Kathukkutti

Kathukkutti

தமிழ் சினிமா அப்டேட்ஸ் களை உடனுக்குடன் தெரிந்து கொள்ள Filmi Street App - ஐ டவுன்லோட் செய்யுங்கள்

Directed by : Era. Saravanan
Produced by : R. Ramkumar
Starring : Narain, Srushti Dange, Soori, Jayaraj, Sandhya
Music by : Aruldev
Cinematography : Santhosh Sriram
Production company : OWN Productions
Country : India
Language : Tamil

In an apparent bid to make critics think twice before pointing out flaws in the film, director Saravanan, who was a journalist earlier, has named his debut venture ‘Kathukutti’.

The film speaks about the woes faced by farmers (we saw Goundamani’s ’49 O’ with a similar theme only recently) and the attempts made by a wastrel to set things right.

The director, being a former journalist, has done home work to bring on screen the plight of those involved in agriculture. But he has missed out on coming out with a taut script and the packaging too lacks fizz.

Arivazhagan (Naren) is a carefree youngster and he is the son of a local politician. He spends all his time with his friend Ginger (Soori). Though he is dubbed as wastrel by many, Arivazhagan has ambitions for agriculture.

In the meantime, he also has an affair with Bhuvana (Srishti Dange). One day, he is fielded as candidate in a by-election by his father’s party, much against to the wishes of his dad. However, Arivazhagan accepts the challenge.

But he faces all hurdles in the form of Vasanth, another young and educated candidate. Vasanth is ready to go to any extent to defeat Arivazhagan and he even uses the death of Bhuvana’s father for the purpose.

The rest is all about whether Arivazhagan, the ‘kathukutty’  (novice) that he is, manages to break the evil designs of the opponent(s) and achieves his mission or not.

The first half is entertaining, but the second half is preachy. At many places, we are delivered with messages, with the main being the need to safeguard agriculture and to protect farmers.

Naren makes a comeback with this flick, but his dialogue delivery is not convincing. Soori tries to evoke laughter, while Srishti Dange fits well to the bill of a village belle. Others in the cast are okay.

The cinematography is colourful to the eyes, and the background score is good.  The director could have made the film much interesting with some smart writing and by infusing more pace to the screenplay. But still, ‘Kathukutti’ has its moments and a message too.

Read Kathukkutti Review in Tamil

Puli

Puli

தமிழ் சினிமா அப்டேட்ஸ் களை உடனுக்குடன் தெரிந்து கொள்ள Filmi Street App - ஐ டவுன்லோட் செய்யுங்கள்

Movie : Puli
Directed by : Chimbu Deven
Produced by : Shibu Thameens, PT Selvakumar
Written by : Chimbu Deven
Starring : Vijay, Sridevi, Sudeep, Shruti Haasan, Hansika Motwani, Nandita Swetha
Music by : Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematography : Natarajan Subramaniam
Edited by : A. Sreekar Prasad
Production company : SKT Studios
Distributed by : Sri Thenandal films (Tamil Nadu), Ayngaran International (UK), Thameens (Kerala), S. Narayan (Karnataka), Pahlaj Nihalani (North)
Release dates : 1 October 2015
Running time : 154 minutes
Country : India
Language : Tamil
Budget : 118 crore

An ordinary man who later realises the hidden identity through the course of journey across the hurdles finally sets out to rescue the land of innocents ruled by evil powers. Vijay’s Puli travels on this basic plot that comes packaged with some adventures, fantasy, action, romance, glamour with a dose of heroines performing their best belly dance moves and more.

The film much prior to the release  had evoked lots of anticipations pertaining to the plot, where some sources claimed it could be something based on time travel and more of this sort. In all likelihood of what we have seen to be rumours, this one proves to be the same.

Let us keep the analysis short and crisp with a vivid look of what becomes the greatest hit and miss here.

