tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36933223528322945522024-02-07T18:06:46.948-08:00Romancing CinemaMythily RamachandranMythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-81621638938289281672022-07-20T00:07:00.000-07:002022-07-20T00:07:06.164-07:00Belgium film ‘Un Monde' (Playground) imparts a valuable lesson in today’s world <h1 style="text-align: left;"> <b><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Told through the eyes of a little girl, this debut film of Laura </span></span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wandal missed an Oscar win -yet a story </span></span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; line-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: large;"> that packs a punch in the fist of a child</span></span></i></b></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgekkcgF6LghHDZyGk55zYip3E_8BQcC4tnbI1gDPeMAUaTmpne1tZHONzUtiRmZvsXujU5V44k_kln3yfY_1txcF0oWE0ogsTihwRQU6McNtTZTgIWpKy8GeNNF-kB_xz1q3jK6aVe9uz8-R4PJrvve-tOr__ALalyfYoKz8u-oGsIeEc0tQLKfw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3272" data-original-width="6054" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgekkcgF6LghHDZyGk55zYip3E_8BQcC4tnbI1gDPeMAUaTmpne1tZHONzUtiRmZvsXujU5V44k_kln3yfY_1txcF0oWE0ogsTihwRQU6McNtTZTgIWpKy8GeNNF-kB_xz1q3jK6aVe9uz8-R4PJrvve-tOr__ALalyfYoKz8u-oGsIeEc0tQLKfw=w640-h636" width="640" /></a></h1><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;"><b>Child actors Maya Vanderberque and Günter Duret in the lead roles of Nora and Abel-two siblings</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Belgium film,
‘Un Monde' ( Playground) directed by Laura Wandal opens with Nora (Maya Vanderberque), and
Abel (</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Günter
Duret</span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">) being dropped
at school by their father (</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Karim Leklou).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjb3vt8Rbtm1WmpjNbIQOAPSaGbwfDt0Qud4uVVuquPA54efAqqjybiZ9HsOegUWdAELta6vsCXpLLBAYCsFtSY8erZM-vNgFW2nqW3q1KbYxorFGFzU4QX1EfNjIPWU10G_gEVItDP9Gr5a_C3CBPg-YauD2ENbmwQTepkuWtPuqEtvmzhJItH8w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1998" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjb3vt8Rbtm1WmpjNbIQOAPSaGbwfDt0Qud4uVVuquPA54efAqqjybiZ9HsOegUWdAELta6vsCXpLLBAYCsFtSY8erZM-vNgFW2nqW3q1KbYxorFGFzU4QX1EfNjIPWU10G_gEVItDP9Gr5a_C3CBPg-YauD2ENbmwQTepkuWtPuqEtvmzhJItH8w=w640-h346" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Karim Leklou as Nora's father in a scene with Maya </b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><b>Vanderberque</b></span></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Taking </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">viewers back to their school days, this story is narrated through the
eyes of seven year-old Nora. Nora is not happy among strangers and wishes to tag
along with her elder brother, Abel. But he pushes her away preferring his
friends. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">This is Wandel’s debut feature after two shorts, ‘O
Negatif’ and ‘Les Corps Etrangers’(selected in competition at Cannes).
‘Un Monde' (Playground)’ premiered at Cannes 2021 in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ and was
shortlisted in the early nominations for the Academy award. </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Wandal points out here how a school is a child’s first
introduction into society and in this microcosm of society it is every
individual’s wish to be accepted.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhklj106DJyEVDR0C4XvizalHjVpBaELgOyfFPEK1EikDwjPH0GpoZUe_Qr5kzNFdaCl1Ome5T8ruSevx1joOw8FFxnzzq8B2W8H-AWc3qNwfvqxWa7bpyJSqWaWEEfsHVgIKIZe2v5Cdil4EM0y6_pFQ6P2SFPs7GiPMxFx1KRSxFgUwJ-Wuvu-w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1998" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhklj106DJyEVDR0C4XvizalHjVpBaELgOyfFPEK1EikDwjPH0GpoZUe_Qr5kzNFdaCl1Ome5T8ruSevx1joOw8FFxnzzq8B2W8H-AWc3qNwfvqxWa7bpyJSqWaWEEfsHVgIKIZe2v5Cdil4EM0y6_pFQ6P2SFPs7GiPMxFx1KRSxFgUwJ-Wuvu-w=w640-h346" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">Maya Vanderberque in a scene from Un Monde</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;">For Nora, school is the first space where she is
confronted with </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;">social issues- of integration
and finding her place in the community. What happens in a schoolyard reflects
what happens at many other levels of society and the world.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBZ-tOnPAyn6IqaaGLHHA2-mM-24By0s5RCJKXh2y7H48L94ui1a39GPhsl30wJ7qwhHQfIUvrU_nRPyUnjunkh9tShyvzIVxriDUWzCtrVHsmc1p_fvhpHHKf2dia3y_zU0xD-hVZABZFt4JL7EiQNQCR-0HwE9UxUyJnAVWoZUGNkd1kaTFjCQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1998" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgBZ-tOnPAyn6IqaaGLHHA2-mM-24By0s5RCJKXh2y7H48L94ui1a39GPhsl30wJ7qwhHQfIUvrU_nRPyUnjunkh9tShyvzIVxriDUWzCtrVHsmc1p_fvhpHHKf2dia3y_zU0xD-hVZABZFt4JL7EiQNQCR-0HwE9UxUyJnAVWoZUGNkd1kaTFjCQ=w640-h346" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;">Abel is
bullied by other boys in school, but he hides it from his father. He also forbids Nora from
complaining about it to his father and teachers out of a fear of social
ostracism.</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2i7uInaUtd2ujsjusDktucmr3OPowAC4pPMJmwlAXVNIV432EVcbX1ph4ZFEz1x7l8XkViAqkfOLFbxeDc_D32KLCJnKevM2nd5RStxVrZsYCiAz9SRBXn6LrxQ_NGnrxx4Man_Fb0G6NhlepouUp9W12jRAYlLidHxx0slaOW6Phk1ssN9w8AQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1998" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2i7uInaUtd2ujsjusDktucmr3OPowAC4pPMJmwlAXVNIV432EVcbX1ph4ZFEz1x7l8XkViAqkfOLFbxeDc_D32KLCJnKevM2nd5RStxVrZsYCiAz9SRBXn6LrxQ_NGnrxx4Man_Fb0G6NhlepouUp9W12jRAYlLidHxx0slaOW6Phk1ssN9w8AQ=w640-h346" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"> Günter Duret in a scene from Un Monde </b><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;">Nora gradually settles
down and makes friends. And, the quiet girl whom we were introduced to
in the beginning soon asserts herself. Watching her brother beaten by a
bully she complains to a teacher and informs her father too. In another scene,
she grabs an invitation from a classmate who doesn’t want to invite Nora to her
birthday party on account of Abel’s behaviour.</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg52VcKgDaPOY9f5Fiqa0RIk-LIHlMiPfIwZetDU7vWpYWLfB18AW3x5Qeef6SgiV2xKdtyW9tXzn-mF_zWW1MWPIw1jIdg2RGyPTIJNL69H6EgoAQee9WnTSC6Qb5LjaEi4TdRN3Bpun3-7ebo4BAU-DJKDf4l_rYPiH4ngR1YBHiN0ulF_xlpGw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1998" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg52VcKgDaPOY9f5Fiqa0RIk-LIHlMiPfIwZetDU7vWpYWLfB18AW3x5Qeef6SgiV2xKdtyW9tXzn-mF_zWW1MWPIw1jIdg2RGyPTIJNL69H6EgoAQee9WnTSC6Qb5LjaEi4TdRN3Bpun3-7ebo4BAU-DJKDf4l_rYPiH4ngR1YBHiN0ulF_xlpGw" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 16pt;">It doesn't take long for Abel to become a part of the bullying group, leaving Nora much confused. She drifts away from Abel- the brother whom she adored earlier.
She now avoids his company in school.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh16svei5JvSe0q3O0r55bHxfRciSyNpbi7wdE_GtxhO59oNBXovjgdg0TythKrVWnGHXssvUOK6LZZ8RWKkmK5xjLuwT6CNLahEHUp1-7GBTEIQweRtXdcw-eJYX7e0svRDclMy5tclNsEbvkrPfmX0huCdLnVvc5jbsdUS-hFoahVRyvrBgD2aw" style="font-size: 21.3333px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1998" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh16svei5JvSe0q3O0r55bHxfRciSyNpbi7wdE_GtxhO59oNBXovjgdg0TythKrVWnGHXssvUOK6LZZ8RWKkmK5xjLuwT6CNLahEHUp1-7GBTEIQweRtXdcw-eJYX7e0svRDclMy5tclNsEbvkrPfmX0huCdLnVvc5jbsdUS-hFoahVRyvrBgD2aw" width="640" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Wandal has the camera closely shadowing Nora, lingering at her level and
capturing every line of emotion on her face. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">DOP Frederic
Noirhomme was harnessed with a camera at Nora’s height. </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Keeping children in the focus, Wandal pushes adult
characters into the background. The camera never looks down at the characters
nor upwards making it an unusual narrative in the telling. </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The conversation
children make in this film is interesting. One scene where Nora’s friend wonders if Nora’s father
is a free loader since he seems to have the time to pick and drop his children to
school everyday. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Child actors child actors Maya
Vanderberque and </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Günter Duret are remarkable and win the hearts of the
audience. About a hundred children were auditioned before casting Maya in the
lead role. </span></p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">“Nora was seven years old,”recalled Wandal in a media interview last year. <br />She remembers her first meeting with Maya when the little girl told her, ‘I want to
give all my strength to this film.’ <br />"That touched me enormously, "said Wandal. "Maya is blonde
with long hair. But she was so committed that she cut her hair without any
problem. At the casting, I simply asked the children to draw their playground
and tell me what games they played. That alone was enough to observe their
gestures, their speech, what the camera captured of them and I could see that
something huge was coming out of Maya. I taught her
to swim, which created a strong bond between us. Then I worked with two exceptional
coaches, one of whom was a speech therapist, Perrine Bigot. We shot in July but
we started working with the children in April: for three months, every weekend,
we worked with the children. They never read the script. We created several
working groups to build the brother/sister bond, the relationship between the
friends, the dynamics within the group of friends, but we also created a group
with all the children together. Through games, we got them used to the camera;
then we worked on their emotions so that they could express them without being
consumed by them, still through games. We explained the beginning of a
situation and improvised<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>around it.
Finally, we had them draw the scene on a cardboard, like a child’s storyboard.
When it came time to shoot, we brought out the cards and they knew exactly what
the scene was about. It was a lot of work beforehand, but I loved this part of
the film-making process. Maya is excellent, I don’t know where she got all
that, but the result is there.”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiv-4VBStUMnJGn6SXkIlC9Zi_JKSglPr9mv3fyTtyQHewIB4vp_BqfT09zqLb7GatjcUynOH9ygVF2UJ6ny6Cb4S7CPFoyaqozk1bl_udPRfc07cJ0xI60unDwNcALf9DsmfqCrgFHgZNOayI8r4j8-g-Q2BzOy6Zv7mKv_7Q7GJtt1KuF0cIz1g" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1998" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiv-4VBStUMnJGn6SXkIlC9Zi_JKSglPr9mv3fyTtyQHewIB4vp_BqfT09zqLb7GatjcUynOH9ygVF2UJ6ny6Cb4S7CPFoyaqozk1bl_udPRfc07cJ0xI60unDwNcALf9DsmfqCrgFHgZNOayI8r4j8-g-Q2BzOy6Zv7mKv_7Q7GJtt1KuF0cIz1g=w640-h346" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />
About Günter Duret, she said, “He is an extraordinary boy- very brave- a little
wild in the sense of instinctive. This impulsiveness brought out something very
strong in his acting, and that’s what the film needed. The role was a bit scary
for him, but he did really well.”</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">"We
did at least twenty takes per sequence shot, because there were little
accidents, camera glances, we had to redo. I would like to underline the
courage of all these children. It is exhausting to do the same thing twenty or
thirty times."<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Viewers are not
told anything about Nora’s and Abel’s mother. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
Wandal stated in an interview that she </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">wanted to stay in the
world of the children and school and to show the outside world as little as
possible. <br />
“Maybe the mother is at home or maybe not. We don’t know and I didn’t want to
explain it. Because for children, there is the world of school, and almost
nothing else exists. Generally, outside the family, this is the only world that
the child knows, this is his or her representation of the world,” said Wandal. “On
the other hand, not saying anything about the absence of the mother is to leave
the viewer free. It’s very important for me that the spectator makes the film
his or her own, and in order for him or her to project things from him or her,
you have to give them room. You can’t give the audience everything on a silver
platter, ” added Wandal, who has been inspired by filmmakers including the Dardenne
brothers, Abbas Kiarostami, Bruno Dumont, Michael Haneke and Chantal Akerman,
Wandal said, “What I find common in all these filmmakers is that they show the
human in its worst, but they do it with such love and kindness that they always
manage to bring back the human in its most just and beautiful. This is what I
tried to do with Playground.” <span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgb-InwKZwqjAGYGDSJmjaLwG8UFnarz_I3Rwk5u70UmaklXVDSzcSHTxspccRTRF9mJr-ltbkB9Aseji2UmtrXlzngCpUVO0DTNyQYAWjbMt0H3OIfoB4664_f3a1u9PHvZaKfs0sr6YN0dCHfZiLX6FgQWCtbyu9N-IdN1wbi5ah6so3GPVqfw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1998" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgb-InwKZwqjAGYGDSJmjaLwG8UFnarz_I3Rwk5u70UmaklXVDSzcSHTxspccRTRF9mJr-ltbkB9Aseji2UmtrXlzngCpUVO0DTNyQYAWjbMt0H3OIfoB4664_f3a1u9PHvZaKfs0sr6YN0dCHfZiLX6FgQWCtbyu9N-IdN1wbi5ah6so3GPVqfw=w640-h346" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></div>Wandal’s film does not judge anyone-neither the
parents and teachers.</span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">“My aim was not to condemn anyone,” said Wandal. “There’s a meeting with the
headmaster but it’s not solved all at once. The school supervisor is
overwhelmed because she doesn’t have time, there are too many children and too
many conflicts to solve. I think that kindness innate, and then it is lost,
but I think it can be re-learned. At the end of the film, Nora has been through
a series of things, but thanks to the listening and kindness that her teacher
has given her, she manages to stop the violence with a gesture of kindness. This
film is about helping each other. We live in a fast-paced society where there
is no time to deal with the root causes of problems. In this schoolyard, there is
harassment, but also ignorance, a lack of attention and listening. I have the
impression that violence does not come from nowhere. It usually comes from a
wound, from something that is not recognised and listened to, and unfortunately
it is transmitted very quickly. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;">‘Playground’ shows the strength and resilience of
children. It’s a very poignant scene as curtains fall down and Nora imparts a beautiful lesson to us- adults-that only love can heal everything. And it needed a
little girl to tell us that which is relevant in today’s world.<br /> ‘Playground’ sadly did
not make it to the Academy award.</span></div><br /></div>Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-54197901983374463902021-09-04T07:08:00.000-07:002021-09-04T07:08:56.983-07:00Malayalam film ‘#Home’ celebrates family bonds <p> <span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: large;">Malayalam film ‘#Home’ celebrates family bonds </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></strong></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a;">By Mythily Ramachandran </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><strong><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></strong><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;">There is no place like home-those four walls within which one can be yourself –warts and all-and among people who love you for being you.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> Malayalam director </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rojin_Thomas"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Rojin Thomas</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;">’s new film, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HomeOnPrime?src=hashtag_click"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">‘#Home</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;">’ is all about this special space. And, he builds a heart-warming family drama story laid on the bricks of love and honesty. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8dlt03wfDm0Lrfd9m4v77RdRKXn0I0TPiuuFRQljHv39dVBVqloplepVYVD6M4xEyKTGO_3hTsahb1IgZCa9sYWtdsudXmS_5Vg_2sP0JZ-SsBt2bkN-uXYcgiioPVpfRWajV0oht7jj/s2048/Indrans+as+Oliver+Twist+in+%2527Home%2527.jpg" style="clear: left; font-size: 21.3333px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Indrans plays Oliver Twist" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1136" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8dlt03wfDm0Lrfd9m4v77RdRKXn0I0TPiuuFRQljHv39dVBVqloplepVYVD6M4xEyKTGO_3hTsahb1IgZCa9sYWtdsudXmS_5Vg_2sP0JZ-SsBt2bkN-uXYcgiioPVpfRWajV0oht7jj/w357-h640/Indrans+as+Oliver+Twist+in+%2527Home%2527.jpg" width="357" /></a></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"><b>Indrans as Oliver Twist </b> </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;">Oliver Twist (Indrans) is an unusual name for a protagonist of a Malayalam film. Oliver’s father (Kainakary Thankaraj ) worked as a typist in the fifties and used to type English stories into Malayalam. The classic ‘Oliver Twist,’ was his favourite. He chose that name for his firstborn. Subsequently, Oliver’s brother was named Peter Pan, and his sister, Mary Poppins. The English language’s hangover continues today with the old man, who speaks only in English in this Malayalam ‘home.’ </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh256QxRzjn4squi5kLiSqP-1Z6sHooDtKA-IZrj7oHwAsI1W5vVdOrAQ_CpEN62fzmDJLWBgJqdvG4AL5C0zqubjnI5ZXkTi0eLfPNFWZ36P2jIqhh7zle0HsU_1gaeMgE2Z_vPVwb8j0m/s2048/Sreenath+Bhasi+in+%2527Home%2527+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1422" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh256QxRzjn4squi5kLiSqP-1Z6sHooDtKA-IZrj7oHwAsI1W5vVdOrAQ_CpEN62fzmDJLWBgJqdvG4AL5C0zqubjnI5ZXkTi0eLfPNFWZ36P2jIqhh7zle0HsU_1gaeMgE2Z_vPVwb8j0m/w444-h640/Sreenath+Bhasi+in+%2527Home%2527+%25282%2529.jpg" width="444" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;"><b>Sreennath Bhasi is Antony, a film director</b></span></div><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;">Oliver’s eldest son, Antony (Sreenath Bhasi), made an impressive debut as a film director but with his second script, he is struggling with writer’s block. At the suggestion of his producer Baby (</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maniyanpilla_Raju"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Maniyanpilla Raju</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;">) Antony goes to the very place where he wrote his first script-his home. And, like every home, his home encapsulates drama and chaos. </span><br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYHfB_Pzqh4Du46_iYSeDK4RoUOrHpaIsRoOFLawJx5XhChqqidfup9Tvi6bkxBc0L7FOUTfCPDRVzoJXpWU-dS6_hGWrOl-Hw-cQIzQOaF2Pe6U4sbMHWj7yaBPMT8iKAkOWDB2BArPp/s2048/From+L-R-Sreenath+Bhasi%252C+Nalsan+K+Ghafoor%252C+Indrans+and+Kuttiyamma+in+%2527Home%2527.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1291" data-original-width="2048" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYHfB_Pzqh4Du46_iYSeDK4RoUOrHpaIsRoOFLawJx5XhChqqidfup9Tvi6bkxBc0L7FOUTfCPDRVzoJXpWU-dS6_hGWrOl-Hw-cQIzQOaF2Pe6U4sbMHWj7yaBPMT8iKAkOWDB2BArPp/w640-h404/From+L-R-Sreenath+Bhasi%252C+Nalsan+K+Ghafoor%252C+Indrans+and+Kuttiyamma+in+%2527Home%2527.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"><b>L-R-Sreenath Bhasi, Nalson Ghafoor, Indrans and Manju Pillai</b></span><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;">Three generations live under the same roof-a grandfather who cannot hold his bladder; Oliver, the technology illiterate simpleton learning to use his new smartphone; his wife Kuttiyamma, (Manju Pillai) a pragmatic woman, who minces no words with her sons; their eldest son Antony in love with Priya (Deepa Thomas)- the only daughter of Joseph (Srikanth Murali) an illustrious man and Charles (<a href="mailto:@ActorNaslen">Nalsan K Ghafoor</a> ) Anthony’s younger brother -an Instagram addict.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> Thomas shows his grip as a storyteller. The screenplay flows seamlessly. Without making it a melodramatic tale spouting a social message, Thomas captures relationships with a sincerity that makes ‘Home’ real and relatable. There are moments in ‘Home’ that might seem to have been lifted from your and my home. