Hanuman a movie for children and adults to breeze through the Hindu mythology. It is super fast, does not delve into too many details but is explained well enough to understand who-is-who and what was happening.
In fact a lot of things bought the reaction of, "Really? Is that how it was in the story?? I never knew about it." The animations though not to Disney standards are worth watching. Infact they are cute and funny too. The little Hanuman is really 'cho chweet.' The faces of little Ram is very chubby and the grown Ram not so beautiful as he is supposed to be. Some parts of the movie reminded me of drawings taken right out of Amar Chitra Katha comics.
I had fun watching this movie and I am sure you will too. After all Hanuman is our version of a Superhero...
Bajrangabali ki Jai! Jai Hanuman!
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Thavamai Thavamirundhu (2006) - Tamil Movie Review
I have not really written a perfect review for this wonderful movie. But have written something nevertheless...Please visit it at
http://anurussell.blogspot.com/2005/12/i-had-to-write-this-after-seeing.html
Thanks
Anu
http://anurussell.blogspot.com/2005/12/i-had-to-write-this-after-seeing.html
Thanks
Anu
I had to write this after seeing Thavamai Thavamirundhu (TT). My hands had been waiting for this very moment...
Take Paheli on one hand okay...and now take TT on the other...just for comparison...
Paheli...A movie about how a ghost falls in love with a beautiful just-married woman and moves in with her disguised as her husband after her husband leaves town for business. The ghost reveals his true identity to her before they make love and she accepts him at the end of a song...The ghost and the lady live happily till the original returns. Now the ghost outsmarts the original and gets into his body and moves in to live with his lady love for ever...
Question: Let me know if this is silly...if the ghost could have entered and lived in the original's body...made him change his mind about his business trip...and then revealed his true identity...what are the chances the lady would have rejected him??? None. Remember she slept with him anyway...
Indian woman...a friend of mine told me that the movie is about Indian woman...We have portrayed a very good image about ourselves to the world by sending it as our Oscar Nominee...Forget Indian woman...think about the Indian-ness we portray...ghost turning into a man?!?! God...Where do I go and keep my face??? Already the West thinks that we still have snake charmers and ride elephants...now it is just another thing to add to their imagination...anyways I hope you all agree that it is a crappy movie...if you don't...I still stick with my opinion...that we send movies for Oscar Nominations to boost the ego of our already inflated superstars...and that Paheli is a very childish movie...
Now let us talk about Thavamai Thavamirundhu: Now...Cheran has already established himself as a good director-actor after his movies like Porkalam, Pandavar Bhoomi, Sollamarandhakadhai, Autograph, etc. But he just rises up another step in my eyes with this one. Simple story, simple acting, amazing casting, great movie...this is TT in one line.
The story is about father-son relationship...a very important subject but more than often neglected giving importance to the omnipresent mother sentiment in all Indian movies. Well Cheran has explored it with an excellent narrative that sort of reminds you of Autograph but thank god the similarity ends there. Two sons Ramanathan and Ramalingam both named after their grandfather are raised by Muthiah a humble press owner in a small town. Muthiah, only an eight grade dropout works very hard to give both his sons a good education.
Ramanathan, lands up at a polytechnic college owing to his bad grades while Ramalingam becomes an engineer. Ramanathan is married after his father discovers his sons overnight at a police station after being caught at a prostitution house. Ramanathan's wife brings nothing but misery to the family becoming the reason to split the father and son.
Ramalingam, is not a very model son either, he lies to his parents and takes money from his father to have fun with his friends at college. He falls in love with a girl in college and gets her pregnant too. And at a crunch time in the family he elopes with his girlfriend to take care of her secret pregnancy.
Throughout the first part of the movie we go see how the father struggles, begs and borrows to his give his sons the best possible life he count and the second half we see how he gets the stick end of the deal.
Ramalingam always guilty for having ditched his parents at the wrong time returns to his village to raise his family in the village. He then tries to unite his broken family and bring light to his parents darkened life. He makes a rosy bed for both his mother and father to rest their head in their last moments.
Attention to detail is amazing...like it was in Autograph. After Bharathiraja...Cheran is now the king of village subjects...I don't know if he makes commercial movies or art movies that become commercial...When I saw Sollamarandhakadhai, I did not know who the hero was but I appreciated his acting, and when I saw TT I appreciate it even more. He effectively conveys the emotions without too many unecessary information or histrionics. Everyone in the movie...I cannot pinpoint to just one person...has done a great job...forget it...I just do not have words to describe it...just watch the movie...
Coming back to the original discussion...See it and tell me...honestly...which one would you send for an Oscar Nominee?? Paheli or Thavamai Thavamirundhu? A movie that shows the Indian bond between parents and children or a movie on Ghosts...To me the choice is simple...
Take Paheli on one hand okay...and now take TT on the other...just for comparison...
Paheli...A movie about how a ghost falls in love with a beautiful just-married woman and moves in with her disguised as her husband after her husband leaves town for business. The ghost reveals his true identity to her before they make love and she accepts him at the end of a song...The ghost and the lady live happily till the original returns. Now the ghost outsmarts the original and gets into his body and moves in to live with his lady love for ever...
Question: Let me know if this is silly...if the ghost could have entered and lived in the original's body...made him change his mind about his business trip...and then revealed his true identity...what are the chances the lady would have rejected him??? None. Remember she slept with him anyway...
