Aaha Kalyanam

Yash Raj Films make their first stride into the south, with Aaha Kalyanam which is the official remake of the Hindi hit Band Baaja Baaraat. Starring Nani and Vaani Kapoor in the lead, the movie is directed by newcomer Gokul Krishna with music by Dharan.

Aaha Kalyanam is the fun filled episode of how Shakti and Shruti meet, greet, fight and unite with a wedding planning business as their motive.

Sticking to the script of the original, the director has played it safe by carving out a replica of the Hindi version. However, he has ensured that the movie is bright and colorful to provide a glitzy treat to the eyes. Most of the movie is concentrated on the lead pair, who share a surprisingly good chemistry between them. The feel good factor is maintained till the very end without spoiling the essence of the movie.

Aaha Kalyanam's biggest strength is the male lead Nani, who comes out with a bubbly performance. His Telugu-ish Tamil diction brings out instant chuckles at times, both intentionally and otherwise. Vaani Kapoor is beau, and is compelling enough for the role. The rest of the cast fit the bill, notably Badawa Gopi as the flower vendor.

Technically, the movie is in the swim with hunky-dory camera and passable editing. Nevertheless, the movie does boast of some good production values and great wardrobes. Dharan's music is another plus, even though there are an overdose of songs in the first half. The Punch Song gets lucky with glittery picturisation.

On the downside, Aaha Kalyanam pays heed to a few dull moments in the second half and a slightly alien feeling overall due to the esoteric casting. Yet, it does leave you with a smile at the end and for sure is a remake which stays faithful to the original.

Verdict : Jolly rom-com which is good fun while it lasts.

2.5 / 5

Bramman

The people's favorite, Sasikumar picked a different route this time by teaming up with newbie Socrates in Brahman. With Lavanya Tripathi, Santhanam, Soori and Jayaprakash alongside Sasikumar, the movie has music by Devi Sri Prasad.

Brahman is the story of how two friends who are separated in childhood reunite through their journey in the tinsel town.

The movie begins with a buttload of cliche, where you only survive thanks to the comic relief provided by Santhanam. The positive vibes which Sasikumar induced in his previous films is nowhere to be seen here, as he is offered no room for performance. The heroine is a doll, both in her looks and in the acting department. Into the second half, and Brahman turns into an indefinite drag, with Soori replacing Santhanam. The climax is the savior, in the absence of which people would have ended up cursing the movie to their heart's content.

There is nothing much to speak about the performances either, cos here we have a movie in which even a talented performer like Sasikumar is made to dance to tepid songs with absolutely horrid moves. No comments on the guy who plays  Sasikumar's friend.

Brahman falls on the technical side too, especially cinematography where we have a few shots which can be identified as blurry even by a 10 year old. Music and BGM by DSP just pass muster.

The whole of Brahman is peppered with lame buffoonery, as one pleads for something interesting to pop up. Almost nothing works in favour of the film until the very end, where it obviously gets too late. Brahman is a forgettable film for Sasikumar, and the exact opposite of what we usually get when he is in the picture.

Verdict : Sasikumar's modern makeover rolls up into a cornball. A total yawnfest!

1 / 5

Idhu Kadhirvelan Kadhal

After a fun filled debut in OKOK, Udhayanidhi Stalin returns to the silver screen with Idhu Kadhirvelan Kadhal (IKK). Directed by S.R.Prabakaran, IKK has Nayanthara and Santhanam alongside Udhayanidhi. Music is by Harris Jayaraj while Balasubramaniem takes care of the camera.

Idhu Kadhirvelan Kadhal is the love story of Kadhirvelan (Udhayanidhi Stalin) and the series of events which happen in his family before joining hands with his ladylove.

Instead of crafting the movie just like any other rom-com, S.R.Prabakaran has worked towards filming a wholesome entertainer which is high on family values. Right from the word go, the movie travels on a straight path which doesn't deviate big from the main motive. Santhanam's character too, blends with the story as he is present right until the climax.
Udhayanidhi Stalin's performance here is as good as other mainstream heroes. With tremendous improvement in the dancing category, he puts up a convincing show. Nayanthara has been provided with a lot of screen space, as her charming smile and graceful movements bring out the drool. Santhanam's comedy works at most places, with the supporting cast fitting the bill. Special mentions to the characters playing Udhayanidhi's father and brother in law.

IKK is technically and musically fine. Balasubramaniem flaunts his talent through the songs, churning out enjoyable picturisations. Harris Jayaraj's mild BGM is just in line for the movie.

Even though IKK does drag around a bit at places, it is a feel good fare on the whole and not another OKOK as most would have thought of. The touching dialogues at the end do help the film finish on a high. IKK will meet your expectations, if not for beating them. Happy Kadhirvalentines Day!

Verdict : A pleasant entertainer with the right mix of comedy, romance and morals.

3 / 5

Pulivaal

Pulivaal is the next film from the house that brought you the tense thriller Chennaiyil Oru Naal last year. It stars Vemal, Prasanna, Oviya, Iniya and Ananya in the leads. Music is by N.R.Raghunandhan. It is the remake of Malayalam film Chappa Kurishu.

Pulivaal is the tame game between two contrasting characters and a mobile phone.

The first half begins with Vemal and Prasanna being introduced as two entirely different characters. Nothing works in favour of the movie here with the comic and romantic portions both falling flat. Prasanna who looks smart does manage to do better than the others though. The story gets deeper in the second half. Even though the movie does possess some good potential, none of it is brought up and therefore, it fails to captivate. The climax is downright predictable.

Vemal is as simple as toast and doesn't emote much either. An absolute cornball from him. Prasanna is the saving grace here, bringing up a rather arguable performance. Oviya is the other defender here, she does strike a chord a places. The other faces in the movie are just there for the sake of being paid, especially the comedians who are plain irritating.

Technically, there is not much to say in Pulivaal, with all aspects being pretty mediocre. BGM by Gopi Sundar is welcome.

With an impressive plot, Pulivaal could have gone places. The film doesn't catch up at any point, as the audience are left waiting for a thrilling moment. Set out to catch the tiger's tail, G.Marimuthu has ended up with the rat's tail.

Verdict : Another Malayalam remake that goes awry.