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nbo5zXBMLuOUTC8wjI-NFtTTs-QTM9_HwHLbqOl7CpycoFEK1O36WCWwGtIWb3cPy8IeyR5jZb5FV4aqbxJqLekeEqf0qzerBQleTaXM2atw4-yA0AAovai1lGf3UimCGCz_om8XFjEC/s2048/NAVI6047+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1394" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nbo5zXBMLuOUTC8wjI-NFtTTs-QTM9_HwHLbqOl7CpycoFEK1O36WCWwGtIWb3cPy8IeyR5jZb5FV4aqbxJqLekeEqf0qzerBQleTaXM2atw4-yA0AAovai1lGf3UimCGCz_om8XFjEC/w436-h640/NAVI6047+copy.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;"> </span></div><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;">The generation gap is there to see. Oliver’s sons are loving guys but it’s their cocky attitude so typical of the new age that causes hurt and pain to their parents. Oliver who loves his sons to a fault takes the brunt of it. ‘Home’ appeals with its emotional moments that are universal –the shaky relationship between parents and children once they turn adults- the young generation’s dismissal of their parents’ ideas and taking them for granted-will ring true for many in the audience.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWfkallC2CZMLLB-b1TVw0NsP3ZGL1XiL1FIbs7b_dBguqRrnSuT92aXyAtc5lWrgQfBAbWRBYRwIAuNEprTezwZU1jX37bK_BptyK7hDgFkWrbximM7sJq9FJMFpHe06VvbG8MhgjdUV/s2048/Indrans+plays+a+pivotal+role+in+%2527Home%2527+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="2048" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWfkallC2CZMLLB-b1TVw0NsP3ZGL1XiL1FIbs7b_dBguqRrnSuT92aXyAtc5lWrgQfBAbWRBYRwIAuNEprTezwZU1jX37bK_BptyK7hDgFkWrbximM7sJq9FJMFpHe06VvbG8MhgjdUV/w640-h350/Indrans+plays+a+pivotal+role+in+%2527Home%2527+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;">Holding up ‘Home’ is a brilliant team of actors. The casting is pitch-perfect. Thomas elicits fabulous performances not just from his main actors but from every member on board. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indrans"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Indrans</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> proves that the comedian in him can shoulder more significant roles. His Oliver-a diminutive and unassuming man- wins hearts all the way. With little touches and nuances in his expressions, the Kerala state awardee brings out the pain and disappointment that Oliver tries to conceal while interacting with Antony.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46ZIOkP-8HpogE5h0LH3jIWo2_GFxrMhbFcnYvko8zu3y_gLMghPph17SLIqIAcJucGLKj6gBkET-1aw3hs5ofta2EZXiesHNT6WiM98nYos2vwEakUis24qdmKypP3N-g0X9NR0sp4Aa/s2048/NAVI6205+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="2048" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46ZIOkP-8HpogE5h0LH3jIWo2_GFxrMhbFcnYvko8zu3y_gLMghPph17SLIqIAcJucGLKj6gBkET-1aw3hs5ofta2EZXiesHNT6WiM98nYos2vwEakUis24qdmKypP3N-g0X9NR0sp4Aa/w640-h338/NAVI6205+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sreenath_Bhasi"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Sreenath Bhasi</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> plays the young director to the hilt. Antony’s unkempt hair and beard certainly remind us of our sons. The supporting characters are vividly drawn. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manju_Pillai"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Manju Pillai’s</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> chemistry with Indrans is amusing. They play the perfect tango. While Oliver is forgiving of his sons’ behaviors it is Kuttiyama who always puts her sons in place. Humour is neat-situational largely. Ghafoor brings in the laughs. His Charles is an inveterate talker who is busy posting videos on social media.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuTCOBbQzHttNXIFlROpv8jzDOcPByIBI2mn8Tn3d98rjaAm7PaEeUvM9ok5ooS02SCrGgbbk_GirLZpQcSBxCcbr_uUdPrZb2GJXghxglw1sRXeXzE0CUAikkAkarfy7XH8s6fXae7F9/s2048/NAVI1270.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuTCOBbQzHttNXIFlROpv8jzDOcPByIBI2mn8Tn3d98rjaAm7PaEeUvM9ok5ooS02SCrGgbbk_GirLZpQcSBxCcbr_uUdPrZb2GJXghxglw1sRXeXzE0CUAikkAkarfy7XH8s6fXae7F9/w426-h640/NAVI1270.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Actor-Producer Vijay Babu plays a psychologist</b></div><br /><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;">Another interesting role is taken on by Malayalam director </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johny_Antony"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Johny Antony</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;">. He is Oliver’s childhood friend, Suryan. Their camaraderie is fun. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijay_Babu_(actor,_born_1976)"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Vijay Babu</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> who has produced the film under his banner, ‘Friday Film House’ essays a psychologist. It took a while to recognize </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srikant_Murali"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Srikanth Murali</span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> as the bald Joseph. Murali who has explored different roles earlier leaves his mark again. His Joseph is not one forgotten. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> A poignant scene stayed with me. The family returns home from Joseph’s birthday party. Oliver sits down beside Antony and tells him, “Son you were right. Lightning cannot strike through a mobile. I checked it on the internet.” What follows is beautiful- the show of affection between the father and son-spoken in silence.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;">Cinematographer Neil D Cunha’s frames follow the characters closely, sometimes getting intimate with their feelings. Cunha’s shots are spectacular-Oliver’s house built on different levels is a beauty in its simplicity. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;">‘Home’ reinforces the universal truth that human goodness always prevails. And, there might be something extraordinary in the life of an ordinary man. Told from the heart ‘Home’ is a must-watch for all age groups. Clearly, everyone will agree with Antony-‘I am always imperfect at my home.’<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-size: 16pt;"> Catch it on Prime Amazon.</span></p>Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-23893912305813450712021-07-09T04:30:00.000-07:002021-07-09T04:30:41.895-07:00‘Koozhangal’ a Rotterdam Tiger award winner-leaves you stunned with its simple story and a performance that is so real <p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YyFzCJ_07Nyda5oxgIzdGaTJXFomwY_8R4RkUSLOrGCGyhsl00awHUkjqT58l7MD4W3bZgykbnlGYSyXFlcyOu0QG86FTjdxtZtEeJLDfAthV2zcucUrrxh607LYB3DdSrNMf_THIg/s2048/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YyFzCJ_07Nyda5oxgIzdGaTJXFomwY_8R4RkUSLOrGCGyhsl00awHUkjqT58l7MD4W3bZgykbnlGYSyXFlcyOu0QG86FTjdxtZtEeJLDfAthV2zcucUrrxh607LYB3DdSrNMf_THIg/w640-h360/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">By Mythily Ramachandran</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">There is one scene
in Tamil film, </span><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13710226/"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">‘Koozhangal’</span></a><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"> (pebbles) that best defines the women of </span><a href="https://villageinfo.in/tamil-nadu/madurai/melur/arittapatti.html"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Arittapatti-</span></a><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">where the story is set. <br />
An old woman is sitting near a shallow pit where water trickles slowly from the
ground below. Using a mug to scoop up the water little by little, she fills a
plastic pot kept nearby. Watching her in the process is a group of women who
are waiting their turn to fill their pots in the same manner. Undoubtedly it’s
going to be a long wait but patience seems to be the second name for these
women. There is no resentment nor impatient signs on their faces. They have
resigned to their fate in Arittapatti-a drought-affected region in Tamil Nadu-where
water is a luxury. Debutant director </span><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6648661/"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">P S Vinothraj</span></a><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">
takes viewers on a journey offering us a glimpse into Arittapatti and the lives
of people there.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mcOMrHUhh1uzWEZoQZBm-4WtVYPTikIS9SFTQagigJHh3eUBMqPUTn4uqZx7zTERDpItucDvr5yH-qIqEEfr71TVF4IPHccYTUWFYUmBa-7u5wx-CjxOpIqCeqLUUgKnHbP761rcuA/s2048/Director+Vinothraj+P+S+-+Photo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mcOMrHUhh1uzWEZoQZBm-4WtVYPTikIS9SFTQagigJHh3eUBMqPUTn4uqZx7zTERDpItucDvr5yH-qIqEEfr71TVF4IPHccYTUWFYUmBa-7u5wx-CjxOpIqCeqLUUgKnHbP761rcuA/w640-h640/Director+Vinothraj+P+S+-+Photo+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;">When Shanthi leaves her alcoholic husband for her parents’ village, her husband Ganapathy is enraged and he sets out to bring her back. But he is not going alone. He barges into his son’s school and pulls out their son, Velu</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;">(Chella Pandi) and the two take a bus. Reaching Shanthi’s village, Ganapathy tells Velu- “Tell your mother to come now, or else I will marry someone else.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdN_amV42HOOsonN6dvA70_PvizHCfl3BcYDRrsPEAo-0a8Iv0LWtG3EELwLsNgCEfWzoLEJ9BQn_rkVMsrf_xN4smtYXCcxjOWJY_fYOr7AX98N2KzKQXeChsBjmn-asiwD54I3ECIw/s2048/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdN_amV42HOOsonN6dvA70_PvizHCfl3BcYDRrsPEAo-0a8Iv0LWtG3EELwLsNgCEfWzoLEJ9BQn_rkVMsrf_xN4smtYXCcxjOWJY_fYOr7AX98N2KzKQXeChsBjmn-asiwD54I3ECIw/w640-h360/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /> Velu takes time at his grandmother’s home and an infuriated Ganapathy enters their house, abusing them leading to a scuffle between him and Shanti’s brother. Ganapathy
is beaten up, his shirt is torn and he learns that Shanthi has already left for
their home. As the father and son wait to take the bus back home, Ganapathy
threatens to kill Shanthi when he tells Velu, “From now on you have no mother,
only a father.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX76syDH_EDSDwm4cOxSdvhfRqpyDqOAVKwwTxADVo9llaoambPIvAPjlvU60B-SMdlt82E53e0gSdIFxEO0O1vP3qOhB9RPVPV-Rqc9ZkClAA963xoXWXpTjEBvL3eeEkL05IgxI1nw/s2048/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX76syDH_EDSDwm4cOxSdvhfRqpyDqOAVKwwTxADVo9llaoambPIvAPjlvU60B-SMdlt82E53e0gSdIFxEO0O1vP3qOhB9RPVPV-Rqc9ZkClAA963xoXWXpTjEBvL3eeEkL05IgxI1nw/w640-h360/3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
The bus journey back home does not go as planned. And, the father-son duo are
forced to walk barefooted in the scorching heat across the arid terrain. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48Ax-GD4C6hBau2w9Rm2F-EKNx_EC82o931DIWn__J02WLXPuvFCeVbB9Y7He1KyTr7o5rGEj-Ug4ZkbLxXbrbURqeZU5uOAo6qGLEpVzX0Ykx18Nv2ohgqZ2dUNKUxdn0LD3woOBpQ/s2048/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48Ax-GD4C6hBau2w9Rm2F-EKNx_EC82o931DIWn__J02WLXPuvFCeVbB9Y7He1KyTr7o5rGEj-Ug4ZkbLxXbrbURqeZU5uOAo6qGLEpVzX0Ykx18Nv2ohgqZ2dUNKUxdn0LD3woOBpQ/w640-h360/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br />
Vinothraj’s story captures a day’s event in their lives. His narration is
simple and rides on the shoulders of two newcomers-Karuthadaaiyan and Chella
Pandi, who play their roles of Ganapathy and Velu with aplomb. Karuthadaaiyan with
his boorish demeanor and hurried gait that is marked with a purpose is
completely Ganapathy- an angry man with a
sense of entitlement. Velu barely speaks. His anxiety and confusion are
reflected in his eyes. Chella Pandi is brilliant.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Debutant cinematographers
Vignesh Kumulai and Parthib with their unique frames make the trek an engaging
one. It’s a beautiful opening scene that sets rolling this journey. An arched
branch with a bird’s nest hanging at its end sways in the breeze. And as a bus
approaches its stop, we get a peek inside. The camera hovers over a sleeping
man and then lingers over a sleeping child cradled in her mother’s lap. Be it
the long shots across the brown landscape following a woman who alights from
the bus and settles down under a tree to feed her baby, or the camera staring
at Ganapathy’s back as he marches, the
visuals lend a fly on the wall experience. Attention to tiny details lights up every
frame.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJY_YSbCsXY8M28SEWE3_-r982KTbNgqJwtqSOTYo6_i9IhWI9v_GVCDo4IfiQRxgyeNXw0j-XeG5Cz-oANng4yEBjzoCnN38DixDN-_AHKVF95PLSnj9C1BGhq6mhcWgnQKfTTc2tQ/s2048/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcJY_YSbCsXY8M28SEWE3_-r982KTbNgqJwtqSOTYo6_i9IhWI9v_GVCDo4IfiQRxgyeNXw0j-XeG5Cz-oANng4yEBjzoCnN38DixDN-_AHKVF95PLSnj9C1BGhq6mhcWgnQKfTTc2tQ/w640-h360/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">It’s a heart
breaking moment when Velu is thrashed by his father for getting a ride on his
teacher’s two-wheeler. Velu is confounded and hurt, yet this little boy never
cries. As we sympathize with Velu, a pup runs up to him.Velu forgets the
beating and plays with the pup. There are other moments that bring out the
child in Velu. Blowing up a balloon, he sways it through the window of the bus.
He even manages to take some kind of revenge on his father with a small piece
of mirror that he picks on the path. It’s good humour there. Velu loves his
mother and sister. My favourite scene is the one where Velu and his sister play
with the puppy. We never get to meet Shanthi though.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAuVBYEm5xoYgJSyzkN-3zyRksmnUH8ZGK7a-_HQgZMhOG2Oz__B5u9mqn7n7cYhP3pAaFYE2amWohqQ5X6Khg92A_vrPj7U7VitN8PlK9x6ngfhQ_5vNLPQ2cffNJJNsRytv48YGtQ/s2048/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAuVBYEm5xoYgJSyzkN-3zyRksmnUH8ZGK7a-_HQgZMhOG2Oz__B5u9mqn7n7cYhP3pAaFYE2amWohqQ5X6Khg92A_vrPj7U7VitN8PlK9x6ngfhQ_5vNLPQ2cffNJJNsRytv48YGtQ/w640-h360/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">‘Koozhangal’ highlights
the poverty in this drought-affected region where a family smokes rat holes to
hunt them for food. When curtains fall, Velu removes the koozhangal (pebble) he
had been carrying in his mouth to ward off thirst on the journey and adds it to
his collection of pebbles. <br />
Does it mean that this road journey was one of many before? Like the women of Arittapatti Velu has learnt
to take life in his stride.<br />
Don’t miss this masterpiece.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span> </p>Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-49445409769802446772020-07-09T04:59:00.000-07:002020-07-09T04:59:05.734-07:00Sufiyum Sujatayum’: A story told from the heart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;"><i>Marked with terrific performances and visuals, this love story remains true to its genre</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Since time
immemorial, parental pressure and religion has kept lovers from uniting. Debutant
director Naranipuzha Shanavas’s ‘Sufiyum Sujatayum’ follows the life of Sujata
(Aditi Rao Hydari)-a speech impaired young woman and her love for a Sufi (Dev
Mohan). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72JrHWeM0MEoQCmYmrYZCL0BQIryhu_xMjhdKUPFPS8wiO0tqoqsXsRZbJk5SThSGFi_Mg5tpth30jtVwm3Q5PToJsl1oPalObtciorBWEQwAiT6oOOnkTEpSEFBmn7YiLd6sTmqjSw/s1600/Aditi+Rao+Hydari+in+Sufiyum+Sujatayum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72JrHWeM0MEoQCmYmrYZCL0BQIryhu_xMjhdKUPFPS8wiO0tqoqsXsRZbJk5SThSGFi_Mg5tpth30jtVwm3Q5PToJsl1oPalObtciorBWEQwAiT6oOOnkTEpSEFBmn7YiLd6sTmqjSw/s640/Aditi+Rao+Hydari+in+Sufiyum+Sujatayum.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The film opens
with Sujata (Aditi Rao Hydari) and her family-husband Rajeev (Jayasurya) and
daughter- living in the middle-east. The following morning Rajeev receives a
message. His wife’s former lover is dead and the burial is planned that
evening. Rajeev does something not many men will do. He flies to India with Sujata
so that she can pay her last respects to her Sufi. Rajeev hopes that it will
bring a closure to a past that has been intruding into his present. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5rPFObcG8_WXcFIPIbyQUrlJrIgUro5AVodvILAPttEBhAlZ-Dia5YDI_L3ZikCndYh7dmAm7Vh7JjHyW5_vjbTsHLr7_zeh-2c9HBapCOQoYL80gJNLMeTfjmdZCNZHo3e2hfYaJw/s1600/Aditi+Rao+with+Dev+Mohan+in+Sufiyum+Sujatayum+resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5rPFObcG8_WXcFIPIbyQUrlJrIgUro5AVodvILAPttEBhAlZ-Dia5YDI_L3ZikCndYh7dmAm7Vh7JjHyW5_vjbTsHLr7_zeh-2c9HBapCOQoYL80gJNLMeTfjmdZCNZHo3e2hfYaJw/s640/Aditi+Rao+with+Dev+Mohan+in+Sufiyum+Sujatayum+resized.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Shifting between
the past and the present Shanavas stays true to the genre while resisting
temptations to making it a melodrama. Neither is he keen on biting the bait of
a communal line lying underneath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">‘Sufiyum
Sujatyum’ opens with promise, falters midway but finds its feet ultimately to
usher in a dawn filled with love. While the narrative is told from Sujata’s
perspective, the Sufi remains an enigma. What inner turmoil does he go through
when in love? ‘Sufiyum Sujatayum’ could have reached its full potential if more
focus had been given to the Sufi. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBAOA3Lau07p1EUapfAwdcbk0dnV2_N5sBAq2V5LnS0zbSqPHLVKBWBdPZzMyEGJ4nThjhq8WetxBlQ-qWMBKU_aEtJ20XGL1P4U7Sge46hcFP-D8nO9W4d3tCUSUcs4_iUcyQdMgSQ/s1600/Dev+Mohan+in+Sufiyum+Sujatayum+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBAOA3Lau07p1EUapfAwdcbk0dnV2_N5sBAq2V5LnS0zbSqPHLVKBWBdPZzMyEGJ4nThjhq8WetxBlQ-qWMBKU_aEtJ20XGL1P4U7Sge46hcFP-D8nO9W4d3tCUSUcs4_iUcyQdMgSQ/s640/Dev+Mohan+in+Sufiyum+Sujatayum+2.JPG" width="426" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">You can’t help
remembering another Malayalam story- ‘Ennum Ninte Moideen’- where religion came
in the way of love. ‘Ennum Ninte Moideen’ found its rightful place solely due
to its brilliant writing and pathos filled scenes executed perfectly by
Prithviraj and Parvathy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br />
Yet, Shanavas’s maiden film deserves praise on several counts. There are
aspects in his screenplay and staging that indicate he is a talent to look out
for. The town where the story is placed is in harmony with Hindus and Muslims
living together. Sujata often visits Aboob-Sufi’s mentor- and her father
(Siddique) is fine with it until she falls in love. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br />
Small details make many scenes real. The burial scene is shot in a methodical
manner. When Rajeevan tosses a handful of soil in the grave, he is burying a
past. For a moment he almost slips into the grave but is pulled back by
someone. A simple touch added there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Siddique’s
emotional outburst in a scene left me with goose bumps. The veteran was spot on
as Sujata’s father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kalaranjini
complements Siddique well. You can’t help smiling at this naïve woman. In one
scene she brings a cap that she stitched for her grand-daughter and gives it to
Rajeev. When he remarks that it was a bigger size, she has an answer-‘a safety
pin will correct that.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgA5LNEdBIqL5nzeNwhg-tYGkf-rNgT-G5FBU2earmmOsGlEKVA1NXiC7GQrxy9xAxPgJNReruNTc9majc07Yn0bi4DnLN0umz_Q9soFyd6YK6C-xec_KKiK0GvoJwRrN9qvlasFbDA/s1600/Aditi+Rao+Hydari+with+Jayasurya+in+Sufiyum+Sujatayum.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgA5LNEdBIqL5nzeNwhg-tYGkf-rNgT-G5FBU2earmmOsGlEKVA1NXiC7GQrxy9xAxPgJNReruNTc9majc07Yn0bi4DnLN0umz_Q9soFyd6YK6C-xec_KKiK0GvoJwRrN9qvlasFbDA/s640/Aditi+Rao+Hydari+with+Jayasurya+in+Sufiyum+Sujatayum.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Shanavas
sprinkles humour during tense moments-the cab driver when <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>intercepted by the police for speaking on his
mobile, blabbers about his wife being suddenly pregnant instead of ‘pregnant
wife had to be suddenly rushed to hospital.’ The driver made me smile in
another scene where Rajeev calls him up to check for his lost passport. The
driver says that the passport was not in his car, but before calling off, he
shares news of his wife’s delivery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who
comes up with situations that mirror life?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Aditi Rao Hydari
brings in the vulnerability of a woman hindered by speech yet fearless in love.
