CINEMAXIMaM

Endhiran is highly imaginative and entertaining!

2010-10-02T03:09:00.000-07:00

'Shankar' - When I hear the name, the first thing whichflashes in my mind is that tight close up of Kamal Haasan in the opening scene of Indian, in which his cheeks wriggle due to the strength he applies upon piercing a rusty knife into a corrupt government servant's belly. The sheer intensity of that scene had made me dumbstruck during those days!

Now coming to 2010, Shankar's dream project Endhiran lacks the intensity and the emotional

quotient involved in his earlier films, but delivers what it promised- power packed action, Wacky special effects, eye watering visuals and on top of all that, a whole lot of fun!

The story revolves around Vaseegaran, a brilliant scientist played by Rajnikanth who builds up his own Robot with a vision to help the Indian army in their security forces. The robot is named Chitti and soon captures the interests of Vaseegaran's family and his love interest Sana, played by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. But his mentor, Dr. Bora played by Danny Denzogpa gets envious of Vaseegaran's achievement and thats when the story takes a serious turn.

There are hell of a lot of sequences that will evoke wolf whistles inside the hall. Talking about those would end up spoiling your thrill of witnessing it on screen. And as performances are concerned, Rajnikanth plays 3 characters in the film with so much ease and maturity that you tend to evoke a certain amount of respect for the veteran when you walk out of the hall. Aishwarya Rai isn't quiet impressive and ends up giving an average performance. Everybody else does justice to their roles.

Now what goes wrong with Endhiran is the screenplay post intermission. The writing lacks sense of direction and excess songs add to the trauma. There are at least 15 minutes of unwanted scenes and songs to be cut off from the film. Its high time Shankar sticks on to his old editors B. Lenin and VT Vijayan, who does superior work considering the editing of Endhiran and Sivaji done by Anthony. Resul Pookkutty delivers an impressive sound design, which thrills you like some Hollywood flick does. AR Rahman's brilliant background score gives the whole film an epic feel right from the starting credits.

Leaving the tedious length of Endhiran, the film is definitely worth every penny you spend for the ticket, and its the best to come out of India when it comes to special effects and CGI. And to conclude, the film ends up being original, highly imaginative and gripping at most parts. How I wished to see more of that huge ball of Rajnikanth rolling over the floor, firing bullets! 70% of the film demands a repeat viewing. Hats off to Shankar and team.

Rating: 3.5 / 5 [Visual Spectacle]

Cinemaximam Quiz result!

2010-09-07T13:14:00.000-07:00

Cinemaximam, the ultimate cinema blog announced its first ever online competition. And here is the result

The question was:

Name the first ever Indian film, which used SPLIT SCREEN.

And the answer is: Patanga (1949)

Asmit, who resides at Mumbai has come up with the right answer, and wins a DVD worth rs. 100.

Once upon a time in Mumbaai is Ajay Devgan show!

2010-07-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

No. Not again. I don't want to trash any more movies. But goddammit people don't make good films anymore, and I' am sitting here helpless, irritated and disappointed. But indeed Once upon a time in Mumbai cannot be categorized as 'bad'. Maybe I have grown up as a viewer, but why is it that everything in this film appeared to be contrived and flat out predictable to me?

The premise of the film has a striking similarity between that of Company. So there is no point explaining it here. Director Milan Luthria has gone in for a retro look and feel for the film, and technically, the film shines with glory. It has a great production design, which transports you way back to the 1970s. The camera work by Raju Khan is eye watering and supports the style of the film. Editing by Akiv Ali is good enough with some interesting cuts. But the screenplay by Rajat Arora is sluggish and never really delivers the hard hitting drama, which you expect from an underworld film. The dialogues are cheesy, except for some smart one liners given at parts, for the leads.

Maybe the best reason to watch Once upon a time in Mumbaai is Ajay Devgan as 'Sultan'. He gives an all new killer dimension to the role of the underworld king. You can't help, but whistle and clap your way to the top whenever you see him coming up with those smart one liners! And there is that lovely Kangana Ranaut; her mere presence on screen makes every bit of your hair vibrate with excitement. The vulnerable charm she brings to 'Rehana' bangs on your senses! But the mediocre writing makes her look like a caricature most of the times. And then there is Emraan Hashmi as 'Shoeb', who tortures you with an intolerable performance and makes you wonder what the director was actually thinking while casting him!

Once upon a time in Mumbai shines like a fake ruby; glows outside and when you polish it, all you get is a mere stone! There are plenty of moments in the film which could have been presented in a lot better manner, and the best part is, you actually feel what went wrong! Don't even compare it with Satya, Company or even Sarkar. This one is an entirely predictable fare, with absolutely no intensity in its presentation. But luckily it doesn't bore you, for its slickly cut. Watch it for Ajay Devgan. Believe me, he is stupendous.

