Thaana Serndha Kootam - Big Time Laughter Guaranteed!

Expectations were riding the crest of a Tsunami for Vignesh Shivn and Co when Thaana Serndha Kootam (TSK) was due to release in Pongal as the phenomenal rib-tickler was following the smashing and rollicking success of  NRD. 

Did TSK live up to the sky-high anticipations as set by its predecessor?

I will come to it in a bit.

But, for those who might wonder why I had right away begun by saying "Expectations were riding" in the first line - Well, even in the film - RJ Balaji was directly in front of us without any prior announcement or unwanted circumlocution but he cut straight to the heart of the matter with his interview. 

I am just trying to maintain the spirit of this fantabulously strong, logical and intelligent script where the towering pillar of strength lies in its handling of the narration and screenplay.

And, Yes. TSK equaled NRD's expectations in an atrociously compelling way - Positive. Of course.

There are no dull moments in the full film. No time to look here and there or at your watch (mobile or hand) or yawn due to boredom and monotonousness. You will be simply glued to the narration of the subject like a superglue.

I am not going to reveal any plot points or plot twists and spoil your completely wonderful, thoroughly enjoyable and highly entertaining experience.

Just like NRD, Anand Raj blazes away in his role. It was The. Best. Raid. Ever. In. Kollywood.

Vignesh Shivn (VS)  has once again proved his mettle that a serious scene can also be turned into an extremely humorous for the audience if it's well-thought out. To execute it is immensely difficult but not impossible as VS demonstrated in that ridiculously fun and funny show-stealer, Sorry - Movie-stealer.

It's not just Anand Raj. Be it the entire support casts as Senthil, Thambi Ramaiah or RJ Balaji (RJB) - everyone has a vital role to play at some point in the movie.

Also, It was refreshingly atypical of RJB to don his character as and where he is not seen for most of it and just when I was wondering how he has an underwhelmingly minimal effect on the story, he makes a surprising and much-needed re-entry like a Space Capsule into the Earth's atmosphere.

Akin to Vadivelu in 'Mersal', Senthil makes a good comeback with his Obsessive Compulsive nature to crumble the mantle in line with his famous and erstwhile evergreen comedy with his partner - Goundamani in their heydays.

VS was smart enough to not overdo it and even smarter when he didn't unnecessarily use and waste the potentials of such accomplished seniors in the Industry. I had a slight apprehension that TSK might be a tad confused and muddled as there were too many comedians. But, VS shattered it to pieces. Even Brahmanandam has a logical connection to the narration.

As we are on the lines of overdoing, it was exceedingly heartening to see Keerthy Suresh restrain her over-exuberant acting but be subdued and add more value not only to the movie but also herself as she has a substantial character much like the essence of Tracy Whitney's character from "If Tomorrow Comes" by Sidney Sheldon. It was exceptionally stunning to see her in the Blue saree against the Blue hued sky background in one of the songs.

Kudos to the Cinematographer for beautifully capturing and making it pleasantly colorfully throughout the movie's duration especially when showing Ramya Krishnan (RK).

She was smoking hot in her ponytail when they were in Hyderabad. I had plenty of doubts as to whether she was the actual heroine or Keerthy Suresh as RK continued her supreme run from the magnum opus "Baahubali". As I said earlier, I am not going to plunder away your surprises by revealing any suspense on what RK or any of them has done in TSK. Watch it to find out! 

Karthik played his part but he wasn't as effectively utilized as Parthiban in NRD and the corrupt CBI top official could have been more meaner and menacing with his full authority and power rather than looking like a blundering fool in the end.

But, the movie inevitably belonged to the 3 fine gentlemen - Surya, Anirudh, and VS.

This was the Surya that we, okay me!, was patiently waiting and wanting to see for a long time after a string of flops - excluding 24 - though no questions on his superior acting skills even during his misfires. He has nailed it this time with his performance when it has come to his choice of a fantastic script selection that goes hand in hand with his mesmerizing and sublime talent.

