it was only a matter of time when they would be unleashing their full fury upon their master's commands.

In between these small stories, it was indeed an awe-inspiring sight when Apocalypse transforms Angel's burnt white wings into the shiny metallic ArchAngel whose wings can fire the feathers as missiles at his enemies. Similarly, it was a treat to watch when Apocalypse lets know Magneto that he can shake the very foundation of the Earth with his abilities and Magneto experiments using his powers. All such scenes make you to believe that X-Men: Apocalypse is going to be one hell of a ride in the second half. Did it deliver the goods post the intermission? 

Even disaster would feel that he is way better and can do a wonderful job than the second half of the film! It was so unapologetically monotonous, the likes of which we have seen umpteen number of times,that it felt like Apocalypse wasn't the villain but the screenplay was. A terrible and a weak script. JLo's supposedly inspiring but completely uninspired performance as Mystique. Psylocke resembled more like Wonder Woman in the climax fight.As ever, the usual ruins left behind due to the wreaked havoc by the mutants. Speaking of mutants, it felt like Singer didn't have a clue how to handle the extraordinary number of new characters and their superpowers in the film. It was like a beggar who goes to a buffet and sees a smorgasbord of delicious food that are kept in front of him that but he doesn't know how to handle them. So, what does the beggar do? He will either gobble up a single item or take a little bit of everything and be falsely satisfied that he had a good lunch. Singer belongs to the latter category. 

X-Men:Apocalypse had the potential to be something bigger,grander and more potent with its racier first half. Had Singer got it right with the second half, it was a perfect recipe for Apocalypse to be truly spectacular. It was not that the second half was dreadful but the big problem is that we have seen it many times in the X- Men franchise itself leaving aside the countless super hero movies that have come and gone. To put it in a nutshell, it was like the foreplay was good. The actual act of making love was barely scratching the surface.

PS:

I did not forget it. I just wanted this scene to have a special place in this review. Much like 'Days of Future Past', we witness an improved, longer and a slick slo-mo sequence involving Quick Silver where time appears to move very slow like a tortoise from his perspective. It was indeed a close-to-3 minute hilarious visual spectacle to see Peter saving the kids from the exploding school that you can watch Apocalypse one more time just for Quick Silver's antics in the entire movie!

24 - Every TIME it's DIFFERENT!

Time travel has always fascinated man for centuries and extensive movies have been made in several languages depicting the complex and confusing concept of travelling back and forth through time. Even the Tamil audience are not new to the concept of Time Travel as clearly explained and shown in the successful comedy Sci-fi 'Indru,Netru, Naalai'. But, what happens when the time machine is desired to be in possession by a depraved, unconscionable and an utterly diabolical person? It's not only hell that will break loose but also heaven as well!

After a string of fine performances yet badly misfiring films like Maatran, Anjaan or Mass engira Maasilamani, 24 is Surya's redeemer to what he had lost in his previous 3 outings - A Good Script! . He simply sparkles and sizzles through all the roles with elan and panache especially the spine-chilling Athreya.

The director wastes no time in coming to the story straight away without any deviations or circumlocutions in his screenplay. Dr. Sethu is experimenting on a device in his lab with which one can tinker and navigate through time. He also accomplishes the Project 24 - where you can mess up with time up to 24 hours. Like every doting and caring wife, Nithya Menen warns her husband to discontinue the project as it might harm them and their child, Mani. Unfortunately, it is more than harm. They end up losing their lives in the process because of the terrifying and monstrous Athreya - Sethu's twin brother. Did Mani escape? Does he get to know his father's groundbreaking invention? Despite his cripple, will Athreya find out the existence of Mani's presence? What happens after that? Thes rest of the complicated story is loaded with enough twists and turns that will definitely keep the audience involved and engaged till the end credits.

Surya has gone beyond the call of duty in his portrayal of Athreya. We saw glimpses of his negative shade in "Perazhagan" where he simply kills with his eyes! However, in 24, Surya explores the full depth and dimension of the negative persona as Athreya in a thoroughly mind-boggling manner. Just head to the nearest theatre to immerse yourself in the Athreya experience. Such is the remarkable performance of Surya!