1.5 / 5

Thegidi (Music)

Thirukumaran Entertainment’s next offering in line is the crime thriller Thegidi, which is directed by P.Ramesh of the Naalaya Iyakkunar fame. Music is composed by debutant Nivas K. Prasanna, who is said to be an assistant of veteran veena player Rajesh Vaidya. Are the songs worth hearing?

Yaar Ezhudiyadho is the kickstarter to the album, which is flawlessly sung by Sathya Prakash Dharmar. Sounding like Harish Raghavendra at places, Sathya Prakash single handedly takes this song to the zenith. The simple percussions and breezy lyrics by Kabilan go in tandem.

Neeyum Dhinam is the next track, sung by Andrea. With a porsche feel to it, the spooky music provides the thrill factor needed for the film.

Abhay Jodhpurkar and Saindhavi team up for a duet number in Vinmeen Vithaiyil. Keeping it simple once again, Nivas provides more room for the singers to perform. And yes, they do it quite well.

Kangalai Oru is a short and sweet number crooned by Ajesh Ashok.

The final song in the album, Needhane Needhane is a grand track with heavy orchestration. With Rajesh Vaidya on the veena and Shankar Mahadevan on the vocals, this song blends rich fusion with Carnatic notes. Albeit seven minutes long, this number manages to hold on for a few repeated hearings.

Thegidi’s music album does provide good melodies well within the aura of the film. Nivas K.Prasanna’s music is pretty straightforward, yet unique. By avoiding the inclusion of noisy sounds which gobble up the elemental essence of the music, he has biased more room for the playback singers to stress on the delivery and lyrics. Kudos to the young composer for bringing up an album which is neat on the ears.

Pick : Yaar Ezhudiyadho

Verdict : Newbie Nivas is here to stay.

3 / 5

Rummy

The first month of 2014 ends with Rummy, a rural romantic drama starring Vijay Sethupathi, Inigo, Soori, Gayathri and Aishwariya in the lead. Imman scores the music while Balakrishnan wields the megaphone.

Rummy is the romantic episode of two friends, Shakthi and Joseph in the backdrop of a village.

Set in 1987, the movie begins with the intro of the main characters, comic scenes with Soori and the love portions. All the scenes take place in and around a college. The snippets of the strict family are shown too.

Into the second half, and the rift between the family and the pairs are brought to the forefront. A few unfortunate events take place, what goes where thereafter is what Rummy is all about.

Coming to performances, and it is Vijay Sethupathy and Gayathri who score. Vijay Sethupathy has underplayed his role to perfection, offering more screen space to Inigo who doesn't liven up the happenings. Gayathri is the better of the two among the girls, as she hits the right note with her expressions. Aishwariya is just about fine. Comedian Soori does manage to tickle the funny bone this time, good show. The rest of the cast do their roles alright.

Technically, Rummy is convincing, with good cinematography capturing the rural locations beautifully, especially in the songs. Editing is on the note.

Music by D.Imman adds a huge strength to the film. His exciting BGM helps the movie till the very end.

Rummy is an attempt to make another Subramaniapuram. However, it falls short of what it intends, as it takes slow strides more importantly in the second half. The highly filmic climax is a letdown. Had the director taken care to ensure a screenplay which was gripping, this could have gone heights. Unfortunately, what starts off with fun and romance ends up as a mockfest towards the end.

Verdict : Rustic, realistic, but not riveting. Strict one time watch.

2 / 5

Inga Enna Solludhu

One notable release amidst January's flurry of movies is VTV Ganesh's Inga Enna Solludhu. With STR, Santhanam, Meera Jasmine and others alongside Ganesh, the movie has music by Dharan and is directed by Vincent Selva.

Inga Enna Solludhu is the life story of a free bird 'bachelor' Ganesh and the way things pan out in his life.

The movie kicks off with Ganesh meeting Santhanam and narrating his life incidents to him. As Santhanam himself exclamates, we as audience wait for some interesting events to pop up. Things get slightly better when STR jumps in, where the best moments in the film are when STR is in the frame. The first half is bland and blatant except for a few giggles here and there. In the second half too, the movie wanders without any pinpoint motive and crawls towards the climax.

Performance wise, the relish of seeing the earlier VTV Ganesh is missing here, as it becomes a dread tread. STR provides relief from time to time, while the rest of the cast just pass muster.

Technically too, Inga Enna Solludhu is mediocre. Cinematography is just over the line, being shaky at times. Editing is cool, keeping it to the minimum.

Music by Dharan is the USP of the film, with hummable tunes and good BGM.

Overall, Inga Enna Solludhu ends up as a bombing fare. The movie doesn't seem to pick up anywhere, and fizzles out eventually. VTV Ganesh has acted in a movie, that's about it.

Verdict : Futile attempt which never gains momentum.

1 / 5

Goli Soda

Tamil Cinema is known for producing unexpected and memorable cult classics. Goli Soda is easily one movie which is completely new to Tamil cinema.

Goli Soda basks on a group of adolescent boys residing in the Koyambedu market. The obstacles they face and the way they wind themselves out of the problems is what the movie is all about.

For audience who are expecting a feel good simple film like Pasanga, think otherwise cause Goli Soda is a completely different and unique experience. The way Vijay Milton sketched the characters of the adolescent  boys are terrific and their screen presence provides the feel just like seeing Ajith, Vijay or any other powerful mass heroes on screen.

Every character in the movie is very unique and novel, especially Sujatha of Paruthiveeran fame who has done a fabulous job in the Aachi role and the lead villain is another great find who has given a very powerful performance.

Goli Soda's biggest assets are Pandiraj's dialogues which evokes good laughter, provokes strong message and Vijay Milton's camera simply give the glossy feel to the film. The way Vijay Milton used the cinematography never gives a feeling of seeing a low budget movie and the brilliance is very much evident in the market fight sequence where the stunt choreography, slow motion shots and slick editing gives us an epic experience.

The fight scenes are gory with lots of blood shed which might not be suitable for family audience but script wise those kind of scenes are very much needed for portraying the raw feel.

Goli Soda is definitely technically slick with well placed situation songs, adequate BGM, stylish grand cinematography, and fine cuts.