Ani's songs were a chartbuster even before the film's release. The visuals have done enough justice to his splendiferous beats and the BGM was always on the edge and in perfect sync with the mood of the story. He didn't drop his guard anywhere and always alert by playing to his strengths. 

In each and every Surya's films, it is he who elevates the storyline to another dimension - Be it Kakka Kakka, Perazhagan, Nanda, Varanam Ayiram etc. For once, he is completely eclipsed by another equally outstanding person - VS. 

TSK is solely VS's brainchild and he can proudly lift his collar up and say with confidence that he was the chief architect of TSK's success which is surely going to be one of the biggest revenue-pullers of 2018.

And, Yep. Definitely. The movie has its fair share of glaringly incomplete, unanswered and logical letdowns. 

I will cover them in another blog. Soon.

But, when you see the film as a whole by outweighing the pros and cons, TSK vibrantly stands out and emerges as an awesome butterfly that spreads its joys and smiles with its colorful and engaging wholesome enjoyment with the street-smartness and wittiness of VS who is visibly yet invisibly watermarked onto each and every frame.

The Content will always remain the King. And Queen. 

PS:

I have reserved the best for the last as it literally left me in splits:

Like 'Roja Poomalai' in NRD, TSK had its own version - 'Mayil'.

Similarly, the fast-shifting of candidates who were interviewed in the final stages, some of their answers were too good to be true and left me in stitches.

The usage of 'Sasikala', 'Thuraisingam' as the name for one of the Policeman after Surya's cop essaying in the 'Singam' series, and cleverly changing "Not allowed" as 'Note allowed' was simply a stroke of brilliance.

Once again, Hats off to the entire team! 

  

  

The Struggle is Real for Truth & Opinion - Part 2

Auroras - Those brilliant, dazzling and vivid dance of colors which literally performs a moving and energized, pun intended, 'skywalk' due to the interactions of the Solar Flares and Earth's Magnetic Field in the Ionosphere to enchant and transfix the denizens of Planet Earth. 

But, all hell will break loose if the strength, intensity, and duration of the Solar Flares are more stronger and powerful than the Earth's Magnetic Field. 

Do not believe me?

                  I just don't know what the Contingency and Disaster Recovery Plan if IF it happens

Whether people pray for the well-being of the humanity or not, every one of us must always see to it that the Sun doesn't get angry and take out its wrath on hapless and helpless us through its CMEs and Solar Storms.

Be it Billionaire, Multi-Billionaire, Upper Middle Class, Middle Class, Poor, Destitute, Educated, Uneducated, Celebrity, Superstars, Normal People etc - the bright and luminous swirling inferno has no sense of discrimination for any of us. 

This is where the sagacious and profoundly wise ancient forefathers (Read: Hinduism) had prescribed mantras and rituals to placate and assuage the raging and tumultuous nature of the Sun as they knew that our lives are perishably and inextricably dependent and indebted on/to the Ball of Spitting Fire. The sad part is that when the mantras and rituals are mechanically performed, the utility and power of the mantra to soothe the glowering Sun doesn't happen and its tempestuous nature continues to grow in stature as time progresses.

Most of them don't believe in it. And even those (Read: Brahmins) who believe that the Sun can be consoled through the sacred mantras, they fall under the above category which I have mentioned in the previous paragraph. By stating this, I am not saying directly or indirectly that all the Brahmins does it out of rote without understanding the implication of the meaning and the meaningful consequences and benefits derived from reciting them in the first place. 

WHAT THE??!!

This is sheer stupidity in the 21st century that mantras, rituals, and rites are beneficial to humanity and that they are capable of being a relaxing agent to the Scintillating Sun and How does this entire solo-soliloquy on Auroras and Solar Flares are connected to Truth and Opinion? It doesn't make sense.

If you had thought at least one of these two questions - either out of frustration or irritation or thinking that.."Dude...You have lost your rockers and your marbles are all over the place", please wait.

I shall answer both of them. One at a time.  