Saranya Ponvannan does more than enough justice to her role as a mother who did not marry for Mani's sake and who hadn't seen her own kith and kin for 26 years just to keep her promise intact to Dr. Sethu. She still manages to bring a tear or two in the eyes whenever she plays the mom's role! Samantha is as ever drop dead gorgeous but she could have been utilized further especially with a notable talking point of the film that her family doesn't speak on Fridays upto 6pm. In such an interesting narrative, this great piece of idea is worth a gold mine yet it is literally wasted. It could have been taken advantage and brought to full effective action for a much bigger twist in the movie instead of the speed breaking songs. Though the BGM is completely in sync with the mood of the movie especially the scenes involving Athreya, AR Rahman's music is a big let down when compared to his other masterpieces. 24 would have been racier sans the songs though the exotic locales were a treat to watch!

The director really showed his mettle and prowess in handling such a complex subject without making anyone to scratch their heads. He really deserves a pat on the back! What about us? I can hear the camera man and the VFX team bellowing vociferously and unanimously. Cool guys. The last is always reserved for the best. Right from the first scene where Dr. Sethu's mansion is showed till the last scene, the visuals were lavish, stunning and mesmerizing. 24's goes up one level above simply because of the cinematographer's breathtaking work behind the camera.

Sometimes, the beautiful cinematography would be let down by terrible and substandard VFX. It was not to be the case with 24. The VFX team have worked tirelessly and seamlessly to bring the director's dream ideation onto the big screen in a very elegant and captivating manner.

So, only positives and no negatives? Oh yes.There is. The romantic scenes between Surya and Samantha is a bit overdone. The first time funny dialogue "Nan oru watch mechanic. Enaku Idhellam Sahajam" (I am watch mechanic. This is a piece of cake for me!) really gets under your skin and drives you crazy beyond a certain point when it is laboriously repeated to boredom by Mani. However, the positives are so much in 24 that these trivialities can be ignored when considering the larger picture.

24 is the rare breed of Sci-fi Tamil movie which is like a bolt out of the blue in Kollywood. The marvel of the film's wondrous nature can be magnificently seen on the big screen instead of  "India tholai katchigalil mudhal muraiyaga" (For the first time on Indian TV!).

Signing off with easily the best and beast of a scene in the movie that happens to be my personal favorite too  - Surya finds out that he can go back in time when he activates the device. He plays with the keys and discovers that in addition to hiking a journey back in time,  he can also freeze time. It was indeed a splendiferous and a moment to behold in 24 when Surya experiments with freezing the time option and creates a temporary willing suspension  of disbelief by playfully indulging luxuriantly with the suspended rain drops. It is a scene worth repeated watching many times instead of the soul-destroying one-liner! 

Ohm Shanti Oshana - True Love is Unshakable

As soon as Nivin Pauly rides with his friend and stops the vehicle for a smoke, the standard disclaimer to not to smoke tries to appear on the screen but with a twist. Nivin Pauly pushes away the disclaimer with his bare hands and tries to smoke but to no avail. Ultimately, the disclaimer wins the zany battle resulting in Nivin Pauly to assert that smoking is injurious to health. It perfectly set the ball rolling for something different and not just yet another run-of-the-mill 120 minute story.

Ohm Shanti Oshana is basically a Nazriya's film. Like the Atlas who shoulders the Earth, she has single-handedly taken up the onerous responsibility to play the hero in this movie even though Nivin Pauly also occupies the screen space. The entire flick is based from a girl's perspective - from the time she is born, how she hopelessly falls in love with her knight in shining armor, his rejection, her dogged determination to win over him and what happens eventually in the end. The movie clearly portrays the different mind sets of a girl's life at different points in her age with love for Giri as the common denominator. That shows her resolute and firmness of purpose and the extreme to which the tomboyish character would have gone for making her dream love a reality.

Despite Nazriya helming the film like a steady and veteran captain with her endearing, buoyant, dreamy and expressive emotions, Nivin Pauly does give in a strong performance as a sober son to his mother by taking up farming as his profession. The rocking BGM as he rides in the Bullet when Nazriya sits and waits in the bus stop is really worth mentioning. The songs were Upbeat like Kaatu Mooliyo and melodies like Mounam Chorum Neram and Sneham cherum neram.

Much like the comic introductory first scene involving the smoking disclaimer, the complete film is sprinkled with lots of laughs, energy, cuteness and love. For instance, when Pooja hears that Giri has gone to China, she imagines him to be a Chinese in the company of a Chinese woman. OMG! Nivin Pauly in the Chinese avatar was simply rollicking. Likewise, it was a rib-tickling scene when Nazriya innocently mistakes and takes the biscuit during the viva when she was posed with a question. Similarly, the film has a fair share of its own charming one-liners which doesn't stick with you in your head as you are busy laughing like anything. 