Overall if you prefer to watch a gutsy film which is different and unique from the routine Tamil cinema, go and watch Goli Soda which surely deserves a repeated viewing.

Verdict : Honest and gutsy attempt from Vijay Milton and team. Just go for it!

4 / 5

Aaha Kalyanam (Music)

Bollywood bigwigs Yash Raj Films (YRF) foray into South Indian Cinema for the first time with Aaha Kalyanam, the remake of 2010 hit Band Baaja Baaraat. Nani, Vaani Kapoor and Simran in the lead, this movie has music by Dharan and is directed by Gokul Krishna. With colorful visuals guaranteed, how are the songs?

Aaha Kalyanam begins with a solo track Kadha Kadha by Chinmayi praising the female lead. The song has a Bollywood feel to it, and is a decent listen.

Naresh Iyer slots in for Honeyae Honeyae which is a slow-paced romantic number. This pretty simple rendering ends up being a mediocre one. Female version? Good one too.

A lovely combo of Haricharan and Sunidhi Chauhan has been brought in for Bon Bon which is a lively party track which instantly sets your foot tapping.

Benny Dayal and Usha Uthup join up for Kootali Kootali which seemingly is the intro track for the hero. Both the singers croon in with a lot of energy making this another dynamic track in the album.

Padhiyae Padhiyae is a heavenly slow track on the breaking of love. Both the versions by Shakthisree Gopalan and Abhay Jodhpurkar are equally relishing.

Dharan brings in Naresh Iyer and Swetha Mohan for Mazhaiyin Saaralil which is a superb track to lend your ears to. Naresh Iyer's English rendition might seem a little out of place, but it is Swetha Mohan who is in swashbuckling form to end this song on a high. Repeatu!

Aaha Kalyanam is the theme track of the album, and a neat one at that.

Madhan Karky has hit rock bottom with the Punch Song which is filled with famous dialogues and punch lines. The ending portion of the song is an absolute freak!

Pick : Mazhaiyin Saaralil

Verdict : Cogent rhythms from Dharan, which have a Bollywood feeling stitched along.

3 / 5

Idhu Kadhirvelan Kadhal (Music)

The OKOK combo of Udhayanidhi Stalin and Santhanam are back with their next comic caper, Idhu Kadhirvelanin Kadhal. With Nayanthara as the female lead, IKK is directed by SR. Prabhakaran. Harris Jeyaraj slots in the musical department, how has he fared this time?

Although slightly similar to a recent hit, Karthik's crooning and Yugabharathi's lyrics make a healthy pair in Maelae Maelae. It provides a breezy start to the album.

Harish Raghavendra is back to his form with Anbe Anbe, where he is strongly supported by Harini. Thamarai's lyrics are a treat, as this song is sure to grow on you.

KK and Srilekha Parthasarathy duo up in Sara Sara Saravedi, which is a folk based quickie. The use of Indian instruments is appreciable.

Aalaap Raju tunes in pathos for Vizhiye Vizhiye, which is a song on the lower moods. Might appeal to a few.

If it was Venaam Machaan in OKOK, it is Pallaaku Devadhaiya in IKK. Albeit nice to hear Jassie Gift once again, this song misfires and ends up being dowdy.

Idhu Kadhirvelanin Kadhal turns out to be another template album from Harris Jeyaraj. Although the first three songs are neat on the ears, a deja vu feeling does prevail on the whole. With rich and colorful visuals as seen in the trailer, these should go big. We'll have to wait and watch.

Pick : Maelae Maelae

Verdict : Catchy, but conventional.

3 / 5

Yennamo Yedho (Music)

After a rocking 2013, filled with a clean sweep of five super hit albums, D.Imman returns with his first album in 2014 - Yennamo Yedho. A remake of the Telugu smash hit Ala Modalaindi, Yennamo Yedho has Gautham Karthik, Rakul Preet Singh and Prabhu in the cast. Does it turn out to be a good album?

Starting with a surprise, Imman ropes in Anirudh for Nee Enna Periya Appa Tuckeraa. With fancy lyrics by Madhan Karky, this album begins on a peppy note.

Next up, we have Shruthi Hassan and Deepak together for Shut Up Your Mouth which is a funky number with interesting orchestration. The repetitive tune might turn trite.

D.Imman and Maria Roe Vincent take the mic for Muttalaai Muttalaai which is a foot tapping melody. Imman's voice is an asset, as he takes centre stage to score in the second half of the song.

Mosale Mosale, which is another fast paced track is wonderfully sung by Deepak, with Pooja AV for company.

Finally, we have Puthiya Ulagai by Vaikom Vijalakshmi. This song turns out to be the only drab in the album.

D.Imman has surely tread a different path with Yennamo Yedho. With a kooky start followed by two perky rhythms, this album is something which grabs your attention. However, the absence of a thumping instant chartbuster is felt, which stops the album from becoming a special one. Nevertheless, it is absolutely joyous to listen to, and can go higher with impressive visuals.

Pick : Mosale Mosale

Verdict : D.Imman sets new boundaries on a different turf.

3 / 5

Jilla

Its Pongal 2014. This time around, we have the deadly combo of Ilayathalapathy Vijay and Mohanlal coming together for Jilla, which is producer RB.Choudry’s 85^th film. Debutant RT.Neason dons the director’s cap, while D.Imman scores the music.

Jilla is the story of the sweet relationship between Sivan (Mohanlal) and Shakthi (Vijay) which turns sour due to a series of events.

The movie begins with a classy intro for Mohanlal followed by a little flashback. But the real fun begins when Vijay arrives with a thunderous stunt scene. The first half traverses with comedy which is silly at times, songs at regular intervals and a few action scenes. The interval block is bang on, as Neason had a good twist in store there.

Into the second half, and Jilla follows the tried and tested commercial movie formula. Songs, fights and punch lines galore, the circle of problem arising in one scene, and getting solved in the next swirls for quite a number of times. Although there are some scenes which are absolutely hair raising, there are a few which will make you squirm in your seat. The twists at the end too, are predictable.

