Mugamoodi: Confused & Lackadaisical!

Director Mysskin certainly has a following of his own for his terrific works like Anjaathe, Yutham Sei and Nandalala. Generally the key ingredients of his success are a Script with intelligence (be it the plot, literary references, characterization), No nonsensical commercial escapism and a fantastic Presentation. Unfortunately his new film Mugamoodi marketed as the first superhero movie in Tamil by its big producers UTV falls comfortably into the trap.

Beginning with a dedication to one of the Grand Masters of martial arts ‘Bruce Lee’ and having claimed to be an inspiration of one of his favorite movies ‘Enter the Dragon’ in of the pre release interviews, Mugamoodi lacks the clarity of whether to present a gripping martial arts action thriller or make the audience indulge in the fantasy world of superheros like Batman (or) Spiderman. Clearly confusing!

Inspired from too many interests or sources, like martial arts, superhero comics, The Dark Knight, the directors own thriller genre fetish, the scenes don’t have a context most of the times not helping the story grow on the viewers. Even disappointing it was too see commercial escapism’s like a song in the Alps injected in to the script from nowhere to depict the romance of the lead pair.

The characterization was wafer thin and no one character leaves a mark. Hence the acting, which never really exploited the talents of its title lead Jiiva who had given meaty performances in films like Raam, Eee, Katradhu Tamil and the most recent Ko. Pooja Hegde, a Miss Universe runner up has virtually nothing to showcase either and was plastic. Narein’s dialogue delivery in Tamil which struggles not to have the Mallu influence is slow, packing no punch as the villian in a super hero movie like this. His imitation of the legendary ‘Joker’ from ‘The Dark Knight’ is a big joke!

While music director ‘K’s’ work in Yutham Sei was excellent, neither the BGM nor the songs (though only a couple, thankfully) were notable. A great music director knows that he could steal the show with no music too, whatsoever in certain scenes. In Mugamoodi, there is music which either irrelevant like a violin symphony during a chase or too much of it over-weighing the importance of the scene or the dialogue. ‘K’ for Kiddo you would grow up over the years, so no worries.

Verdict: The only saving grace, the movie is not long!

Moonrise Kingdom: An Enchanting Escapade!

Where do I start and Where do I end after having witnessed a thought as sweet as this yet with a bitter undertone not meant to be comprehended by mediocre minds. Such a thought is director Wes Andersons ‘Moonrise Kingdom’. While some movies have a plan, some are just life observations of the director or the characters in them and the rest, leave them alone. Life as seen through the quite big lens of Sam Shakusky and blue lined eyes of Suzy Bishop is this ‘Moonrise Kingdom’.

One fine morning Sam Shakusky is missing from his scout tent and amidst the search it is found, Suzy Bishop too isn’t there at her home. A policeman (Bruce Willis), her parents (Bill Murray & Francis McDormand), the scout leader (Edward Norton) and his boys have declared an all out operation ‘Search’. To help them in this pursuit is our movies narrator Bob Balaban. Yes, Sam and Suzy are in love, atleast thats what they call it and are heading to their self baptized kingdom of innocence – Moonrise Kingdom. They are certainly its King and Queen with no citizens whatsoever much to their delight. To indulge in books, music and themselves. But for how long!

Co-written with Roman Coppola (son of Francis Ford Coppola who gave us The Godfather), the inhabitants of this kingdom explore Freedom, Love, Hate and Life as in most of Wes Andersons movies. Stunningly enacted, Visually aesthetic and Musically mesmerizing, this is engrossing from start to finish. While you may be thinking whats big in falling in love and deciding to move out specially in those parts of the world, I should let you know our lovers are just 12 years old!

Verdict: A feather like touch on the bitter-sweet truth to keep growing on you!

A fitting soundtrack which would be good before you watch the movie and great after you’ve seen it.

Bol Bachchan: Golmaal Reloaded!