I  have already cited that most of them don't believe that mantras are full of positive potent when recited with complete conviction and confidence. So, it's natural that you should have such a question of the notion as "sheer stupidity" in the first place. 

I will elaborate it further.

When you are awake and looking at a person, can you see their physical heart that's located below their skin? 

No, right?

But, just because you can't see their heart, does it mean that it doesn't exist within them or they are not alive?

Now, what is "sheer stupidity"? 

If you say they don't have a physical heart, I don't have to spell it out that you are completely insane. If you say they do have a physical heart, of course, they have - The question I have asked is - Can you see the actual heart of another person? 

Leave the other person's business.

Can you see your own heart?  Don't give a sheepish grin now.

The essence of the point which I decisively wanted to make through the heart example is that just because you don't see something, it doesn't necessarily mean it's not there. 

Are you able to see Microwaves or Radio Waves or UV-Rays with your naked eyes? 

I can't unless you possess and have a special superpower as the X-Men or any other Super Hero. 

But, you can observe its effects either immediately or short-term or intermediate-term or long-term - Just like how you see that a person is alive because their heart is beating even though you don't really see or feel the tangible heart.

Now, coming to the second question.

How do Auroras and Solar Flares have any connection with Truth and Opinion?

As I have already elaborately discussed in Part 1, when there are 2 or more than schools of thoughts, it usually ends up fiercely clashing with one another just like the bombardment of solar particles with the Earth's Magnetic Field.

When the two different ideologies put aside their rigid variances and join their heads together despite having a heated debate or discussion, the absolute Truth can be found out amidst the disagreeably agreeable chaos that is as liberating and colorful as the Auroras. 

But, when even one of them tries to exert their dominance over the other, it effectuates a negative and unending chain of events that drastically and severely escalates into a complete breakdown of social order that's exactly like the CMEs and Solar Storms frying the satellites and power grids thus making our known civilized world to an uninhibited standstill.

Whether a person decides to immerse into the grandeur of the swirls and twirls of spell-binding hues or deteriorate and end a relationship just to falsely assert and prove one's fragment perspective of the total reality, it's up to the respective individual/group/institution.

                                                         X---To Be Concluded---X

The Struggle is Real for Truth & Opinion - Part 1

Dum. Dum. Dum.

Yep. That's the Jumanji's drum beats whenever any undesirable or unacceptable or risk-sated event is imminent and looming over the horizon like the darkened clouds that screams on the megaphones that it's going to pour its heart out as it cannot hold on to the Godzilla-esque evaporated water anymore.

So, what does Jumanji's foreboding and ominous percussion strikes have anything remotely got to do with truth and opinion? 

Before we take the submarine and become the second person to reach the bottom of Antarctica, let's brush through the familiar yet slightly head-scratching basic concepts (For some - Actually, they can be in billions!): 

                                                                             

                                                                      The Fundas

I sincerely hope that you have not merely scanned the presentation (Not created by me) but know and understand enough to apply it in real life as we proceed forwards in the blog. 

Let's get started.

"The sun rises in the East and sets in the West".

Elementary school stuff where we have all received 2 marks out of 2 in our Science exams.

Fact, right? 

Wrong. Horribly and Terribly.

The sun never rises or sets. 

It's just an illusion that we experience it on our Earth due to the planet's constant spin, rotation, and revolution around the sun which also perennially rotates and revolves around itself just like our planets in the solar system that goes around the sun and the Milky Way itself and other galaxies like Andromeda in the vast, expanding, infinitely yet finite Universe

This is precisely what Lord Krishna meant when he well-worded and put it succinctly that "Life is an Illusion" in The Bhagavad Gita. 

Some have interpreted it as "Life is a Lie" and others as "Change". 

But, when you understand it from Krishna's understanding of the working nature of the reality around us, he has meant that there's more to the viewable Life just like a Magician who saws a person into two on the stage and then gets his/her standing ovation.   

Does the magician really split the person as equally or unequally? 

No, they don't do it. It's an illusion. 

There's more to it than that meets the audience eyes which is essentially the secret behind the trick. 