Rating: 2.5 / 5 (One time watch)
This might prove to be a more engaging watch for those people who haven't seen the real gems.

Apoorva Raagam

2010-07-27T04:34:00.000-07:00

Sibi Malayil has given us good films, but Apoorva Raagam is strictly mediocre. Its a film that tries hard to be different, but ends up being ridiculous and sexist! Believe me, it even sensationalises and glorifies crime to a laughable extent.

'Roopesh', played by Nishan falls in love with 'Nancy' played by Nithya, who is the daughter of a rich businessman. And 'Tony' played by Asif Ali helps 'Roopesh' win his love. Then suddenly starts a series of twists and turns which was supposedly designed to confuse the hell out of you. But instead you get irritated and bored, post intermission. The screenplay is crafted more like the recent Bollywood hit flick Race, which itself was an inspiration of the Hollywood blockbuster Wild Things. But at least those films were true to the genre and entertained you. Apoorva Raagam is a mess!

Out of the leads, Nishan looks awesome, but take my word for it, he is an aweful actor, who gives a pathetic show with absolutely no emotion on his face. (Shyamaprasad, you are great!) Asif Ali is a decent performer and Nithya looks lovely; she gives the film, its best moments and seems to be easy and spontaneous.

The camera work by Ajayan Vincent is brilliant as usual. The editing is not worth any mention. And the music by Vidyasagar falls flat except for a peppy dance number, which is worth humming. But its the re recording by Bijipal that surprises you; its simply among the best to come out of Malayalam after Malarvaadi Arts Club. The background scores add life to the bland pace of the film.

In the end when you leave the cinema, what you feel is a heavy head ache and a relief. Well, its not a bad film, but doesn't keep you away from getting bugged for life. I find it embarrassing when I see people calling it "New Generation cinema". A sheer pity, for it explains the conservative nature of Keralaites. Watch it only if you wanted to. Very mediocre fare.

Rating: 2/5 (Average)

Malarvaadi Arts club

2010-07-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

Vineeth Sreenivasan's debut film, Malarvaadi Arts club is a small film with a big heart, for it brings back that smile on to your face after a long time. You tend to celebrate certain moments in the film with so much of satisfaction, that you almost forget that the immensely lovable characters you see on screen are just a result of intense paperwork and passionate film making.

The story happens at a village named Malarvaadi, near Thalassery. Prakashan, Praveen, Purushu, Santosh and Kuttu are the only members of Malarvady Arts Club. They are graduates who have virtually nothing else to do other than fighting for a local political party. Nedumudi Venu is Kumarettan, their mentor who runs a tea shop at the village.

Malarvaadi Arts club is about simple characters with innocent emotions and 'sweet' is the word that best describes this film. The screenplay is nothing great, but the dialogues are smart at most parts. But there is a clear 'Rock on' inspiration post intermission, which is a letdown. Technically, the film is sound, with good editing by Ranjan Abraham, who never failed to impress us. The music by Shaan Rahman is a revelation; especially "Maanya maha janangale...", "Innoree Mazhayathu..." and "Kaathu Kaathu...". Cinematography by P Sukumar is neat, with interesting frames and great lighting.
Though the screenplay is inconsistent and turns ridiculous at certain parts, the film manages to steal your heart with some captivating performances by the leads. Out of the 5 big launches, Purushu is undoubtedly the pick of the lot; Take for instance, the scene in which he asks for Geethu's hand in marriage; the young actor handles the situation with so much subtlety that you forgive the flaw in the script. Santhosh is a charmer, Kuttu sizzles with his comic timing, Prakashan looks gritty & Praveen does his job well. Saleem Kumar shines with his comic timing, and so does Suraj. But its Nedumudi Venu, who comes up with a brilliant act; the emotions he brings on screen are of first rate.

Ultimately director Vineeth Sreenivasan emerges as the very soul of the film. He treats every scene with so much of passion and love that you tend to forgive certain evident directorial errors. Malarvaadi Arts club is not great cinema and is far from being perfect, but sure is a promising debut from the director. Forget the faults and celebrate this film, for it oozes sincerity and is an honest tribute to friendship. Watch it, for its refreshing and new.

Rating: 3/5 (Recommended)

The ULTIMATE Cine-quiz ! (July 2010)

2010-07-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

Cinemaximam, the ultimate cinema blog announces its first ever online competition. And here is your chance to win a DVD movie, absolutely free. Your gift is guaranteed with no stars on top of a word!

