Ranking: 3/5
Cast: Mohan Lal, Prakash Rai, Revathi, Aishwarya Rai, Gouthami, Tabu
Director: Mani Rathnam
Music: A.R. Rehman
One line Review: It is a very average movie and can be very boring and dragging at many instances.
Mohanlal comes from this little village in border city between Kerala and Tamilnadu to Chennai to make it in movies. He gets to play all sorts for small roles and waits patiently for a big break. In the meantime gets married to Ash-1. They are happily married and he gets to play the main protagonist in a movie. But the movie comes to a halt half-way through and Ash-1 also dies. Mohanlal is heart broken.
Mohanlal and Prakash Rai, the dialogue writer for the movie become very good friends. Prakash introduces Mohan to politics headed by Nazar. Mohan and Nazar also become good friends. By now somehow Mohan has gotten another chance in a movie and he is a star. People of T. Nadu stupidly start following Mohanlal and he becomes very popular. The party to which both Mohan and Prakash are affiliated use Mohan's popularity to pull themselves up.
In the meantime Prakash gets married to Revathy to whom he narrates heavy poetry in Tamil. To Revathy they make no sense...So he goes and does the same to Tabu who reciprocates and then he takes her in as a keep. Mohan also marries Gouthami, an actress who is distressed by her uncle who wants to rape her. Then under Gouthami's advice hires Ash-2 to act as a heroine in a movie. Obviously, Mohan starts sleeping with her because she is hot and tries to imitate Ash-1.
So now both Mohan and Prakash have their eyes set on becoming the party leader as Nazar is resigning. But eventually the party is split, one being led by Prakash and the other by Mohan who are now not in talking terms with each other. Prakash wins and leads T.Nadu trying to make it a dream state (does nothing but recites more annoying poetry) then Mohan wins the next elections leaving Prakash very upset...
Eventually the two friends (that's why the movie is called Iruvar) meet at a common friend's wedding and they smile at each other before Mohan grabs his heart in pain...
Yup, the story is supposedly imitating the lives of M. Karunanidhi (Prakash), M.G.R (Mohan), Janaki (Gouthami), Jayalalitha (Ash-2), M.Karunanidhi's first wife (Revathy), M. Karunanidhi's second wife ( Tabu), and M.G.R.'s first wife (Ash-1). The story is slow paced, the camera makes many 360 degree turns and you wonder why the cameraman is trying to give the audience a head grinding experience and the movie is very very very slow...
It is okay to watch if you have nothing better to do...But the movie is full of falsified details trying to make everyone look good in public eyes, we really do not know how much of it is true also, for all I care neither M.Karunanidhi nor M.G.R has done anything great for T.Nadu's sake, so why make them look like almost perfect people? I do not understand unless the idea of the director was to suck up to all politicians...
Can and may be ignored...But if you did watch it, let me know what you think...
9 comments:
The movie Iruvar is a classic not nly in Tamil Cinema, but Indian cinema as well. Yes it is boring and not an out and out commercial they would expect form a Mani Rathnam or Mohanlal movie. But to an decent going movie buff they will know the amazing way it was made. Its a textbook for every director whoever wants to make a movie. Th romance, jealousy, anger name any thing and its so well shot in the movie. The so called 360 degree camera work even if it makes some one's head grind it gives goosebumps to people when they immersed in it.Case in point. The scene where Nazar dies and Prakash Raj gives a solemn but hardly riveting poem in nazar's memory.Its followed by Mohanlal's riveting speech.Note by the time the camera revolved it focuses in Prakash's face in the end so subtly showing his hidden anger a being over shdowed.Thats just one in a million movie.
This movi is an immense classic!!!
Brilliant movie. May not appeal to the ignorant man. Poorly written review - the blog author does not even mention about several crucial aspects : Santhosh Sivan's amazing camera work, A.R.Rahman's awesome background score, the quality of the dialogues,among other things.
For obvious reasons,nothing is said explicitly in the film that it is based on the lives of MRG and MKK,but anyone with a sense of history can tell that it is so. This sense of mine made every frame of the movie gripping,augmented by Rahman's score. Quote from the blog post - "...But the movie is full of falsified details trying to make everyone look good in public eyes, we really do not know how much of it is true also, for all I care neither M.Karunanidhi nor M.G.R has done anything great for T.Nadu's sake, so why make them look like almost perfect people? I do not understand unless the idea of the director was to suck up to all politicians..."
Seriously!! The author does not have even an ounce of knowledge on Tamil Nadu's political history,let alone a sense of history. Additionally to show the level of confusion,the quoted paragraph is full of contradictions.(.."the movie is full of falsified details.."..." we really do not know how much of it is true...")And has the author heard of the social benefits of the Dravidian Movement? Then perhaps the opinion that MGR or MKK have not done anything for TN's sake might be corrected in the right direction.
"I do not understand unless the idea of the director was to suck up to all politicians..."
Mani Ratnam sucking up to all politicians? Oh Please. The author is far removed from reality i suppose. Ignorant to say the least.
Bottomline,some might feel its a tad slow,but its a good movie,brilliantly made.Most can appreciate and enjoy the nuances of good cinema in this movie.
4.5/5
How did i forget to mention the quality of the performances of the actors! especially Mohan Lal and Prakash Raj.Wow.
Thanks for commenting.
Obviously your views are different from mine. And from my point of view I did not like the movie one bit and I honestly differ in my opinion of politicians in TN from you.
We can always agree to disagree and move on rather than pick a fight right?
Cheers
Wowww, that was one horrible review!! I am sorry Anu, but you gave me the shock of my life (I am your friend on Orkut btw :)). You could have added a disclaimer at the beginning of this post saying "My knowledge and understanding of Tamil politics and cinema is very minimal" and I would have avoided commenting on your blog.
Anjan,
Ya I remember, you are a friend of someone but from RSK right?
I am ok with regards to politics but how does it make this particular movie a good one? It was slow, boring, and had no pace and A.Rai who cud not act to save her life. I slept through it at quite a few moments and it dragged on...and sorry...but I cannot agree that MGR/MK are saints...they might be to some...but to me...like all others, they looted!
If you liked the movie...then that is your opinion and I was merely expressing what I thought of it..thanks for stopping by.
Anu.. Thanks to your post, I went back and watched the movie yet another time and needless to say, I enjoyed it.. I am even more enraged than this Anonymous person, but I dont see a point arguing with you here when you can neither understand Tamil politics nor Mani Ratnam. And by the way, MGR and Karunanidhi arent being portrayed as saints in this movie, and Mani Ratnam doesnt want to suck up to the politicians!!! God, so much trash in your review..
brother,
why you want everybody to know that your upstair is vacant. if you cant understand this movie, i am sorry to say dude, this is not your cup of tea. better u write a script for vijay movies,
no regards
Maju
Thanks for visiting. My personal opinion. I am expressing it, please express yours without getting personal about me!
I hate the movie and that is that. if you like it go and see it again.
Anu
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