There are tonnes of examples I could have effortlessly brought in for showcasing my point. 

Why did I bring in the highly specific example of "sun rising and setting"? 

First, To explain that Lord Krishna was unconditionally, unequivocally and unrestrainedly right when he stamped his authority on the way the mysterious forces of life weaves in and out like a needle to a thread on a cloth.

Second, kindly check out and re-understand the line again that I have highlighted in Bold particularly the word that I have Italicised and Underlined.

INTERPRETATION.

That's the key.

Whoever adheres to "Life is a Lie" will form their own school of thought with it and have it as their truth.

Whoever clings to "Change", they take it as their own personal truth.

In actual reality, both the schools of thoughts are only perspectives and opinions (Refer  The Fundas again for even more clarity) as they are nowhere close to what Lord Krishna intended when he lucidly articulated "Life is an Illusion".

"Dude...How do you know that's what Krishna really intended"? 

If I were you, I will be definitely and without any hesitation asking this question.

The answer is rather simple, direct and straight-forward.

Begins with the word 'Illusion'.

Oxford Dictionary defines and states to it be as "An instance of a wrong or misinterpreted perception of a sensory experience."

All a person has to do is to keep their eyes and ears keenly open to your surroundings and you will find that nature has abounding secrets to either automatically reveal herself or conduct observations and right inferences being meticulously done.

That's also why (thirdly) I had given the incontrovertible and indisputable real-life examples of "Sunrise and sunset" and the "magician" in the beginning itself.

These are beyond reproach, beyond question and can be empirically demonstrated anywhere and anytime.

Kindly don't bring in the fatuous and doltish argument that how do I know that Lord Krishna ever lived and walked on this planet.

Still, I will give the answer.

You have no solid proof that he did not exist. Likewise, I have no solid proof either that he existed.

But, what I can do is to enunciate a probable realistic situation.

Suddenly, we have an asteroid hurtling towards the Earth and wipes out our planet in a matter of seconds. 

Five hundred or Thousand years down the line, the future generation will have no idea that all of us lived in flesh and blood during the year 2018 when the cataclysmic event happened.

Just because the future generation do not how our face looked like or what we ate or how we dressed or the manner in which we thought, does it mean that none of us are alive now and I'm not typing this blog and you are not reading it whenever you are reading it?

That's exactly the case with Lord Krishna too. 

Some catastrophic event had transpired which ensured that all traces of his glorious Kingdom and his personal accounts are lost, dead and buried. 

In fact, there are reports have surfaced that people had discovered Dwarka under the sea near Gujarat. 

I don't know and cannot with much and such certitude as to whether the findings would change in the future or not. But, some of them are from our very own Govt. of India's backed ISRO.

1. ISRO's take

2. The Hindu's Article

3. From BBC

How does it matter even if Lord Krishna lived or died and "Life is an Illusion" matters and what does it have to do with truth and opinion? 

EVERYTHING.

Do go through them at your own leisure:

1. Ideas make the world

2. Perspectives

The bottom line is as plain as tasteless water - Survival.

The moment you have two or more than two schools of thoughts, tensions and frictions are sure to fly at top speed between/amongst them like an F1 car around the circuit. Things can take an ugly turn and spiral out of control when the ulterior motive is to reign supremacy over the other. It can most possibly lead to a breach of law wherein a person can commit a heinous act on another in the fury of the instance.

The crux of the Phlegethon problem narrows down to one irrefutable and undeniable fact that most of us don't have the capacity to hold contrasting viewpoints that conflict with our already held beliefs and opinions. Many are happy and like to be cocooned within our own little world as described by our views rather than seeking the truth that is full of surprise and wonder.

By saying this, I am not blaming or saying that they are wrong. It's 'limitedly right'.

If you don't have the capability for acceptance for the existence of something, it's actually difficult to hold two entirely different ideas in your mind as it results in confusion and tension which further creates fear and panic because of the perceived risk and uncertainty thus it leads to a direct threat to one's survival which brings about either a Flight or Fight response. 