Just answer the question to win the prize:

Name the first ever Indian film, which used SPLIT SCREEN.

You can comment on this post with your answers.

This competition is not a fake and the gift is guaranteed.

THE LAST DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF ENTRY IS AUGUST 1ST

Inception

2010-07-15T01:04:00.001-07:00

Inception is a film with such brilliance involved in its thinking that it makes James Cameron's over rated Avatar look like a pin ball inside a massive football stadium. Pardon me if I' am overdoing it, but I just can't come out of the experience I had watching this gigantic piece of cinema. Christopher Nolan, who gave us some of the finest films in the millennium like Memento and The Dark Knight, proves it once again that he has no suitable competitors presently.

Now Leonardo DiCaprio is 'Dom Cobb', a high-end thief who can extract information out of a sleeping person's brain. Ken Watanabe plays 'Saito', a business man who hires 'Dom' to plant an idea inside the brains of his foe, 'Robert Fischer', played by Cillian Murphy. 'Saito' opts to implant an idea instead of stealing one as this idea will destroy the whole of his foe's business empire! Soon we see 'Dom' and his exciting team setting out for the toughest challenge they have ever witnessed, leaving the audience dumbstruck with the most exciting game they have ever played!

Now talking more about the premise or its characters will only spill the beans over the fun of watching it; or to be precise, the fun of figuring out what is actually happening. And I hate to give out spoilers.

The screenplay is par excellence, with a killer characterization given to each person involved in the cast, which gives you a feel that you know them all long back, right after you dig into the first few minutes of the film. Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb is nothing less than a stunner, where as the rest of the cast including Joseph Gordon, Tom Hardy, Dileep Rao, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy and Ken Watanabe blends into the characters. But its Christopher Nolan's screenplay, which constantly keeps you on the edge. You just don't have the time to rate the performances of the actors, when you already have a tedious job of understanding the film!

More over, the film is a mind blowing visual extravaganza. Take for instance, the scene in which Dom Cobb trains the dreamer, in a dream she has with the city bursting out part by part, or even the scene in which the whole city folds itself into a book! But don't go into the cinema expecting some CGI driven film, and that's when you get completely lost. Because Inception is a film that tests your Intelligence and concentration; its a film which demands so much of attention that you might regret losing even a small detail, when you blink for a second. Now don't get me wrong on that; Inception is not that film which shows off its intelligence, its that film which defeats you with its intelligence. And its the best game I have ever played.

Now the biggest challenge Christopher Nolan might face in the future is to outsmart his own creation. Because if Avatar was a landmark, Inception is the ultimate. No matter what happens, a bomb scare or even terrorist attack, never miss this one at the theaters. Its a film to die for.

My Rating: 5 / 5

PS: By the way, I recommend this film only to those who have a minimum I.Q. level; because i hate it when people shout out loud nonsense in the theater when they have perfectly no clue about what is happening inside the film. If you can't understand the language, don't go in to spoil the fun others are having!

A great era of stardom is ALMOST at the fullstop!

2010-07-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

Lets not hide it folks, the world is watching; the end is almost near for the 'ever' ruling superstars of Malayalam cinema, Mohanlal and Mammooty. I' am not talking about their acting career; its about their STARDOM.

Being 2 of the most talented actors in India, they created so much impact that the cine goers were just not ready to accept any new actors to rule their hearts in Kerala. Actors like Suresh Gopi, Dileep and even Jayaram tasted super stardom; but not for long, as they didn't have the demanded potential to show their versatility.

But for the last 12 months, Malayalam cinema has witnessed a shift of interests in the Kerala audience. With the coming of pointless films with total absence of a fairly entertaining, leave a good screenplay, cine goers started ignoring Malayalam films and opted for other language films. Well, its not surprising; how far can they test our patience? Won't we get bored watching 2 old men, dancing happily when their grand children were getting married? And the answer is a BIG yes. For instance, the legendary actor Mohanlal is acting strange, opting to play mindless characters like for instance 'Sagar Alias Jacky', in which he wore a suit on his rather hammy body, walking around romancing Bhavana, an actress, as young as his daughter and even Mammooty for his ridiculous selection of films! Its a sheer pity for actors of great caliber like that of Mohanlal and Mammooty. Who can forget the brilliant, path breaking films they gave us in the past 25 years? This is just like Marlon Brando's case, when he himself mocked the character of 'Don Vito Corleone' in Francis Ford Coppola's ever green classic, 'The Godfather', in a silly spoof movie!

