‘Premam’ is a delightful entertainer with Nivin Pauly in the lead

By Mythily Ramachandran

‘Premam’ obviously is a love story, as the title suggests. Written and directed by Alphonse Puthran, viewers are treated to not just one love story but three love stories within one film. ‘Premam’ traces the life of George (Nivin Pauly) from his teens when he falls in love with Mary (Anupama Parameswaran), belonging to the same parish and how he pursues her to give her a love letter. This phase will connect with the young generation and takes others down nostalgic road of being in love and heart break.
George faces his first rejection when Mary introduces him to her lover and even seeks his assistance to keep her father at bay.
In college, George falls in love again, this time with Malar, (Sai Pallavi) a young lecturer, who reprimands him on her first day at college.
George is unlucky in love again.
George is well past his prime and in his thirties and managing a cake business when he meets Celine (Madonna Sebastian). Celine happens to be the little girl from the neighbourhood who accompanied Mary to school. Is she the woman meant to be in his life?
Puthran’s signature is visible from the minute the curtains rise and the credits roll. You are reminded of his debut film, ‘Neram,’ and the expectations for a good evening soar.
Puthran’s unconventional style of narration and the freshness in the humour that abounds in plenty throughout is amusing.
Nivin Pauly does a brilliant job. He transforms himself completely, going through each phase perfectly. Undoubtedly ‘Premam’ rests on Pauly’s shoulders. From a giddy headed teenager to a tough college goer who is edging for a fight to finally emerging as a mature and responsible man, Pauly has packed in quite a punch.
Vinay Fort plays a lecturer who is besotted with Malar. His scenes with Soubin Sahir as the PT instructor are a roar. Several new comers have acquitted themselves and are a talented bunch. Krishna Shankar and Shabareesh Varma as George’s close buddies lend the right support to Pauly. Their chemistry onscreen rocks. New find Anupama Parameswaran has few lines to deliver and conveys mostly through her eyes and her smile. Her curly locks give her a distinctive and attractive look.
On the other hand, Malar is talkative and brimming with energy with a smile always playing on her lips. Sai Pallai on debut steals the thunder. There is a positive air about Malar and Pallavi’s natural performance enriches the beauty of her character.
Madonna Sebastian as the third woman in George’s life is another talent to watch out for. Don’t miss Puthran making a guest appearance as Roney, Celine’s groom.
Cinematographer Anand C Chandran’s camera captures beautifully the small town ambience as well as the classy interiors of George’s restaurant.  
‘Premam’ is a fun entertainer, a simple love story of the boy next door. Like it’s tagline reads ‘nothing extraordinary in it.’
However ‘Premam’ stretches a tad too long, often indulging in itself, especially in the second half and with not so funny jokes. It called for better editing.   By the way, why bring Malar back just when all seems to be going well?

‘Vai Raja Vai’ a typical masala entertainer

By Mythily Ramachandran

It’s that hunch, a premonition of knowing what can happen next, which lands Karthik, (Gautham Karthik) a middle class boy and an IT professional into trouble.
When his senior colleague Pandu (Vivek) notices this special trait in him, he decides to use Karthik to rake in moolah.
With his sister’s wedding approaching and egged on by Pandu, Karthik joins a cricket betting circle to make quick bucks.
It’s just that one time, he says, but then quitting this group is not that easy. Ranthe (Daniel Balaji) the man managing this vicious circle is not going to let him off so easily. He coerces Karthik into joining him on board a cruise, where he intends using Karthik’s supernatural powers of premonition for a bigger game on the roulette board where the stakes are high. And the victim in this ploy becomes Karthik’s lover, Priya (Priya Anand) kidnapped by Ranthe.
Got the drift? ‘Vai Raja Vai’ is a typical commercial entertainer with all elements in place. Karthik’s premonition powers is the new peg for director Aishwarya Dhanush’s second film. 
Like Aishwarya stated in her interview, “Don’t watch ‘Vai Raja Vai,’ keeping ‘3’ (her debut film) in mind,”  this film is a different cup of tea altogether.
The first half is fun with humourous scenes delivered by Satish (Satish), Karthik’s friend.  However, Gautham Karthik could have worked on his expressions better. Comedian Vivek certainly needs to think out of the box. Viewers are tired of his dressing up like a woman. It’s just not funny. Despite not marking his villain role with anything quirky, Daniel Balaji is impressive. 
Stylishly packaged and racy, this thriller is a one -time watch.