Of all Indian comedy movies one of those evergreen in the hearts of people is the late legend Hrishida’s ‘Golmaal’. The Amol Palekar-Utpal Dutt duo had left a lasting impression that even today it is widely watched on TV and is a scream. Such a ‘CLASSIC’!
Do you know that it was remade in other languages too, most notably in Tamil by director K. Balachander whose works are equally renowned as Hrishida’s. The Tamil version was one of the memorable works of its today’s superstar presented for the first time as Yours Humorously, Rajnikant.

And now after three decades have passed by, we get to see the modern adaptation of the classic in director Rohit Shetty’s ‘Bol Bachchan’. While one fears the risk of screwing up a classic with precedence set by ‘RGV KI AAG’ guess what, Bol Bachchan cleverly understands the modern pulse & delivers its laugh. Comparing it with the original though would be deeply regretted but in its time it still packs a punch. Thanks to its leads Abhishek Bachchan & Ajay Devgan.

Honest in its intention to not surpass the classic with a script based on similar premise but a completely different setting Bol Bachchan is worth your money for it doesn’t use your grey matter but is genuinely funny. Set in a rural mileu, Prithvi ji (Ajay Devgan) is like the modern zameendar of the village whose principle belief is TRUST and loves something which he just cannot do – TALK in ENGLISS…WALK in ENGLISS.

A taste of Prithvi jis ENGLISS gems for you:

‘When the elders get cozy, the younger don’t put their nosy’
&
‘I will make you remember Milk No 6’

Abbas Ali (Abhishek Bachchan) has set his foot in the village to find a living to slowly buy back his house in Delhi. But one circumstance after another hits him firstly to get rebaptised as ‘Abhishek Bachchan’. Hold on not just that he has to impersonate a mouche less version of himself with the task of teaching Prithvi jis daughter (Prachi Desai) not singing this time around but dance. All this while being employed by the modern guardian of Honesty – PRITHVI JI. What humorously unfolds forms the crux of this story.

While the male leads effortlessly steal the show they are ably supported by the female leads Prachi Desai & Asin along with veterans Asrani and Archan puran Singh. The songs are apt for the setting and screenplay is swift racing to a finish. Mouche-less Bachchans dance interview scene, Where is your Ma episode and the Watching the Old Golmaal on TV are super fun!

Verdict: BOL BACHCHAN – Bol Ke, Has Ke!

Dark Knight Rises: Yours ‘not so’ truly, Christopher Nolan

Dear Nolan Fans,

I take immense pleasure to say that among contemporary directors if there is one who deeply teases the intelligence of his audience with an unparalleled intelligence of his own it would be Mr. Christopher Nolan. Not to forget the genius of his sibling Jonathan Nolan who co-writes and works on the screenplay of his ventures. His latest installment, the final one for the dark superhero whom he unearthed 7 years back and without a doubt the most anticipated movie of the year proves to be fitting finale.

The cult status achieved by its predecessor with a never before seen depth in a superhero story & the legendary performance of the late Heath Ledger as ‘Joker’ add to the unprecedented expectations. Also not to forget the release of the most intelligent sci-fi thrillers of our times ‘Inception’ by the very same director. Having said this the film lives up to its expectations with its awesome technical brilliance be it the cinematography, special effects, choreographing of action sequences with Hans Zimmers powerful background score.

With all this enough to satisfy the appetite of movie connoisseurs and Nolan fans, Dark Knight Rises misses the excellent script and most importantly an intelligent enemy for the superhero which made the predecessor a cult classic. ‘Bane’ played by Tom Hardy who is set to take over Gotham City this time around in more contemporary ways like attacking the stock exchange, is no match to the eccentric intelligence of Joker which won him the Oscars for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role. The resurgence of Dark Knight after initial encounters with Bane while in the prison was not powerful either.

Despite all this credits to the Nolan brothers for having made a superhero series like none before. With grounded expectations you wouldn’t be disappointed.

Yours Truly,
Karthik Ganesan

Verdict: Thoroughly entertaining, though not in the league of its predecessor.

