180 / Nootrenbadhu

This romantic story emphasizes on living each moment to the full instead of losing out on today’s joys while fretting about the morrow.

AJ (Siddharth) an NRI arrives in Chennai where he finds joy in making others happy, be it while delivering newspapers with the delivery boys or lending a hand to the ironing vendor and even spending time playing carom at an old age home.  Vidya, (Nithya Menen) a photo-journalist impressed with his attitude befriends him. Little does she realize that she is falling in love with this man of whom she knows very little. But when she opens her heart to him, AJ decides it is time to leave town. No, it’s not one of the run of the mill romance flicks. This cute and fresh story from duo writers SUBA and Jayendra holds your attention in the first half pulls at your heart strings in the second half and keeps you guessing towards the end. 

Plus Points: Nootrenbadhu is  a welcome break from those Madurai based stories spilling with blood as well as those rural scripts packed with kuthu songs and arresting visuals. In this urban flick the characters are real and their fears human. Siddharth as AJ delivers. His chocolate boy looks endears him to the audience and he emotes well, though at times, you feel he could have done better.  The onscreen chemistry he shares with Priya Anand (as Renuka) is great. Supporting the story are  Nithya Menen and Sricharan (last seen in M3V) with their performance that is not over the top. Technically the film speaks of style and class with respect to each shot. Some images linger in your thoughts, especially the scene in Varanasi, where a little boy performing his father’s rites is more engrossed with his toy car. 

Minus Points: If only more care was taken with respect to Nithya Menen’s wardrobe, she could have appeared slender. The film could have done with slick editing.

Music: Shareth’s music comes as a fresh breath of air. 
    
Camerawork: Visuals realistic meeting the demands of the script.

Verdict: Do watch 180. There is cute love, entertainment, clean humour and an underlying message on life’s uncertainties.  It’s a good start for ad film maker Jayendra.

The Alamelu

Avan Ivan (2011)

A tale of two stepbrothers who are into petty thieving, this cocktail from Bala fails to quench your thirst for good cinema

Kumbudren Samy (Arya) and Walter Vanangamudi (Vishal) are stepbrothers who follow the family business, petty thieving. Kumbudren is adept in his trade unlike Walter, whose heart beats for dance and acting. They both look upto the erstwhile zamindar, Highness (G.M Kumar), who basks in the former glory and with his kind nature commands the respect of the people.  Actually there is nothing much to write about in the first half of the film, where you are introduced to the characters and their idiosyncrasies. Enter a villain, RK, in the role of a cattle smuggler and there is bloodshed and revenge, the final concoction for the cocktail. But does it make a better drink?

Plus Points: Just like all Bala films, his characters live on the fringes of society and deviate from the usual. So is the case here with the stepbrothers. Vishal in his role as the squint eyed Walters is remarkable. Kudos to Bala for revealing to us the actor Vishal.  Arya is a perfect foil to Vishal lending support with his easy acting. G.M. Kumar delivers a good performance. And so does RK.

Minus Points: The narrative lacks a thread of continuity. And what was the story about, you can’t help asking yourself as you leave the hall. The women in the film can be ignored. Ambika and Prabha Ramesh as the mothers of the two stepbrothers are too loud and cantankerous. And the love interests of the two brothers played by Janani Iyer and Madhushalini, mere arm candy. Janani however makes an effort. The police force is once again ridiculed for its inefficiency. Have we not had enough of this?

Music: Yuvan’s music does not linger in the mind either.   

Camera work: Breathtaking visuals. 

Verdict: Touted as a comedy, this story seems to be ridiculing the viewer’s intelligence and time instead. Where is the Bala of Sethu, Pithamagan and Naan Kadavul? Evan Ivan? 
This is however a Vishal film all the way. 


The Alamelu