With the coming of a young and talented actor like Prithviraj in Nandanam, 8 years back, nobody saw a star in him. But now, after the hugely successful mass entertainer Puthiya Mugham, Prithviraj has become as hot as any other super star in South India. Puthiya Mugham was just a typical action film, but Prithviraj gave life to the character, and fitted into the role smooth and easy! The actor not only gave Malayalam film makers, a whole new dimension to think of, but also a hope for the viewers who demand freshness. He knotted in hands with Mani Ratnam, for his magnum opus Raavanan and though the film failed to impress, Prithviraj's performance was highly acclaimed, and the critics rated it above Vikram's performance in the same role in Hindi version.

And as far as the box office performances are concerned, though Mammoty & Mohanlal has 3 times more fan support than Prithviraj, their recent films found it difficult to get even a decent opening. While Mohanlal is totally down and has lost his opening completely (Check: http://sify.com/movies/malayalam/fullstory.php?id=14949377 for more details), Mammooty scrapes through with the only exceptions being Pokkiri Raja, because of the 'multi starrer' tag and Pazhassi Raja, with the hype and the huge marketing budget (Check: http://sify.com/movies/malayalam/fullstory.php?id=14944110 for more details). Now lets take a look at the Box office performance of Mohanlal, Mammooty and Prithviraj films which released recently. Keep in mind that an 'Opening' for a film decides the power of the actor. In other words, stardom:

Mohanlal (Last 6 releases) Falls down!
Oru Naal Verum: Average film (Below average opening/ Flop - Below average status)
Alexander the great: Average film (Hold over opening with 10-20% occupancy/Disaster status)
Ividam Swargamanu: A Good film (Average opening/Average status- Even though it was an entertainer, people just didn't go in; maybe bored of Mohanlal's hammy figure and repetitive roles)
Angel John: A bad film (Dull opening/Disaster status- Bad script & Direction)
Bhramaram: Above average film (Average opening/Average status- Mediocre script & direction by Blessy)
Bhagavaan: A bad film (Average opening/Disaster status- An avoidable film in all aspects)

Mammooty (Last 6 releases) Scrapes through
Pokkiri Raja: Mass Masala film (Fantastic opening because of the 'multi starrer' tag/Super hit- The distributors and theater owners credited the success to Prithviraj Sukumaran)
Pramani: Below average film (Hold over opening with 20-30 % occupancy/Disaster status)
Drona 2010: A bad film (Hold over opening/Disaster status- Bad script & Direction)
Chattambinaadu: Mass Entertainer (Decent opening/Declaired Hit status- No new releases)
Paleri Manikyam: A fascinating film (Average opening/Flop status- An art film, Won many awards including a best actor award for Mammooty)
PazhassiRaja: A brilliant film (Biggest ever opening in the history/All time blockbuster- Because of the huge hype, high production value, great visual appeal, fantastic technicalities, a good script and edgy, epic scale direction)

Prithviraj Sukumaran (Last 6 releases) is the only winner!
Raavanan: Above average film (Fantastic opening because of the MANI RATNAM tag/Super Hit status in Kerala- Prithviraj was hugely acclaimed and is all set to reach bigger heights)
Pokkiri Raja: Mass Masala film (Fantastic opening because of the 'multi starrer' tag/Super hit status- The distributors and theater owners credited the success to Prithviraj Sukumaran)
Thanthonni: Cliched mass Action film (Fantastic opening/Average status- Bad script & Direction)
Punyam Aham: Offbeat film (Limited release/Flop status- An art film, critics raved Prithviraj's performance)
Robin Hood: Entertainer (Fantastic opening/Hit status- Because of Prithviraj's new found stardom)
Puthiya Mugham: Mass action drama (Very good opening/Super Hit status- Prithviraj becomes superstar)

I do agree that Mohanlal and Mammooty are great actors, but there is a limit. Look at Hollywood- Al Pacino is 70 and Robert Di Niro is 67; they are considered among the greatest actors of our times. Now please check out their filmography and Analise what kind of films they are doing right now. Oh come on, they started doing mature roles when they were in their early 40's, and were still considered superstars. Nobody said super stars have to dance and mock around!! If Tamil stars are successful in doing it, they have a parallel set of good films running with fresh actors, and talented directors who have the support of the audience. Lets keep in mind that we DO NOT have that. Keralaites are so much conservative and self centered that they just cannot accept anything new! I will talk about this in another article.

Now let me make my point clear. People have started realizing their mistakes now. Lets hope for more young actors and directors to make their mark in an industry like Malayalam, which needs something new and fresh. Fingers crossed.

Raavan vs Raavanan !

2010-06-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

"A STUPENDOUS PIECE OF EYE CANDY"

From the moment I entered the cinema hall on June 18th for the early noon show of the Tamil version entitled 'Raavanan', and until I finished watching the evening show of the Hindi version, 'Raavan', what I witnessed was a series of pleasant surprises and some sour disappointments. Believe it or not, the Hindi version scores over the Tamil!