 ‘Uttama Villain’ a tad too long but a story that touches the hearts

By Mythily Ramachandran

With death imminent, matinee idol Manoranjan, (Kamal Haasan) who has acquired fame and glory in ample measure has one last wish. He wants his mentor Margadarshi (K. Balachander) to direct him in a story that he has written.
It was Margadarshi who had discovered the actor in Manoranjan. He believes that if made this film would be a memorable one for him. Margadarshi is not keen initially but when he learns that Manoranjan’s life is threatened by brain tumour, he gives in.
So, the film, ‘Uttaman,’ gets rolling. It’s set in the 8^th century with Manoranjan playing the lead role of Uttaman. Ironically Uttaman has survived death on several counts. He is now recognized as ‘mrityunjayan,’ (the man who overcame death) by the villagers.
With a film inside the main film, Haasan’s script alternates between the sets of Uttaman and the life of Manoranjan, the actor.
You learn about Mano’s past lover Yamini and their daughter,  Manomani (Parvathy Menon). Manoranjan is now married to Varalakshmi and they have a son, Manohar. But that does not stop the actor from straying outside marriage and finding a lover in his doctor, Arpana (Andreah Jeremiah).

If Kamal Haasan makes you smile now and then with his comic and naïve behaviour as Uttaman, he also makes you blink your tears when Manoranjan wrestles emotional moments with his two children. The scene between Manoranjan and Manohar tossing the cricket ball was well conceived.

Haasan the versatile performer comes to the fore in these scenes and you can’t help remembering his old hits, ‘Raja Parvai,’ ‘Silangai Oli,’ and ‘Moondram Piravai,’ to mention a few.
At sixty, how many actors can take on a theyyam dance with that heavy headgear and emote too? Haasan is adept as Uttaman the folk artiste. Naïve and sometimes bordering on clowning, Uttaman connives  with the beautiful Jasmine (Pooja Kumar) to kill the wicked Mutharasan, (Nasser) the king of the land and one who desires Jasmine.
It’s a Kamal Haasan show all the way no doubt, but one worth watching the actor in different moods and forms. And look out for the scenes between Haasan and late K. Balachander.
‘Uttama Villain,’ does drag in places though and the frills could have been trimmed. Like the portions revolving around Jasmine and Mutharasan as well as the intimate moments between Manoranjan and Dr. Arpana.
Hats off to Nasser who delighted viewers with his antics as Mutharasan. Not many are aware that this splendid actor was going through a difficult phase in his life during the filming of ‘Uttama Villain.’ His eldest son was critically injured in hospital and the sets gave him the much needed respite from agonizing. Nasser had revealed this during the audio launch ceremony of ‘Uttama Villain.’
Comedian M. S. Bhaskar as Manoranjan’s Manager acquits  his part well. So did Urvashi as Manoranjan’s wife, she was natural and spontaneous. Among the young brigade, Parvathy Menon and Ashwin shine in their roles as Manoranjan’s son and daughter. A pleasant surprise was actor Jayaram who lent a quiet dignity to Jacob Zacharia, his character.
Haasan’s characters cannot be separated into black and white. They are normal humans with failings, be it Chokku Chettiar, who holds back a secret from Manoranjan, or Dr. Arpana, the other woman in Manoranjan’s life.
‘Uttama Villain’ is a thorough entertainer and at its core lies a poignant story.