When it is flight, then there are no issues. 

But, when there is a fight, it can once again trigger and incite violence thereby infringing on the law and order and getting caught in the wrong side of the law that is caused by the irrational action sparked off due to having simultaneously not digestible and different viewpoints. 

When you have a complete understanding that they are just that - Viewpoints - A slice of the one and whole truth which ought to be known to each and every one. 

This is where the vital distinction between truth and opinion play a critical role.

Everyone can have their own personal likes or dislikes - It's the natural inclination -  but the single and undisputed truth have got to be standardized across nations and religions as it rises even above cultures as well for peace and harmony not only to maintain the status quo but also to sustain it on an indefinite basis barring regional, state, and national boundaries.  

                                                            X---To Be Concluded---X

PS:

Now, do you understand why I brought in the 'Jumanji' reference earlier?

Still no?

Okay...If a person doesn't thoroughly comprehend what is an opinion or truth, then there will be undesirable or unacceptable consequences not only for themselves but also for others thereby stirring up the innate 'Fight or Flight' mode - For Survival.

Dum. Dum. Dum.

Mersal Vs Newton - Part 3

'Newton' is the kind of short and sweet hard-hitting movie that simply makes you stop in your tracks and wows you away like a dreamy Firework spectacle atop the Disney Land Castle. I am not saying this just because it's an Oscar Entrant. They say God is in the details. The level of attention to detail given in the movie is really remarkable and realistic.

Take for example where the Electoral Team (ET) sets up the booth in the disused and abandoned school. The person who was due to retire following that last duty, he imagines how any voter will be filled up with strong pride by stroking their mustache while walking out of the classroom after their vote is cast. Another would be how Newton runs back to the school in an amateurish and a typical ordinary man's fashion in the early stages of the film when he converses with the head of the Security Personnel. Yet another is the fact that how a high-flying individual escaped from his electoral duties by citing his wife's pregnancy and heart-attack when he was commissioned to the place. 

Speaking of Newton, it's one of the finest performances being a rule-centric, duty-bound and value-driven dedicated and upright officer who defies the gravest security risk posed to him considering the location of the outpost and the stubbornness of the accompanying Police Officer to not risk the lives of his brave troop. That last scene where he asks a desirous and eager colleague, who wants to hook up with him, to wait until the tea time for a friendly banter was the fitting, anti-climatic and wry humorous end that the movie deserved to have.

'Newton' showcases how much a Policeman suffers in silence and unnecessary bloodshed when their voices are not heard by the concerned authorities even for the request of a Night Vision Goggles to keep the unacceptable and violent-fraught elements at bay. I have also covered it at length here. When you don't have the avant-garde defense capabilities at your disposal, it becomes an arduous task for the men and women on the ground to perform their duty effectively. A good sharp kick to the shin of the respective authorities by such a powerful message to not be in a state of comatose but be aware and sensitive to the necessary needs.  

Is this the controversy?

Some have pronounced their views that 'Newton' is a facsimile of an Iranian movie. Personally, I haven't seen it. So, I have no right to comment on it. But, there have been many who has seen it and this is what they feel - Mere Similarities or Exact Replica?

Whether the foundational narrative is stolen and then the script is modified to cater to the Indian Audience is purely on the conscience of the Director and Script Writer. It becomes important and relevant from the Awards standpoint.

When we look beyond it, as a common audience who loves and enjoys watching fabulous creations of art,  'Newton' scores damn high in its rendition of the workings of our Democracy especially where the top official tells that his reputation is on stake for the voters' turnout from the neglected and frightened village.

I just imagined an alternative scenario what might have happened hadn't the higher command commanded such an order to carry out the process. It doesn't take a Tesla to figure it out. The Security Personnel and his team would have ensured that the voting couldn't have taken place. As simple as that. 

Practically speaking what he suggested was right - Why to risk unnecessary lives when even the village people do not care and have no interest in the elections? But, is it the right thing to do?  When we go a level deeper and examine it closely, it would have been a dereliction of duty as it still flouts the established rules and roles mandated to each and every person in the complete electoral process. 