Looking beautiful with barely there make up, Hydari lights up every frame. Remarkable
is the scene where she breaks down following a close family member’s death. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
Dev Mohan is earnest in his role and impresses on debut. As the Sufi, he
carries a warm glow. Manikandan Pattambi whose character turns the course of
the story is a spontaneous performer. The graveyard scenes involving a search
for something lost keeps the adrenalin going with a dread-‘What if? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br />
When curtains fall, it is Rajeev who lingers long. Jayasurya’s subtle body
language conveys well Rajeev’s relationship with Sujata. Though frustrated with
his wife’s past and bristling with anger inside, Rajeev’s love for Sujata
surpasses everything. Jayasurya is fantastic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><br />
<br />
M.Jayachandran’s music is soulful melody. The song<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">,</i> ‘</span><em><span style="color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Alhamdulillah’</span></em><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">
<span lang="EN-IN">is divine while the lyrics of Hindi song ‘Kya Karoon’
beautiful. DOP Anu Moothedath’s frames are spectacular from the word go-every
frame <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>created with care- and some are surreal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><span lang="EN-IN"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">‘Sufiyum
Sujatayum’ is not about love only but in understanding the one you love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px;"><i></i></span></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-35143544189796508432020-07-09T04:41:00.001-07:002020-07-09T04:49:53.441-07:00‘Kappela’ excels as a small-town tale with a big heart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Appearances can
be deceptive.<br />
Actor turned director Muhammed Musthafa debut film, ‘Kappela’ cautions viewers on
this point with a simple story set in Poovarmala in Waynad. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DCcy5Z3hSAXz8m-oBMBDXTv6dTIcWf1Y3tEr5kOhKkzKDmnJIH4zFqLUeTRb34P6XRhUX4Btx57ETrafGarRkabsa0r9PSnJNmlV1eIXbwV2TDryLfHjUa-mxMl4YZt9Msw1KTULCA/s1600/1S0A5917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DCcy5Z3hSAXz8m-oBMBDXTv6dTIcWf1Y3tEr5kOhKkzKDmnJIH4zFqLUeTRb34P6XRhUX4Btx57ETrafGarRkabsa0r9PSnJNmlV1eIXbwV2TDryLfHjUa-mxMl4YZt9Msw1KTULCA/s640/1S0A5917.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Jessy (Anna Ben) lives in Poovarmala in the Waynaad ranges with her orthodox
parents and younger sister. Theirs is a simple life-father is a farmer, mother
undertakes tailoring orders and Jessy assists her mother in stitching. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">An accidental
call to a wrong number changes Jessy’s life. Vishnu (Roshan Mathew) an auto
driver from Mallapuram takes the wrong call and pursues Jessy over phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t take long for Jessy to fall in
love with Vishnu and his voice over conversations they share. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZzgZi2_aLutZfuLS07snDcwhXC4ycOjytjP0YIIv3ldfCfU-rgySRRvIFu3jw4mXBHYN_iFWqT2uE4oaNh4AK1ilw_ylbmAiBfRmRl0KL0XSJvo23vPBHKEFyj3VcP2ZV2n-bY6Btw/s1600/05092752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZzgZi2_aLutZfuLS07snDcwhXC4ycOjytjP0YIIv3ldfCfU-rgySRRvIFu3jw4mXBHYN_iFWqT2uE4oaNh4AK1ilw_ylbmAiBfRmRl0KL0XSJvo23vPBHKEFyj3VcP2ZV2n-bY6Btw/s640/05092752.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Benny (Sudhi
Koppa), a young man from the neighbourhood is in love with Jessy. He approaches
her parents for her hand in marriage. As their wedding is fixed, Jessy decides to meet Vishnu. She leaves for Kozhikode alone one
early morning. Vishnu agrees to meet her at the bus stop. Jessy and Vishnu have
not been able to share their pictures since Jessy uses an old phone. She cannot
afford a smart phone. They are acquainted with each other by their voices only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Do the lovers meet as planned?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
‘Kappela’s writing and screenplay with well sketched characters is its biggest
strength. The narration is simple, the mood and tone rooted in reality, conversations
real as the story glides smoothly like a well oiled machine lending a fly on
the wall experience and you soon invest in Jesssy’s life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbKE9aATbVxGaYf7ZpqJSyETJLJmBXk7qz0hAxXn3y5dqm_Q1XeOYjZ9EYdhOkdXl1yBpTB5JRuJr75KlHSaVge-l2pyByQFdxJmp_pv0NXsRxeyDaT51lFh7sBi4qpbJURfa2xIEBw/s1600/anna+Ben+with+Roshan+Mathew+in+Kappela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbKE9aATbVxGaYf7ZpqJSyETJLJmBXk7qz0hAxXn3y5dqm_Q1XeOYjZ9EYdhOkdXl1yBpTB5JRuJr75KlHSaVge-l2pyByQFdxJmp_pv0NXsRxeyDaT51lFh7sBi4qpbJURfa2xIEBw/s640/anna+Ben+with+Roshan+Mathew+in+Kappela.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The casting is pitch perfect as the lead
actors Anna Ben, Roshan Mathew and Sreenath Bhasi are fantastic with their
portrayal. </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Unsophisticated,
simple and living on the high ranges of Waynaad, Jessy’s big dream is to see
the sea. What’s beautiful about Malayalam cinema is the natural look the
actresses sport. Anna Ben is growing as an actor with each film. This is her
third film. Her Jessie easily finds</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">way
into our hearts. Ben neat play of emotions of the small town young
woman-vulnerability and gullible-is commendable. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPsDU5h6Ex81qTJlzz7SRWlrz2rNGwlGO5g6UriJHeG1kZA9Euu7bszfRv_9BxSMbT5a8GS-O6F0dTBtaXDhmKwZjc0xa7EVONN59wYjOXioqqCPVpurzthas-XITwR8up6rbg35xzA/s1600/05092000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPsDU5h6Ex81qTJlzz7SRWlrz2rNGwlGO5g6UriJHeG1kZA9Euu7bszfRv_9BxSMbT5a8GS-O6F0dTBtaXDhmKwZjc0xa7EVONN59wYjOXioqqCPVpurzthas-XITwR8up6rbg35xzA/s640/05092000.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Vishnu wearing a
red <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pottu</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on his forehead always is the perfect picture
of that friendly <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>guy in the
neighbourhood whom people seek in times of distress. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was quite a challenge to depict and
Mathew is brilliant, never going overboard with his expressions. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqqENbuPED4mKXX8UQQnAzfncTXSUdEdSWb82DHFWMptJurNSN2XUFeH0FUVYb6XQStSlPZ9kovUAh63mkK8K3KISe2AgodJUGuUymbEcN_EH0rosYN3b6QvzKUQ2nMa5kfViK1IOEg/s1600/Sreenath+Bhasi+in+Kappela.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuqqENbuPED4mKXX8UQQnAzfncTXSUdEdSWb82DHFWMptJurNSN2XUFeH0FUVYb6XQStSlPZ9kovUAh63mkK8K3KISe2AgodJUGuUymbEcN_EH0rosYN3b6QvzKUQ2nMa5kfViK1IOEg/s640/Sreenath+Bhasi+in+Kappela.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A stark contrast
to Vishnu is Roy (Sreenath Bhasi). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
unemployed BBA graduate is job hunting and has no qualms about removing his
lover Annie’s ring so that he can pawn it for his requirements. With his cocky
mannerisms and tough attitude, Roy is not someone you will warm up to soon. He
enters the lives of Jessy and Vishnu at Kozhikode. Bhasi has been experimenting
with varied roles and proves his versatility again. Sudhi Koppi plays Benny the nice guy whom you wouldn't wish to hurt. </span><br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7q-OX2NLxQY9Y7BLPubVQSctq-vmsnthjcyh-hIWl3p8BpTQPOVEYH6aWu6ecZKIU0Y-Qb1WXIDwfwMdZY5DqsheYKPYSPZgTK8mYO6yZoBtcQGn53CbFK0O_tn8pU6vYy1cI_A9SiQ/s1600/Actor+turned+director+Mushtafa+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7q-OX2NLxQY9Y7BLPubVQSctq-vmsnthjcyh-hIWl3p8BpTQPOVEYH6aWu6ecZKIU0Y-Qb1WXIDwfwMdZY5DqsheYKPYSPZgTK8mYO6yZoBtcQGn53CbFK0O_tn8pU6vYy1cI_A9SiQ/s640/Actor+turned+director+Mushtafa+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Actor turned director Musthafa</b><br />
<b><br /></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Director Mushthafa has acted in several films in supporting roles.
He received special mention by the national jury for playing the lead in 'Ain.
Musthafa plays a small role in Kappela. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Little details make the scenes real and relatable-an old woman asks the bus conductor
to let her know when her stop arrives while the passenger in the seat behind
Jessie tells her lower down the shutter in the rains. That Jessie’s parents are
orthodox comes through the scenes and not through loud dialogues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Without
resorting to loud melodrama and screaming out a social message, the danger is
there for all to see. It’s most poignant when a disillusioned Jessy asks Roy-
like a child-, ‘Will you show me the beach?’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cinematographer
Jhimsi Khalid’s visuals are spectacular. The opening scene is beautiful, as two
friends under an umbrella braving the rains reach a bus-stop. Poovaram the
small town on the mountains is caught at its rustic best. And, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kappela</i> (chapel) which Jessy frequents
is just a basic shrine of Mother Mary perched on a mountain and devoid of decorations
yet seems to hold an enigmatic power over the little town below. That closing shot
was beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-48604912048414288172020-06-29T01:14:00.001-07:002020-06-29T01:14:10.174-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">‘Penguin’ disappoints despite Keerthy Suresh’s
splendid performance<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">By Mythily Ramachandran</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The opening
scene sets the mood for a thriller about a missing child and the scenes that
follow are promising, but midway ‘Penguin’ gets grounded with an
unconvincing plot and several loose ends hanging. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Championing the
cause of child sexual abuse seems to have become a trend in Tamil cinema today.
There is nothing wrong about it, if only film-makers had an engaging story that
educates children on potential abusers and self-protection while guiding
parents on being open and accessible to their little ones. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFVua8BdEz3AY39dMm2ftd0imR8xfwQsWZ31KkbhMpyVkF6X6sIDIwabYJLqiZx9HPO-ww9cpPkW4cXusXI87vLd5oZ7_WFrMKhvWo40LTvL_SYeky-_lOLw2k2LC6bAQvF5RToyYFA/s1600/DIN_1306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFVua8BdEz3AY39dMm2ftd0imR8xfwQsWZ31KkbhMpyVkF6X6sIDIwabYJLqiZx9HPO-ww9cpPkW4cXusXI87vLd5oZ7_WFrMKhvWo40LTvL_SYeky-_lOLw2k2LC6bAQvF5RToyYFA/s640/DIN_1306.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keerthy Suresh leads this emotional thriller</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">
Written and directed by debutant Eashvar Karthic, ‘Penguin’ becomes more a film
about glorifying gore and personality disorder while taking refuge in lauding
motherhood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Rhythm- (Keerthy
Suresh) -a mother who cannot get over the loss of her son Ajay-is pregnant with
her second child thus making her vulnerable enough to hook onto viewers
emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, she does not hesitate to
put herself in the most dangerous situations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvDSopfmUsmeku2v2Ku5EVQ_LWXHG29Cq9fMM0F3XJ7qJ-DyD8HSmta01fHr6AnIfzCJoaQ6v-Q_zBexAZBbRUcurBqZUdjE1qITIbmZWxHhpEui8UQ1PQIlSt8k-98IsoF0jI1RnLg/s1600/DIN_7342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvDSopfmUsmeku2v2Ku5EVQ_LWXHG29Cq9fMM0F3XJ7qJ-DyD8HSmta01fHr6AnIfzCJoaQ6v-Q_zBexAZBbRUcurBqZUdjE1qITIbmZWxHhpEui8UQ1PQIlSt8k-98IsoF0jI1RnLg/s640/DIN_7342.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br />
Suresh makes her Rhythm endearing. Some of her scenes are unforgettable-the one
in a hospital where she plays with a little girl is beautifully captured.
Intense is her performance in the scene where Rhythm reunites with her son.
Despite the hard work Suresh puts in and reiterating the wonderful performer
she is, ‘Penguin’ disappoints. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;">With the exception of Linga-who plays Raghu, Rhythm’s former husband- the rest of the supporting actors carry a wooden expression. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 24.5333px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXC3iZULmbmJPY8tjeyn3wJltzFy241ilmGdSqMmUXyHigUn7NOG_I5VC9coZcL1CdBYFKV2VHyI3_gtb3DAzB7xnhiTXkWxvXIoSaJz6pLl1KNfPzp8TFvscDXnIXvoZjumqNvGXXKA/s1600/DIN_2327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXC3iZULmbmJPY8tjeyn3wJltzFy241ilmGdSqMmUXyHigUn7NOG_I5VC9coZcL1CdBYFKV2VHyI3_gtb3DAzB7xnhiTXkWxvXIoSaJz6pLl1KNfPzp8TFvscDXnIXvoZjumqNvGXXKA/s640/DIN_2327.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linga plays Raghu, Rhythm's former husband</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"></span><br /><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The writing suffers.
There are several loose ends. Rhythm’s relationship with husband Gautham is
little explored. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">What about Ajay’s trauma? For one who has been away from home
and family for six years, it is touched perfunctorily. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Fighting one antagonist
is not enough for this mother. Neither is there a back-story for him and his
actions, but<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> he is </span>portrayed as a maniac with
scenes painted in gore and innards. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">And, then comes a second antagonist making ‘Penguin’ an exhaustive exercise. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Karthik Palani’s
visuals of Kodaikanal are beautiful-verdant vegetation, misty mornings, rushing
rapids, floating clouds and eerie silence of the nights. But beyond the frills
‘Penguin’ fails to take off. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-32576942891289748182020-06-29T00:55:00.000-07:002020-06-29T00:55:07.539-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">‘Pon Magal Vandhal’ a story with an important message</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"><i>While parents teach their daughters how she should behave, dress and whom to befriend, they ought to also teach their sons how to treat women and to respect them,</i>’ <i>says lawyer Venba in this courtroom drama</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">By Mythily Ramachandran<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">A tranquil misty
morning’s beauty is shattered by gun shots and a child’s cries, ‘<i>Amma Amma</i>.’ News reported on television
talks about the arrest of Jyoti-a psycho killer who has been abducting little
girls in Lovedale, Ooty. The next breaking news is about Jyoti’s death in a
police encounter and recovery of dead bodies of children in the yard around her
house. According to media reports Jyoti was a wanted criminal from Jaipur. This
case of 2004 thus solved is closed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpB-hxzz6shAoINUkWEgCkr9eV9UurEu-87oo-7U7-c3-jeaKnzuVWYCbsk-B5pH3h6D4aAbrKNjyeZaLH5G-0AvpInTaA8_y1FGLV94j0Qal-eSkdkx27rLX0cwQXNFkb9tx6DCWnwg/s1600/Jyotika+as+lawyer+Venba+in+Pon+Magal+Vandhal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpB-hxzz6shAoINUkWEgCkr9eV9UurEu-87oo-7U7-c3-jeaKnzuVWYCbsk-B5pH3h6D4aAbrKNjyeZaLH5G-0AvpInTaA8_y1FGLV94j0Qal-eSkdkx27rLX0cwQXNFkb9tx6DCWnwg/s640/Jyotika+as+lawyer+Venba+in+Pon+Magal+Vandhal.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jyotika plays a lawyer Venba</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Cut to the
present- fifteen years later. We meet Pethuraj (actor director K. Bhagyaraj)
better known as Petition Pethuraj for his many petitions against small crimes
filed in court. He lives with his daughter Venba (Jyotika). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">When Pethuraj
files a petition reopening the case of Jyoti who he believes has been wrongly
implicated by the police, it is Venba who takes up the suit-her first case as a
lawyer. But then, she earns the wrath of the local community for pleading the
case of an inhuman killer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Why does Venba
take on this case? Who is Jyoti? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkhMnCwU95Rbvmu4fPXHGOMWT41nXI8ItFgr24SGFQvb7XUVEdE3oLrRdR6MehkdyV3jjgoEiAtU0J9ClzXXYwTBsY7BLF8ThwSRH_5jjV6U5LSZTbMZN8HeWBjeP25B181gjOUQf8g/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkhMnCwU95Rbvmu4fPXHGOMWT41nXI8ItFgr24SGFQvb7XUVEdE3oLrRdR6MehkdyV3jjgoEiAtU0J9ClzXXYwTBsY7BLF8ThwSRH_5jjV6U5LSZTbMZN8HeWBjeP25B181gjOUQf8g/s640/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The team-Pandiarajan, K. Bhagyaraj, Pratap Pothen, director J J Fredrick, Jyotika and Parthiban</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br />
Debutant director J.J.Fredrick’s ‘Pon Magal Vandhal’ is a court-room drama that
spills skeletons out of the closet while unearthing the truth about Jyoti. Child
sexual abuse being the plot point here, the film closes with Venba
saying-‘While parents teach their daughters how she should behave, dress and
whom to befriend, they ought to also teach their sons how to treat women and to
respect them.’ According to National Crime records India ranks seven and Tamil
Nadu occupies the third place with respect to child sexual abuse. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKlMZ5RTOU-nJji9QRjOq05ss9McFHRtitmDhT41c8BtWbPtA13umYJV9XKN25br-aLExRKlDvRruVuhns307fc0SOZSNAXjlbyRBFMW97D9wBBH8zRvRj2Aoi7yTcVRyKoncQ5iQKg/s1600/Jyotika+in+Pon+Magal+Vandhal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKlMZ5RTOU-nJji9QRjOq05ss9McFHRtitmDhT41c8BtWbPtA13umYJV9XKN25br-aLExRKlDvRruVuhns307fc0SOZSNAXjlbyRBFMW97D9wBBH8zRvRj2Aoi7yTcVRyKoncQ5iQKg/s640/Jyotika+in+Pon+Magal+Vandhal.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The producers actors Surya and Jyotika deserves a pat for taking on this subject along with the director who instead
of a formula story around a star preferred the less beaten track. Fredrick makes a
good start. Of late portraying north Indians as criminals has become the norm
in Tamil and Malayalam cinema. I liked that point made here and rebuking us for
making presumptions about north Indians. But, the story required better writing.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyqUpTsnYeIE3Y0h6V38h7W6MC6qMqnkjI04X_J66FjZHBLeJNCve7haDiFUKrAQmUDfZRu0HuF16MzFRFVraN458-OtT2RWqHHB8dcOCDaOYGh7IChyMB9nBvUuL5GC7qU7Z7fwEBw/s1600/DSC00664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzyqUpTsnYeIE3Y0h6V38h7W6MC6qMqnkjI04X_J66FjZHBLeJNCve7haDiFUKrAQmUDfZRu0HuF16MzFRFVraN458-OtT2RWqHHB8dcOCDaOYGh7IChyMB9nBvUuL5GC7qU7Z7fwEBw/s640/DSC00664.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">‘Pon Magal
Vandhal’ is more of an investigative thriller and less of a court room drama.
