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RAMANA - Fifteen Tahsildhars are kidnapped almost simultaneously from their homes in different parts of the state. A few days later, 14 are released, the remaining one found hanging in a public place. He was the 'number-1' , the most corrupt of the lot. The scenario is repeated at other government establishments, revealing a well-planned network and a mastermind guiding it. It is the handiwork of Ramana, a college professor to the outside world and his mysterious ACF (Anti-corruption Force). While the cops are flabbergasted, Constable Saravanan, jibed often by his seniors, comes close to unravelling the identity of the brain behind the affair. Ramana's family and a hundred others were victims of the corrupt system, and he had made it his life's mission to eliminate corruption in a unique way. And it is the student community he has mobilised to support him. There are some light touches when the corrupt officers refuse to take bribes fearing the ACF, some even submitting a record of their earlier takings to prove they are the less corrupt ones. Scenes of corruption in a private hospital is a little overdone. Further, it is difficult to believe that after Ramana surrenders, and all the while the case was going on, till he is sentenced, the public has never seen Ramana's face! Ramana, sentenced to the gallows, is brought before the public to appease the mob, in what is said to be 'the first time the public gets to see the man's face'! Vijaykant's is a role closer to his age and status, which he performs with a passion and involvement. Simran in a cameo as his wife, and debutant Ashima as the girl with a crush on Ramana fit into their roles. Vijayan gets noticed as the unscrupulous businessman. While for Yuhi Sethu, it's a meaty role which he performs creditably. 'Ramana' is a watch 'able' film despite its flaws. |
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Kathal Alivhathuillai
The camera is not new to him, he has been acting since he was in the cradle. But there is more at stake here, for it is his first appearance as a hero. It is a home production with father Rajender, Jack of all trades, taking charge of the scripting, direction, music, lyrics and the camera. It is a romance, typical Rajender style. This rich guy-poor girl romance, set against a college campus backdrop is narrated in the director's expected, inimitable style. The alliteratives are strewn throughout the film. Silambarasan no doubt has 'heroic' potential, emotes fairly well, dances and fights expertly. The fact being that he couldn't come out of his father's shadow, and is given no chance to test his individual style, but made to appear more like a Rajender clone. In fact every other artiste is made to adopt Rajender's mannerisms and style of dialogue delivery, talking in rhymes, till it all becomes a bit too jarring in the end. Charmi, who looked better in her photographs than in the film, at times gives unintentionally funny expressions in serious scenes, and could have been guided better. Second son Kuralarasan as Charmi's little brother is a natural in front of the camera. And of course there is Rajender himself, who appears as 'Vakil Dada' in a few scenes to bail out the distressed hero. Providing a bit of excitement and amusement, though not always for the right reasons! |
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VILLAN - 10 years ago 'Gentleman' happened. Twist the story around a bit and serve it in a new bottle, and, there it is- 'Villian' from director KS Ravikumar (Story: Yugi Sethu). It's all the magic of screenplay. In the depths of the story lies the engrossing flashbacks of Ajith's life. With those extremely poignant scenes the director had moved the film ahead. Ajith draws ear shattering applause each time he appears in his slightly deranged and handicapped role. Fabulous acting that was! He has unleashed a fresh supply of blood in his veins. Even in his dance and stunt sequences, he shows a phenomenal improvement. Ajith is the modern times Robin Hood who steals from the scums of the universe to help people like his mentally retarded younger brother (played by Ajith himself). Somewhere along the line, he thwarts 'Pepsi' Vijayan's plans of swindling away crores and crores of donation funds from abroad that were meant for the local charity institutions. He succeeds and proves teat he is the greatest 'Villain of all the villains'. KS Ravikumar surprises us yet again with his knack of untying the knots without much fuss. The dacoities that Ajith commits at the airport and the wedding hall simultaneously are thrilling to watch. One has to learn from KS Ravikumar how to not just think up a good scene but to deliver it onscreen too. The film has two heroines- Meena and Kiran. Kiran's love affair with the 'bus conductor' Ajith starts on the usual 'love-at-first-fight' mode. She has exceeded the boundaries of glamour by miles in the song sequences. On the other hand there is Meena who hides her love for Ajith and participates in his robberies and finally ends up sacrificing her love. Is she eating 'Kayakalpam' or something to stay that youthful looking? Viciousness overflows in the performance of 'Pepsi' Vijayan- starting from the scenes in which he breaks the hands and legs of young Ajith to make him beg for alms down to his attempts to rape his sister-in-law Kiran. But, it's not clear how a vicious man like him ends up becoming the trustee of crores and crores of international funds. The scenes in which Karunaas appears to figure out the role switching of both Ajiths are full of laughter. Vidhyasagar's songs are targeted at the masses. All the songs are enjoyable. The sad song 'Aadiyile kaathadichchaa' that slowly makes it way into our ears is greatly enhanced by its visual presentation. 'Kanal' Kannan's stunt sequences and the way they have been cinematographed gives a new life into them. Dialogues shine when Ajith explains his stand to Kiran, "I don't rob the rich to give it to the have-not's. I rob the rich to give to the cannot's. " The sentiments in flashbacks don't go overboard. The director has again proved his smartness in creating a bond between Kiran and the mentally retarded Ajith before he rescues her in the climax. The last 15 minutes of the film is full of masala. The director overwhelms us with rape- murder- bomb- police routine.