'Newton' tickles your funny bone and at the same time, it makes you be cognizance of the harsh realities of what the policemen are undergoing in addition to the difficulties faced by a straightforward and morally oriented individual to do his bidding.

             

                                                                X--Concluded--X

PS:

There were two exceptional screen-screamers in both 'Mersal' and 'Newton'

In 'Mersal', you have one of the many Vijay's opines that his brother usually speaks punch dialogues before bashing whereas he thrashes the bad guys first. In the context of the scene, it may not have been funny. But, when you look at the history of every Vijay film, you will know that he utters the punch dialogue and then, he proceeds to assault the villains. This dialogue in 'Mersal' was a revelation that he doesn't take himself too seriously and gives a lighter tone to his nature and character on-screen.

Likewise, when we see 'Newton', there is this absolute ripper wherein the leader of the village tribe decides to intervene and act as a mediator between Newton and the head of the Security Personnel when they had a conflict of interest. Great timing!

Mersal Vs Newton - Part 2

We will start with 'Mersal'.

"Oh. You Biased Bastard. As you are a Tamilian, you are talking about 'Mersal' first."

In case you had such a thought, please let me know whether 'M' or 'N' comes first in the alphabet series from A-Z.

Hasty generalizations and unwarranted pole-vaulting to wrong conclusions before you know the truth about someone or something is as dangerous as a person who falsely thinks that they are superior and can halt a raging Tsunami!

So, 'Mersal' - Vijay has been phenomenal in the three roles especially that of the dad though there weren't much of a difference between the other two whenever they were in the same room. The highlight of the film is how the Medical Fraternity makes a killing, pun intended, out of the patients when they are in an emergency and life-threatening scenario. 

The core concept isn't novel as we have seen it in 'Ramana' itself. But, the treat of 'Mersal' is the handling of the matter in an engaging and entertaining manner without making the viewers yawn or say 'When this crap will get over' despite the movie's length. 

What's wrong with the story of extortion by the hospitals when it's happening in broad daylight?

Well. Some doctors were against it as they felt the movie showed them in a bad light by citing that not every man (and woman) in white does such an appalling, despicable and odious thing. IMHO, that's a fair point as you cannot brush everyone with the same paint. Dialogue should have been present which doesn't mislead the public by explicitly stating that not every doctor is a bad person and whose sole intention is not only to maximize their mazuma.

If the Director had felt that he can heave a sigh of relief, the wildfire was just brewing and blowing out of proportion when one of the top Tamil Nadu BJP leaders condemned a specific reference to a dialogue on GST in comparison with Singapore.

Yes. It was exceedingly misinforming and pulling the wool over the common man's (and woman) eyes as there were a lot of other factors that should be taken into consideration like the population, country size, complexity of the economy etc. besides merely contrasting the prevailing rates in the Lion Country. 

I was actually surprised that theCensor Board didn't mute out or edit the not-so-well-researched fact that is superficially right but horribly wrong and hoodwink the public by casting a bad shadow on Modi Ji and his industrious team, thus increasing the nimbus of Vijay and his brand of Politics (If he enters the arena!).     

Whatever it may have been the intention of the Director for such a misdirected fact, the media had a field day and the episode sent the social media into a tizzy due to the BJP leader's comments which fanned the flames to unimaginable levels that the leader was at the receiving end from several sections of the public when it was the director who should have been blamed for it despite making an acute and accurate observation on the Alcohol issue.    

Had the leader simply left it, 'Mersal' wouldn't have had the kind of free publicity and Marketing that it garnered post its release. 

By saying this, I am not stating that the movie was horrible or pathetic. It was really good though you can still find that Vijay performs the same Captain Jack Sparrow's move of switching the coin through his fingers. In this case, he does it with a ball and the sad part is that he had already done it in Bairavaa as well.