Coming to performances, and the two stalwarts are a joy to watch. Vijay keeps the tempo going with his funny mannerisms, which do go over the top at a few instances. It is doubtlessly an enjoyable performance though. Mohanlal who grabs the majority of the screen space in the first half is mighty as he fits into the role of the character pretty well, and excels in his Tamil diction. Kajal is cute, and looks like a dream in the song sequences. Out of the supporting performances, Mahat Raghavendhar is a charm in his pivotal role. Poornima Bhagyaraj, Niveda, Sampath Raj, Pradeep Rawat and the others fit the bill.

Dialogues by N.Baskaran are good, albeit sounding too punchy when it comes to Mohanlal. Cinematography by Ganesh Rajavelu is appreciable, especially in the stunt sequences. Editing by Don Max could have much crispier, as it would have aided the lengthy runtime of the film. Although they lack sense, the stunts are visually worthy. Choreography in Jilla was a huge blow as Imman’s foot tapping music was brought down by the unimpressive dance moves. Vijay’s wardrobe deserves a special mention.

Music by D.Imman is the kingpin of Jilla. The songs are already tring ringers amidst all stations. Bringing in almost 5 different versions of the theme, he has put in all his efforts to make the BGM stand strong.

RT.Neason could have scaled heights with the story he had with Jilla. The screenplay however, doesn’t hit full monty and the movie ends up being a disappointment, baring in the mind the starcast and the production values. Nevertheless, nothing can stop Jilla from being a box office success, lapped up with glee by the fans especially.

Verdict : Drop your brains and go to this Jilla. Vijay and Mohanlal bring in the color!

2.5 / 5

Thirumanam Ennum Nikkah (Music)

After a flurry of interesting albums, M.Ghibran is back for his fifth stride with Thirumanam Ennum Nikkah which has Jai and Nazriya in the leads. The album was released without much hype and hoopla amongst two other big hits on the music shelf. What does Ghibran have in store for us this time?

The album begins with two Islamic tracks - Zikr and Khwaji Ji, which sprout out a Rahmanic flavour. The Qawwali tunes added to it are evident, as they end up being a beauty.

The Qawwali instrumentation continues with Chillendra Chillendra. This melody boasts of both the Tamil and the Hindi lyrics wondrously intertwined into each other, accompanied by superb renditions from the singers.

Shadab Faridi and Chinmayi are put together for Entharaa Entharaa, a soul stirring melody which sounds like a dream. Grand orchestrations and near perfect crooning take this song to a sky high.

Ghibran's choice of singers will surely amaze you, as Kannukkul Pothivaipen plays on. Digging deep into the carnatic regions, Ghibran's experimentation ends up on the winning side with this one. 

Beginning the track with a child crying, and then bringing it into tune. Beat that for innovation. An upbeat song with peculiar vocals, vivid music and grandiose mixing is Rayiley Raa. Classy.

Yaaro Ival, the final track on the album is a solo melody by Yazin Nizar. The use of string instruments are a treat to the listener, ending the album on a fairly convincing note.

It has been quite a while since we've lent our ears to a composer as innovative as Ghibran. From bringing in the fusion of the rarely used raagas with the less travelled genres such as Carnatic and Qawwali, he must be commended for his distinctiveness. The choice of the singers too, is an added asset. Thirumanam Ennum Nikkah is a pleasant surprise as we race ahead to 2014's gateway, as this album is a sure shot head turner with the amount of diversity it carries.

Pick : Entharaa Entharaa

Verdict : Grand and goosebumping. An absolute treat from M.Ghibran.

4 / 5

Endrendrum Punnagai

After offering a decent thriller in Vaamanan, director Ahmed returns to wield the megaphone for the second time with Endrendrum Punnagai. Starring Jiiva, Trisha, Vinay, Santhanam and Nasser in the leads, the movie has music by Harris Jayaraj and cinematography by Madhie.

Endrendrum Punnagai is the story of three friends Gautham (Jiiva), Sree (Vinay) and Baby (Santhanam). The incidents taking place in Gautham’s life and the way it affects their friendship and family relations form the crux.

The thick bond formed between the three friends is portrayed in a fun filled manner at the start of the movie, right from the childhood portions. All through the first half, different aspects on friendship, love and marriage are explored through the viewpoints of the main characters. Santhanam’s comic timing does keep the first half going with a light hearted flow. The second half is where Endrendrum Punnagai ventures far into the storyline, as the relationships between the different characters are shown in an impressive manner. The chemistry between Jiiva and Trisha is splendid as they are a treat to the eyes in the song sequences. The final 30 minutes of the movie are a huge strength, and it can be said that a few tears would drop down here.

Performance wise, Jiiva comes up with a stellar show. He looks bright onscreen with the cute guy makeover. Trisha looks angelic and ends up being one of the pulling factors for the film. Vinay Rai does make a noticeable comeback. Santhanam’s one liners work wonders and manage to bring the house down when they do. At the same time, his jokes fall flat at some instances leading to a few dull moments. Nasser is diplomatic in his role, as there is not much fault you can find in his acts. Andrea as the supermodel is a good choice, but her role doesn’t boast big. The supporting cast fit the bill.

Endrendrum Punnagai is a colorful movie. Credit must go the cinematographer for capturing the rich side of Chennai and the beauty of Europe with ease. The movie also boasts of superb wardrobes for the main leads. Editing is fine.

Harris Jayaraj scores big time, as both the music and the BGM gel wonderfully with the tone of the movie, making it an absolute musical treat. However, the Kadal Naan Dhan number is a patience tester.

Except for a few lewd and inane comic scenes, Ahmed has put his efforts into Endrendrum Punnagai to make it a fresh film to watch. The concept of blending friendship, love and ego has worked here. Rom-coms are always fun and this one is no less.

Verdict : Rich and vibrant romantic entertainer which manages to meet expectations.

3.5 / 5

Biriyani

Craving for a break-even after a string of duds, Karthi finally turns to Venkat Prabhu for Biriyani which is one of the iconic films to be served at the end of the year. Alongside Karthi in Biriyani are Hansika, Premji Amaren, Ramki, Nasser, Jayaprakash and many others. Biriyani is also the proud 100^th film for the music director Yuvan Shankar Raja. Venkat Prabhu’s usual menu offers the cinematographer Sakthi Saravanan and editor duo Praveen KL – Srikanth NB.