Mani Ratnam was the only director in India, who handled melodrama in the most natural way; and that was evident in his films like Nayagan, Roja, Bombay, Alayipayuthe, and even the recent Guru. But after watching Raavan/Raavanan, I' am forced to rub off that very statement from my head, because right from the start, whatever happened on screen seemed to be contrived and artificial at most parts, with the very character of Raavan not even being properly established!

Well, the basic premise, inspired from the Indian epic Ramayana is entirely predictable, but a taut screenplay would have done the job! When the Tamil version suffers hugely from a bad casting and a far from great performance from the usually dependable actor, Chiyan Vikram, the Hindi version excels in the performance section, but falls flat on the screenplay, which is a total mess in both cases! But as far as I have analysed, the Hindi version has a far better execution than the Tamil version.

The cinematography by Santhosh Sivan & V. Manikandan oozes sincerity and demands a standing ovation; The visuals add life to every dull moment, and remains the best part of this king size film. The DI is of international quality, and the expert colouring adds to the beauty. The music by AR Rahman is brilliant, but the background scores disappoint to a large extent! Veterian editor Sreekar Prasad saves the film from drowning down into the heavy rain forests, which is continuously wet! Samir Chanda makes every frame rich with his intelligent use of vibrant colours and art work. The actions scenes by Peter Hein are exquisitely shot with a lot pain and passion, which is evident on screen, as those are the only parts where the theater comes alive, with excellent use of Sound by Tapas Nayak.

ALTERNATE TAKE
If I were Sreekar Prasad, and if the footage appears to be poorly directed, I would have opted for a simple, linear editing pattern for Raavan, rather than screwing up in the non linear pattern.

Though Vikram is excellent in parts compared to Abhishek, who is mediocre all the way, the junior Bachchan as Beera in Hindi outsmarts Vikram as Veerayya in Tamil when consistency is taken into a note. But, people might end up rating Vikram better, because he is undoubtedly natural, and spontaneous. Prithviraj surprises you as Dev in the Tamil version, and comes out with an edgy performance, which stands out and ends up being far better than Vikram's portrayal of Dev in Hindi, which is shocking, but true. Aishwarya Rai has nothing much to do, other than portraying a poorly written character! All other supporting actors, including Govinda and Ravi Kissen in Hindi seems to be more into the characters, and convincing than Karthik and Prabhu in Tamil!

Leaving its negatives apart, the film surely has its moments. For instance, take a look at that scene, in which the character of Dev pierces the burning cigarette into a mere newspaper cutting! Well, that Mani Ratnam magic is hidden somewhere deep inside, but sadly doesn't come out. And moreover, each frame of the film is a separate, million dollar visual, which will take your breathe away; the credit goes largely to Mani Ratnam's vision as a director! Raavan puts you in a rather awkward situation, when you almost forget that you are watching a movie, and start rating the beautiful shots individually! And I have to admit that most of the film's major flaws went unnoticed by me during my first watch of Raavanan, and later on ended up noticing a few in the Hindi Raavan, mainly due to the above mentioned reason.

In the end when you leave the theater, all you remember is the stunning camera work, the nerve pumping action scenes, and a little bit of brilliance spread out in the 2 hour 7 minute saga! Raavan falls short of the expectations, but indeed is worth the money you pay for the ticket. I give a generous three out of five for the Hindi version and two out of five for the Tamil version. Its far from being a classic, but nevertheless entertains to an extent!

Hindi Raavan: 2.5/5

Tamil Raavanan: 2/5

(Watch the trailers again; they were far more superior)

Raavan is a proof to the fact that Mani Ratnam's film making style, is drowning away now; This is is just a stupendous piece of eye candy! Where are those subtle, dramatic moments, which used to fill our senses with pleasure, passion, gut and energy? Where are those smart dialogues? Where is the screenplay? Everything is missing here.

For instance, take a look at this scene, from Mani Ratnam's recent Hindi film, Guru, which is among my personal favorites. Its simply mesmerising, the way Mani's drama unfolds- with excellent dialogues, sharp timing, and mind boggling background scores! This is what you call BRILLIANCE!

Thank you for reading!

Raajneeti

2010-06-16T09:39:00.000-07:00

Direction: Prakash Jha
Writers: Prakash Jha & Anjum Rajabali
Cinematography: Sachin K Krishnan
Editing: Santhosh Mondol

Prakash Jha, who gave us gems like 'Gangaajal' and 'Apaharan', comes out with a mammoth size, star studded, Political drama entitled 'RAAJNEETI'. Now as soon as the titles roll in, the drama builds up like ocean waves on a sea shore and keeps you thrilled and awe stricken with its sheer energy!