One best thing was that his intro song took a backseat and the story hogged the limelight. If you had seen Vijay's movies, there is always a mandatory song when he is shown in the frame for the first time like jumping from above or below etc. Atlee and Vijay have ensured that they wanted to focus their attention on the narration than on the mass elements. I'm not against mass elements. But, when it interferes and becomes an obstacle to the story, it's a reason for worry. Hats off to Vijay for wanting to move out of his comfort zone!  

That said and done, SJ Suryah continued his astounding performance from Spyder as an unscrupulous doctor although, once again, he was overwhelmingly under-utilized. Apart from a very cute and beautiful essaying by Nithya Menon, the other 2 heroines didn't have much to play along with the versatile Kovai Sarala. In fact, Samantha was not to be seen anywhere even during or after the climax! 

Maybe, she got busy with her real wedding? I don't know. 

Likewise, does anyone else knows what is Atlee's major obsession to bump off his heroines? To create a sympathy and a tear-jerking moment? There is a recurring pattern in his movies.

Another pattern is that we are seeing several movies in recent times where Vijay gives a big one-man speech to the reporters. Remember Kathi? 

But, one person in red-hot form was not only Vadivelu who made a terrific comeback in a character-driven script but also AR Rahman who sizzled with his BGM.

Summing it up, though a mountain was made out of a molehill through the extremely heated exchange of words between all the verbal warring parties, 'Mersal' surpassed the usual expectations of 'Thalapathy' even though much of the film revolving and resting on Vijay's 'larger-than-life' image and shoulder.

                                                            X--To Be Concluded--X 

Mersal Vs Newton - Part 1

"Hey..One is Tamil and the other belongs to Bollywood. How can a comparison be even justified? Isn't it like comparing chalk and cheese?"

When you can think such a highly sensible and extremely valid point, do you think I wouldn't have given it a  twirl of reasoning before I commenced this blog?  

So, what's the common denominator between 'Mersal' and 'Newton' despite being poles apart in language and story? 

Fortunately, its the soul of movies that is a linking factor between them.

"Oh. For God's sake. Stop your riddles and suspense. And explain how they are connected."

Some may have such a burst of frustrated mental outburst within themselves. Cool  Cool. Where am I going to go away without divulging the rationale? 

For anyone who has been living under the rock or Indians who don't follow movies or Non-Indians who have no idea what Mersal and Newton are, a brief primer.

'Mersal' is a Kollywood product starring one of Tamil Industry's big-name - Vijay. And, it ran into a controversy. More discussion on the bone of contention that figuratively sent the movie into a spin.

On the other hand, 'Newton' is the official Indian Oscar Entrant. It goes without saying that it has to be one of the best movies of the Indian calendar. Yeah. The Basics are done even for those who have been sleeping like a Kumbakarnan!

To know more about who is Kumbakarnan and the two films, you can do it at your own leisure. 

"You still haven't said how are they connected. It's infuriating. Get on with it." 

Yeah. Yeah. I know. Just wanted to give an element of suspense and surprise built-in and build-up before the big let out like a Magician on Stage! 

For those who have watched 'Mersal', you will know why I brought up the 'Magician' reference.

"You still haven't answered the question". 

I can hear you mentally admonishing me like a Policeman scolding an Election Official.

If you have watched 'Newton', you would understand the significance of the 'Policeman-Election Official' example.

"I give up. You are not going to tell the shared relation that's betwixt them but play your endless anticipatory mind games. Aren't you?"

If exactly this or anything similar that you had thought now, the wait is over.

The underlying commonality of them is that:

a) Social message

b) Highly relevant in the current scenario

c) Screenplay

d) Don't feel the time is stifling you

e) Great performances by the entire cast especially the lead roles
f) Deserved to be one of the best movies in Bollywood and Kollywood
g) Both had their own share of controversy.  

                                                         X--To Be Concluded--X

   

Star Wars 8: The Last Jedi Review - The Force at its Utmost Best!

Nearing the last lap of the year and one of the year's much-awaited Star Wars - The Last Jedi has finally hit the screens today. 

Did the latest installment deliver its promised hope to fans across the world?