OSO is that kind of an alluring movie that is delightful, warm, tender and light-hearted which makes you fall in love with the film over and over again.

Jacobinte Swargarajyam - Jacob Family's Heavenly Fortitude Rules to the fore

Jacobinte Swargarajyam kick starts with the hard-core reality that many Malayalees had to leave their beloved families in India for employment opportunities to other countries, what trials and tribulations they face in alien lands and how they face the nasty adversities with courage and determination for supporting and sustaining their families in their motherland. You know it is going to be a no-nonsense film when 'based on true events' appear on the screen. The only question that can bother a logical mind at that point of time is that what might have transpired in Jacob's family that had inspired the director to dedicate the film to his dear friend - a NRI family hailing from Dubai.

As the events start to slowly churn out, we get to know that Jacob is a highly successful businessman living with his wife and children in the dazzling Dubai. The cinematographer earns brownie points here for showcasing Dubai in all its full glory and splendor to the extent that you have the urgent impulse to pack your bags, check out your nearest tourist operator and visit this lovely place right away with your own family. It was indeed a visual treat to transform the beauty of the dynamic Dubai life onto the big screen so spectacularly and strikingly by highlighting all the prominent tourism interests like the towering night skies, Tanura Dance, Belly Dance, Dune Bashing etc. Such is the poetic handling of the lens by the cinematographer who had captured not just the heart and essence of Dubai but also your adventurous explorer hearts as well!

The story actually begins when Jacob is cheated by his trusted colleague and how his reputation takes a big time hit when he tries to settle his debts. Unsuccessful in Dubai to pay his dues, he flies to Liberia to sort out and close a deal to put an end to all his misfortunes. What happens to him in Liberia, how he managed to survive there - we never know. But, what we know is that his wife, Sherly and son, Jerry stitch together the money they can partially pay to the investors by selling their cherished house, treasured Merc etc. in order to avoid being held under custody.   

Sometimes, the moment you see a person, you just know somehow that they are bad - not to get mixed up with them in any way. You may be even seeing the person for the first time in your life but your instinctual bell alarms you to get away from them as far as possible!  That is precisely the reaction I experienced when the camera focussed for the first time on Murali Menon. You know he is trouble from the outset. But how much trouble? That's the question. He was really a pain in the ass for the Jacob's family until Murali was also mired with his own reversal of fortunes. Yeah - Karma's a bitch! Hence Proved in Murali's case. Jokes apart. 

Murali's performance as a menacing and threatening investor with a concrete deadline over Jerry's and Sherly's head to settle his invested amount was simply outstanding in this rather predictable story line. You actually start to hate him when he tortures Jacob's family minus Jacob who was in Liberia. He literally gave the creeps. Hats off to him for such an amazing character deliverance with enough natural bad ass substance. Murali simply breathed life and fire into the movie whenever he had the opportunity.

Likewise, you get to know the real Shirly when she flares up like a tiger when a business man smokes in front of her. I was actually clapping my hands out when she said that she would rather walk out of the place than doing business with such a person. Even though they were on the steep edge of a financial precipice, she demonstrated that self-respect, honor and esteem were more important to her than money. In fact, she advised Jerry that it's better to tell the truth than fabricate his way to shame. Her strong willed attitude. Her tenacity in the fire of danger. Her resolute to morals even when the sword was dangling above her head. I was actually in great awe and admiration for Sherly then. 

Commendable performance was also made by Nivin Pauly who played Jerry and had to take up the entire burden on his shoulder which his father had left him before going to Liberia. Though the second half was too long and tried to show the heroism in Nivin Pauly, it was understandable that ultimately at the end of the day, it's a movie where some one had to be the hero who saves the day! 

The heroine comes in and goes out of the screen like a wisp of smoke and Jacob's daughter was no where to be seen once she had left from Dubai to pursue her studies until the last scene in Kerala. The songs were a treat to the ears especially "Thiruvaavaniraavu" which was in loop for the rest of the day. Though not a Malayalee myself, I could still imagine the nostalgic Onam moments that would have been played in every Malayalee's mind when they heard this wonderful rendition.

Jacobinte Swargarajyam is a poignant family movie which is sure to move a person who loves their family. The only problem is with the length of the film specifically the second half. Nevertheless, the movie is a fitting tribute to Jacob's family who had defied all odds amidst their tremendous travails which life had thrown at them, succeeded in seeing through them one by one and had reunited in God's Own Country.

Kali - This love is Faithfully FURIOUS!