This isn’t an unusual story and we have seen plethora of times films based on these concepts. It actually works out good results at the end of show to see someone like Vijay rescuing people from the deplored situations and proving to be their saviour. But what turns out to be a disappointing turn is the basic premise of the story and a fallible writing. Is it a fantasy tale or something that is meant to promote Vijay’s political ideologies? This becomes a first and foremost question as we come across infinite punch dialogues that used to be an intriguing part of Vijay’s erstwhile commercial films. Coming apart from these elements, the first half completely lacks story and it looks like the scenes were actually composed to impress Vijay fans and the comedy tracks involving Thambi Ramaiah are so much irksome. Although Sudeep appears by the first few minutes of this film, it just happens to be his introduction and he comes into picture only by intermission. Hansika Motwani and Sridevi again appear by second half. Shruthi Haasan has nothing to perform other than shaking with oomph factors for couple of songs and Hansika Motwani rarely performs anything and is just utilised as a showcase doll. Don’t ask us about Vidyullekha Raman, Thambi Ramaiah, Robot Shankar and Nandita have nothing to perform or score.

The CG works and animation should have been a major pillar in this movie, but it doesn’t stay up to the expectations. The cinematography is top-notch is places and we are bound to doubts if Sreekar Prasad had really edited the shots for the transitions are abrupt.

Certain portions in the film are promising and likeable for kids and few impress Vijay fans, but overall, it’s an average fare that doesn’t exceed our expectations with a too lengthy screenplay that tests our patience.

Verdict: Not really a grand entertainer

Puli Review in Tamil

Kuttram Kadithal

Kuttram Kadithal

தமிழ் சினிமா அப்டேட்ஸ் களை உடனுக்குடன் தெரிந்து கொள்ள Filmi Street App - ஐ டவுன்லோட் செய்யுங்கள்

It seems the name Bramma is closely associated with creating life. While the God in that name is known for His work, here comes director Bramma, who has made a film that is full of life.

The title is Kuttram Kadithal, inspired by a chapter in Thirukkural. And the film, we must say, is error free from beginning till end and easily emerges the best movie we have watched in the recent times.

Besides portraying the lives of ordinary people on screen without any compromises, Bramma has ensured that each frame is loaded with details, details and more details. Even a window, or for that matter a pen, conveys something.

And the characters he has conceived and the emotions he has brought out from the actors clearly make us understand why this film was making a lot of buzz in international events even before its theatrical release.

Well, this is the story: Merlin (Radhika Prasiddha), against the wish of her mother, who is a staunch Christian, marries Manikandan ( Sai Rajkumar). She is a teacher and is all ready to start a new life with her soulmate.

As she goes to school, she is asked to substitute one of her colleagues, but fate has other plans for her. Unfortunately and unintentionally, she beats a naughty student, Chezhiyan (Master Ajay), who collapses and goes into coma.

Chezhiyan is brought up by her single   mom (Sathya) who is an auto driver. He has an uncle in the form of Udayan (Pavel Navageethan), a communist, who can’t tolerate and fight back against the callous and carefree attitude of the rich.

And the rest of ‘Kutram Kadithal’ travels between the guilt-filled couple, ailing boy, suffering mother and sulking uncle. There are other characters too, including the teacher’s mother, the principal and his wife.

Enough has been told about the director and his abilities. But that’s still not enough. For, Bramma is due for more accolades and awards. The actors, mostly newcomers, have delivered a solid performance. Radhika and Navaneethan deserve special mention.

Shankar Rangarajan’s music aptly sets the mood, while Manikandan’s visuals take us to the place where the story happens. Editing and sound designing are equally laudable.

If you look for the flip side, this film is not for those who watch movies for the purpose of pure entertainment. As Bramma appears to belong to that school of thought, where filmmaking is not just a serious, but sincere business.