A. Bellowing. Yes.

Where to start? What to say? I have simply gone desert and barren on my adjectives to describe how the new Star Wars movie unraveled from the beginning to the end. Still, I have to start somewhere. Okay. Got it.

So, here goes the Star Wars 2017 movie's review.

Before you proceed ahead, kindly read it at your own peril and don't blame me for not warning you upfront because Spoilers are as rich as the film.

How Logan was the picture-perfect sumptuous product that could be crystallized in the Logan-cum-X-Men Franchise, the latest Star Wars movie is the coruscating spectacle for which the fans (Read: Me - though not a hardcore but I love it because when you look back at the moment it was screened for the first time, the technology and everything used in the franchise was way ahead of time) have been waiting and desiring for a very long time.

Yep. The newest kid on the block or) the Star Wars 8 movie simply Tombstones every other prequel, sequel, and a spin-off in one of the biggest money-spinners of the Movie Industry. 

Be it the feisty Rey, hot-headed and impulsive Poe, world-shirking Luke, internally turmoiled Kylo or the level-headed late Carrie Fisher - Star Wars 8 ensures that every character has a vital role to set the ball into motion for an amazing climax. Yeah. I'm referring to the moment where Rey uses her Force to lift the boulders in a fantastic and unreal state of suspension. Not to mention, the hoot-worthy scene when Kylo orders his minions to beam the weapons on Luke and he merely waves a hand over his shoulders much to the raging, infuriating and revenge-seeking Kylo.

Was it the only hoot-worthy scene? 

Nooooooooooooooooooo. Definitely Noooooooooooooooooooo. You had them in abundance throughout the movie like the way Kylo smoked Snoke under his very nose or how Holdo has a splendid heroic death by slamming into the enemy ship.

Also, the guinea pig-ish creatures with their Bamby Eyes and the crystal-critters gave the nice topping to this uber-cool emotionally engaging hyperspatial ride.

Humor is brilliantly laced throughout the film like the one where Finn is caught red-handed by the maintenance keeper who also has an important part just like the main characters. In fact, she even gets her wish fulfilled when she and Finn run amok the casino on their quest to find the code breaker.

This is the biggest and greatest strength of Star Wars episode 8 as several events are transpiring in many places simultaneously like Luke-Rey tutorship stalemate, Snoke-Kylo trust issues, Leia-Holdo-Poe insubordination face off etc. Yet, the action doesn't drop even one jot at any situation. And, infused with intelligent laughter quotient. A stellar, pun intended, dream ticket to a highly successful franchise that has been screaming for such a delight like how happy a parched person in a desert will be when they locate a source of water after walking in the baking sun for many hours. Indescribable joy, right?

Take for instance. When Rey falls down the Rabbit Hole (No idea what's the actual name.  Just taken the name from Alice in Wonderland!) and finds herself face to face with a mirror and the reflections acting in the sequence were mind-blowing.

Yoda - the ever aged wise master plays a terrific cameo by blasting the Tree of Knowledge at the drop of a hat.

You have many such I-want-to-see-it-again scenes that ensure you got your money's worth by watching the recent Star Wars viii.

The only small blip is the run-time which could have been 8-10 minutes shorter. Maybe, the total duration was due to the fact that the director paid equal attention to ensure that the numerous plotlines converge without any confusion or cluttered narration at a wowing single point.

Nope. It was not slow. Just max 10 minutes trimmer to have had even more impact.

With the final twist revealed in the dying stages, pun intended, of the movie, Rey is indeed the ray of hope for The Resistance in the upcoming movies.

PS 1:
I just wondered all through Star Wars ep 8 whether Rey should have taken Occlumency Lessons in a cross-over with Professor Snape to protect herself from the mental invasions of Kylo.

PS 2:
Yes. I saved the cream of the crop for the end. The full scene where Rey closes her eyes and Luke asks her to feel the Force was as rib-tickling as Joey asks Ross to punch him in the face.

Hope you have enjoyed reading The Last Jedi's review.