Biriyani is the story of two friends Sugan (Karthi) and Parasuram (Premji) who get cooked up in a chaotic incident.

The first half which is incident on comics starts off with a funny flashback between the two buddies, leading to the introduction of all the main characters. Story wise, there is absolutely nothing to offer here, as it is mainly baked with Premji’s giggle inducing acts, glamour and the pungent love track between Karthi and Hansika. As the interval scene breaks in, Venkat Prabhu peppers the essence of his story.

Into the second half, and the movie picks up speed and traverses at a rapid pace. Interesting events take place in quick succession, as the second half manages to keep the viewer glued to the screen and even bringing them to the edge of the seat at few instants. The final 30 minutes are the USP  of Biriyani, and this is where Venkat Prabhu puts all his brains to use. There is a popping twist at the climax, and the movie ends on a unique note, followed by the hilarious bloopers. Nice to see a little surprise for the Thala fans too!

Biriyani can easily be stated as a delicious comeback for Karthi. He looks zestful with the makeover, trendy costumes and the colored eyes. A much more matured performance with equal intensity in the comic scenes is a huge plus. Hansika is apt for her role, and does it pretty well. Premji Amaren’s funny musings do work to an extent, except for some places where it is flipped over the top. Ramki manages to come up with a convincing comeback. The rest of the cast including Nasser, Jayaprakash, Sampath and the others do complete justice to their roles. The cameos by Sam Anderson, Jai and a few others are fun to watch.

Cinematography by Sakthi Saravanan must be commended as he has captured the color tones with expertise. Editing by Praveen KL and Srikanth NB could have been crispier, especially in the first half. Stunts are good, with a special mention going out to the flying fight in the second half.

On the downside, Biriyani doesn’t provide anything memorable for Yuvan’s 100^th movie. The songs feel unwanted, acting as huge speed breakers. The BGM too, is nothing great to talk about, except for the climax fight sequence. Logical loopholes are garnished at places in the movie, and one must go in with the thought of forgiving the director for those bits. Fact must be noted too, that Biriyani finds it hard to qualify as  a family movie. 

Venkat Prabhu must be appreciated for coming up with a piquant script topped with a good mix of many characters. However, the execution from paper to picture hasn’t worked to the full potential as the viewer is left blank at some instances. The presence of an eventless first half too, doesn’t work in the favor of the movie. However, Biriyani is delicious hit material, and surely Karthi’s best among his last five.

Verdict : This Biriyani isn’t perfectly made. Nevertheless, it is a tasty meal.

3 / 5 

Inga Enna Solludhu (Music)

VTV Productions' Inga Enna Solludhu has none other than VTV Ganesh in the lead for the first time. Directed by Vincent Selva, the movie has Meera Jasmine and Santhanam too. STR and Andrea end up as surprise packages with extended cameos. Music is scored by Dharan and let's see what he has got for us, this time around.

The album begins with a simply executed Shuklam Bharadham chant by Kalyani Menon.

It then moves on to Appa Tucker which is an energetic rap song brought together by Pyscho Unit from Malaysia. The lyrics are engaging as this track does really make you turn up the volume.

Ramya NSK's stylish crooning draws your attention in Avan Ivan. The instrumentations are highly impressive, withstanding the fact that they are loud at times. Good track altogether.

Naresh Iyer gets in for Cute Aana, which is a soft melody with lyrics by Lallu. Dharan has kept it simple in the orchestrations, making the listener's concentration move towards the lyrics. The female version Ennodu is equally good.

STR's track Kuttipayale, as the name goes is a juvenile number with computerized music and kiddish lyrics. Expected something bigger when it came with the STR tag.

VTV Ganesh grabs the mic for the last song, Pattampoochi. More like the title track of the movie, it offers good scope for Ganesh and ends up being fine provided you can stand his voice.

After a dissapointing outing in Thagararu, Dharan returns with a cracker here. The songs are innovative and have the potentials to go big, with the advantage of being equally enjoyable on the big screen. The perks of going for Dharan have worked in favor of the team.

Pick : Avan Ivan

Verdict : Peppy stuff from Dharan to announce his turnaround.

3 / 5

Nimirndhu Nil (Music)

Jayam Ravi who is craving for a hit to come his way, turns to 'Nadodigal' Samudhrakani to bring out Nimirndhu Nil which is touted to be a fast paced action thriller. With Amala Paul, Sarathkumar and Gopinath alongside Ravi, Nimirndhu Nil has music by the young and happening GV.Prakash Kumar. Is this an album worth listening to?

Kadhal Nergaiyil is the first song in the album, beautifully sung by GV.Prakash, Javed Ali and Saashaa. With a slight sufi feel peppered over, it is honey to the ears and ends up being a good listen.

GV.Prakash's tryst with Gaana Bala hasn't ended as they slot in his next track here in Dont Worry Be Happy. Even though the song is peppy, the lyrics fail to gather much attention as they are too simple.

Next up is Rajadhi Raja which is probably Jayam Ravi's intro song in the movie, it dwells on a slow kuthu beat. Had it been more enthusiastic, it would have turned out to be a catchy number.

Neghizhiyinil is another melody in the album. With engaging lyrics by Madhan Karky, this is a soft song which could be loved by many. 

Haricharan effortlessly recites the Gita Verses amidst a trance background for the final track, which is the theme music for the movie.

GV.Prakash ends his 2013 array on a soundtrack which is pretty pedestrian. The album is unexciting, and possesses nothing out of the box. One has to bank on Samudhrakani's picturizations and quick narration to help the songs gain attention.

Pick : Kadhal Nergaiyil

Verdict : Musically fails to stand up.

2 / 5 

Ivan Vera Madhri

As 2013 walks towards the door, Kollywood has a few films to offer before the year comes to a close. Vikram Prabhu and ‘Engeyum Eppodhum’ Saravanan come together for their second  with Ivan Vera Madhri, produced by UTV and Thirrupathi Brothers. With newcomer Surabhi as the female lead and Vamsi Krishna, Ganesh Venkatram in the cast, Ivan Vera Madhri has camera by Shakthi and music by C.Sathya.

Ivan Vera Madhri brings about the story of a common man who decides to set a few things straight in the society.

