Kayal

Meagamann

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

Could this be a sigh of relief for Arya fans, who missed his action avatar of years? It’s a close call and of course it gets justified with the stellar packaging of Magizh Thirumeni, who earlier delivered a laudable action thriller ‘Thadaiyara Thaakka’.

Story

The backdrop is Goa and it’s portrayed a land of drug cartels ruled by an Invisible Drug Lord Jyothi (played by Ashutosh Rana). He owns the complete network, but a surprising part is not his own men have seen him till the date. Arul (Arya), an undercover agent is assigned by police department to pull down the entire network. He manages to join the group of Jyothi earning their favour in the name of Shiva. He hatches some smart plans to bring Jyothi into the outside world, but things get complicated when 1000Kgs of narcotic drugs gets stolen. The game of cat and mouse hits the high pitch laced with some exciting thrill and action moments.

Performance

To make it simple, Arya hasn’t exerted extra energy into this role as in his previous films. He remains silent sans expressions, but this role fits him. He has to thank Magizh Thirumeni for choosing him for this role that doesn’t require lots of dialogues and only body language with perfect mannerisms is more than enough. Hansika Motwani doesn’t get more appearance in the film, but is delineated in a perfect way that is required for the script. Ashutosh Rana is a new age baddie in showbiz and Magizh again deserves his praises for portraying him in an unforeseen manner. He doesn’t lock horns nor laugh heavily in villainous style, but offers the feel that baddies should. Ramana, Ashish Vidyarthi, Sudhanshu Pandey of Billa II fame deliver their best performances.

Plus

First and foremost, it’s the gripping narration of Magizh Thirumeni that keeps us so much engrossed throughout the show. There are many edge-on-seated elements that even lets the few minuses get diminished. The background score by Thaman is a huge surprise as the music director hadn’t delivered any such works in the recent times. The cinematography and crisp editing contributes a lot to the fast-paced narration. The climax has been delivered with perfection and it makes the film a complete experience of watching it.

Minus

If you’re suggesting that few intimacies between Arya and Hansika Motwani, bar dance track et al would be keeping away family audiences from this film, it is not actually a minus as the censor certification U/A has it all. The songs could have been better.

Meagamann is a racy thriller that arrives as a surprise for this Christmas season. It is worth killing your time for.

Verdict: Racy, gripping and fast-paced

Kappal

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

Balancing friendship and love becomes the most complex part in everyone’s lives and Kappal focuses on a lad’s colliding encounters between his love and friendship. Vaibhav and Sonam Bajwa play the lead roles with Karunakaran, Arjunan, Venkat Sundar and Karthik Priyadarshan as his close pals. Robot Shankar and VTV Ganesh have performed important characters. Karthik G Krish makes his debut directorial with this film, which is released by his mentor Shankar under the banner of S Picture

Right from childhood, Vasu (Vaibhav) and his close buddies – Kanagasundram (Karunakaran), Kalyanasundram (Arjunan), Pattabi (Venkat Sundar) and Venkat (Karthik Priyadarshan) have been closely bonded and their acquaintance is very well known to everyone. They make a childish affirmation that they shouldn’t marry as it would ruin their friendship and even so, the same girl as in the mythological characters of Draupadi and Pandavas. As they grow up, Vasu gets makes his way to Chennai and falls in love with a beautiful girl Deepika (Sonam Bajwa). Sooner, when love is all set to bloom, his friends visit Chennai and rest as you know is a bundle of hilarious confusions and emotions.

Performance

You cannot expect more of an unconventional performance in a comedy film. Vaibhav is so emotionless in many scenes and this guy has to exert some super power if he wants to achieve some good status. Or else, he would be seen in multi-starrers or some pivotal roles. Sonam Bajwa is a postcard girl and looks like a hotshot model, but when it comes to performance, she is an amateur kid. Karunakaran evokes some laughter with his usual style and Arjunan is okay. VTV Ganesh gets a meaty role and he slightly resembles the Vadivelu style in few places.

Plus

Karthik G Krish has employed an equal status of friendship and romance in this film. A ‘Ship’ that never sinks is Friendship and it can be a major strength till the end for anyone in their lives. The emotional quotients are very well handled. Cinematography is pretty appreciation in places and Kadhal Casatta songs engrave the touch of director Shankar with rich and grandeur art works and visuals.

Minus

The film has to be crisp irrespective of its genres or else things turn out fallible. The writing gets perfect during the initial portions and slightly turned out flimsy. The songs really don’t impress us and they don’t sustain in our memories anywhere. The continuity between few scenes turn missing and Krish could have added up some songs really engaging.

Kappal had some innovative designs and creative teasers, but when you watch it as a film, there is 50% of engagement while the rest fails to keep us engrossed.

Verdict: Half-sunken ship

Lingaa

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

An experimental attempt could be the word to mark this new project of K.S. Ravikumar and Rajnikanth coming together after couple of massive blockbusters like Muthu and Padaiyappa. For director K.S. Ravikumar who hasn’t strained himself with a much complex or unconventional theme, he has picked Pon Kumaran’s script that dates back to period drama set in backdrops of 1939 and alternatively switches to present situation as well.