Supported by great performances, the movie is delicious in parts. It had great potential to become one of those memorial Political dramas in the history of Indian cinema; but sadly, the screenplay goes on like a free bird, post intermission!

Ajay Devgan was back in great form in the first half, but was completely wasted post intermission. Katreena Kaif gives an honest show, while Nana Patekar shines in his new avtar as the political 'Krishna' and Ranbir Kapoor steels the screen with a cold, yet highly expressive look on his face; well, Abhishekh Bachchan gave a better performance with a similar role in our very own RGV's Sarkar! In the end, its Arjun Rampal who surprises you with a consistently gritty performance, which is sure to blow your minds up! On the other hand, I found it ridiculous that an actor like Naseerudhin Shah was given such an awfully written character!

Heavily inspired from The Godfather, this modern day take on Mahabharata suffers from good thinking at most parts. Though the film is technically sound with neat camera work, art direction, costumes, and moreover high production values, the merciless editing, which concentrates more on the Ranbir-Katreena plot, adds to the trauma.

Its a pity, for if the makers had worked more on the screenplay, which seems to be still on the first draft, the film would have been much more! I felt a lump on my throat witnessing the makers wasting a brilliant opportunity. But Raajneeti is still worth a watch for the rich, yet inconsistent drama it showcases.

Rating: 3/5 Nearly 'Good'

PS: This is not the Prakash Jha we had seen before. Please go back to your old self.

GRD Specials

2010-01-14T03:42:00.004-08:00

All the reviews posted below are unbiased and in no manner is intended to harm a person or a group. The views & opinions are strictly my personal perceptions. Please take everything in a positive sense.

1. Aazhangal-The depth

Genre: Romance/Drama

Direction: Sivaram Mony
Production: Aadhitya Krishnan TRB
Cinematography: Sreerag Kannan
Screenplay: Arun Kumar
Music: Arjun Rajkumar
Background score: Anand Krishna & team
Dialogues/Associate: Lukhman Pambra
Editing: Sarath S
Art Direction: Balu Narendran

First things first. Upcoming filmmaker Sivaram Mony directed 30 minute short film, 'Aazhangal: The depth' doesn't take you to the depth, because there is no actual depth in the basic premise of the short film. The story is simple, very much cliched and highly melodramatic, which is shocking because you never actually expect such an old fashioned drama from a group of young minds. If not, usually the youth today at least pretend to be innovative!

The movie starts rolling, when a famous psychiatrist, Dr. Pradeep (Faisal Babu) trips on to a complicated case involving a girl, Akhila (Pavithra Uday) and her lover Vijay (Sharmal), who, she claims has gone missing on the day of their marriage. The screenplay jumps through the investigations of Dr Pradeep and the love life of Akhila in the past, which bursts into songs at every instance.

Faisal Babu as Dr Pradeep comes out with an okay performance, and so does Sharmal as Vijay. Then its Pavithra Uday, who turns the poorly written character of Akhila with flesh-and-blood with her confident performance. The movie belongs to her and surely, she is the next big thing on silver screen.

The screenplay by Arun Kumar gives you some surprises and is an honest attempt. The dialogues, credited to Lukhman Pambra often tends to be unnatural and contrived, but surely does the job with ease. The camera work by Sreerag Kannan is commendable, Balu Narendran's art work blends, Sarath's cuts are fine as a debutant and the background score by Anand Krishna & team creates a feel. But it's Arjun Rajgopal, who diverts your attention from the film's flaws, and spellbinds you with his beautiful songs, which is Aazhangal's biggest strength.

Leaving all the criticism apart, I give 3 out of 5 for Aazhangal, as it comes out as a very sincere effort made by director Sivaram Mony and will remain in our minds for the days to come, for, it marks the breakout of 2 bright, shining stars, Arjun Rajkumar and Pavithra Uday. 10 minutes shorter, Aazhangal would have been a much more compelling film. But watch it for some stunning performances and soothing music, and the chances are that you won't be disappointed!

Rating: 3/5

Puthiya Mugham

2009-08-16T11:27:00.000-07:00

Now when was the last time you felt your nerves pumping up hot blood, while sitting in an A/C cinema hall? Debutant director Diphan's Puthiya Mugham, starring Prithviraj provides just that. And the result? You ask for more, and more!