The movie begins slowly and takes its own time to groove in. The director depicts his talent in stitching in the comic love portions with the main storyline. The first half progresses at a good pace and ends satisfyingly. 

The screenplay does take a dip as we move into the second half, but the presence of a few neatly drawn out scenes do bring the attention of the viewer back to square one. The pre-climax and climax are the assets of the film, as it ends on a convincing note.

Talk about performances, and it is a decent second outing for Vikram Prabhu. Contrary to his rustic role in Kumki, he brings out the image of a city youngster here. He has to however, work on his dancing. Surabhi emotes pretty well in both the romantic and the emotional portions and is a good find for the industry. Vamsi Krishna as the villain is stiff, while Ganesh Venkatram puts up a good show while he stays.

Cinematography by the newbie Shakthi is impressive. A few shots in the first half really deserve some appreciation. Technically fine as bringing in Sreekar Prasad for the cuts has worked to an extent.

Music by C.Sathya is mediocre with just two songs standing out. BGM is good enough.

After a fully romantic journey with Engeyum Eppodhum, Saravanan’s yearn to make a sensible action thriller is felt here. Even though the movie does beat around at the bush at critical moments, the end product is above par.  He must be lauded for making a convincing action movie which is devoid of commercial elements, crass comedy and loud songs. Had a tad bit of care been taken to devise a screenplay which would have been more engaging, Ivan Vera Madhri would have set high standards.

Verdict : Smart and simple action thriller, crafted for the classy viewer.

3 / 5

Ivan Vera Madhri (Music)

Ivan Vera Madhri marks the second directorial venture of M.Saravanan, who's first outing Engeyum Eppodhum was a runaway success. Starring Vikram Prabhu, Ganesh Venkatraman and Surabhi in the lead, Ivan Vera Madhri has music by C.Sathya. Lets dig into the musical album to see how Sathya has fared this time around.

Malaya Porattala is a fast paced rock number, which is neither good nor bad. Probably the intro song of the movie, it is an average listen on the whole.

Madhushree croons up for the next track in the album, Enna Marandhen. This melody might groove onto you in time to find a place on your playlist.

Rita's lively singing works to an extent in Ranga Ranga. Unfortunately, the song is brought down by its funny orchestration which might sound catchy to some, but crassy to the others.

Thanimayilae is next in line, beautifully sung by Anand Araviddakshan and Nivas. This emotional gripper is a slow go, which pulls you into the pathos. 

Sathya himself grabs the mic for Lovulla, an enjoyable potential chartbuster. Although a touch similar to Maasama from EE, this song is equally foot tapping and will surely climb up the ranks in quick time.

The album closes on Idhudhaan, which is a short piece sung by Balram. Fine finish.

Compared to Sathya's previous albums, Ivan Vera Madhri dips down. Nevertheless, the songs do have the essence in them to rise higher with convincing picturizations.

Pick of the album : Lovulla

Verdict : Sathya returns with a rather boilerplate soundtrack which fails to create a big wave.

2.5 / 5

Naiyandi

After a string of serious films, Dhanush turns to director Sargunam for a commercial comic, Naiyandi. Having Nazriya Nazim, Soori, Sriman, Sathyan, Sathish and Imman Annachi for company, it has music by M.Ghibran and cinematography by Velraj.

Inspired from the Malayalam comedy Meleperambil Aan Veedu, Naiyandi is the love story of Chinna Vandu (Dhanush) and the chronicles between him and his family.

As the pre-release hype was already low key, Naiyandi banked on its lead stars Dhanush and Nazriya. Ghibran’s music was an added delight, with Teddy Bear standing out.

The first half of Naiyandi progresses on the love track between Dhanush and Nazriya, peppered with comic elements from Soori, Ashwin, Imman Annachi and Ashwin. Even though the movie does manage to crack you up from time to time, it fails to gain momentum, and you will find yourself squirming at the interval bang. What follows is a much better half, which is laded with more laughs than it originally promised. Sriman and Sathyan together do a better job than what the others failed to do in the first half of the movie. Some comic scenes are well planned and executed, but at the same time there are some which make you dump your head in your hand.

As always, Dhanush does his job to perfection. He extends his boy-next-door image to a higher extent in Naiyandi, and brings out a performance which is close to natural. Nazriya looks cute, emotes well too. She can go places provided she decides to keep herself from being the kid onscreen. Sriman is the showstopper here, he comes in as a surprise package and one must say that Naiyandi picks up only after his entrance. Soori, Sathyan and the rest are fine, playing their roles to the book.

Cinematography by Velraj is mediocre. Some close-up shots are totally random and in turn, fall out of frame. Editing is crisp. M.Ghibran has come up with some unique songs with innovative orchestration. But his efforts are put to waste, as the song picturisations don’t grasp the attention and fail to bring in the feel, except for Teddy Bear which is comparatively better. He does catch up in the BGM, which by itself makes you laugh, at times.

Sargunam’s writing and direction both take a dip in Naiyandi, withstanding the point that the base of the script is lifted from another movie. A featherbrained factor prevails throughout, providing a silly setting which dates back to a few years. Naiyandi is far from being a perfect commercial entertainer. Nevertheless, it is not a blank movie. It’s just that we got to wait a little more for a Dhanush movie which is liked by all.

Verdict : Watch, laugh, forget.

1.5 / 5

Raja Rani

Amidst the slow waves in Kollywood these days comes Raja Rani, Atlee Kumar’s first step as a director. Starring Arya, Nayanthara, Santhanam, Jai, Nazriya and Sathyaraj in lead roles, it has music by GVP and camera by George C Williams.

Raja Rani is the story of a couple forced into marriage and the consequences and inside stories that took place.

Going by what the trailer showed, one can easily guess the story of Raja Rani. But there is much more to it. Right from the first scene of the Arya-Nayan wedding, the movie progresses at a speed good enough to keep you pinned to the screen. Even though we have to go through some comical scenes which do not tickle our funny bone, Atlee’s commendable paperwork does do the job, to an extent. While the first half concentrates on the episodes between Jai and Nayanthara, the second talks about the Arya-Nazriya story, which is followed by a well-etched final 30 minutes.