Unakkenna Venum Sollu

Unakkenna Venum Sollu

தமிழ் சினிமா அப்டேட்ஸ் களை உடனுக்குடன் தெரிந்து கொள்ள Filmi Street App - ஐ டவுன்லோட் செய்யுங்கள்

Horror movies – you name them and they are constantly seen flowing abundantly every weekends in the theatres. Apparently, this week has Unakkenna Venum Sollu, yet again one more from the bunch of newcomers. The film is directed by Srinath Ramalingam and is produced by Juna Pictures with Aurra Cinemas releasing it. Loaded with some promising performances by Anu, Mime Gopi, Deepak Paramesh, Jaqlene PraKASH, Gunalan Morgan and Mourhrna Anetha, the film garnered some expectation levels as the makers unveiled the climax online before the theatrical release.

Just like last week release Maya, Unakkenna Venum Sollu goes with a similar pattern of narration, but with less similarities. Yes, it’s a tale of two parallel tracks that keeps our excitements growing more and bigger of how they get linked towards the latter part of the movie. Karthik (Deepak) is a single man with a good job, but is desperate to date someone and his life gets changed when he comes across Judy (Mourhrna) through a strange connection of phone call. She is a divorcee and a mother of 8-yr old daughter named Daisy. Across the other part of the city, there is Pooja (Jaqlene Prakash) who is married to Shiva (Gunalan Morgan). They have moved to their guest house and sooner ghostly activities starts haunting them. How these characters get interwoven with a mysterious past linking them all is the basic premise of this story.

What makes the story appealing at the first sight is the style of narration that director Srinath Ramalingam has handled. The parallel tales on the run and getting conjoined after few moments is something really impressive when you hear or see in a film. Although, the first half has very little moments to get your spines chilled, the second half in spite of having the dearth of scary elements gains more emotional intensity, especially the climax. The actors have done their best to give more life to the emotional episodes. Every character in this film is laced with emotions and that lets the audiences get connected with them. Mime Gopi appearing as Mathews, an exorcist is very well portrayed including his culmination. Deepak Paramesh looks contradictory with the role. He has a buried past with more depression but is seen jovial, which should have been corrected. Jaqlene Prakash looks simple and quite intensively coherent to the role. Mourhrna appears in few portions and acts as a bridge between these characters. She does a neat job and Gunalan Morgan is appreciable as well. Anu playing the role of Daisy is an emotional punch.

Everyone in the technical crew have tried to deliver their best, especially sound designers. Manish Murthy tries to evoke eeriness through his camera and succeeds certainly. Siva Saravanan on his musical chords could have done better.

The first half is slightly dragging and second half with lengthy flashbacks could have been trimmed. The climax has intensively emotional moments and the director should have tried paving the best way through screenplay.

Verdict: Less horror elements, but stands out on emotional context

 

Kirumi

Kirumi

தமிழ் சினிமா அப்டேட்ஸ் களை உடனுக்குடன் தெரிந்து கொள்ள Filmi Street App - ஐ டவுன்லோட் செய்யுங்கள்

Directed by : Anucharan
Produced by : K Jayaram, L Prithiviraj, M Jayaraman, S Rajendran
Written by : M. Manikandan, Anucharan
Starring : Reshmi Menon, Kathir, Charle, Vanitha Thennavan
Music by : Krishna Kumar
Cinematography : Arul Vincent
Edited by : Anucharan
Production company : JPR Films
Release dates : September 24, 2015
Country : India
Language : Tamil

Crime thrillers have been rarest of its kind, when it comes to Tamil cinema and apparently, when some maverick filmmakers try to implement their ideas, it gradually shifts to gangsters, but debutant Anu Charan picks up an unusual theme, but something really pragmatic of what we have been witnessing in our daily lives across the lanes we pass through. The film features Kathir of Madha Yaanai Koottam fame and Reshmi Menon in lead roles with David Solomon, Charlie and Thenvannan in important characters.

Kathir plays an ordinary youngster across the neighbourhood of North Chennai. Happily married to a beautiful wife (Reshmi Menon) and blessed with a child, he still has the ‘playboy’ enlivened in him. Charlie plays his well wisher and tries to get him a job that will help his family remain on the safer side against financial crisis. Kathir is favoured by a police officer (David Solomon) and soon he becomes acquainted with the petty jobs of seizing vehicles and accompanying cops as FOP (Friend of Police). When things are going smooth, things take a drastic change that almost threatens his life and closer ones.