‘Vazhakku En 18/9’ is world class cinema!

Many a times after watching foreign language films, I have felt when are products of Indian cinema going to match these high standards of film making. After years of waiting, finally yesterday as the credits unfolded on the screen this void seemed to be filled with the brilliance of Balaji Sakthivel’s ‘Vazhakku En 18/9’. This is not good cinema but world class cinema.

Can it get any more Real than the Real? Such is the question I have been pondering after seeing the unbelievably realistic portrayal of life in the lower and higher stratas of the Indian society. Such a multi-layered script that there is no one thing you are asked to know. As always with such scripts with their inherent complexities, Balaji Sakthivel sir has proved he is a master craftsmen setting new standards in Indian cinema.

From frame 1 to the credits there is not a moment you can move your eyelids away, such an engrossing script and screenplay. The casting department requires special credit for deciding to go with all new faces and I should tell you they will leave a long lasting impression in you – Terrific characterization & Acting. Vijay Milton’s cinematography is in a league of its own. The bottom up stock shots throughout the film are mesmerizing and add to the vigor of this fantastic script. Debutante music director R. Prasanna well known as ‘Guitar’ Prasanna has done a good job with live recording. The haunting thriller theme is effective.

The climax of this movie reminds me of the lines of John Keats ‘Beauty is Truth, Truth Beauty’. Despite the pain that this Truth brings to you, finally you end up appreciating a certain ‘Beauty’ that prevails owing to a couple of other forms of the same Truth – Love & Hope.

Verdict: Enlightening!!!

Vicky Donor: An unbranded ‘spermful’ comedy!

Disclaimer(s):
* This piece of writing should not be read by or read out to babies, kids, children and unfortunately a few adults who have not grown up though they too are by products of a sperm and an egg.
* Connoisseurs of classical English pardon me for my literary innovation in the form of a word used in the subject of this review.

The way movies like ‘Khosla ka Ghosla’,’Oye lucky lucky Oye’,’Delhi Belly’ came from nowhere without much of a pre-release hype and bowled over its audiences with quality humor, Shoojit Sircar’s ‘Vicky Donor’ too would do the same. What a different premise it carries with a genuine intention to make the audience laugh and also ponder on the subject. After being subjected to tortures by Akshay Kumar, Priyadarshan & Co with their crass slapstick comedies one after another, Vicky Donor is thoroughly refreshing experience!

Set in our country’s capital city New Delhi among the Punjabi residents of Lajpat nagar, this story revolves around the adorable central character Mr. Vicky Arora enacted by Ayushman Khuranna with a charm of his own. All that he has to do is to jerk off for a good living (more than what he anticipated). Thanks to Dr Chadda an infertility specialist who has got him this job in the pretext of good money and helping infertile parents. Guess who has essayed this role ? It’s Anu Kapoor returning back to the big screen and a long long time. I should say I was reminded of the Antakshari program which he compered in Zee TV. And yes he was fantastic with his impeccable dialogue delivery and body language. His timing when he refers to Vicky as a complicated sperm or confused sperm or angry sperm needs a special mention.

While all of this is going fine, what happens when our Punjabi hero falls in love with a Bengali Ashima Roy and decides to marry her telling her that he is doing a trading business forms the crux of this delightful comedy. Yammi Gautam who plays the female protagonist is elegantly beautiful (reminded me of Gayatri Joshi in Swades) and equally talented delivering a good performance required for a subject such as this. A couple of other characters who will be with you even after the curtains roll are that of Vicky’s mother and grandmother. I wouldn’t say much just watch it for a scream.

Kudos to Shoojit Sircar for having come up with such an different script with well defined characters to the merry of the audience. Do you always need to take a stance on something or just beautifully present the reality leaving it to the intelligence of the viewers. Our director has succeeded big time in the doing the latter.

Verdict: Bilkul Mast Movie Hai – Miss Nahi karne ka!!!

Oru(O) Kal(K), Oru(O) Kanadi(K) is mostly ‘not’ OK – Fact, Fact, Fact!!!