Set in backdrops of two different time periods, we find Raja Lingeshwaran (Rajnikanth) in 1939 raising a huge dam for the well being of poor villagers suffering from drought. In spite of facing many troubles and upheavals, Lingeshwaran manages to complete the construction of dam, but is cheated by the fraudulent activities of his very own conniving men and few British people. Years later, his grandson Lingaa (again played by Rajnikanth), a small time thief arrives in the village unwillingly to escape from cops for a crime, but sooner he realises the wonderful deeds that his grandfather had performed. Sooner, there is a serious situation for the destruction of dam by political MP (Jagapathi Babu) and will Lingaa be able to save it as a citizen and grandson forms crux of this story.

Superstar Rajnikanth throws up a magnanimous performance in dual roles as Lingeshwaran and Lingaa. To be precise, his performance the Lingeshwaran in the period drama portions is a versatile act and something new to this generation of audiences. We have seen him in many avatars, but missed to have his Aaril Irundhu Aravadhu Varai act and this one is a precious exemplification. Be the scenes, where he furiously opposes the British collectors or his emotional outbreak in silence when his own men cheat him and barge him away from the village, the aftermath sequences between them is a wonderful melancholy that leaves tears in our eyes. But again, the gimmicks of his usual style go missing certainly as in his previous movies. The other role of Lingaa is KS Ravikumar’s attempt to include the best commercial elements and if you ask us, the period portion was more than enough to keep this film intact rather than wasting time on modern portions. This is an attempt to add the commercial elements rather than simply making it an offbeat flick. But it works out as the comedy sequences between Rajnikanth and Santhanam works out well, but little disappointing to see that Karunakaran has been wasted.

The technical brilliance is embellished by cinematographer Rathinavelu, but AR Rahman is vanishing throughout the film and we don’t find his presence anywhere. There is a bit track, where Rajnikanth worships Lingaa statue inside a temple and it is very well done. The film’s length could have been trimmed and more prominence of period portions is dominated by emotions rather than usual KS Ravikumar commercial stuffs.

If one has a good reason to watch this film, it is for none other than Superstar Rajnikanth and in fact his films don’t need a review.

Verdict: New avatar of Rajnikanth emblazoned with his powerful performance

Kaaviya Thalaivan

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

Significance of theatre plays have gradually diminished during the years and it really requires a lot of efforts and daring attempt to make a film based on this genre. Producers Sashikanth and Varun Manian have come up with Kaaviya Thalaivan, directed by Vasantha Balan. The film stars Siddarth, Prithviraj and Vedhika in lead roles with academy award winner AR Rahman composing music….

Set in backdrops of ancient Tamil Nadu during the pre-independence era, two youngsters

Thalaivankottai Kaliappa Bhagavathar (Siddarth) and Melachivilberi Gomathi Nayagam Pillai (Prithviraj) are seen the pillars of the theatre group owned by Thavathiru Sivadas Swamigal (Nasser). Their friendship slightly turns into bitter side when one among them begins to thirst more for power, realms and achievements.

Director Vasantha Balan has tried compiling some of the real life characters through this film and succeeds with excellence. Apparently, the film gives a clear view that lots of ground work has been prepared up for making this film. On the performance level, Vedhika has done a marvellous job with some best expressions and body language. Siddarth delivers a neat performance after many years and Prithviraj scores the best points as a baddie with grey shades. Nasser as usual pulls up for a finest performance and Thambi Ramaiah is great with his acting proficiency…

The first half has some engaging screenplay and post-intermission sequences slight have some sluggishness. But the gripping moments of this film that includes the confrontations among Prithviraj, Siddarth and Nasser are tremendous, especially the climax is brilliant with emotions outpouring.

Technically, AR Rahman’s background score intensifies the screenplay and adds some emotions to it. Cinematography is top-notch and art department has really worked a lot, which completely deserves special mention.

On the whole, Kaaviya Thalaivan is a great attempt by Vasantha Balan and the actors have done a splendid job. But somewhere, we fail to get connected to this film and only witness it as a drama.

Verdict: Daring and promising attempt by entire crew

Vanmam

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

A story of friends hunted by situations that tests their loyalty. Jai Krishna, a former associate of Kamal Haasan has tried making a convincing family drama, but violence is dominated by its title Vanmam that goes very well with the film as well.

Kanyakumari is the hometown of Radha (Vijay Sethupathi) and Chella Durai (Kreshna) who have been friends from their childhood. Vadhana (Sunaina) and Chella Durai are deeply in love, which strongly objected by her elder brother (Madhusudhan of Goli Soda fame) leads to some conflict. Accidentally, when Radha tries to save his friend from her brother during a fight, he accidentally gets his throat slit open. Both of them try to hide this killing their own conscience and how far would be they loyal to each other forms rest of the story.

Vijay Sethupathi never minds taking up any roles and sometimes even a cameo as well. But he etches out the best spell from his store and easily wins the applause and appreciation. Over here, scenarios are same as the story stumbles halfway through the drama and yet his performance gives some life to the tale. Kreshna had gained a decent market with Yaamirukka Bayamey followed by moderate appreciation in Vanavarayan Vallavarayan. However, he has to change his style of performance to retain his status in Tamil cinema. Sunaina doesn’t fit the role so much and her emoting skills are a stark mediocre.

Musical score by Thaman doesn’t get your praises. The young music director needlessly follows the same pattern of musical score and none of the songs are captivating.

It takes nearly a hour and half for the actual story to commence and we are tested badly with our patience. To make it more simple, if not for Vijay Sethupathi, you walk earnestly walk out of theatres before the intermission unwinds.

Verdict: Overdose of violence, lack of drama