Malayalam cinema had witnessed the huge success of some of the most idiotic action flicks like Narasimham, Ravanaprabhu, and many similar films (made by some psychopaths like ShajiKhailas, Ranji Panikkar & Ranjith), all of which used to bore the audience with its lengthy and mindless dialogues, mainly aimed at the front benchers and fans associations. Gone are those nightmares; because Puthiya Mugham bypasses the cliches and comes out fresh, with the new age of manhood. It can also be defined as a Tamil film with all the quality sensibilities of Malayalam.

The story is quiet simple and way too cliched, which makes it dumb to explain.

Prithviraj (Krishna Kumar) is a good Mridhangam artist, and is already engaged to his childhood lover Mira Nandan. He joins an engineering college in Ernakulam, where he gets undue attention from the opposite sex. Bala, who plays the rich guy in college is the youngest brother of the famous city gangsters. He develops an interest in Priyamani, who is also his family friend. Priyamani on the other hand being a fresher, studying in Krishna Kumar’s class, takes a special interest in him. This makes Bala uncomfortable, and then the action begins.

View the exclusive action packed trailor !!

Prithviraj as Krishnakumar, the brahmin boy from Palakkad shines with his terrific screen presence, innocence and conviction, all at the same time. Meera Nandan and Priyamani does their roles neatly and Baala too, performs surprisingly well as the villain.

Technically, the film is savvy with fast paced cinematography by Bharani K Dharan and super cool cuts by Samjith (Mhd), who had done some bad editing for Diphan's guru Shaji Khailas's Red Chillies. The beautiful, yet punching music & background score by Deepak Dev adds to the steel coat with a subtle softness.

On the downside, the action scenes towards the climax is a tad too lengthy and needs serious trimming. 15 minutes shorter, and it could have been a lot better.

Predictable, and unpredictable at the same time, this set of explosive reels contain that rare formula action, which neither takes itself seriously, nor gives the audience the time to get serious! Its a mindless game of revenge, filled with nail biting stunts and an out of the world performance by the protagonist played by Prithviraj! So thats two thumbs up to Diphan & team for Puthiya Mugham. Believe me, its a quality action flick with so much fun filled in, that you just can't miss out on this!!

Go for it!
3/5 (***)

Bhramaram

2009-07-01T13:27:00.000-07:00

Bhramaram is undoubtedly a watchable fare, and has taken Malayalam industry into a whole new level. It showcases great VFX, exceptional colour grading, mind blowing camera work and sharp cuts, which is mixed with spine chilling background score, all in a terrific sound design! All these factors do make Bhramaram one of the most technically brilliant films, Malayalam cinema has ever produced!

Blessy explores the 'Road movie' genre rather effectively, which is quiet new to our industry. The director shows his sheer talent by churning out a gripping revenge tale from a very much cliched excuse for a storyline! Added to that, the movie is which filled with a whole lot of thrilling road trips, pulp action, and high octane drama, more than enough to entertain the hell out of you!

But sadly, Bhramaram lacks the honest brilliance, which was evident in director Blessy's earlier works like Kazhcha & Thanmathra. This is mainly because of the unfiltered screenplay and bad casting. (The kid who played Mohanlal's daughter was pathetic & Bhoomika was not suited for the role). Blessy has gone wrong on various aspects, which you wouldn't expect from a man of his calibre!

Moreover, the movie just doesn't get into your heart, even with Mohanlal delivering an edge of the seat performance, for he is the very soul of the movie! He shines on the silver screen with his spontaneous dialogue delivery, unbeatable comic timing, and the trillions of expressions he brings into the character of Shivankutty, the protagonist of the movie.

Blessy's Bharmaram could have been a taut film, which had the power in it, to keep you on the edge of your seats, but most of the times, it does not reach its full potential. But for a fantabulous performance by Mohanlal, I don't mind watching the movie all over again. Because he is back in form after a long time, and he is so good!!!

Rating: 3 / 5

Red Chillies

2009-04-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

Direction: Shaji Khailas

Cinematography: Shaji

Editing: Samjith

First things first, director Shaji Khailas' Mohanlal starrer RED CHILLIES is one of those idiotic, mindless potboilers, with enough number of punch dialogues, low angle shots, and violent editing gimmicks to satisfy the typical mohanlal fan!

The film begins with 'Red Chillies', the popular gang of radio jockeys working for a Radio Station in Kochi, owned by the singapore based business giant OMR. On the new year's eve, the Red Chillies gang gets into deep trouble & then the terror ride begins!

Mohanlal plays OMR, the man who knows it all, and the rest is known to all!

On the technical side, Camera by Shaji gives you a high-end eye problem and editing by Samjith adds to the headache.

In the end, what the audience get, is a set of glossy reels consisting millions of shots, added together to form one hell of a headache movie, which is a pain to watch! So thats one out of five, and a thumbs down for Shaji Khailas' RED CHILLIES. Watch it if you are a Mohanlal Fan, and the chances are that you wont be dissapointed!