There are some unwarranted scenes supposed to evoke laughter and characters
having little to contribute. Jyotika playing a dual role is not a good idea either.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Jyotika who has
been selective about roles in her second innings is earnest and sincere in
championing the cause. She has dubbed for herself in Tamil-which is not her
mother-tongue. She is in fine form as Venba. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-rUEfBZe_FOma0kwO9lakWp70XTXyc0TtVHcfO7KopWwylwSxOEIgkg5a9glL64a8KjlfIcR1Y94tICFqXZMhLl5p8L8ZoAGN50xXY6NPVPRFj2trEWB56rRsvUsaef5jpNrViZ0rA/s1600/Pon+Magal+Vandhal+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-rUEfBZe_FOma0kwO9lakWp70XTXyc0TtVHcfO7KopWwylwSxOEIgkg5a9glL64a8KjlfIcR1Y94tICFqXZMhLl5p8L8ZoAGN50xXY6NPVPRFj2trEWB56rRsvUsaef5jpNrViZ0rA/s640/Pon+Magal+Vandhal+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Director Fredrick with actor Thiagarajan on the sets </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><br />
Parthiban plays lawyer Rajarathinam countering Venba in court. He is in his
usual element delivering lines with a play on words. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-IN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">What
makes ‘Pon Magal Vandhal’ worth a watch is its important message and Jyotika’s
performance. Cinematographer Ramji’s visuals are a treat.<br />
And, yes like Venba says-‘Let’s teach our sons a couple of things too.'</span></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-44282369993802519962020-06-14T18:24:00.005-07:002020-06-14T18:24:54.055-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Debutant
director P.R. Arun poignant sports drama is led by
Rajisha Vijayan and Niranj Pillai<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">By Mythily Ramachandran</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Theater director and scriptwriter of ‘Jamna Pyari’ (2015)
P. R. Arun rides into Malayalam cinema with a poignant story of a national
cyclist champ and her father’s dreams. But this is not a regular story of an underdog
battling against all odds to eventually emerge triumphant. It is about two men
and their love for a woman who goes through a tragedy. How do they deal with
it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tg9oJKMEsuwhzN8qa0CVMWAuDoeYyBDMPB4ymHuS9n1gVIw8RrmZmMJdXlTSGOZ-LuzcROr50h4NNir-M0YpudslCzQjChsmFz7lc990lUVyPwMG-WLBtWSezjz9Ym1kQAyyim7T2w/s1600/Rajisha+Vijayan+in+Finals+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tg9oJKMEsuwhzN8qa0CVMWAuDoeYyBDMPB4ymHuS9n1gVIw8RrmZmMJdXlTSGOZ-LuzcROr50h4NNir-M0YpudslCzQjChsmFz7lc990lUVyPwMG-WLBtWSezjz9Ym1kQAyyim7T2w/s640/Rajisha+Vijayan+in+Finals+%25284%2529.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Alice Verghese (Rajisha Vijayan) was in primary school when she got her first
bicycle-a gift from her father (Suraj Venjaramoodu). Since then she has enjoyed
riding, especially challenging her close friend, Manuel-living next door- into
a race with her. While he sprinted on foot to school, Alice sped on her cycle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-o9JBpc9YCNIxnL-Dx2XJYbjGTx9Kll34RCSbimSgOxW_26LXaXZRZTW11ECraMa3ZKAzUAGf8X3QlO6pRvKhW8v-oR-bzFsjgwXKnhyvZtZPdbgO1SBQHE0_-BoXckggIqgEGRw3g/s1600/Suraj+Venjaramoodu+in+Finals.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-o9JBpc9YCNIxnL-Dx2XJYbjGTx9Kll34RCSbimSgOxW_26LXaXZRZTW11ECraMa3ZKAzUAGf8X3QlO6pRvKhW8v-oR-bzFsjgwXKnhyvZtZPdbgO1SBQHE0_-BoXckggIqgEGRw3g/s640/Suraj+Venjaramoodu+in+Finals.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Soon cycling becomes a passion for Alice. Egged on
by her father- Verghese a former athlete- she put the little town of Katappana
in Iddukki on the national map as a national champion. Alice is now gearing up
for the Tokyo Olympics. A mishap punctures the dreams of this father and
daughter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Another filmmaker would have chosen to follow the time tested template and make
it a story of Alice’s return. Arun- recipient of G. Sankara Pillai award (2003)
for Best Playwright in Malayalam for the drama ‘Phaeton’- follows his own path.
Without going the ‘Chakde India’ or ‘Dangal’ way, ‘Finals’ wheels on its solo
track with a simple story told without cinematic frills and elevated with an
astounding performance from its cast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This story of an ordinary family has several moments
that the audience will relate too. In the absence of her mother, Alice and her
father share a close bond. The scene where Alice takes permission from her
father to express her love for Manuel is beautiful. Vijayan’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alice is unlike her earlier films, yet full
of life. Vijayan does not go overboard with her portrayal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_B1VTLL_ojjNTdm06tE-mj-0I9i4VdaH8T9EatJRMCJpW0sepwIxW32LGMCPjCok_WBDfCgJZWO8SBKyiom6l_n4GFdtEs_w44eGs8u7WjXMtxThCdN_Z0YzlFlS07ECNa6ijcgylJw/s1600/Rajisha+Vijayan+in+Finals+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_B1VTLL_ojjNTdm06tE-mj-0I9i4VdaH8T9EatJRMCJpW0sepwIxW32LGMCPjCok_WBDfCgJZWO8SBKyiom6l_n4GFdtEs_w44eGs8u7WjXMtxThCdN_Z0YzlFlS07ECNa6ijcgylJw/s640/Rajisha+Vijayan+in+Finals+%25282%2529.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Suraj Venjaramoodu is the show stopper here.
Speaking little, his Verghese is a man defeated in life but finds meaning in
life through his daughter and her dreams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Venjaramoodu speaks more through his eyes-Verghese’s disappointment,
sadness and anger is tapped through glances. Venjaramoodu wins hearts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRT7dusm7FYW7GrUdlUv_SaHi74-XCD9s68aI3cLyGRnQRfTnDQxbiR4D9Dvr3mdYftCdGrZ46FdYlQaDcbQFIybUGASvwQ_3OABaxSPY7hMhl82yH5QpjtLqfNLlKodllvQ0N3ip2Sg/s1600/Niranjan+Raju+in+Finals+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRT7dusm7FYW7GrUdlUv_SaHi74-XCD9s68aI3cLyGRnQRfTnDQxbiR4D9Dvr3mdYftCdGrZ46FdYlQaDcbQFIybUGASvwQ_3OABaxSPY7hMhl82yH5QpjtLqfNLlKodllvQ0N3ip2Sg/s640/Niranjan+Raju+in+Finals+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Surprising viewers is Niranj, who has worked in other films earlier. This is
clearly his big break. With well etched characters, director Arun makes viewers
invest in their lives. Manuel with full sleeved shirts and flip flops undergoes
a sea transformation in the second half of the story. His love for Alice is
free from valentine moments. Their love is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>felt in moments together-when Alice goes on her morning sprint and hails
out to Manuel who is busy distributing newspapers-in a challenge to overtake
her-a ritual that goes back to their school days. Manuel’s love is the kind every
woman yearns for -unselfish, caring and so true. Niranj meets his director’s
vision completely as he delivers Manuel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL2_JR2_l03gGGeDMqJbXEmwfWPBaFMuZ0Bj0RClvQqmQCvunmYGTQ_LuDemz2p-JHBZmhlpruc1ULAy04fGmaKLUCUaR2rNLoMY07OkXDpDIBn5f6aEFQL07Xqrw_m6veGP44CL94g/s1600/Rajisha+Vijayan+with+Niranj.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="1600" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL2_JR2_l03gGGeDMqJbXEmwfWPBaFMuZ0Bj0RClvQqmQCvunmYGTQ_LuDemz2p-JHBZmhlpruc1ULAy04fGmaKLUCUaR2rNLoMY07OkXDpDIBn5f6aEFQL07Xqrw_m6veGP44CL94g/s640/Rajisha+Vijayan+with+Niranj.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And as Arun takes his story on a different route, he
also raises voice about politics in sports and step-motherly treatment meted
out to sportspersons. There is a lot of warm vibes and good will with respect
to the fringe characters. Shot in Kattappana<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>district of Idukku, DOP Sudeep Elamon’s frames are a feast for the eyes.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
‘Finals’ proves again that a good story told from the heart will reach far and
near. Certainly not the loud noise made by a starry cast. Don’t take the
audience for granted. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-41436709438731123262019-09-25T07:05:00.000-07:002019-09-25T07:05:27.692-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Love
Action Drama’ a cocktail that has little to applaud for</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://d1ydle56j7f53e.cloudfront.net/assets/news_images/maxresdefault--5---1--jpg-106460." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="360" height="480" src="https://d1ydle56j7f53e.cloudfront.net/assets/news_images/maxresdefault--5---1--jpg-106460." width="640" /></a></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By
Mythily Ramachandran<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dhyan Sreenivasan’s directorial debut ‘Love Action
Drama’ disappoints with an insipid and unconvincing film. Touted as a rom-com,
‘LAD’ came with great expectations with its lead pair-Nivin Pauly and
Nayanthara,’ but ends as a case of talent wasted. <br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dinesh (Nivin Pauly) pines for his cousin, even on
the eve of her wedding. He has been in love with her since childhood, despite
her making it clear that she was not interested. She is now marrying another
man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">An incurable alcoholic who smokes too, Dinesh believes
that life is a party all the time.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;">With
a family business and enough wealth to bank on, he does nothing beyond annoying
others with his uncouth attitude and irresponsible ways.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
So, it is really hard to believe when a beautiful and confident woman like
Shoba (Nayanthara) who is managing an NGO in Chennai-falls in love with Dinesh.
They meet at his cousin’s wedding in Kerala. Shoba is his cousin’s friend. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When
Dinesh’s ploy to take revenge on his cousin’s groom goes wrong on the wedding
eve, it’s Shoba who ends injured and in hospital. Love was just waiting to
happen or so it seems. Dinesh is entrusted to take care of Shoba. And, instead
of being angry with him for her situation, she finds him innocent. On her
return, she even sends him a ‘missing you’ message on Whatsapp. Reason enough
for Dinesh to pack bags and reach Chennai to win her love. Assisting him in
this endeavour is his friend Sagar (Aju Verghese)- playing accomplice and
advisor in this love game. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The audience is forced to believe that love brews
between the two. That this love story applauds stalking is another matter. Here
love is more about impressing through deceit and less about honesty in a
relationship. There is nothing compelling about the characters that makes you
invest in their lives and their relationship. Clearly the script required
better writing and seems to be hastily done with an urge to fill it with as
many commercial elements possible. The resulting cocktail tastes insipid.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pauly succeeds in making Dinesh as someone with no
redeeming trait to be worthy of Shoba’s love. His scenes with Aju Verghese are often
loud and drenched in booze banter. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Verghese’s expressions are exaggerated. Humour
is completely forced and slapstick. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
It is Nayanthara who keeps the sagging script afloat completely. Looking
stunning in glamorous attires, it’s a change after her recent experiments in
Tamil cinema, where she has played more performance backed characters. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
When Shobha slaps Dinesh in a scene, he tells her that even his mother has
never done that. I was almost tempted to say aloud-‘that’s where she erred Dinesha.’ </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
LAD gets long drawn out with scenes of barely any significance to the story. Like
the scene where a foreigner consoles Dinesh in her accented Malayalam after he
leaves Shoba. And, why are children shown in romantic relationships? Seriously
it’s not funny. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
The screenplay is erratic, new characters surface to add drama to the love tale
and there is action, as promised in the title-winding up the story in a hurried
manner. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">LAD is all frills with little substance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-89308498992965107542019-08-22T10:06:00.000-07:002019-08-22T10:06:08.711-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<h2 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">‘Bakrid’ a heart- warming tale of
man and animal bond </span></span></b></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Mythily Ramachandran<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not every
director conceives of a film centered around a man-animal relationship.
Jagadeesan Subu who debuted with the sensitively told ‘Sigai’ –a crime thriller
-returns with ‘Bakrid.’ This simple story of a man’s compassion for his camel
wins hearts. Subu’s courage and self-confidence is commendable for making a
film that does not tick the boxes of a regular formula film. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJG1sm7PQ40cKIoSolpyMUgpmL2NCCNFbIF0KPzcT1PF4yxv5VbyOeysAE2bPr9GU0rY9QIs7mIIsI7KBqkLCVemgohSlYLDUVEBad0J3cyRgCuI4TwVpq3Quh4OHd0hmNg_J7ibd9Iw/s1600/Vikranth+in+Bakrid+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJG1sm7PQ40cKIoSolpyMUgpmL2NCCNFbIF0KPzcT1PF4yxv5VbyOeysAE2bPr9GU0rY9QIs7mIIsI7KBqkLCVemgohSlYLDUVEBad0J3cyRgCuI4TwVpq3Quh4OHd0hmNg_J7ibd9Iw/s640/Vikranth+in+Bakrid+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Rathinam (Vikranth)- a farmer’s son- after winning a legal tussle with his
older brother over their family land is eager to build back the land his father
has left him. When a bank loan takes time in coming through, he seeks the
assistance of a Muslim money-lender for funds. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
What catches his eye at the money-lender’s home is a young camel that has been
brought to Chennai from Rajasthan. Rathinam, a father of a little girl brings
it home and raises it. His daughter christens it Sarah and the young camel is
welcomed into the family lovingly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One day Sarah
falls ill. The veterinary doctor points out that her loose system was caused by
the food given at Rathinam’s home. This animal, a native of Rajasthan was not
used to the food of Tamilians. When Rathinam realizes that Sarah’s life is
endangered due to her diet, he decides to send her back to Rajasthan. He seeks
help from a lorry driver, Veerender (Rohit Pathak) who agrees to transport the
camel to Rajasthan for a fee.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
‘Bakrid’ follows Rathinam and Sarah on their road trip from Chennai to
Rajasthan. Though the pace of the narration is slow and the loud background
music interferes in the telling, it is Vikranth who holds the story up with his
subtle performance. Taking a break from the regular roles he plays a loving
father and a conscientious farmer with a love for the land and Nature.
Vasundhara as his onscreen wife Geeta is spontaneous. Child actor Vasuki is
cute. Rohit Pathak the villain of ‘Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru’ reveals a
different side to him as a truck driver- Veerender. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Subu shot live with three camels that were brought to Chennai from
Rajasthan. Besides writing the script and directing the film, this former
cinematographer has handled the camera himself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSrcOGxWVf_AbVyKpN5-Ui8MWKvZQdzpkcR5TrbIC_L6TE7AgJjafqnhjXtjzgYTez6vc0-OXxBQKW8oYpGdlVl9nTjcgm3d8zMQxATWlJRm6zAexFhYpAmjx0YEk5crbWifZn1XKAA/s1600/Vikranth+in+Bakrid.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSrcOGxWVf_AbVyKpN5-Ui8MWKvZQdzpkcR5TrbIC_L6TE7AgJjafqnhjXtjzgYTez6vc0-OXxBQKW8oYpGdlVl9nTjcgm3d8zMQxATWlJRm6zAexFhYpAmjx0YEk5crbWifZn1XKAA/s640/Vikranth+in+Bakrid.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
‘Bakrid’ is a story for every animal lover. Without being preachy, Subu’
conveys a relevant message. Watch ‘Bakrid’ with the family.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-25174518809731074622019-08-22T09:56:00.000-07:002019-08-22T09:56:18.627-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">‘Nerkonda
Paarvai lives up to the original ‘Pink’ </span></span></b></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZ155vKLM0yNOmnKolWAHgsZhox9nm0M71P10Xv_t7ygpuLDETM4JiksNCY9QXhg0qPJRrRxXn0ht7i6eYsNNgUCuAPbXZk46hxEuCOnPkPuqmq_ZRVHLb-_r01yGkqF461bTBJ1cMg/s1600/2L6A7935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZ155vKLM0yNOmnKolWAHgsZhox9nm0M71P10Xv_t7ygpuLDETM4JiksNCY9QXhg0qPJRrRxXn0ht7i6eYsNNgUCuAPbXZk46hxEuCOnPkPuqmq_ZRVHLb-_r01yGkqF461bTBJ1cMg/s640/2L6A7935.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By
Mythily Ramachandran<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘No’ means ‘No’-exactly that. This single word does
not require more explanation, says lawyer Bharath Subramaniam (Ajith) in Tamil
film, ‘Nerkonda Paarvai,’ the official remake of Hindi film, ‘Pink.’<br />
‘It does not matter who it is-she could be your girl-friend, lover or wife, but
when she says No, you got to stop,’ emphasizes the lawyer with a shock of white
hair.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Directed by H. Vinoth, this social drama rings loud the message of consent, a
relatively new word in Indian society that rides on the saddle of male
chauvinism and has been taking women for granted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrdKhHh2LxGHkKmkGRH1-Fy0Rod3mPdmBTlyJFuUvSzlfZQ-jWaIcSx9j-qJLqLN5L2n8yT-L_Xr154JT4L6HkWifdwjBa4DZK6UrN-yldHujwXWppPXlcN9DVgkLiX1dD0Vml5xggg/s1600/Director+Vinoth+on+the+sets+with+Ajith.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrdKhHh2LxGHkKmkGRH1-Fy0Rod3mPdmBTlyJFuUvSzlfZQ-jWaIcSx9j-qJLqLN5L2n8yT-L_Xr154JT4L6HkWifdwjBa4DZK6UrN-yldHujwXWppPXlcN9DVgkLiX1dD0Vml5xggg/s640/Director+Vinoth+on+the+sets+with+Ajith.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Director H. Vinoth on the sets with Ajith</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
‘Nerkonda Paarvai’ speaks out for women with this small word that gives her the
power to protect herself and to be in her space with a choice. And, when a mass
hero like Ajith with a large fan following delivers this message, it surely
helps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Vinoth’s script is well written, retaining entirely
the soul of the original and brilliantly executed by a team that scores high on
performances. Poignant moments leave you misty eyed; -a father watching his
daughter’s personal life laid thread bare as she fights in court, friends
holding hands together despite knowing that they stand little chance in a world
dominated by men and clout and an aging lawyer’s fight for justice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNk19HRo9I1ROvk1s1H8P4qBdNn3DlCHNd1e8d-xouyv6s46CxGbz4lc3dbGq6_gVyZwFlreM78MOr9ydTZ2d8Ymn-3DBfEdXomKbvCobIwMhIdcaNqqxtsECllVJz4oOhBdK2_PA3pQ/s1600/Andrea+Tariang%252C+Abhirami+Venkatachalam+and+Shraddha+Srinath+in+a+scene+from+Nerkonda+Paarvai++%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNk19HRo9I1ROvk1s1H8P4qBdNn3DlCHNd1e8d-xouyv6s46CxGbz4lc3dbGq6_gVyZwFlreM78MOr9ydTZ2d8Ymn-3DBfEdXomKbvCobIwMhIdcaNqqxtsECllVJz4oOhBdK2_PA3pQ/s640/Andrea+Tariang%252C+Abhirami+Venkatachalam+and+Shraddha+Srinath+in+a+scene+from+Nerkonda+Paarvai++%25281%2529.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b> Andrea, Abhirami and Shraddha Srinath </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
‘Nerkonda Paarvai’ is a faithful remake of ‘Pink’ with small changes. While
‘Pink’ opened with an accident that left a young man bleeding severely,
‘Nerkonda Paarvai’ begins with a rock concert. The protagonist Meera Krishnan (Shraddha
Srinath) is one of the dancers and after the evening is over, she and her two
friends, Famitha Banu (Abhirami Venkatachalam) and Andrea (Andrea Tariang) join
a group of young men for dinner. Over a few drinks, trouble brews turning over
the lives of the three young women. And, the three ordinary working women find
themselves charged with prostitution and murder. They become targets of a
bruised male ego and brought into court by the men who have political clout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Nerkonda Paarvai’ rests on the collective gaze of
Indian society where a woman is judged always. And, that rules are different
for men and women is laid open in a court room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6Q4Rn9-WxT3OV5FxLiAV4Wv51J4fu_uY6h8Tmx1ywMOOClPF4QjDsp1QwK8Jjd7-rDQZTDs8sUFmormirLn3uTmm7RIbl_jyZJA_Ll590y9rER55rywYDU6sdDO1wM0S3tI90e_xIA/s1600/2L6A9584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6Q4Rn9-WxT3OV5FxLiAV4Wv51J4fu_uY6h8Tmx1ywMOOClPF4QjDsp1QwK8Jjd7-rDQZTDs8sUFmormirLn3uTmm7RIbl_jyZJA_Ll590y9rER55rywYDU6sdDO1wM0S3tI90e_xIA/s640/2L6A9584.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Nerkonda Paarvai’ takes the story of ‘Pink’ a notch
higher. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ajith as an aged lawyer with a bi-polar disorder- shines in a role that
is completely different from earlier films. His acting is subdued and he does
not deliver the regular punch lines. However, the makers could not resist the
temptation to show his mass image. And, that brings us to the scene where he
single-handedly bashes up dozen men. But this <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>interruption does not steer the story away
from its track. While Bharath’s past with his wife (Vidya Balan) brought in relief
from the tension of court room drama, it got a bit too stretched with a song
sequence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxERkZdNILGz3ur64ubc7221M6URzcs966CY5yxouiF6DjCHKJvx3ukqRz7Dva1_XmrCjcixr54G4I87-rHQjjbPoSOaoqv1btwJTWNSumdepNP12Fwug2Wxc4_bVX3TXcoQZQ6ueRw/s1600/2L6A5316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxERkZdNILGz3ur64ubc7221M6URzcs966CY5yxouiF6DjCHKJvx3ukqRz7Dva1_XmrCjcixr54G4I87-rHQjjbPoSOaoqv1btwJTWNSumdepNP12Fwug2Wxc4_bVX3TXcoQZQ6ueRw/s640/2L6A5316.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Shraddha Srinath tackles a wide gamut of emotions as Meera Krishnan. She is