Hey, how many more films are we going to see that resemble 'Gentleman' and 'Samurai'? The hero robs. He has a valid excuse which he recites in a flashback. How many times are we going to be fed with re-heated stuffs like this? |
   
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SOLLA MARANDHA KADHAL Though the film proceeds with an air of gloom and with a total lack of concern about the tastes of the young crowd, the director Thangar Bachchaan succeeded in telling us his story realistically without going off-track.
A Post Graduate in Science, Cheran, is an unemployed youth who takes up to agriculture to provide for his family. In these circumstances, the family compels him to get married to Rathi and to live with her family as their live-in son-in-law. Cheran initially accepts, but when his self-respect is injured, he walks out. He goes to Neyveli and starts working there.
The screenplay has neatly recorded Cheran family's poverty and 'Pyramid' Natarajan family's wealth.
Rathi melts our hearts in the role of a young woman stuck in a difficult situation - should she support her father or her husband? Her cries in the climax still ring in our ears.
There is something not quiet believable in the story plot- why would 'Pyramid' Natarajan get his daughter married to a very poor man just because he had done an MSc and he is a good man? Otherwise, his demeanor perfectly reflects the pride that wealth brings in. There are loads and loads of affection among the members of Cheran's family. They are a bunch of flowers who have love as their fragrance- the younger brother who meets with his sister-in-law without the knowledge of his brother and the younger sister who pines for the return of her sister-in-law.
Amidst the omnipresent gloom, there is relief in the form of 'Pushpavanam' Kuppusamy and his unique village-brand comedy. In order to keep the adulterous relationship with his girlfriend alive, he decides to marry a girl from her family. It's a bit immoral but very enjoyable comedy.
Ilayaraja's song scores are beautiful. However, it is his background score that adds sparkle to scenes.
The greatest drawback of the film is its crawling pace and the depressive mood that continues through its length.
On one hand, there is the father Cheran with his unexpressed love for his child and on the other hand, there is his daughter who grows up without a father. In between, Rathi suffers. The pleasant surprise that the climax unravels soothes the heart. They are not the only ones who feel comforted in the end. We too feel as if a huge weight has got off our chests. |
   
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BHAGAVATHY Bhagavathy wins people's hearts by his deeds and is all set to enter into the election fray when he is framed in a murder case and is forced to leave the city. How Bhagavathy fights to protect his brother's son from his grandfather forms the climax. The fight scenes towards the end especially the train fight scenes are expected to be the highlight of the film. It's hard to digest a story of a happy-go-lucky tea stall owner whose only dream is to make his brother a doctor, who in the second half turns an underworld don to avenge the death of his innocent brother! Watch it if you are a die-hard fan of Vijay |
Successful director and the master of love stories, Kathir is ready to hit again with his latest film, KAADAL VIRUS. The film was launched two years back has crossed all the hurdles and is slated for release next month. In a function held at a five star hotel in Chennai on Wednesday, director Kaathir released the audio of the film. The film is on the lines of Ramgopal Verma's RANGEELA with lilting music done by A. R. Rehman. KAADAL VIRUS is a story about a film director who falls in love with his leading heroine. 
Its all about an young artist is getting very much upset of the fights, injustice, etc. in a society. Habituated to see everything with an artistic approach, he is perturbed and his eyes and hands are changed to a killing instinct. Another artist joins him in this approach and together they try to uproot the unjustifiable activities of the society.
'Junction', one among yet another stop where Tamil Cinema is going through a trend of making low budget films with totally new faces. 'Junction' is a story of college love, the pranks and the fun one can relate to their college days. 
Verdict: HIT
'Saamy' is the title for vikram's next movie and his heroin is 
It is a story with sentiment, suspense and humour. About a bubbly girl who comes to spend a vacation with her cousins, and there is a problem that is haunting her. Her interaction with two men, one her own cousin who is constantly pulling her leg and the other his friend who falls for her; and the cause of her depression forms the rest of the story.
Enna villai aluge
H2o
Kadhal Virus