The film holds a plot that seems so simpler by the initial moments, but gradually takes on a good pace with a climax that might or may not impress you. It’s merely because, the director tries to capture the audiences with a too realistic approach that’s practical, but again when you come to theatres, it’s commercial treatment that wins your favours. The first half has light moments and we’re introduced to the actual premise with a gruesome twist that comes through intermission.

Over the performances, it’s appreciable time for everyone in the star-cast. Kathir has shown some improvement towards his role and has matured with his acting skills when compared to his previous movie. On the other end, Reshmi Menon might look too young for the role of wife and mother a child, but she decorously carries it. Charlie after a long time gets a scope to perform and his portions are convincingly told. David Solomon had so far appeared in only small roles, but gets to score some best characterisation here blended with good, bad and ugly.

The musical score by K gets brownie points with the background score and songs aren’t actually well delivered. Cinematography is good in places with effective pictorial.

The film lacks some substantiality in the first half and moments during second half are gripping though, with a climax that could have been altered or properly told to make sure audiences from every group could understand it.

Verdict: Gripping in few parts.

Maya

Maya

தமிழ் சினிமா அப்டேட்ஸ் களை உடனுக்குடன் தெரிந்து கொள்ள Filmi Street App - ஐ டவுன்லோட் செய்யுங்கள்

Movie : Maya
Directed by : Ashwin Saravanan
Produced by : Potential Studios
Written by : Ashwin Saravanan
Starring : Nayanthara, Aari, Amzath Khan, Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli, Robo Shankar, Mime Gopi
Music by : Ron Ethan Yohaan
Cinematography : Sathyan Sooryan
Edited by : T. S. Suresh
Production company : Potential Studios
Distributed by : Sri Thenandal Films
Release dates : September 17, 2015
Country : India
Language : Tamil, Telugu

The horror tales are exceedingly getting beyond the limits and Tamil films buffs have been tremendously seeing it every Fridays. It’s been a long queue and it continues to proceed to come in plenty and so what would make Maya remain a different one. Debut filmmaker Ashwin makes an impulsive attempt to showcase a different dimension of horror film. It’s a modern day tale that embraces a different style of storytelling that begins on a complex note and later with things interwoven have a convincing spell.

The film tells the story in two different parallel lines – One is about Nayantara, a mother who is desolated from her husband from some personal reasons and is taking care of her child with own earnings. She is looking out for a perfect break in acting and is consistently attending the auditions. Then there is Aari working as a cartoonish and caricature specialist at a renowned Tamil magazine. He is seen of course, working on a supernatural story called ‘Maya’, which is published on weekly basis in the magazine. How these tales get interwoven and offer a surprise by the end forms the basic premise of this film.

Rushing through a vivid analysis, director Ashwin deserves special appreciations for a special treatment. For the first half, you might be wondering why are few portions alone narrated in black and white portions and others in colour is a good treatment. But the first half is studded with sluggish moments and there is lack of pace. But sooner in the post-intermission sequences, we are taken straight into the plot and there are some good surprises. Nayantara delivers a stupendous performance with her body language and expressions. She looks depressed throughout the film and the solution she gets during the final portion is something more convincing. Aari doesn’t get anything special in terms of role, but manages to pull things perfectly with his performance in the role. Mime Gopi, Lakshmi Priya and Robot Shankar have their prominences equally shared and they are groovy.

Technically, we have to appreciate the entire team in the crew for extending best efforts. Sound designers have done a marvelous job and editing by Suresh is superb. The cinematography with atmospheric impact offers additional chills in many places. Musical score by Ron is one of the most highlighting traits that peps up the emotional attributes in this movie.

As a story and plot, Maya is really a different and great effort. While it looks like the makers have tried to project and present the film in a Hollywood pattern, it would have been nice if either the running length was trimmed from 140 minutes to 100 minutes, which would have made it more engrossing.

Verdict: Really different and surprising, but lengthy

Maya Movie Review

 

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