What happens when a hot-headed person is asked to handle front-end customers in an institution like bank? To complicate the situation further, how will it be if an irritating co-worker rankles and infuriates an already enraged personality to his extreme by repeatedly slapping him on his back despite his warning signals? It is sure to lead them on a warpath where the obvious outcome is a thunderous slap and several bad mouthings to the annoying person. Does the person deserve it? That's a question for another blog but what is the net effect that the outburst of this maddening anger has on the personal relations is dealt in a lucid and wonderful manner by the director.

The protagonist , Dulquer Salmaan, has essayed with the ease the character of a person who has anger management issues right from his childhood but who had failed to address it. The result is a cacophony in his personal life with his wife - Sai Pallavi. The chemistry between the lead pair is a treat to watch which doesn't cross the border yet still manages to sizzle on the screen with their cuteness. After Premam, Sai Pallavi hogs the limelight by being an extremely caring and loving wife who wants her husband to change for the better. Unfortunately, Siddharth's penchant for getting into trouble due to his rage was causing enough friction in their marriage life to the point of them getting a divorce. The final nail in the coffin was when Siddharth slaps his annoying co-worker in front of everyone during an office party thereby causing deep humiliation and shame to Anjali despite her continuous advice and suggestions for Siddharth to be calm under stressing situations.

What happens after that is a simple yet interesting story by neatly tying up the very first scene of the movie ,where a person is being kicked out from his shop by a ruthless ruffian, with the second half of the film by entwining with Siddharth's and Anjali's life. 

The entire cast has done a fantastic job in this uncomplicated storyline especially the truck driver, Chakkara with his villainous and devious intentions for Anjali. At the end, when the sailing gets smooth between Siddharth and Anjali, Karma catches up with Chakkara. Siddharth finally realizes the negative effects of his anger and wants to forgive him but it was Anjali's turn to be furious with Chakkara for making her blood boil with his outrageously unrestrained and sickening behavior towards her.

Kail's a must watch just for Dulquer and Sai Pallavi and how anger can cause destruction in a person's life if left unchecked.

The Krishna Key - India's Own Dan Brown Unlocked

Dan Brown - What's the first thing that comes into your mind when you hear his name? The Da Vinci Code? Angels & Demons? Robert Langdon?  Tom Hanks ? Controversies? You will be having your own perspective on him regardless of the 'n' and 'n+1' number of controversies that always surrounds him whenever his new book is published. However, no one can deny the indubitable fact that all his works are based on extensive research to give that perfect combination of fact and fiction to his fans. Be it the mind-numbing techno thriller Digital Fortress or the scientific thriller Deception Point to the fast and furiously paced Angels & Demons or the chock-full of controversy loaded The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown ensured that his novels had a solid foundation of exhaustive ground work and exploration on the core theme of his books before it is written.   

Much like Dan Brown, Ashwin Sanghi had also made enormous study and thorough investigation of facts for his latest novel - The Krishna Key. Anagrams, numerous places from Dwarka to Himalayas, treasure hunt sort of expeditions,  a murder in the beginning and a historian to decode the clues left behind, The Krishna Key revealed and reminded of Dan Brown's style of works instead of the author's unique style. However, the level of detail which Ashwin Sanghi had covered in the book will surely make everyone to be proud of our ancient Indian culture and our forefathers - the knowledge they possessed in their arsenal and the science behind their actions to prove that they did not do things randomly without observations and justifications. Unfortunately, as you are already familiar with Dan Brown, The Krishna Key was more like a encyclopaedic bombardment of information from his study on various books rather than a work of fiction. In fact, there are 2 parallel stories that runs throughout the novel - Mahabharata written in his own words and the present day cat and mouse story where the hunter becomes hunted and the hunted becomes the hunter.

The characters walk , ride , run , climb, swim , get buried etc. However, you do not get to be under the character's skin to feel their emotions. It's like "yeah..they are doing...so, what". You don't actually empathise with any of the character including the person who falsely thinks himself to be the next Kalki Avatar or the historian Ravi Saini making trips to most of the corners of India. 

The climax was very predictable but the only saving grace was that it did not drag for a long time. The epilogue was very much reminiscent of Deception Point's final conclusion. 

Bottomline: The Krishna Key is a very honest and straight forward herculean attempt to showcase India's advanced scientific contribution of the ancient days with a touch of fiction. But since, you are conversant with Dan Brown's works, the Krishna Key seemed more like finding new facts about our ancestors and temples rather than the storyline or the style of writing