Meera in every frame exposing the vulnerability and helplessness of a woman
wronged. Srinath is terrific and her scenes are intense leaving you misty eyed.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAYYuq-S05bS64Ppa8oSKQz68iYhtJRSj25D7KQDjbi4A3i23utBjhJvWWcxTIpd4sjZuabvRw4SILzsq0yY04CP9_ssjHnXoYw-Tse_oH2DEUk_wLt4MGYFaB-F2zduqKDA7F6KExA/s1600/Shraddha+Srinath+in+NKP+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAYYuq-S05bS64Ppa8oSKQz68iYhtJRSj25D7KQDjbi4A3i23utBjhJvWWcxTIpd4sjZuabvRw4SILzsq0yY04CP9_ssjHnXoYw-Tse_oH2DEUk_wLt4MGYFaB-F2zduqKDA7F6KExA/s640/Shraddha+Srinath+in+NKP+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Abhirami Venkatachalam is Famitha, the mature one in
the group. She carries a look of concern and anxiety all the time. Venkatachalam
stuns you in the court-room, when her Famitha eventually caves in to the verbal
torment of the opposing lawyer. That was another unforgettable scene. Andrea
reprising her role from ‘Pink’ is wonderful. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRiZYvS6PeJdNTpPZ98QKTG7lblkJ-KgAtNtGJMd2BXinSxKJnB3rp5GYYyn2BlL80_6DRy_bkiNHmC2CxcAZIHTQ5YuBagZsPIA2FhHlmKB8JZxa8jc3BrVC0Y4MqY8K8eCnkYZ_YQ/s1600/Abhirami+Venkatachalam+in+Nerkonda+Paarvai.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRiZYvS6PeJdNTpPZ98QKTG7lblkJ-KgAtNtGJMd2BXinSxKJnB3rp5GYYyn2BlL80_6DRy_bkiNHmC2CxcAZIHTQ5YuBagZsPIA2FhHlmKB8JZxa8jc3BrVC0Y4MqY8K8eCnkYZ_YQ/s400/Abhirami+Venkatachalam+in+Nerkonda+Paarvai.JPG" width="266" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PCiVqmDewkEuq4HicMbx1VT_MR7axc-jOXXuD_8uKWKAGdr0hZxRP2CjChymm3GzPzGc2YmM-mbfUXoUkOWUDbPJz0fwDry4QSCDSg0q6I2O-YNml3sW6tX-vfpYPbg6-zDVnleSyw/s1600/Andrea+Tarian+in+Nerkonda+Paarvai.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PCiVqmDewkEuq4HicMbx1VT_MR7axc-jOXXuD_8uKWKAGdr0hZxRP2CjChymm3GzPzGc2YmM-mbfUXoUkOWUDbPJz0fwDry4QSCDSg0q6I2O-YNml3sW6tX-vfpYPbg6-zDVnleSyw/s400/Andrea+Tarian+in+Nerkonda+Paarvai.JPG" width="266" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Surprising everyone on debut is Rangaraj Pandey. He plays Satyamoorthy, the
opposing lawyer with a smug look on his face and a cocky grin surfacing now and
then. Arjun Chidambaram effectively brought out male chauvinism as Adhik
Ravichandran, the man who refused to understand Meera Krishnan’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘No.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfHsNHOJ0JdDJfLCe5_N4vPKUQ3tZOfWBKmHXIOUj7t6Pp6e5OijdNWBwK_LLbsArFkYbJLXJgFSzqmRYAVvNheIZds1u0GTuWsBiLlvxiuDX7Ywdk-2gmBH4vPfxda55ZOSQvYOFSA/s1600/2L6A5895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfHsNHOJ0JdDJfLCe5_N4vPKUQ3tZOfWBKmHXIOUj7t6Pp6e5OijdNWBwK_LLbsArFkYbJLXJgFSzqmRYAVvNheIZds1u0GTuWsBiLlvxiuDX7Ywdk-2gmBH4vPfxda55ZOSQvYOFSA/s640/2L6A5895.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Nerkonda Paarvai’ is also about friends bonding
together, about right winning over wrong and about empathy for our loved ones. <br />
Even if you have watched ‘Pink’ this remake is still worth a watch.</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-58174359880151804522019-07-01T11:41:00.001-07:002019-07-01T11:41:59.757-07:00Thamaasha’ celebrates imperfections and that is no laughing matter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">There is no stopping Vinay Fort in this entertainer twhich opens the career of Ashraf Hamza and has its heart in the right place</span></i></b></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By
Mythily Ramachandran</span></b></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWxeebsrRzNzUFo-hnoiiVuFLgg1wKBUyKnneFTarLUB5z4bUYnlEbZNhbrLJyVB6mj3L_FEDhIIkEd8LmTIud9aYZcvOCivbx24BPMmdjbIohzUivquFMvX8zHB_Euk4dO8cOInQYA/s1600/Vinay+Fort+in+Thamaasha++%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWxeebsrRzNzUFo-hnoiiVuFLgg1wKBUyKnneFTarLUB5z4bUYnlEbZNhbrLJyVB6mj3L_FEDhIIkEd8LmTIud9aYZcvOCivbx24BPMmdjbIohzUivquFMvX8zHB_Euk4dO8cOInQYA/s640/Vinay+Fort+in+Thamaasha++%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rema</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">kes come with the burden of living
upto the original. Comparisons are inevitable between the two and many a time,
remakes fall short of expectations. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Malayalam film ‘Thamaasha’ wins hearts with its adaptation of Kannada film,
‘Ondu Motteya Kathe’ that was directed by Raj B Shetty. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Written and directed by debutant Ashraf Hamza, ‘Thamaasha’ surpasses the
original with its seamless narration and lifted high by terrific acting. As
curtains come down, jokes apart, ‘Thamaasha’ works its magic on the audience.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLIAN0AunZQ3EvQ4rG-YJx1tT8QYP6U-ndpUrG2i4G5Wbootg11Xo_PSu62yg-W9xlhJAOJFW3bX4dAjF_KBdHjxIndyU71inLk1Pneiyc44-mu9awazn1cfWILpu5pz0W1PubbTloQ/s1600/Vinay+Fort+in+Thamaasha.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLIAN0AunZQ3EvQ4rG-YJx1tT8QYP6U-ndpUrG2i4G5Wbootg11Xo_PSu62yg-W9xlhJAOJFW3bX4dAjF_KBdHjxIndyU71inLk1Pneiyc44-mu9awazn1cfWILpu5pz0W1PubbTloQ/s640/Vinay+Fort+in+Thamaasha.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">‘Thamaasha’ follows Srinivasan (Vinay Fort)- a
Malayalam language professor- who at 31 years is still looking out for a bride
but is rejected on account of his baldness.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Quite frustrated with his family’s concern, he decides not to go the
traditional way of matrimony alliances anymore. Instead he wants to try his
luck by bonding with three women he meets -</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">his colleague Babita (Divya Prabha); Safiya (Grace Antony) who comes
into his life through a chance encounter and Chinnu, (Chinnu Chandini), a young
woman very much comfortable in her Plus size.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjJgDV4cfqTnym80zVhh6RnbS5q83pbVU8XQyLeiMaDceGywDcchg3TYEp7jtcWBDC9bMB_UdB1ktMpWTr3XzkgL0_14Nz0fKxt974Kj26O7EE1qi8S59oSsCNx5aXmKf4w5jB3s_QQ/s1600/Grace+Antony.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjJgDV4cfqTnym80zVhh6RnbS5q83pbVU8XQyLeiMaDceGywDcchg3TYEp7jtcWBDC9bMB_UdB1ktMpWTr3XzkgL0_14Nz0fKxt974Kj26O7EE1qi8S59oSsCNx5aXmKf4w5jB3s_QQ/s640/Grace+Antony.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Grace Antony as Safiya </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Ashraf Hamza’s writing is too good. Creating every
character with utmost care he makes them distinct and real. What I loved is his
sketch of the three women-Babita, Safiya and Chinnu and giving enough space to each.
They may have their human failings yet bring in an air of positivity to their
scenes. Of course Chinnu who demonstrates her ability to take in her stride the
body shaming ridicule she encounters makes viewers reflect on the lens through
which society views and accepts us. It is Chinnu who nudges Sreenivasan to
rethink. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySaDEyqTxvJ0vsYNe5wpxJM4Wii8IcQT5kURXcUv14vSLitbZ-w_Rx9-fQjs3g6noq33Hf2JCBE-PD9sS2rncMhkk88XZ6UuDizpaEvwJjfcOmjmPhmKOshyphenhyphenNZ2qZM1OdTrMe0OyFsQ/s1600/Divya+Prabha+as+Babita+teacher+in+Thamaasha.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySaDEyqTxvJ0vsYNe5wpxJM4Wii8IcQT5kURXcUv14vSLitbZ-w_Rx9-fQjs3g6noq33Hf2JCBE-PD9sS2rncMhkk88XZ6UuDizpaEvwJjfcOmjmPhmKOshyphenhyphenNZ2qZM1OdTrMe0OyFsQ/s640/Divya+Prabha+as+Babita+teacher+in+Thamaasha.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Divyaprabha's Babita teacher is a picture of poise</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Hamza’s narration is seamless unlike in ‘Ondu Motteya Kathe’ where the
narration staggered with Rajkumar’s songs that were played in to reflect the
protagonist Janardhan’s state of mind. Hindering the flow further were
dialogues that denoted Janardhan’s loud thinking. It was a wise decision to do
away with these two aspects in ‘Thamaasha.’</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9ZY4UQHkkvU3ZeiZ1u6zFQSD69sYsq0gvLxMZPJrZyY0aNL3GMcA2JLyhIa5DBG5RqKlj8yNITQDcFsRAF08iAhwDbPmtZHtduJapzOGNTIJRSQvy8wnyrru6QX4DrBYV-wPCotCLA/s1600/Vinay+Fort+with+Chinnu+Chandini+in+Thamaasha.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9ZY4UQHkkvU3ZeiZ1u6zFQSD69sYsq0gvLxMZPJrZyY0aNL3GMcA2JLyhIa5DBG5RqKlj8yNITQDcFsRAF08iAhwDbPmtZHtduJapzOGNTIJRSQvy8wnyrru6QX4DrBYV-wPCotCLA/s640/Vinay+Fort+with+Chinnu+Chandini+in+Thamaasha.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Vinay Fort with Chinnu Chandini </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">In ‘Ondu Motteya Kathe’ the characters appeared more
cinematic but in ‘Thamaasha,’ every actor brought alive his character with an
unmatched spontaneity. Vinay Fort clearly carries the film on his shoulders. As
Sreenivasan, he is completely believable and his body language, bring out
Sreenivasan’s insecurities perfectly. Raj B Shetty’s Janardhan was timid and
unsure of himself unlike Sreenivasan, who is more spirited. Playing the perfect
tango opposite Fort is Chinnu Chandini, while Divya Prabha and Grace Antony
match steps very well. </span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"><br /></span></div>
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">‘Thamaasha’s other strength is the friendship
between Sreenivasan and Rahim (Navas Vallikkunnu)-a sub-staff at his college.
There is more depth to this friendship than in the Kannada story. Hamza has
given Rahim more space and Vallikkunnu is spot on every time.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Anil Kurian who plays Sreenivasan’s younger brother cannot be forgotten either.
While remaining in the background, his role is one to reckon with.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Thamaasha’ with its clean humour keeps you
chuckling and will make you ponder too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
</div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-1382006699862383892019-07-01T10:46:00.000-07:002019-07-01T10:46:06.930-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘Unda’ brings back the
Mammootty we adore<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Mythily
Ramachandran<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSml2-7MMuLDjrnKKv35kc3Uq2TDe1AuZryXipx_jPCFyjaXFGCEae-8V4_XltGlNOQ88XGNtx2zO-Wou4WH4aOgAAEuZLTq5X7FNxJMIbxTI97U4_MdWKlrc7uhdrppNhYDZO0Ytamg/s1600/Mammooty+as+SI+Manikandan+in+Unda+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSml2-7MMuLDjrnKKv35kc3Uq2TDe1AuZryXipx_jPCFyjaXFGCEae-8V4_XltGlNOQ88XGNtx2zO-Wou4WH4aOgAAEuZLTq5X7FNxJMIbxTI97U4_MdWKlrc7uhdrppNhYDZO0Ytamg/s640/Mammooty+as+SI+Manikandan+in+Unda+%25281%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is the fate of a contingent of Kerala policemen who have been
deployed to Chattisgarh (Madhya Pradesh)-a Maoist dominated area- to assist the
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) during election time? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Director Khalid Rahman who won hearts on debut with ‘Anuraga Karikkin Vellam’
returns with his sophomore film, ‘Unda,’ (Bullet). Loaded with good humour
‘Unda’ fires a couple of shots at the Indian political system and its police department
while entertaining with its slice of life moments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mammootty has played several policeman roles, but his Sub-Inspector
Manikandan in ‘Unda’ is an antithesis to all the earlier characters. Mani, the
leader of the unit is more real. Neither is he burdened with a larger than life
image. Don’t miss Mammootty’s introduction scene-there is no loud music though! <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfArsObAf4p8R3whOOEH4fHm8p7pci8Oy0qSlHDwgSeIB7166r-yewu6c9bqIQkJSvab01sbt9aFf_kyrxDMJpzj6zwZxYmO5mhrxwotdx4NkktpZyqXYP_4MHDFkk0CoburpWSemnMA/s1600/Mammooty+as+SI+Manikandan+in+Unda+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="970" data-original-width="1600" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfArsObAf4p8R3whOOEH4fHm8p7pci8Oy0qSlHDwgSeIB7166r-yewu6c9bqIQkJSvab01sbt9aFf_kyrxDMJpzj6zwZxYmO5mhrxwotdx4NkktpZyqXYP_4MHDFkk0CoburpWSemnMA/s640/Mammooty+as+SI+Manikandan+in+Unda+%25284%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">If Mani and his group of policemen had set out on this assignment with
pride and the feel of a picnic outing, they confront a different </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">ground reality at Chattisgarh. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">They soon realize how ill-equipped they
were-bullets that can be counted and poor safety gear-to tackle a Maoist
ambush. From their polling booth located in the wilderness with underground
mines hidden, ensuring a fair election was no easy task. Despite being in the
police force, many of them had never handled a rifle or even fired one. Mani
who gives instructions to his subordinates on how to shoot, confesses that he
has never tracked a thief or caught a murderer.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvElPNHmwFIo5uT2KTFgUSLqze-LV8NLrj_wXrV1xX1sEy91nRvluZQmTeaD5AII9xNlg-nXMeIpIYwy1Ly616OU9T48z_4FlAT0oaVDq3r3KTZ4471SoxUijkGd6P5SNpDYidmiotg/s1600/Bhagvan+Tiwari+with+Mammooty+from+Unda+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="943" data-original-width="1600" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvElPNHmwFIo5uT2KTFgUSLqze-LV8NLrj_wXrV1xX1sEy91nRvluZQmTeaD5AII9xNlg-nXMeIpIYwy1Ly616OU9T48z_4FlAT0oaVDq3r3KTZ4471SoxUijkGd6P5SNpDYidmiotg/s640/Bhagvan+Tiwari+with+Mammooty+from+Unda+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mani sends word to his office in Kerala for reinforcement of bullets. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will the ‘unda’ arrive in time before the
elections? That is the big question. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are no romantic moments in ‘Unda,’ yet many moments touch you while
it explores personal stories through some characters. Jojo (Shine Tom Chacko)
is a domineering team leader, whose wife has filed for a divorce; Girish (Arjun
Ashokan) is missing his wedding preparations being planned back home; Biju
(Lukman) a first generation policeman from a tribal background is the butt of
jokes. We also learn a bit about Mani’s family-his wife played by Tamil actress,
Easwari Rao in a cameo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EpVJfnb0xaeJgy2tA7cFJ1mR1li61dbr1DP6n5nvrevLcdcPENY_r8H-XGzMl4EVfynTB6hpWu_WPLsg1tDm-Qm5NFBLd_zj_Q5QeguyhQaHsC8Ee4Vr-t9lOhZ0y6Pwwdx4k59sLQ/s1600/Mammootty+with+Omkar+Das+Manipuri+in+Unda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1600" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EpVJfnb0xaeJgy2tA7cFJ1mR1li61dbr1DP6n5nvrevLcdcPENY_r8H-XGzMl4EVfynTB6hpWu_WPLsg1tDm-Qm5NFBLd_zj_Q5QeguyhQaHsC8Ee4Vr-t9lOhZ0y6Pwwdx4k59sLQ/s640/Mammootty+with+Omkar+Das+Manipuri+in+Unda.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">‘Unda’ brings back the Mammootty we have always admired. It’s sheer
delight watching the veteran in full form. Mani’s concern for his juniors; his
sympathy for the villager Kunalchand, (Omkar Das Manipuri of ‘Peepli Live); his
apology to his subordinates for not rising to the occasion during the Maoist
attack one night, make Mani endearing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Another pleasure was watching director Ranjith in a brief role. With his
spontaneous performance he leaves a mark. ‘Unda’ is complemented by a talented
cast-Shine Tom Chacko, Lukman, </span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Bhagwan Tiwari-as
Kapil Dev-an ITBP and Chien Ho Liao, the ITBP officer. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Prashanth Pillai’s lilting music blends well with the raw environment of
Madhya Pradesh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During the salvo of shots that Mani and team fire to safeguard their
booth, ‘Unda’ raises the question- ‘Who is the real enemy to a fair election? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-43418038003162745672019-06-19T09:26:00.000-07:002019-06-19T09:29:39.058-07:00‘Game Over’ –a psychological thriller that continues to play in the minds long after curtains fall<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By
Mythily Ramachandran</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Game Over’- an out of the box story- directed by
Ashwin Saravanan and co-written by Dr. Kaavya Ramkumar has been wonderfully
executed and filled with strong performances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFmKGpt59cNlySNiutqYW1zu2GVPLF5i-lBU6ZWAbBW9Gf3on3qVscHN2L5i88jrfD50jXO0OSlU2Mtv3S3ixHwRX2Q7JfhZpylif0UsrOQpJiNHlBvVfY6EfQb1MJJcfjr-XlKJ7kg/s1600/_U1A4967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFmKGpt59cNlySNiutqYW1zu2GVPLF5i-lBU6ZWAbBW9Gf3on3qVscHN2L5i88jrfD50jXO0OSlU2Mtv3S3ixHwRX2Q7JfhZpylif0UsrOQpJiNHlBvVfY6EfQb1MJJcfjr-XlKJ7kg/s640/_U1A4967.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Leading the cast in this Tamil-Telugu home invasion
thriller-also dubbed in Hindi- is Bollywood’s Taapsee Pannu. Playing fair with
viewers, this psychological drama unfolds smartly its twisty narrative</span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">.</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><b style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJui2mI7nFNCkMGgB4igyjc1fmFU9cTe49yc0-bBez4Yd7IwOEfALjKU9ZMSpBgIbICrzqyCI6izovMvzBJiLczNkX89HLfgZ4XvxpXGRK10N12O7AXCQoDHXuhtbhC24slmftEnAEoQ/s1600/Director+Ashwin+Saravanan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="1050" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJui2mI7nFNCkMGgB4igyjc1fmFU9cTe49yc0-bBez4Yd7IwOEfALjKU9ZMSpBgIbICrzqyCI6izovMvzBJiLczNkX89HLfgZ4XvxpXGRK10N12O7AXCQoDHXuhtbhC24slmftEnAEoQ/s640/Director+Ashwin+Saravanan.JPG" width="425" /></a></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>Director Ashwin Saravanan who impressed on debut with 'Maya' a horror story</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheaB779bJYq9RjJ4vhtJ3s2mVFoPYVkK7pgCTJS1yKpTpjpRGRfq_u955OfqLNUohkrA5WaOdmneWMdCoyytxRP7YsQUO9LqUxFHjbzRaYV6P7EN-jGa1v7LBPAKXfhqd2vTj4A13WQ/s1600/Dr.+Kaavya+Ramkumar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="1050" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheaB779bJYq9RjJ4vhtJ3s2mVFoPYVkK7pgCTJS1yKpTpjpRGRfq_u955OfqLNUohkrA5WaOdmneWMdCoyytxRP7YsQUO9LqUxFHjbzRaYV6P7EN-jGa1v7LBPAKXfhqd2vTj4A13WQ/s640/Dr.+Kaavya+Ramkumar.JPG" width="426" /></a>
</span></div>
<br />
Dr, Kaavya Ramkumar marks her debut as screenwriter with this film<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Swapna (Taapsee Pannu) a game designer and a game addict as well is living
alone with her maid, Kalama (Vinodini) on the outskirts of the city of Chennai
in a bungalow.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">She is now going through
the ‘anniversary reaction’ of a traumatic past. She is unable to control her
body’s reactions to the hangover of the trauma. Fearful of the dark, Swapna is
much depressed and even attempts suicide, but survives with fractured legs. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
How will this wheel chair bound young woman survive when her house is broken
into one night? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3rTIywSKLxxJjUWeQTcWEXFDZcbvEY1rbiwI_T21el6-zLM6nb8GmcJlOWOT3XVQfoJyXI6IGKp0P_sk-7c-EUkWFk2OgD90SaOcLM8IS31TRGYaKnIrnmv6H8tVS2PeXH3JJM5kvg/s1600/IMG_0024+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3rTIywSKLxxJjUWeQTcWEXFDZcbvEY1rbiwI_T21el6-zLM6nb8GmcJlOWOT3XVQfoJyXI6IGKp0P_sk-7c-EUkWFk2OgD90SaOcLM8IS31TRGYaKnIrnmv6H8tVS2PeXH3JJM5kvg/s640/IMG_0024+%25281%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the first half, director Saravanan builds the
story gradually introducing viewers to Swapna, her addiction to Pac-Man and her
present state of mind. <br />
What happened to her on last New Year’s evening is conveyed through few visuals
only. Saravanan does not waste time showing details of the incident but leaves
it to viewers to speculate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Swapna’s relationship with her maid is unique. The
relationship between the two women is not of one of maid and mistress but more
of two room- mates. Several beautiful moments capture this bond. Kalama seems to be more a family. She
closely keeps an eye not only on Swapna’s food intake and sleep, but on her
mood swings too. And, even accompanies Swapna for her sessions with her
shrink. This Man Friday or should I call
her Woman Friday-is always there to reassure Swapna that life is better than
she believes. It is through her conversations with Swapna we learn about
Swapna’s estranged relationship with her
parents. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Saravanan and Kaavya Ramkumar have sketched the
other characters with great care and they are mostly women. Woven into Swapna’s
life is a poignant story of a mother (Maala Parvathy) and her dead daughter-a
cancer survivor (Sanjana Natarajan) who met her end in the hands of a psycho
killer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Taapsee carries the film on her shoulders. She gets
into the head of traumatized victim and portrays her pain and vulnerability
with finesse. One scene stayed with me. Swapna is inside a coffee shop and is
waiting at her table for her order to be served. She notices two young men at
the adjacent table observing her and discussing something. Getting up and
glancing at their mobile phone, she realizes that her traumatic past is
onscreen. Pannu was brilliant in that scene as Swapna grapples with several
emotions at that moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVQpb0brM9Chyphenhyphen7Rc4HTyUY8YIpcqQY64xpFYI7AK8eUESbDA0Zu380KKck4stqyZq-NMKm9Mu7pLMmB99B0ORySzGDhI4ZlcdIV3FyIbOiqY3E0uZxcW7p2FmDA7DZ_k9o9cAK07y8Q/s1600/Game+Over+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVQpb0brM9Chyphenhyphen7Rc4HTyUY8YIpcqQY64xpFYI7AK8eUESbDA0Zu380KKck4stqyZq-NMKm9Mu7pLMmB99B0ORySzGDhI4ZlcdIV3FyIbOiqY3E0uZxcW7p2FmDA7DZ_k9o9cAK07y8Q/s640/Game+Over+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Vinodhini matches Pannu at every step. Subtle and effective, she is the maid we
wished we had. Maala Parvathy makes tears well up in the scene where as the bereaved
mother she recounts her daughter’s tale. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Game Over’ wins with its brilliant edge of the seat
climax that is packed with agonizing moments. Complementing the narrative is
Ron Ethan Yohann’s electronic score-neither loud or jarring; cinematographer A.