Before I could get into the theaters to watch Oru Kal Oru Kanadi popularly called ‘OK,OK’ my soaring expectations owing to the following reasons had to be simmered down:

Ondru: This was director Rajesh’s next flick after the super dooper comedy ‘Boss Engira Bhaskaran’. Just to let you know I watched it 3 times in the theater and a few times while played on TV.

Rendu: This is once again a full length comedy movie which had an ‘awesomely’ humorous trailer.

Moondru: It was marketed as a ‘Harris Jeyaraj’ musical too.

Above it all, it stars our Kollywood’s dear Santanam as ‘Partha’ alias ‘Pachu’ alias ‘Parthasarathy’, a mylapore Iyengar boy with not so Iyengar traits. I am a fan of his acting!

So then what went wrong with this? Yes, the most important ingredient for a cult or a hit comedy is the story with which the comedy blends naturally to make it a laugh riot. With OK.OK, the story, the situations and the screenplay were a plodding bore. One of the other biggest let downs were the lead actors. It can be accepted that the hero Mr. Udayanidhi Stalin is decent looking compared to the other producers of Kollywood, but does that alone qualify him as a ‘Hero’? His body language, dialogue delivery & expressions had nothing natural or spontaneous. His dancing skills, let me cut the long story short. Hansika Motwani, I have a few suggestions for you: For exhibiting such ‘plasticity’ on screen you should volunteer as a live wax statue for the Madam Tussauds, first of its kind. Oops one more, there is tamil director by name Mr. Prabhu Deva who is looking for such talent in his movies which no one takes seriously. Mam, let me know if you’re looking for a PR officer!

The tunes of Harris too were not that good. A couple of numbers ‘Kadhal Oru Butterfly’ & ‘Venaam Machaan Venaam’ would be heard for a while but nothing memorable.

Now coming to the ‘only’ green pasture of this movie, no surprises our Santanam. I wonder what would have happened to this movie without his ‘Supero Super’ one-liners and histrionics. What timing and screen presence that he gives an all out effort to carry it to the post despite the other jokers with him. The comedy track in the plane and police station will make you laugh your guts out!

Verdict: En Nanbargale, Anbargale(means friends & well wishers in Tamil), lets wait for another Boss Engira Bhaskaran (or) SMS. There’s nothing worthwhile in OK.OK except Santanam which you could watch soon in a comedy scenes program on TV!!!

‘3’ is both entertaining & thoughtful!!!

It has taken ‘3’, I mean a debutante director with a heart and its 2 popular leads actors to come up with an engaging love story. Aishwarya R Dhanush, the daughter of Superstar Rajnikanth & w/o Dhanush the male lead of this movie has come up with a good script and most importantly a fantastic narration.

The first half of the movie is laced with superb humor, thanks to our dear Siva Karthikeyan and a sizzling on screen chemistry between Dhanush (as Ram) & Shruthi Hassan (as Janani). The second half might seem a tad slower compared to the first half as it deals with the core of the subject with genuine sensitivity. Despite the unbelievable pre-release hype over ‘Why this Kolaveri Di’, she has been matured enough not to let that take over the story or the script. What is heartwarming is that no aspect of the movie reflects a gross commercial intention. Her realistic dialogues are praiseworthy.

Cinematographer Vel Raj’s lighting and Anirudhs music are a big plus to the movie. His usage of the melodious number ‘Kannazhagas’ tune also as the main BGM right till the credits is a good move and will stay with audience for a while after the curtains roll. Kola Bhaskars editing deserves a special mention – A rollicking first half it was! Not to forget the commendable performances of Dhanush & Shruthi Haasan who were charming be it as school students or as adults. Dhanush’s histrionics in the last 20 minutes of the movie remind you of his earlier gem Aadukalam.

Having said this, the supporting characters could have been well developed with more believable scenes in the marriage portion of the leads.

Verdict: No more Kolaveri Aishwarya but you can be in peace for this good directorial debut!!!