Coming to performances, and it is the girls who steal the show. Nayanthara does cast a spell with her emotional acts, while Nazriya is super bubbly and cute. Arya does look a bit statue at places, but he does keep in line with what was expected from him. Jai on the other hand, does shadow off a little bit into the overacting circle. Nevertheless, his performance is one which is most enjoyed by the audience. Santhanam does manage to crack you up from time to time but Sathyaraj is a surprise package. Kudos to Atlee for sketching out some really distinct characters and stitching them in beautifully.

Every shot in Raja Rani is a beauty. George C Williams has done a classy job with the camera, his color tones for the song sequences and the camera angles for the movie overall are a eye-catching spectacle. Editing and other aspects are well done too.

Music is another asset of Raja Rani, GV.Prakash’s songs do fit in well as they are aided by pretty good picturisations. His BGM, especially in the Jai-Nayan episode is a treat to the ears.

On the downside, Raja Rani does drag around a bit here and there. You might feel the inclusion of unwanted scenes from time to time, but that doesn’t bring the movie to a halt.

Atlee Kumar manages to come out with a decent show on his first shot. He succeeds in the emotional scenes more than anything else, while receiving good support from his artists. Raja Rani will leave you with a good feeling, while showcasing the realistic truth about love.

Verdict : An emotional journey which is good fun while it lasts.

3.5 / 5

Madras Cafe Review (Hindi)

Movie : Madras Cafe

Cast : John Abraham, Nargis Fakhri

Direction : Shoojit Sircar

Rating : 4 / 5

Shoojit Sircar who shot to fame with his earlier projects Yahaan and Vicky Donor returns for his third outing wielding the megaphone - Madras Cafe. With John Abraham and Nargis Fakhri in the lead, Madras Cafe has music and BGM by Shantanu Moitra.

Madras Cafe is the array of events leading to the assassination of an ex-PM, and its connections with the LTTE.

Starting off in Sri Lanka, the movie explains every bit of the incident and the happenings leading to it. With John Abraham introducing himself as the brave army man Vikram, and Nargis Fakhri as a journalist, we are presented with a number of characters, notably Sidhartha Basu and Ajay Ratnam. Even though the movie traverses on a slow note, Shoojit manages to keep you pinned with some well made scenes for the brain, and well-shot ones for the brawn. The pre-climax and climax portions are smartly etched.

One of the major drawbacks of Madras Cafe would be its casting. Even though he tries hard, John Abraham cannot act! However, his performance in this film takes the upper hand over what we have seen so far. Nargis Fakhri is a misfit, one puts up the question as to why all her dialogues in the movie are in English, when her character is named Jaya Sahni. Ajay Ratnam does garner some attention as Anna, while the rest of the cast are just about fine.

Cinematography by Kamaljeet Negi is commendable, he strikes gold in the action scenes. Editing too, is crisp.

Shantanu Moitra's BGM is one of the first bullets in the gun. His classy background score elevates the film to another level. The song at the end is a highlight too.

Kudos to Shoojit Sircar to come out all guns blazing, and bring out the inside story to the world. He has neatly packed in an interesting story with a real life incident which created waves. Full marks to his direction where he has pulled the switches at the right places. This is one of the most serious movies you'll see, with absolutely no room for a laugh.

Madras Cafe is surely not the Zero Dark Thirty of India, or even an Argo. But what it does offer is two hours of dedicated cinema, which is devoid of clichés, songs, over-actions and Bollywood's masala.  Hindi Cinema rarely comes out with these kinds of offerings, so make sure you catch it before it runs out of reach.

Verdict : Probably the best political thriller in a long time. A superb effort, leading to a memorable end product.

Thalaivaa Review (Tamil)

Movie : Thalaivaa
Cast : Vijay, Amala Paul, Santhanam, Sathyaraj
Music : GVP
Direction : AL.Vijay

Rating : 3 / 5

Ilayathalapathy Vijay is back with his one and only release in 2013, Thalaivaa. Joining hands with director Vijay for the first time, Thalaivaa stars Amala Paul, Santhanam, Sathyaraj, Ponvannan and many others. Produced by Mishri Productions, Thalaivaa has cinematography by Nirav Shah and music by GV.Prakash.

Thalaivaa is a 3 hour biopic of a common man who turns into a leader.

The movie starts off in Mumbai with Sathyaraj’s character being introduced. It quickly jumps onto Australia, where we have Vijay’s entry with Tamizh Pasanga. The screen is set ablaze with some breath-taking dance moves. Amala Paul and Santhanam make their entry, and the first half moves filled with fun, while looking colorful. There is a hilarious surprise too. The love track is well etched and special credits have to be given to the song picturisations. As the movie moves to Mumbai, more facts are unveiled, with the mother of them all at the interval block.

Into the second half, and Thalaivaa begins to drag around a bit. The unimpressive villain, a few cliché-ridden old fashioned scenes and a needless second heroine all work against the film. But AL Vijay does garner your attention with some brainy scenes and a good climax. Vaangana Vanakangana is an added delight.

Thalaivaa is undoubtedly one of Vijay’s best performances till date. His casual acts as the chic and trendy dancer as well as the spirited leader are a treat to watch. He has truly matured as an actor. Amala Paul fits in her shoes to the T, and is soon reaching out to be one of the dusky beauties of Tamil Cinema. Sathyaraj has a powerful role here, and makes his presence felt while he’s onscreen. Santhanam packs a punch with his one-liners and is sure to put a smile on your face with every appearance. The supporting actors have done justice to their roles,  Ponvannan and Rajeev Pillai stand out among the rest.

Nirav Shah’s professionalism with the camera is felt in every frame. He is one of the lynchpins of the movie and has put in a superb effort. Even though the editing is good, some effort could have been put in to make the movie crispier. Stunts by Stunt Silva are fine, however they are scarce.

AL Vijay always opts for a slow moving screenplay and Thalaivaa is no different. The movie takes its own time to unfold. One does tend to lose interest at some points. Had he worked a little harder on the execution, Thalaivaa would have gone places.

GV.Prakash’s songs might have done wonders, but his BGM is totally out of place. The excitement in some interesting scenes has been brought down by the bland background score. One had to wait long for the Thalaivaa theme, and it has been put to worst use at the climax.