Vasanth’s camera with its ‘peeping Tom’ visuals draws a queasy feeling in the
stomach; art director Shiva’s splendid
designing Swapna’s room, reflects perfectly a game addict’s life. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
The killers are masked. There is no back-story about a misogynist with an
unhappy past either. And, there is a thread of positivity that continues to the
end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Game Over’ actually continues to play in the minds
of the viewer long after curtains fall. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-50630466962325939872019-04-27T23:57:00.002-07:002019-04-27T23:57:49.564-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Athiran:
A psychological thriller that is visually stunning<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By
Mythily Ramachandran</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmHZJ97fT9Uc2QWcIOORcvKyY-zQ819g5UXmHPbYjO8CeAKNalQE7npVFaZC5wy-yLtFTXYEnJI-qBzeZjPDBNdRzAlgcHZiDuXjE1xfFd_in5O5r0C8BVntKL7hD6OTfKUz1aCh4Yw/s1600/DSC_9863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmHZJ97fT9Uc2QWcIOORcvKyY-zQ819g5UXmHPbYjO8CeAKNalQE7npVFaZC5wy-yLtFTXYEnJI-qBzeZjPDBNdRzAlgcHZiDuXjE1xfFd_in5O5r0C8BVntKL7hD6OTfKUz1aCh4Yw/s640/DSC_9863.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is a shocking sight for Lakshmi (Shanthi Krishna)
when she walks into her house to find her family members dead-her three
brothers and her sister-in-law lie dead under unnatural circumstances. Strangely,
unaffected by everything, her autistic niece Nitya is sitting in a corner
playing with a strand of string.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Switching between the past and the present debutant director
Vivek narrates a psychological thriller. Athiran’s strength lies in the staging
of the story with idyllic visuals captured brilliantly by cinematographer Anu
Moothedath. Right from the opening scene, there is drama and a novelty in every
frame. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOoIcxECxPdM6YEaQy9-dKPLwqag4959p-tuAKh88mOqxqh_ECjfqTSFr1jbfk1XVL3uhsgeqWI1aAV22HTgp4Zu3SoiQN5pCgD_1zgXqNdB6aP4e6eZL2g5N-dswWiUpbsNo_feBgg/s1600/Fahad+Faasil+and+Sai+Pallavi+in+Athiran.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOoIcxECxPdM6YEaQy9-dKPLwqag4959p-tuAKh88mOqxqh_ECjfqTSFr1jbfk1XVL3uhsgeqWI1aAV22HTgp4Zu3SoiQN5pCgD_1zgXqNdB6aP4e6eZL2g5N-dswWiUpbsNo_feBgg/s640/Fahad+Faasil+and+Sai+Pallavi+in+Athiran.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Pillion riding on the lens of cinematographer Anu Moothedath,
viewers follow Dr. M.K. Nair (Fahad Faasil)- a psychiatrist from Trivandrum
Medical College on his journey. Nair arrives at a picturesque mansion
reminiscent of the Victorian age-standing isolated and an enigma in the midst
of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a verdant region. This is a home for
the mentally afflicted and managed by Dr. Benjamin Diaz (Atul Kulkarni).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZCgNWZ0DqMmjdRUYTjQ0xwpSISNFFu38geeecKO77fOPrOcQFRBC_AtbzlUpG6vXEsXwN_a8W5s3Dd7pBD7DOVGfhzXH9_1gf1ktxbYDcYid6g5doaff_LX9TSJ4VAIarW6QIhoAxg/s1600/DSC_9584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZCgNWZ0DqMmjdRUYTjQ0xwpSISNFFu38geeecKO77fOPrOcQFRBC_AtbzlUpG6vXEsXwN_a8W5s3Dd7pBD7DOVGfhzXH9_1gf1ktxbYDcYid6g5doaff_LX9TSJ4VAIarW6QIhoAxg/s640/DSC_9584.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dr. Nair, has been deputed to probe into Dr.
Benjamin’s treatment of his patients. Despite the implicit beauty of the
surroundings and the classically decorated interiors there is a queer air about
this hospital that caters to the very rich who have abandoned here, a family
member for losing his/her sanity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Dr. Nair’s investigation reveals that besides the
five patients listed in the register, there is a young autistic woman, Nitya
(Sai Pallavi) bound in chains and confined in a dark room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It now becomes his mission to free Nitya. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwr_2MRXhf1RdrDaSvykUrgyUmLfN4tnEdsWHdM0hPmyj1x8ftK6J9-JXt2E24TGpyIrZO7QuECyVMTcyIo5uAAGJESIG1GhyqrZ5cqRMxBNV9s79-JF9WeFnP0fqEu7cTf_8SoT2yA/s1600/DSC_6129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmwr_2MRXhf1RdrDaSvykUrgyUmLfN4tnEdsWHdM0hPmyj1x8ftK6J9-JXt2E24TGpyIrZO7QuECyVMTcyIo5uAAGJESIG1GhyqrZ5cqRMxBNV9s79-JF9WeFnP0fqEu7cTf_8SoT2yA/s640/DSC_6129.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The cast includes a host of talent-Leona Lishoy
playing a patient who walks around in a nun’s habit and speaks verses from the
Bible-Kerala state awardees Sudev Nair- as a young man in love with Nitya- and
Surabhi Lakshmi -as a patient who is concerned over Nitya. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
The story belongs to Fahad Faasil and Sai Pallavi. This is a role Faasil can
sleep walk into. Sai Pallavi’s Nitya is a complete contrast to her debut role
of Malar from ‘Premam.’ With hardly any dialogues, Pallavi brings to the fore
an autistic woman’s plight. And, she does it without going overboard. Renji
Panicker as Nitya’s father brings poignant moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Vivek who earlier worked as creative producer with MTV India and Walt Disney has
not assisted any director nor attended any film school. He shows promise on his
debut. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Playing the perfect tango to his vision is
cinematographer Anu Moothedath’s frames. Sometimes bewitching viewers with
Nature’s moments-a line of ants crawl carrying leaves-Moothedath takes you
indoors into Dr. Benjamin’s mansion with its elegant interiors-a bull head
staring from the wall while a black cat with glowing eyes silently watches Dr.
Nair being ushered in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great attention
has gone into detailing every scene. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ghibran’s music adds to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the sense of foreboding in the story-soft and
ominous especially in the night sequences. Some loose ends mar ‘Athiran’ from
becoming a much better film. It’s the reveal in the climax that holds up
‘Athiran,’ as an interesting thriller. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-60213078642691217462019-03-23T00:35:00.000-07:002019-03-23T00:35:22.646-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">‘To-Let’- a captivating tale of a family’s
search for a rented house </span></span></b></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Mythily Ramachandran</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqMiYqibTl4k5pkmSjXuZOszOUILL6_1pBLJmTgBQF1s33Ca3jNGD4ORxVydT7fqGqBM7w_sEJpyBHNhwtwwJwMPsx1cB9JNQlZD03lSgeC3Wz8lxRCqoDE7193GXcYkvukAIAC2KkA/s1600/Poster+of+%2527To-Let%2527+speaks+louder+than+words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="724" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqMiYqibTl4k5pkmSjXuZOszOUILL6_1pBLJmTgBQF1s33Ca3jNGD4ORxVydT7fqGqBM7w_sEJpyBHNhwtwwJwMPsx1cB9JNQlZD03lSgeC3Wz8lxRCqoDE7193GXcYkvukAIAC2KkA/s640/Poster+of+%2527To-Let%2527+speaks+louder+than+words.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
national award winner directed by Chezhiyan has been globe- trotting and
winning acclaim</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cinematographer turned director Chezhiyan’s debut film
‘To-Let’ is a realistic portrayal of the predicament of a family of three who
go house hunting after their landlady issues them a month’s notice to vacate. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYUrdJqE0LdR2_UaWJDI9P0Bfhz4QydP9rsmKJj1SKNEgV52zTPPP6rpi5DJDRkY8GFIv6U_L-Aow-5MJwC4-oYNRJr3qavE97rbszYnWhGeOGbnQhQCbDdXDoV1HxCkP8Sw4OaYJ-A/s1600/Dir+chezhiyan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="300" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYUrdJqE0LdR2_UaWJDI9P0Bfhz4QydP9rsmKJj1SKNEgV52zTPPP6rpi5DJDRkY8GFIv6U_L-Aow-5MJwC4-oYNRJr3qavE97rbszYnWhGeOGbnQhQCbDdXDoV1HxCkP8Sw4OaYJ-A/s640/Dir+chezhiyan.jpg" width="542" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Winner of 32 awards including India’s national award for ‘Best Tamil Film’ last
year, ‘To-Let’ is marked with evocative moments, eloquent visuals and standout
performances by the lead cast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At the film’s outset, we meet this family of
three-Ilango (Santosh Sreeram), Amudha (Sheela Rajkumar) and Siddharth (child
actor Dharun) who have returned home after an evening at the beach. Amudha quickly
changes into her home gown, tunes in the radio and gets dinner ready. Ilango also
changes into his <i>lungi</i> and clears the
clogged Indian styled toilet. Siddharth fondly called Siddhu baits his father
into a game-he mimics a lion out to devour a rat-his father. That picture of
contentment inside this dimly lit ordinary house with walls marked by the
child’s crayon art is a beautiful portrait not easily forgotten. Life looks good
until Amudha is summoned upstairs by the landlady. When she returns home
seething with anger, it finds its outlet on Ilango-whom she had asked to keep a
watch on her cooking-Ilango has left the dosa to burn on the stove. We soon
learn that the landlady- a rude woman who treats Amudha shabbily- has asked them
to vacate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleVIPswHlnt77d7LNi3qRP95MkeUxLkQPd8nNvBceL1oaAu6A3kKBN_Mun2BXWFPFAA4iTgpd8cFRuB44QIBUvEo-sWZ10v_OU3BLZt45XLtbIhjk_yGj8iGz7XfuNON7M1ADQOjyYQ/s1600/Sheela+Rajkumar%252C+Santhosh+Sreeram+and+child+actor+Dharun+in+To-let.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleVIPswHlnt77d7LNi3qRP95MkeUxLkQPd8nNvBceL1oaAu6A3kKBN_Mun2BXWFPFAA4iTgpd8cFRuB44QIBUvEo-sWZ10v_OU3BLZt45XLtbIhjk_yGj8iGz7XfuNON7M1ADQOjyYQ/s640/Sheela+Rajkumar%252C+Santhosh+Sreeram+and+child+actor+Dharun+in+To-let.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ilango, an aspiring director is yet to make his
first film. He works as a writer in an ad company. It’s tough making ends meet.
Amudha who cautiously manages household accounts suggests they go house hunting
on their own instead of relying on a broker. They can cut down the broker’s fees. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Every morning the family sets out on Ilango’s rickety scooter -that frequently has
a starting trouble. Thus begins an ordeal of meeting house owners-some questioning
them on their religion, some preferring ‘only vegetarians’ and if everything
else is good, the quoted rent –with the IT boom in Chennai-exceeds their
budget. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Tiny details and poignant moments enhance Chezhiyan’s narrative and through his
telling frames shot often in natural light, he has you invested in the lives of
Ilango and Amudha. You feel their pain when the landlady without prior notice brings
in prospective tenants disregarding their privacy; you feel sorry for Amudha when
she describes her dream home; you are relieved when they finally find a suitable
house; and you laugh with them when Dhruv asks his parents to join in his game
of ‘house hunting,’ where he plays landlord. Like a fly on the wall, you can’t
help but eves-drop on their life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chezhiyan proved that a story can be told sincerely
without the trappings of cinematic frills and the tropes of commercial cinema.