‘Kahaani’ is a classy cerebral thriller!

How often do we get to see mainstream Indian movies appeal to the cerebral appetite of its faithful audience? How rare is it to see stories and scripts without an influence of Hollywood or even other foreign language movies these days? How often do you get to see films where every character/actor being equally important and not just its leads? Finally, how often do you get to see a movie where every scene, dialogue, premise and character add phenomenal meaning to deliver an awesome fitting finale?

What more needs to be said about this ‘Kahaani’ which is a thumping answer to all the craving questions above. Written and Directed by Sujoy Gosh, I am sure this movie is the long awaited break for him after not so memorable outings like Jhankar Beats & Alladin in Bollywood.

Mrs Bidya Venkatesan Baggchi (the Bengali pronunciation for Vidya), a firewall expert from London and w/o Mr Arnab Baggchi has just landed in chaotic, poetic, literary and what looks like a dangerous Kolkota in search of her missing husband. Caution: She is pregnant too! What follows is the crux of this original and intelligent kahaani. She is wonderfully supported by Parambrata Chatterjee as Rana also ‘Satyoki’ playing the role of a local policeman. There are characters like the lovable guest house helper boy ‘Bishnu’, rude intelligence bureau agent ‘Mr Khan’ and irritable ‘Mr Bob Biswas’ which make the movie constantly interesting.

And now the leading lady Ms Bidya Balan sorry Vidya Balan who is the heart and soul of this movie proves yet again that she is a class act. What more versatility do you expect in an industry where heroines are worshiped as glam dolls with almost no scope for performances. Be it her heartwarming role in ‘Paa’ or the strong town girl in ‘Isqiya’ to the sex siren in ‘The Dirty Picture’ and now Kahaani, Ms Balan has delivered them with unbelievable finesse.

The movie is laced with poignant moments like the interactions with Bishnu, the hotel in-charge, Mr Khan and the likable Rana. Last but not the least the plot with its twists and turns has a ripper of a climax!

Verdict: Two thumbs up for Sujoy Da’s kahaani which is in a league of its own!!!

‘The Grey’ is a bone chilling survival story…Almost!

Just out of the cinemas after having watched ‘The Grey’, I should say its been a terrifically engaging start to 2012. With only a couple of days left for the Oscars and still a few nominated movies to be watched it was a tough choice to make this weekend at the cineplex for me. But it was Liam Neeson’s powerful portrait in the poster and a special review of Mr. Ebert @ ‘Sun Times’ which aided my decision making.

The premise where a group of oil-riggers are stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after a plane which was supposed to take them home crashes seems quite simple, ain’t it. But what follows is bone chilling with no support whatsoever from mother nature or their only fellow inhabitants the wild Alaskan wolves. Without a doubt, ‘Wild’ is an understatement for these man-eaters! Hollywood has produced quite a few movies in the same genre with different intent and execution with one of my favorites being ‘The Frozen’ where a group of snowboarders are trapped in a chairlift near the Alps.

With ‘The Grey’ director Joe Carnahan clearly explores the black & white aspects of human existence, his survival instincts with a not so often seen philosophical angle. A riveting screenplay and Liam Neeson’s fantastic screen presence as Ottway an Irishman make it a compelling watch. Be it his inspiring role as Oscar Schindler in Schindler’s List or his power packed performances in Taken and Unknown, Mr Neeson is special.

A few scenes in this movie are spellbinding such as the first appearance of the wolves in the dark night with their glowing eyes, a few deadly attacks on the survivors and the mountain crossing scene. The best scene though in the movie is the climax in which Ottway has to confront the king wolf and is reminded of this poem his dad told him while he was young:

“Once more into the fray.
Into the last good fight I’ll ever know.
Live and die on this day.
Live and die on this day.”

Readers, no spoilers here and do not walk out of the hall once the credits begin as ‘The End’ is literally at the end of a 5 minute long credits!

Verdict: Well done though Not for the faint hearted!!!