My Rating: 1 / 5 (Mass action thriller)

Luck By Chance

2009-02-05T00:42:00.000-08:00

Direction: Zoya Akhtar

Music: Shankar Ehsaan Loy

Cinematography: Ravi K Chandran

Editing: Sreekar Prasad

Luck By Chance, Zoya Akhtar's debut film as a director is heartwarming and consistant. Lavishly produced & slickly written by the Akhtar sibblings, the film is a sattire in disguise. Even though it moves on a snail pace, you never get bored for a second! The kind of subtle humour shown in here is rare to find in movies today. Now let me warn you, Luck By Chance is not a comedy by any chance, but is a movie which makes you think.

Analysing Luck By Chance is a tough task, I must tell you. Because, you cant help praising the movie, untill you realise that the movie itself didnot create any impact on you! Now this is a perfect example of an almost good film, because it looses itself somewhere in the making, that you don't know where the fault lies! I have failed to judge this film; Try your luck, if you wish to!

My Rating: 3 / 5 & I need a repeat viewing (Good Drama)

Slumdog Millionaire

2009-01-28T21:52:00.001-08:00

Direction: Danny Boyle

Music: AR Rahman

Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle

Editing: Chris Dickens

Intellectuals might call it "Mediocre and senseless"; but believe me, Slumdog Millionaire is that rare senseless movie, which gives your senses a rest! Wildly silly, but entirely watchable, it is no classic by any chances. And the movie is best enjoyed when you dont take it too seriously.

Based on Vikas Swarup's Indian bestseller Q&A, the plot of Slumdog Millionaire revolves around a city underdog, Jamal Malik, his life adventures, his love & his destination. Gripping at most parts, its unpredictability lies in the predictability of the plot. Revealing more about the movie would only spoil the fun of watching it. And let me tell you, the movie wouldn't be half as good as this, if it weren't for AR Rahman's brilliant music & Anthony Dod Mantle's breathless cinematography; the crisp editing by Chris Dickens adds to the charisma!

Out of Jamal's three phases, the first one creates a huge impact.The film is not a perfect in any way. Infact, the script goes loose many a times, but its charactors and their brilliant potrayals keep us glued on to the screen!

And finally, when the end credits start rolling, you see the actors dancing to Rahman's beautifully composed "Jai Ho". And that is when you get reminded that even if the film is an out & out hollywood production, its very own heart lies at India!

So its four out of five for Dany Boyle's SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE; Its a buoyant hymn to life, and a movie to celebrate. Watch it; get entertained, touched, and inspired!

My Rating: 4 / 5 & a must watch stamp (Highly explosive Drama)

Crazy Gopalan

2009-01-05T08:28:00.000-08:00

Direction: Dipu Karunakaran

Music: Rahul raj

Editing: Manoj

Cinematography: D. Kannan

Despite a weak script, an overdose of heroism, and a miserable female lead who deserves a slap on her face, actor/producer Dilip's latest offering CRAZY GOPALAN, is a racy comic entertainer, which is a huge relief from the dumb squids we witnessed for the past few months.

The story revolves around a petty thief Gopalan, who unknowingly gets involved in a bank robbery case, followed by a series of unfortunate events. The protagonist, played by Dilip, is a treat to watch in the comic part, but fails miserably as the action hero towards the climax. Salim Kumar is at his best, and makes you fall out of the seats laughing, by his sharp screen presence and brilliant dialogue delivery! Jagathy Sreekumar shines with his unmatchable comic timing and Harisree Asokan does a faithful comeback to the genre.

CRAZY GOPALAN is slapstick comedy at its best, and debutant director Dipu, along with his talented team of technicians, deliver what the audience really quench for; 2 hours of rib tickling comedy, which reminds you of the good old times of Dilip, who gave us some hard-core laugh riots like Meesamadhavan and C.I.D Moosa.

Going to its technical aspects, Cinematography by D. Kannan is refreshing and the varied use of lenses adds to the overall mood of the film. Editing by Manoj is worth mentioning, as I have never seen such a controlled, yet sufficient usage of effects and sharp cuts in Malayalam cinema of this genre until now. Even the colour correction is perfect!

Despite its shortcomings, this out and out Dilip film satisfies big time, as its heart lies at the right place. I would go with two out of five, and a thumbs up for director Dipu's comic crapper, CRAZY GOPLALAN. It is worth a watch, but I would recommend you to leave your brains at home; sometimes mindless entertainment is better than serious boredom!

My Rating: 2 / 5 & a thumbs up! (Slapstick Entertainer)