Thalaivaa is not the normal racy entertainer you will expect from Vijay. It is a movie which travels on a slower note, peppered with morale values and lessons to learn. It will entertain you and at the same time, enlighten you. A different Vijay film, by any means.

Verdict : A slow film with a good amount of substance. More class, less mass. 

Pattathu Yaanai Review (Tamil)

Movie : Pattathu Yaanai

Cast : Vishal, Aishwarya Arjun, Santhanam

Music : Thaman

Direction : G.Boopathy Pandian

Rating : 1.5 / 5

After kicking off the year with Samar, Vishal is here for the second time in 2013 with Pattathu Yaanai. Produced by Michael Rayyapan and directed by G.Boopathy Pandian, Pattathu Yaanai has Aishwariya Arjun, Santhanam, Jegan, John Vijay etc alongside Vishal. Music is by Thaman Sai while the camera is handled by S.Vaithy.

Pattathu Yaanai is the story of a common man who rises up to the challenge thrown against him.

The movie starts off with Santhanam being introduced as Gouravam, a caterer. Vishal and his friends arrive at the scene to aid Santhanam in his cookery chores. The premise moves to Trichy, where Vishal, Santhanam and his group plan to set up a hotel. Comic scenes entangled, we have the incidents with Aishwariya Arjun too stitched in. A series of events leads to Vishal locking horns with one of the dons in the city. A story is revealed at the interval block, from where the movie progresses on.

Into the second half, and we have more of the so-called story and less of comedy. Lots of new characters are introduced with John Vijay propelling himself as the comic villain. A cat and mouse game follows, and how Vishal pulls himself out of these troubles is what Pattathu Yaanai is all about.

Vishal is fine in his acts, but one puts up the question as to when he will come back with a thumping film, just like his Thimiru. The lead actress Aishwariya Arjun is bland, just a walking doll. She needs to learn a lot, especially to dance and a ‘debut’ is all that can be said about her. The supporting artists are okay, but the villains are damp squibs, especially the guy who flexes his abs at the end.

If there is one man who might save this movie from a dump, it is Santhanam. Even though the much talked about dual role is nowhere to be seen, Santhanam keeps us smiling whenever he appears onscreen. Some of his jokes in the first half do crack pick you up.

Nothing new in the musical department from Thaman, and the BGM which is done by Sabesh Murali is mediocre too. There are just three fight scenes in the movie, but they are well choreographed by Anal Arasu. Technically, Pattathu Yaanai is satisfying, but I would have loved to say something nice here.

We have seen tons of commercial entertainers in the past, and Pattathu Yaanai is yet another one in the list. Boopathy Pandian has a fine outing here, but it just isn’t enough with the current trend of movies passing on. Pattathu Yaanai fails to deliver something out of the bag, so watch it if you have nothing else to do over the weekend. An average film in all aspects.

Verdict : This yaanai isn’t mighty.

Siddarth Srinivas

Singam2 Review (Tamil)

Movie : Singam 2
Cast : Suriya, Anushka, Hansika, Rahman
Music : DSP
Direction : Hari

Rating : 3 / 5

Suriya is one actor on a tough patch these days. With no clear-cut reason, the public loathe him and his movies. Even though he is a dedicated artist, he has become the target for mockery amongst the ‘big heroes’ club.

Come 2013, and we have Suriya joining hands with Hari for the fourth time, making way for Singam 2, the sequel to the highly impressive 2010 hit, Singam. Produced by Prince Pictures, it has Anushka, Hansika, Vivek, Santhanam, Rahman and Hollywood star Danny Sapani alongside Suriya. Music is by Devi Sri Prasad again, with cinematography by Priyan.

Singam 2 is the continuing story of Duraisingam, as he hunts down a huge drug deal.

Singam 2 kicks off right from where Singam ended. Suriya is now in Tuticorin, an NCC coach in a school where Hansika studies. A series of events leads Suriya gathering info about a drug deal taking place in the area. The first 30 minutes of the movie are bland, and the movie does take its time to unfold. Towards the interval, Hari keeps us pinned with his crisp narration, well thought dialogues coupled with witty one liner comedy from Santhanam and Vivek. The interval bang is spot on, that is one superb scene.

Into the second half, and the movie traverses on jet speed. Hari’s thinking works here, as he overlaps the main story with the comic and dramatic scenes. The movie, even though put down by a few speedbreakers (songs) and a not-so-great climax, moves on at a good pace and ends convincingly.

Performance wise, Suriya is at full swing, perfect when it comes to dialogue delivery, facial expressions and his ‘veri’ as a cop. Stunts have been well executed, and he has pulled off some cheeky movements in Singam Dance. What Singam 2 will probably do is put an end to all the negativity on Suriya. This guy has lived the role. Hansika has a fairly mightier role to play than the main heroine, Anushka who has been carved as a glam doll just for the sake of the songs. Vivek is hilarious, while Santhanam does bore you down a bit at times. What Singam 2 lacks is a powerful villain. Yes we have Danny Sapani, Rahman, Mukesh Rishi and Rajendran. But none of them could catch up to Prakash Raj’s enthu as in Singam. Supporting artists are apt, most of them continuing off their roles from the first.

If a movie runs for 3 hours, and can manage to keep you entertained, you got to give credit to the director. Even though a little more care could have been taken, Hari must be lauded for his work. Dialogue writing is his strength and he has lived up to it, few lines do prick you up.

Cinematography by Priyan is commendable. One must appreciate the use of chopper cameras at various instances to provide a different angle. Editing is slick barring the long runtime. Stunts deserve a special mention, Anal Arasu and Rocky Rajesh – super work!

Negatives in Singam 2, and we have DSP written all over it. Bad songs, except for Singam Dance which is saved by Suriya’s movements, and the BGM too isn’t that great. The songs surely broke down the flow of the movie, would be great to chop them off. Santhanam wasn’t at his best either, and we have some over-the-top stunts to worry about.

Draw a comparison to the first, and Singam 2 might not beat that. At the same time, it doesn’t get bobbed down. It has enough stock to keep you entertained. Go watch it, you’ll like it. If you don’t, best of luck being a hater.

Verdict : Beats all odds. Makes you realize the power of the Singam!

Siddarth Srinivas