Lead actors Santosh Sreeram and Sheela Rajkumar share a lovely chemistry as
Ilango and Amudha-bonding over intimate moments with an Ilayaraja song in the
background and holding differences just like any married couple. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sreeram, an accidental actor assisted Chezhiyan for
ten years as cameraman. And, on his acting debut he reveals immense potential. Sheela a stage actor slips into Amudha’s shoes
with great ease. Child actor Dharun is a natural-his Siddhu is adorable. Moments
touching your heart include a scene where Siddhu is trying to erase his
drawings on the wall-his mother is angry and has asked him to clean it up
before they vacate. And, when the child picks up his drawing sheet crumpled and
thrown by the landlady, it leaves a knot in the throat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">‘To-Let’
is a film that speaks from the heart. </span></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-27334054670347750412019-03-23T00:25:00.000-07:002019-03-23T00:25:37.026-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">‘Sarvam
Thaalam Mayam’ a beautiful musical drama<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Mythily Ramachandran</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9d8F_Tzx1xEPtQjqFZzKEplRQdQazAdSQslKfEWQ1mfZQCzUHZ3uI1-_L-iaRK8iImnAwtQW-r9TU76zoMnSJIOEnNTv2I9JJsRDYl78RhMihPw1h01bvP5mdUd4p88dS5D_4A4Jd9g/s1600/STM+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9d8F_Tzx1xEPtQjqFZzKEplRQdQazAdSQslKfEWQ1mfZQCzUHZ3uI1-_L-iaRK8iImnAwtQW-r9TU76zoMnSJIOEnNTv2I9JJsRDYl78RhMihPw1h01bvP5mdUd4p88dS5D_4A4Jd9g/s640/STM+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Is music the privilege of a select few?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rajiv Menon’s musical drama ‘Sarva Thaalam Mayam’
while raising this valid question takes viewers through the life of Peter
Johnson-son of a Dalit mridangam maker-who aspires to learn music from none
other but the renowned percussionist Palakkad Vembu Iyer.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Inspired by the life of Carnatic mridangam vidwan Umayalpuram K Shivaraman, STM
is beautifully narrated and complemented by spectacular performances, especially
by the two lead actors-music director cum actor-GV Prakash and the Malayalam
veteran Nedumudi Venu. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Peter (GV Prakash) is a crazy fan of Tamil actor
Vijay. This easy going young man prefers skipping his examination so that he
can play the drums during the release of a new Vijay film. His father Johnson
(Kumaravel) is probably the last in the family to continue with the profession of
making a mridangam. Peter is certainly not keen on following the mridangam, but
is fascinated by its beats. When he delivers a mridangam to Vembu Iyer
(Nedumudi Venu) for a concert, he happens to watch the live show from close
quarters and from then on, his<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>heart
beats for the mridangam. He is adamant about learning mridangam under Vembu
Iyer. Will Vembu Iyer accept a Dalit as his student? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzaaorjN-xToYXicN-QeOdX_od6vJA0UDsMkeMISKDZEJbfcNBJhHOI1RJ3bi1Pi9zvSyD01YgXZIcAQFLBiTZSoruJxe6dtc8u_0d-efdIdaAN1HPR5pOeckgUFcd92mhOKPoGuEOA/s1600/STM+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzaaorjN-xToYXicN-QeOdX_od6vJA0UDsMkeMISKDZEJbfcNBJhHOI1RJ3bi1Pi9zvSyD01YgXZIcAQFLBiTZSoruJxe6dtc8u_0d-efdIdaAN1HPR5pOeckgUFcd92mhOKPoGuEOA/s640/STM+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Rajiv Menon- known for his earlier two romantic
dramas, ‘Minsara Kanavu’ and ‘Kandukondein Kandukondein’-found the spark for
this story while making ‘Overtone’ –a documentary on the life of mridangam
artiste U.K. Sivaraman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">GV Prakash training in mridangam under Sivaraman for
a year prior to shooting has clearly paid. Prakash just lets himself go
onscreen as he brings out Peter’s passion for beats and his perseverance to
learn mridangam. It’s a delight watching him match every step with the
spontaneous actor Nedumudi Venu. <br />
<br />
A romantic angle is woven into the tale with Malayalam actress Aparna
Balamurali as Sarah, a Malayali nurse who attends to Peter’s injury following a
scuffle. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgkOe3HfI0JBjHD-mbeR4lrHL_xwD52fzU4bJYkoEpYbMLybG8zuLMYwJg5lAvEOHpuEEsvaj0B9OdUJaBA7I6NIxf4vkCp3rLdwh6HHtOEMQmTl5r3kHoay2BbePEBktUh9ZZAFraA/s1600/STM+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgkOe3HfI0JBjHD-mbeR4lrHL_xwD52fzU4bJYkoEpYbMLybG8zuLMYwJg5lAvEOHpuEEsvaj0B9OdUJaBA7I6NIxf4vkCp3rLdwh6HHtOEMQmTl5r3kHoay2BbePEBktUh9ZZAFraA/s640/STM+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<br />
‘Sarva Thaala Mayam’ a feel good entertainer that without making a loud noise
makes a social statement-Music is a universal language that crosses boundaries
of sect, religion, culture and language.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-72619916856330960532019-03-22T23:54:00.000-07:002019-03-22T23:54:35.079-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">'Sigai’ a Tamil whodunit thriller</span></b></span></h2>
<div>
<b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Mythily Ramachandran</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqB15mWO6zNDQFhhqtfq4N5POZ6NM3a4urtjxK8fPTUfypwsA9eGaw3XcmdwCg_kd0QBP7ZziShfpTlRWLuaMCH3bsZaF2e_7lfzMor95yyLhgrmIvBUG9D6eVLwCegUZRkharHWMEA/s1600/Sigai+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcqB15mWO6zNDQFhhqtfq4N5POZ6NM3a4urtjxK8fPTUfypwsA9eGaw3XcmdwCg_kd0QBP7ZziShfpTlRWLuaMCH3bsZaF2e_7lfzMor95yyLhgrmIvBUG9D6eVLwCegUZRkharHWMEA/s640/Sigai+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
first original Tamil feature film on ZEE5 directed by Jagadeesan Subbu has
actor Kathir in a never before seen role</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With theaters unable to meet the increasing number
of films clamouring for space, digital space is opening new doors. Tamil film
‘Sigai’ released online in January 2019. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Sigai’ follows the life of Nimmi, a call-girl,
whose sudden disappearance at a client’s home sends Prasad, her pimp investigating.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Directed by debutant Jagadeesan Subbu, this crime thriller carries within its
narrative, a sensitive tale about inclusion of every human being irrespective
of who they are. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Prasad (Raj Bharath) is not the regular pimp portrayed in cinema. His language
is neither crass nor humiliating of the women, he sends out on work. And his prostitutes
are not garishly dressed. Surprisingly Prasad comes across as a compassionate
human being who feels for his women team. So when Nimmi (Meera Nair) fails to
report at her client’s place the next day, after visiting Prasad’s client the
night before, he decides to enquire about her whereabouts. And, he stumbles
upon a murder. Revealing beyond will be a spoiler. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWaIQZuWfjiu2sl8ohXPEARyynW6z__nw-2OTC93LjoeIPKBsLo63-HtbWu9_Si5GL7OPz9twIsegHYY7_pkm1vBAQG1yF3GdzMp52c69G48aIpxPsbDhEFdAmJTK8W97mo2JcYXS8g/s1600/Sigai+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWaIQZuWfjiu2sl8ohXPEARyynW6z__nw-2OTC93LjoeIPKBsLo63-HtbWu9_Si5GL7OPz9twIsegHYY7_pkm1vBAQG1yF3GdzMp52c69G48aIpxPsbDhEFdAmJTK8W97mo2JcYXS8g/s640/Sigai+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Sigai’ takes a while in the first half, introducing
us to its different characters. Post interval, with the entry of the London
returned Mathivanan-the dead man’s friend-the story gets intriguing. Kathir, a good
performer and still basking in the success of his last film-‘Pariyerum Perumal’lends
a poignancy to his life as Mathivanan. It’s a subtle performance there. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Director Subbu is to be hailed for choosing a story that embraces a social
message like this one on his debut. I only wish he had invested some more on telling
Mathivanan’s background story. Navin Kumar camera work is remarkable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-33584310670730808152019-03-22T23:42:00.000-07:002019-03-22T23:42:31.467-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 class=" " data-article-head="" itemprop="headline" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: GlosaHeadline-Black, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.8rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 3rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem; margin-top: 0.75rem;">
'Drama’ unoriginal and shoddy</h1>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>By Mythily Ramachandran</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="lead " style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem;">
<b>Despite a good cast, this movie is disappointing due to bad writing</b></div>
<div class="lead " style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem;">
<img src="https://images.gulfnews.com/201811/181121%20mohanlal%203_resources1.jpg" /></div>
<div class="lead " style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="lead " style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem;">
<span style="color: #111111; font-family: GlosaTextRoman, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The premise of 'Drama' — about respecting a mother’s last wish — is heart warming, but it soon turns its focus on the lead actor, Mohanlal, thus becoming a tragedy of errors.</span></div>
<div class="story-block" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: GlosaTextRoman, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 20px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
The film opens in Dubai, where Jomon is on the phone with his mother, Rosamma (Arundhati Nag), now in London with her youngest daughter, Mercy (Kaniha). She tells him that whenever she dies she would like to be buried next to her husband in Kattapana, Kerala.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="_forkInArticleAdContainer" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; width: 0px;">
<ins style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div id="beacon_fe5c225b19" style="box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; visibility: hidden;">
<img alt="" height="0" src="https://wtf2.forkcdn.com/www/delivery/lg.php?bannerid=0&campaignid=0&zoneid=2360&loc=https%3A%2F%2Fgulfnews.com%2Fentertainment%2Fsouth-indian%2Fdrama-film-review-mohanlal-film-is-unoriginal-and-shoddy-1.60494132&referer=https%3A%2F%2Fgulfnews.com%2Fsearch%3Fquery%3Dmythily%2520ramachandran%26page%3D3&cb=fe5c225b19" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; margin: 30px auto 5px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: 0px;" width="0" /></div>
</ins></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px;">
</div>
<div id="_svforkInArticleAdContainer" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; width: 0px;">
<ins style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div id="beacon_81b50a62ce" style="box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; visibility: hidden;">
<img alt="" height="0" src="https://wtf2.forkcdn.com/www/delivery/lg.php?bannerid=0&campaignid=0&zoneid=2360&loc=https%3A%2F%2Fgulfnews.com%2Fentertainment%2Fsouth-indian%2Fdrama-film-review-mohanlal-film-is-unoriginal-and-shoddy-1.60494132&referer=https%3A%2F%2Fgulfnews.com%2Fsearch%3Fquery%3Dmythily%2520ramachandran%26page%3D3&cb=81b50a62ce" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; margin: 30px auto 5px; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: 0px;" width="0" /></div>
</ins></div>
</div>
<div class="story-block" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: GlosaTextRoman, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 20px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
In London, Rosamma is happy spending time with Mercy and her children. It’s a bright morning when her end comes.</div>
</div>
<div class="story-block" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: GlosaTextRoman, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 20px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
The scene preceding her demise is beautiful. Wearing a fine sari, Rosamma is ready to take on the day. Her son-in-law (Shyamaprasad) compliments her. After waving her grandchildren off to school, she picks a bunch of fresh flowers and goes to her bedroom. She lies down, cross in hand and prayers on her lips. Slumber takes over and a peaceful Rosamma departs still holding the flowers.</div>
</div>
<div class="story-block" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: GlosaTextRoman, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 20px;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
The funeral will take place in London and Rosamma’s four other children, living in different parts of the world, arrive at Mercy’s home. There is nothing new in the characterization of Rosamma’s children — a stingy and bossy elder brother, a greedy son-in-law and a manipulative older sister. Why is the youngest always the under-achiever who ultimately cares for the parents?</div>
<div class="story-block" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Dixon Lopez Funeral Services, an undertaker agency, is entrusted with the funeral arrangements. But Jomon is not happy. Remembering his mother’s last conversation, he wants to take her body home to Kattapana to be laid next to his father’s grave.</div>
</div>
<div class="story-block" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Intended to be a satire around Rosamma’s funeral, the story veers off track with the arrival of Rajagopal (Mohanlal), the other partner of Lopez. The drama now shifts from Rosamma’s family politics to Rajagopal, who is trying to win his wife (Asha Sharath) back and find his way home. There is enough drama, though it’s of little significance. Mohanlal entertains audiences, no doubt, especially the scene where he shares his drink and chocolate bar with Rosamma lying in the coffin box.</div>
</div>
<div class="story-block" style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Drama suffers from patchy writing. Despite a formidable cast — Dileesh Pothen, whose Lopez keeps you chuckling as he tries to make the most of this business opportunity; Asha Sharath as Rajagopal’s wife in a role that does little justice to her potential and Renji Panicker as the local political leader — Drama disappoints. The sexist jokes thrown in are old hash and barely tickle. Neither can the splendid visuals of London save the sagging script.</div>
</div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-40601664180992860622018-12-28T09:26:00.001-08:002018-12-28T09:26:16.423-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ottamuri
Velicham- (Light in the Room)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><b><i>Directed by Rahul Riji Nair, this Kerala state award winning film is centred around marital rape</i></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCzs7L-zLQwY9A1bvVAMfzkyyfDJD79_g263UV7r8DIKIpSk7FdLZhULF0dG3c1YrCxdTAIiiRK8UWM_OA0Ok_30kSx_TkVz7LbP937NBFP4AG2ITgQfi9XdMAotFavEIosf2ieaRwg/s1600/Ottamuri+Velicham+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1600" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCzs7L-zLQwY9A1bvVAMfzkyyfDJD79_g263UV7r8DIKIpSk7FdLZhULF0dG3c1YrCxdTAIiiRK8UWM_OA0Ok_30kSx_TkVz7LbP937NBFP4AG2ITgQfi9XdMAotFavEIosf2ieaRwg/s640/Ottamuri+Velicham+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Light carries a positive connotation, but the light
glowing in Sudha’s bedroom is an intrusion and an intrinsic part of her dark
story in ‘Ottamuri Velicham.’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: white; color: #111111;">Chandran (Deepak Parambol) brings
his new wife Sudha (Vineeta Koshy) to his home, a small dwelling on the
mountains of Bonakkadu (near Trivandrum, Kerala). Separating the bedroom and
the room outside is a flimsy curtain hanging over the doorway and Sudha notices
that the window in her bedroom cannot be closed. She also can’t switch off the
glowing light above, a crude structure made of bottles. </span>When she tells
Chandran about fixing a switch to it, he harshly retorts that she keep her
hands off his lamp. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTebye2I0muyiupuhQqC0tYL4P_mV1pDSh6LtopV4BMLZyko0kxbKIIU3PTsVt9QKh_dhvd2gBHar_wJsqsGQP_QrLUw24VCkpL9zljMS6UU4RxxRkXhlaDA6n587gRRzc4-oWygB__Q/s1600/Ottamuri+Velicham+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTebye2I0muyiupuhQqC0tYL4P_mV1pDSh6LtopV4BMLZyko0kxbKIIU3PTsVt9QKh_dhvd2gBHar_wJsqsGQP_QrLUw24VCkpL9zljMS6UU4RxxRkXhlaDA6n587gRRzc4-oWygB__Q/s640/Ottamuri+Velicham+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If Sudha could resist Chandran’s advances on the first
night, few days later, she realizes that she has married a ruthless man, who does
not care for her feelings at all. Chandran coerces her into sex, not just by
forcing himself on her but through physical violence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Yet, Sudha makes efforts to understand Chandran. She wakes up early to make him
coffee before he leaves for his work. Another day she carries lunch to his
work-place only to be rudely admonished for venturing out on her own. Chandran
has no qualms about disrespecting her in front of his boss- the man who
believes in Chandran’s creative inventions-the glowing bulb in the bedroom is
one of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s a regular ritual as Sudha waits in dread every night
for Chandran- her screams of pain heard silently by her mother-in-law and brother-in-law
sleeping outside the room. Sudha is trapped in a relationship from which there
seems no escape. The only balm is the care of her mother-in-law, (Pauly Valsan)
who nurses her in the morning after the brutality of the night. <br />
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4aYzR7fk9weI4yRrUKPw6_yLWTgHmjr8wZjVO79HDnmXCd8M_cgFUe72-mMqMhxb4xETZhBxactw3Ct5FUCO09tRLUQvKXpy5X36hE_VKzlTjnocsgK8wPplD-p_nomMpCcplhCLeQ/s1600/Director+Rahul+Riji+Nair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4aYzR7fk9weI4yRrUKPw6_yLWTgHmjr8wZjVO79HDnmXCd8M_cgFUe72-mMqMhxb4xETZhBxactw3Ct5FUCO09tRLUQvKXpy5X36hE_VKzlTjnocsgK8wPplD-p_nomMpCcplhCLeQ/s640/Director+Rahul+Riji+Nair.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />
Nair’s narration is sensitive. Under the glare of the glowing lamp he reveals the
marital rape conveyed through Sudha’s screams and not by resorting to unpleasant
graphic visuals. The focus is on Sudha’s agony and abuse by a sadistic husband.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Both the lead actors, Koshy and Parambol are in
great form as they bring alive their characters. Parambol’s Chandran is
completely detestable with his psychotic behaviour and you wish him dead just
like Sudha. Every night, when Chandran returns home, you dread the minutes that
will follow, almost feeling Sudha’s pain, such is the intensity of Koshy’s performance.
There is no loud melodrama. Sudha speaks
little and her agony is conveyed well through Koshy’s expressions. Koshy
received the Kerala state award for Best Actress.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;">What really made Chandran this way? You wonder. He is an </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;">intelligent man with a knack of working with electrical appliances and devising </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;">ingenious practical inventions by recycling stuff. </span>A wild boar that visits their garden every night to
ravage on the tapioca plants becomes a metaphor for Chandran’s behavior. Sudha
and her mother-in-law lay a trap for the animal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">His mother excuses his behavior when she tells Sudha
that she too suffered a similar fate under her husband and Chandran has grown
up seeing that. She even tells Sudha that her son is actually good at heart,
unlike his younger brother. Male domination is an accepted thing for her when
she reminds her daughter-in-law that she is a woman. But unlike the regular mothers
in law, she empathises with Sudha and tries to alleviate her pain. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cinematographer Luke Jose’s frames are spectacular. The
environment around shows Nature at her pristine beauty yet carries an intimidating
feel through out when seen through Sudha’s eyes. As she gazes out of the open window in the stillness of the night it brings in an eerie feel; the uncertainty in
the wilderness as Sudha tries to escape from home, scrambling down the mountain
side lined with thorny bushes and wading through gushing streams-the camera
follows her sending a shiver down the spine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Director Nair scores with his telling-a gradual flow of events. From the terrified young bride who has no
control over her life to emerge strong and bold,
hardened by pain and sorrow, yet cannot be cowed down by any man. And when she
finally does fix a switch to the lamp, you tip your hat to her. <br />
<br />
‘Ottamuri Velicham’ won four Kerala state awards-Best Film, Best Editing, Best
Actress and Best Second Supporting Actress (Pauly Valsan). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Without star power this
is a tale that speaks from the heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-70031141115467773722018-12-28T08:27:00.000-08:002018-12-28T08:29:22.867-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<h1 class=" " data-article-head="" itemprop="headline" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: GlosaHeadline-Black, Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.8rem; font-weight: 500; line-height: 3rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem; margin-top: 0.75rem;">
‘Neerali’ review: Mohan Lal impressive in gripping thriller</h1>
<div class="lead " style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Montserrat, Arial, "sans serif"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem;">
<i>The survival story loses momentum in its second half, but keeps viewers’ interest with stunning visuals and great performances</i></div>
<br />
<img src="https://images.gulfnews.com/polopoly-images/2018/7/18/1.2253209_2601126285.jpg" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>By Mythily Ramachandran</b><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: GlosaTextRoman, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
In the middle of a jungle, where the only sound of human life is a priest’s sermon coming over the speaker of a church in the ravines below, gemmologist Sunny George (Mohanlal) is injured inside a van that hangs precariously from the tip of a precipice. Any slight move can tip the van into the valley below. Sunny’s life now dangles on a thread, along with that of his unconscious and injured driver, Veerappan (Suraj Venjaramodu).</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: GlosaTextRoman, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Directed by Ajoy Varma and based on Saju Thomas’ story, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Neerali </em>is about survival. All the odds are against Sunny as he tries different ways of seeking help. Outgoing calls on his mobile are blocked for not having paid the bill and his office secretary, despite instructions, has failed to do so.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: GlosaTextRoman, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
If Veerappan’s phone lying at his feet seemed like a glimmer of hope for Sunny, he soon realises that he can’t reach it past his unconscious driver without sending the van below.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: GlosaTextRoman, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
The story shuttles between the jungle and life outside, gradually taking us into the lives of Sunny and Veerapan. Sunny’s pregnant wife Mollykutty (Nadiya) has been rushed into hospital with labour pains. His colleague Naina (Parvathy Nair) is in love with him and believes that he loves her too. She is angry about her transfer to Delhi. Veerappan’s financial woes has affected his relationship with his only child — a sports loving teenager proud of her medals.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: GlosaTextRoman, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Neerali</em> begins with promise. The way the accident has been orchestrated is believable as the van swerves off track down an incline to eventually perch itself on the brink of a cliff.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: GlosaTextRoman, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
Mohanlal is brilliant as he battles through diverse emotions with Sunny trapped inside the van’s seat. The star is not given a larger than life image but is an ordinary man with his weaknesses and vulnerability.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: GlosaTextRoman, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
While Nadiya has little to do besides the trauma of a delivery, it is Nair who impresses as Naina — a possessive young woman. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #111111; font-family: GlosaTextRoman, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 1rem;">
While the story loses its momentum in the second half, the holes in the plot are made up by cinematographer Santosh Thundiyal’s visuals, he aura of the jungle under a star lit sky is captured magnificently, while a lone monkey watches Sunny’s ordeal.</div>
</div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-29286536742203416762018-12-19T09:37:00.001-08:002018-12-19T09:37:47.271-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Joseph’
a medical thriller that leaves you stunned<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GLMFi5bG5DzRV-b4zy8KVyhtp5NtE384Fsr2lB3tvbeWYvlkUm4ps1b9iag6EMUNJiRoFDYOatD_L8boS9sggDfhjkVBxxkz_aSk3Wsru0cZ5aXYqk2DAljzXZVPG98RCE6jT0Fysg/s1600/DSC00482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GLMFi5bG5DzRV-b4zy8KVyhtp5NtE384Fsr2lB3tvbeWYvlkUm4ps1b9iag6EMUNJiRoFDYOatD_L8boS9sggDfhjkVBxxkz_aSk3Wsru0cZ5aXYqk2DAljzXZVPG98RCE6jT0Fysg/s640/DSC00482.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By
Mythily Ramachandran<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Director M. Padmakumar reveals a different facet of
actor Joju </span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">George in this family drama</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Joju George in the titular role is unforgettable.
The actor-producer who has until now played comic roles and characters with
negative shades proves that a good story does not need a star or a larger than
life character to hold it up. With his understated performance, George is
terrific. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Joseph (Joju George) may have retired from the
police service yet is often called back for consultation by his seniors to
crack a difficult case. As soon as the film begins, we learn about his Sherlock
Holmes observation skills. Joseph despite downing a few drinks is alert as he
surveys the scene of crime-a double murder in this case of an elderly
couple-and solves the case in a surprisingly short time and without much fuss. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But his personal life is a tragedy. Joseph’s life is
empty just like his home. His wife Stella and their only child, Diana are no
longer with him. Written by Shahi Kabir and directed by M. Padmakumar, the
story shifts between the past and the present. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4nfAUAgTss5BW9vFKSx6efsHnh0cn4o5IMqWiVjdEQE1gIu9vmJG7n7-KhMgrnmfQN75G4cvZrGwPuv_7ODUMUKM8SbKJCMrIsvpmejy4BKJz4D0aiHu-BUYldIXFUsV_8YLy4qSeQ/s1600/A02I2515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4nfAUAgTss5BW9vFKSx6efsHnh0cn4o5IMqWiVjdEQE1gIu9vmJG7n7-KhMgrnmfQN75G4cvZrGwPuv_7ODUMUKM8SbKJCMrIsvpmejy4BKJz4D0aiHu-BUYldIXFUsV_8YLy4qSeQ/s640/A02I2515.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Joseph’s tragedy is compounded further by the accidental
death of a close one. Joseph discerning eye pushes him onto another
investigative journey that brings to opens up a medical scam. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">‘Joseph’ is a well written narrative with a
screenplay that keeps you engrossed. It’s neatly sketched ordinary characters
brought onscreen with natural performances by the actors leave you feeling sad
when curtains come down. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">George dominates the story with his understated
acting. This policeman is a far cry from the cruel policeman of ‘Nyan Mary
Kutty’ or the friendly cop of ‘Poomaram.’ His two portrayal of Joseph is
laudable-the young Joseph in love and the man drowned in sorrow are poles
apart. George as the retired officer who finds refuge in the bottle carries a
lazy swagger and a disinterested gaze in his eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireEa-1pqY1NS27fiHQCP4G2wOFZx0TslHhK2IEXo23lTfamtA0i2-Uf-oYLO52T3FdwjrzaH9idu4NcJ0LIcv3hNXq3HM-kQxmrCB0ba2fKsNtAgQvub5zOFAZIeufAterP8oZ1VSaw/s1600/Joseph+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireEa-1pqY1NS27fiHQCP4G2wOFZx0TslHhK2IEXo23lTfamtA0i2-Uf-oYLO52T3FdwjrzaH9idu4NcJ0LIcv3hNXq3HM-kQxmrCB0ba2fKsNtAgQvub5zOFAZIeufAterP8oZ1VSaw/s640/Joseph+4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Another surprise is actor-director Dileesh Pothan. He is Peter, whom Stella
marries after leaving Joseph. Pothan who was last seen in ‘Drama,’ as the loud
talking funeral agent Dixon takes on a character who barely speaks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The relationship shared by George and Peter is
awkard-the two men love Stella- yet they show a maturity and understanding that
is so beautiful. You don’t see this kind of acceptance either in life or
on<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>screen. Kabir scores with his writing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
The supporting actors playing Joseph’s friends deserve mention. So too the
actresses- Athmiya, Madhuri Braganza and Malavika Mohan- playing the women in
Joseph’s lives. They all prop up the story well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another big strength is the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>spectacular camera work by Manesh Madhavan.
Right from the go, his frames are stunning. When we are introduced to Joseph,
he is lying drunk in his chair caught between the streaming rays of the morning
sun. A hungry cat mews persistently in the background but is not visible, you
are left to your imagination. I loved that visual. Madhavan’s camera is
intrinsic to the story, very much alive and following the characters totally. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
‘Joseph’ while bringing to light a medical scam leaves you feeling quite sad.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /><br />
</div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-65822014058150836452018-12-19T09:09:00.001-08:002018-12-19T09:09:12.836-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tamil
film ‘96’ a love story that blows in like a fresh whiff of air </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmzvlkE_EXQ334yLT6QnWfMSpWuyHGQiVOLjRfBBgAplchFZgH1PYQ1BFCdACP6B9wIxA3uTkIIJV7E1bvLyEVOqCmbYuwelI8cz73aAhVMtgIljEos2jbgAXBI4woZz7LlIlB55LyQ/s1600/96+film+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmzvlkE_EXQ334yLT6QnWfMSpWuyHGQiVOLjRfBBgAplchFZgH1PYQ1BFCdACP6B9wIxA3uTkIIJV7E1bvLyEVOqCmbYuwelI8cz73aAhVMtgIljEos2jbgAXBI4woZz7LlIlB55LyQ/s640/96+film+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By
Mythily Ramachandran</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cinematographer
turned director Prem Kumar wins hearts with this pristine love tale that leaves
a lump in your throat</span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Like all school reunions this one takes a 1996 year
batch of students on a nostalgic road. <br />Ram (Vijay Sethupathi) and Jaanu
(Trisha), who were in love at school- but lost track of each other due to
certain circumstances- are meeting after twenty-two long years. <br />Will it
rekindle the old flames, wonder their close friends?<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Much water has flown under the bridge since Ram and
Jaanu last met in school as teenagers. Ram is now a professional photographer.
Jaanu lives in Singapore with her husband and daughter. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
After the reunion is over and the good-byes have been done with, Ram and Jaanu
find some time alone. It’s just a couple of hours together before Jaanu boards
her flight to Singapore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMJuiC0ZOvi92MOcMVms_9ZnHhOzBhj6lGooU57M7v6VrvWFBWSf9-YmoX2D-ZEhStoywuAvUdP1LCU925VjGgeg05UMpqZAh3NaSeFZ9h14OGj5gt8LY6qsD7n5xNK0UPh0e_Ho2yA/s1600/96+film+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiMJuiC0ZOvi92MOcMVms_9ZnHhOzBhj6lGooU57M7v6VrvWFBWSf9-YmoX2D-ZEhStoywuAvUdP1LCU925VjGgeg05UMpqZAh3NaSeFZ9h14OGj5gt8LY6qsD7n5xNK0UPh0e_Ho2yA/s640/96+film+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cinematographer turned director, Prem Kumar builds
within those few hours a beautiful and emotional tale that speaks from the
heart and untainted by this era of instant gratification. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With ’96’ Kumar finds
a firm footing as a director of immense promise.<br />
<br />
Teenage years and school crushes walk hand in hand. ‘96’ belongs to that era
when whatsapp was unknown. Ram and Jaanu
spoke with their eyes. The three magical words were never uttered aloud. In
fact Ram is the shy guy. What makes this relationship unique is that it never
dies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacdMjrQFY4lMpOzL3Aqi6fZeo6maFfCxieN-CZ5IwraU2z9IAYMS5EkgHXwD4qo28-BqXD8qIfQu3lweILrjBjWp3HokSZHK01BRND_Ud3pMMlht3EwIi-gip_hFJvzS9AMBMYcycHw/s1600/IMG_0299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacdMjrQFY4lMpOzL3Aqi6fZeo6maFfCxieN-CZ5IwraU2z9IAYMS5EkgHXwD4qo28-BqXD8qIfQu3lweILrjBjWp3HokSZHK01BRND_Ud3pMMlht3EwIi-gip_hFJvzS9AMBMYcycHw/s640/IMG_0299.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So even after two decades when Ram and Jaanu meet at
the school reunion, their love and respect for each other has not changed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unlike most romantic tales, ‘96’ does not ride piggy
back on silly duets, and contrived romantic encounters. Although it takes a
while to warm up in the first half, there is a spontaneous flow in the
narration. Its love in all its purity-lust never mentioned. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Director Kumar’s
writing is free of malice towards life and about acceptance-as the two
protagonists show. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha both consummate actors
share a beautiful onscreen chemistry. They are terrific. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
If Sethupathi’s effortless performance as Rasool in ‘Chekka Chivantha Vaanam’
had us hooting for him, his Ram- the man who loves tenderly and with no
expectations- is every woman’s dream guy.
Trisha makes her Jaanu endearing-laudable is her mature acting. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Actors Aaditya Bhaskar as young Ram and Gouri G Kishan as young Jaanu cannot be
easily forgotten. It’s an impressive debut. Devadarshini and Bhagavathy Perumal
as close friends of Ram and Jaanu keep us chuckling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After watching gory thrillers or hard to laugh at
comedies, and marble like romantic stories, Prem Kumar’s ‘96’ is a classic love
story that will be fondly remembered. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">It’s neat. There are no lines and jokes that will
leave you squirming in your seat. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-82808102068574165302018-10-05T01:42:00.002-07:002018-10-05T01:42:45.037-07:00Varathan is a good watch. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
An intriguing thriller that follows you even after curtains fall<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z4SQb2J5AgtZC9CCPBWrhpH_M02-Z03nNzO0Isuld0bR-Ry5pIU50DDuricwiLqSOqvs9IYGj-NUjK-BF-j1QtXzPjhamsyz3CMwrcD6Y8K0LNYk1WCzLsJKi0U2-Je8uhhtHyN19Q/s1600/Varathan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1097" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z4SQb2J5AgtZC9CCPBWrhpH_M02-Z03nNzO0Isuld0bR-Ry5pIU50DDuricwiLqSOqvs9IYGj-NUjK-BF-j1QtXzPjhamsyz3CMwrcD6Y8K0LNYk1WCzLsJKi0U2-Je8uhhtHyN19Q/s1600/Varathan.jpg" /></a></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tmh1YzZCSBJoFNZlrpujBBjfA6BHaqDYvKL3QDetTqprDY4HkevTHhd29Rvtb0xX_lmYP7X8Tn3kR7RL3a5CV-NuTpkjqffV1jhBdCAUEr-wQqbczGD7ozkDSAtnhVdFXN75WrlIjQ/s1600/Varathan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1097" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tmh1YzZCSBJoFNZlrpujBBjfA6BHaqDYvKL3QDetTqprDY4HkevTHhd29Rvtb0xX_lmYP7X8Tn3kR7RL3a5CV-NuTpkjqffV1jhBdCAUEr-wQqbczGD7ozkDSAtnhVdFXN75WrlIjQ/s640/Varathan.jpg" width="438" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">By
Mythily Ramachandran<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Malayalam director Amal Neerad holds a mirror to a
society ridden by male chauvinism and voyeurism in ‘Varathan.’ <br />
Backed by excellent performances, stunning visuals and music complementing the
narrative, ‘Varathan’ becomes an intriguing thriller that stalk you home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The story opens in Dubai. Abin and Priya, a young
married couple very much in love go through a disappointment phase-with two unfortunate
happenings- in their lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When Priya suggests that they return to Kerala, Abin
agrees. So they arrive at her father’s ancestral property amidst the hills of
Idukki. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Their joy and solitude is soon threatened and Priya realizes that her childhood
home of happy memories is unsafe for her as a woman. <br />
In fact you get an inkling of the attitude of the local villagers the moment
they enter the small town and stop at a roadside store for tea. The discomfiting
stares of the men sitting outside, is something any woman will connect to. Priya
points out to Abin the old man among them known for his roving eye. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbS82mKZXv_mONTjX0DXRZv0yaslRINBdrAyAFUN_uZsKiDMfQJn83ULadAXDS_wEDhtYVHyBL6yyD-WZsi5hYh-7d96kSlQ20NR1tQ24X3a5og0p1gdw7I1cz_3LMw7yBeg8tAGWaTw/s1600/PRIYA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1097" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbS82mKZXv_mONTjX0DXRZv0yaslRINBdrAyAFUN_uZsKiDMfQJn83ULadAXDS_wEDhtYVHyBL6yyD-WZsi5hYh-7d96kSlQ20NR1tQ24X3a5og0p1gdw7I1cz_3LMw7yBeg8tAGWaTw/s640/PRIYA.jpg" width="438" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The fear of being watched creeps into Priya’s
mind-when in the midst of her baking she turns around to face a stranger peering
through the window; the shadow of a man looking into their bedroom door; that
notion of being observed Priya’s feels while undressing in her bathroom. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
Neerad gradually builds it along with cinematographer Little Swayamp-the camera
close at heels of Priya and taking in her activities like the stalkers outside.
Adding to it is Sushin Shyam’s background music ushering in the traumatic feeling
and giving a shiver to your body.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Women have that inborn instinct to understand when the glances and gazes are
just not right and like Priya they often find it hard to convince others around
of the threat. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Priya is irritated with Abin for being naïve about the intentions of Josy
(Sharafudden)-a school mate who had a crush for her. Josy still lusts for her.
Giving him company are his two friends and from the field that Priya’s family
has let out to them-a convenient vantage point-they intrude into her life. What
seemed like a worm crawling on the skin grows into a monster to unstable
Priya’s and Abin’s lives. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
And, when Priya packs bags telling Abin that she does not feel safe in under
him, Abin’s manliness is questioned. She remembers her father who provided the
safety umbrella for his family. Abin breaking down in the courtyard, that was a
brilliant performance from Fahd Faasil, one of the many the versatile actor
delivers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Turning cinematic and giving Abin an opportunity to be the man Priya wanted,
‘Varathan’ soon becomes the story of the hero. Fahad Faasil fans are in for a
treat. Abin’s lone battle with a group of men with guns and knives is well
choreographed as he intelligently strikes at them using resources at hand. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5P8jY4K83wBCRMfp3wZy1jNYnyJh1a4EaIPyuvnhHGEKKncmxsKkOEzTp2fQvrJGC2fJa1SODaaa2C72mlc1J8QfSRKpjndFMZQ-dXtsS_F0LCAQgJs5o4lVHv4dzDXelCu2j3l0FA/s1600/ABIN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1097" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5P8jY4K83wBCRMfp3wZy1jNYnyJh1a4EaIPyuvnhHGEKKncmxsKkOEzTp2fQvrJGC2fJa1SODaaa2C72mlc1J8QfSRKpjndFMZQ-dXtsS_F0LCAQgJs5o4lVHv4dzDXelCu2j3l0FA/s640/ABIN.jpg" width="438" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
The film’s strong points lie in the onscreen chemistry between Fahad and
Aishwarya Lekshmi-Lekshmi holding her own pretty well opposite Faasil. Writers
Suhas and Sharfu’s characters are so real-as a woman you see their likes around.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abin’s character graph-how he evolves
from a suave Corporate worker in love with his wife to resort to violence when
his woman is threatened. Abin who would not even hurt a cockroach does not
hesitate to squash a cockroach in the last scene.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJZJQzugcqh-RqzsaQNm86oVV4_v-dACCWd4kgUNRSkCIRRo6rIJ6gSDg-7ReW4QDIhgkaAIzztxSaIhgrgp_2NlrTNw6Z6Jc2a-c_3C9U_y_ca7uLb4NvYUKeeVH6VXmG1GIun5VlA/s1600/Varathan+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1097" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJZJQzugcqh-RqzsaQNm86oVV4_v-dACCWd4kgUNRSkCIRRo6rIJ6gSDg-7ReW4QDIhgkaAIzztxSaIhgrgp_2NlrTNw6Z6Jc2a-c_3C9U_y_ca7uLb4NvYUKeeVH6VXmG1GIun5VlA/s1600/Varathan+3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1juO1_ou-y0eIcIv6vfnZQSlYqZC6-dFUXkUJ3M2Ri0FVaj6xAqq9OSXz0XcWuXpMAj7si6aKBxaDLNQtodHy-EAa3F-ed6lVuebQOJawD4SuyafIJ3GrVG8fmJkRTk8jgKZyy7uabA/s1600/Varathan+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1097" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1juO1_ou-y0eIcIv6vfnZQSlYqZC6-dFUXkUJ3M2Ri0FVaj6xAqq9OSXz0XcWuXpMAj7si6aKBxaDLNQtodHy-EAa3F-ed6lVuebQOJawD4SuyafIJ3GrVG8fmJkRTk8jgKZyy7uabA/s640/Varathan+3.jpg" width="438" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s a jaw dropping role from actor <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sharafuddeen. He is terrific and not the
Sharafudeen of ‘Premam’ ‘Pretham’ and ‘Aadhi.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Priya’s traumatic scene has been shot neatly-without exaggerating, we learn of
her mishap through scenes that follow. Lekshmi brings out Priya’s anguish and
anger perfectly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
‘Varathan’ lays bare the hypocrisy of men. Some claim to be moral police on one
hand and worry about our so called culture losing way to modern clothes and
behavior, it’s these very men who are a threat to women. But when it concerns their
own sisters and daughters, they can be monsters. <br />
‘Varathan’ is a good watch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3693322352832294552.post-38650100664676813282018-10-05T01:29:00.000-07:002018-10-05T01:29:20.097-07:00Ranam: a stylishly made gangster flick<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Scenarist
turned director Nirmal Sahadev makes an impressive debut with this noir film
set in Detroit <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">‘Ranam’ wastes no time. Aadhi (Prithiviraj) lying wounded
with a gun- shot on his chest opens the story.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">A voice narration soon takes us into the city of Detroit where he lives.
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Detroit which had a glorious past as the
automotive capital has now turned into a most dangerous city where crime and
drugs go hand in hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4MWaJeFi5VvQo46wF4TIn_QkdGBFZ268q4yW5Cbeq1HkqIwwy-nAdae6fDIpAkOdGOICA5jtpbOx6jXRxMl2SdZZIEzAF3WrsSvg6tB3MpwVF9Le2eITI6NwV8qHjItKj07ZB0Lr2Q/s1600/Ranam+5+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="863" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4MWaJeFi5VvQo46wF4TIn_QkdGBFZ268q4yW5Cbeq1HkqIwwy-nAdae6fDIpAkOdGOICA5jtpbOx6jXRxMl2SdZZIEzAF3WrsSvg6tB3MpwVF9Le2eITI6NwV8qHjItKj07ZB0Lr2Q/s640/Ranam+5+%25281%2529.jpg" width="344" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
Aadhi, an automobile mechanic works in his uncle, Bhaskar’s (Nandu) garage. He has
also been transporting drugs for Damodar (Rahman)- a Sri Lankan Tamilian- in
order to clear his uncle’s debts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Damodar
has a new party drug- Redex- and he wants to get a foothold in the region that
is controlled by a rival Polish gang leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_mlqjIuacCPKFP_rJqqj6KbK6F9KNNMGFhuBwDthenkP3IFf1E9_WsNERAjZuE4y1wBx-yN_w10y7u4nRwBdwbq3bfPFmli2zdinPYFUHN4xelLsikhG3XjKb1AcGqNQCk6ExffGDQ/s1600/Ranam+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_mlqjIuacCPKFP_rJqqj6KbK6F9KNNMGFhuBwDthenkP3IFf1E9_WsNERAjZuE4y1wBx-yN_w10y7u4nRwBdwbq3bfPFmli2zdinPYFUHN4xelLsikhG3XjKb1AcGqNQCk6ExffGDQ/s640/Ranam+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;">Aadhi wishes to quit working under Damodar and lead a normal life. So he makes a deal with Damodar that he would work one last time only. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;">Will Damodar let go of Aadhi</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;">so easily, especially since he is a reliable and efficient transporter? Damodar asks his younger brother, Selvam (Ashwin Kumar) to find out- What’s the weak link in Aadhi’s life that will make him return to his gang?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEJFu_l9sol20W9hyb9XEgjICnCCDUsLdd4s-wI5uWA7uPlW7ymLF7Tk6cNEyY3zqw-a9FiCbX3Mh3G-8F4Pc5-DEJB4bn-fnEkekzGORcumsQQ6saZls_T23HYSakIh1S-x4bX7pCw/s1600/director+Nirmal+Sahadev+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEJFu_l9sol20W9hyb9XEgjICnCCDUsLdd4s-wI5uWA7uPlW7ymLF7Tk6cNEyY3zqw-a9FiCbX3Mh3G-8F4Pc5-DEJB4bn-fnEkekzGORcumsQQ6saZls_T23HYSakIh1S-x4bX7pCw/s640/director+Nirmal+Sahadev+%25282%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Director Nirmal Sahadev</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 21.3333px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Scenarist Nirmal Sahadev who wrote the story for
‘Hey Jude’ a romantic entertainer turns director with ‘Ranam’ and explores a
completely different genre. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Noir protagonists are often single men,
psychologically flawed or wounded. This gangster tale is not an action thriller
about Aadhi and Damodar only but an emotional tale of Seema, (Isha Talwar) too.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A dancer and a mother to a teenaged
daughter, Seema suffers a loveless marriage.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEtibpcCNP6uVOBdvG0OmNgmMVDJPhzcGXe0XwOQU0Ame3dpeiWHKY92d6gzueykP7mr2gvstQFJl-2XydtIw3AWWOrGGuCu7FczHVClrlrS9cqP5xIpqsXCFpdlIqoFCRRphIW-9_Q/s1600/Ranam+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEtibpcCNP6uVOBdvG0OmNgmMVDJPhzcGXe0XwOQU0Ame3dpeiWHKY92d6gzueykP7mr2gvstQFJl-2XydtIw3AWWOrGGuCu7FczHVClrlrS9cqP5xIpqsXCFpdlIqoFCRRphIW-9_Q/s640/Ranam+7.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Ranam’ is
about second chances for its characters-be it Damodar ousted from his home in
Sri Lanka; Aadhi keen on living life anew; Bhaskar-disillusioned with the
American dream longs for a new life for his<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>family; Seema who wishes to bury her past and move on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After, ‘Mumbai Police’ Prithviraj and Rahman come
together in lead roles. They play the perfect tango, matching step by step with
a terrific performance. Rahman is in fine form. His Damodar <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is menacing in a quiet way-calm and does not
deliver loud dialogues- but his short lines mean business. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSHOgpSqe0m7QbEzToBjUfAUy9oC22D04tBFO4sd43MHjREKCsWKyfED7s0pV6LnG-2Ccj09qkl_zW2FQzoAlW2xf-EGzwb9Ou9cG6VnTghfk-TlQ9dOQx_l1DrTNpswVADnfec84ug/s1600/Ranam+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSHOgpSqe0m7QbEzToBjUfAUy9oC22D04tBFO4sd43MHjREKCsWKyfED7s0pV6LnG-2Ccj09qkl_zW2FQzoAlW2xf-EGzwb9Ou9cG6VnTghfk-TlQ9dOQx_l1DrTNpswVADnfec84ug/s640/Ranam+2.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Prithviraj’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aadhi wins sympathy.
Beneath the tough exterior, there lies a little boy struggling with the demons
of childhood. Wearing a countenance that barely smiles but embodies several
underlying emotions, Prithviraj is wonderful. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>UAE resident
Ashwin Kumar who shot to fame with ‘Jacobinte Swargarajyam’ once again impresses-his
Selvam is a hot headed young man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s a mature role for Isha Talwar. Her Seema is
convincing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Newcomers Celine Joseph as
Seema’s daughter a typical NRI teenager, Mathew Arun playing Bhaskar’s son and
Giju John as Inspector Ahmed are other notable actors. Don’t miss director
Shyamaprasad in a cameo. <br />
Jakes Bejoy strikes the right chords with his music. Loved the song, ‘Pathey.’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
‘Ranam’ narrative is emphasized by stylistic, stark shadows and frames that
lend a sense of claustrophobia. DOP Jigme Tenzing’s camera plays along leaving
you spell bound. Notice the aerial shot after Aadhi gives the cops a slip while
driving away in a car. A junction of Detroit is bathed in neon lights where
three white police patrol cars stand against a backdrop of neatly arranged black
cars. That frame is not easily forgotten.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Ranam’ marks Sahadev as a talent to
watch. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Mythily Ramachandranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13927559528827374255noreply@blogger.com0