Indian woman...a friend of mine told me that the movie is about Indian woman...We have portrayed a very good image about ourselves to the world by sending it as our Oscar Nominee...Forget Indian woman...think about the Indian-ness we portray...ghost turning into a man?!?! God...Where do I go and keep my face??? Already the West thinks that we still have snake charmers and ride elephants...now it is just another thing to add to their imagination...anyways I hope you all agree that it is a crappy movie...if you don't...I still stick with my opinion...that we send movies for Oscar Nominations to boost the ego of our already inflated superstars...and that Paheli is a very childish movie...
Now let us talk about Thavamai Thavamirundhu: Now...Cheran has already established himself as a good director-actor after his movies like Porkalam, Pandavar Bhoomi, Sollamarandhakadhai, Autograph, etc. But he just rises up another step in my eyes with this one. Simple story, simple acting, amazing casting, great movie...this is TT in one line.
The story is about father-son relationship...a very important subject but more than often neglected giving importance to the omnipresent mother sentiment in all Indian movies. Well Cheran has explored it with an excellent narrative that sort of reminds you of Autograph but thank god the similarity ends there. Two sons Ramanathan and Ramalingam both named after their grandfather are raised by Muthiah a humble press owner in a small town. Muthiah, only an eight grade dropout works very hard to give both his sons a good education.
Ramanathan, lands up at a polytechnic college owing to his bad grades while Ramalingam becomes an engineer. Ramanathan is married after his father discovers his sons overnight at a police station after being caught at a prostitution house. Ramanathan's wife brings nothing but misery to the family becoming the reason to split the father and son.
Ramalingam, is not a very model son either, he lies to his parents and takes money from his father to have fun with his friends at college. He falls in love with a girl in college and gets her pregnant too. And at a crunch time in the family he elopes with his girlfriend to take care of her secret pregnancy.
Throughout the first part of the movie we go see how the father struggles, begs and borrows to his give his sons the best possible life he count and the second half we see how he gets the stick end of the deal.
Ramalingam always guilty for having ditched his parents at the wrong time returns to his village to raise his family in the village. He then tries to unite his broken family and bring light to his parents darkened life. He makes a rosy bed for both his mother and father to rest their head in their last moments.
Attention to detail is amazing...like it was in Autograph. After Bharathiraja...Cheran is now the king of village subjects...I don't know if he makes commercial movies or art movies that become commercial...When I saw Sollamarandhakadhai, I did not know who the hero was but I appreciated his acting, and when I saw TT I appreciate it even more. He effectively conveys the emotions without too many unecessary information or histrionics. Everyone in the movie...I cannot pinpoint to just one person...has done a great job...forget it...I just do not have words to describe it...just watch the movie...
Coming back to the original discussion...See it and tell me...honestly...which one would you send for an Oscar Nominee?? Paheli or Thavamai Thavamirundhu? A movie that shows the Indian bond between parents and children or a movie on Ghosts...To me the choice is simple...
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
ABCD - Tamil Movie Review
Ranking: 4.0/5.0
Cast: Shaam, Sneha, Nandana, Aparna
Director: Saravana Subbiah
Music: Immam
Bharathi (Nandana), Chandra (Sneha) , Daisy (Aparna) all have a revolutionary angle to them as women...something like a 'pudhumai pen' image that Balachander had created in the 70's. They all have a past or present that is introduced to the audience in a superb fashion.
Anand (Shaam) who is an orphan raised by his uncle is trying to get his foothold in Chennai stays as a tenant in Chandra's house. Chandra a widow (who was tortured and harrassed by her husband) takes to Shaam due to his understanding character. Chandra takes care of Anand with lot of love and affection.
Bharathi, a revolutionary lady who hates being sold away to men in the form of dowry meets Anand in a bus. They become friends due to circumstances and Bharathi falls in love with Anand who has a practical approach in life.
Daisy, a church raised girl works in an office where looks and attire have more importance than the quality of work she does. She hates the looks and glares she gets from men. Anand helps admit her in a hospital after she meets with an accident due to some eve teasers and does not make a big deal of it. Daisy too falls in love with Anand.
Anand as one would think should be in a fix about choosing one of the three...but he is clear about what he wants and make a very sensible decision and in doing so he also makes sure that he helps settle the lives of other women too. No wonder these women fell in love with him.
The director keeps us guessing till the last moment about whom Anand's obvious love interest would be. In all this is a very simple story with a good screenplay and direction which is certified for family viewing. The actors have all portrayed their roles very deftly and this movie also alludes simplicity. This could actually be the big break Shaam has been waiting for after 12B. Sneha who can carry an entire movie on her shoulder carries her role very strongly. The other two women also do a very good job in portraying their characters.
I have very little to tell about the music...but otherwise I would surely take time off to enjoy this family entertainer.
Cast: Shaam, Sneha, Nandana, Aparna
Director: Saravana Subbiah
Music: Immam
Bharathi (Nandana), Chandra (Sneha) , Daisy (Aparna) all have a revolutionary angle to them as women...something like a 'pudhumai pen' image that Balachander had created in the 70's. They all have a past or present that is introduced to the audience in a superb fashion.
Anand (Shaam) who is an orphan raised by his uncle is trying to get his foothold in Chennai stays as a tenant in Chandra's house. Chandra a widow (who was tortured and harrassed by her husband) takes to Shaam due to his understanding character. Chandra takes care of Anand with lot of love and affection.
Bharathi, a revolutionary lady who hates being sold away to men in the form of dowry meets Anand in a bus. They become friends due to circumstances and Bharathi falls in love with Anand who has a practical approach in life.
Daisy, a church raised girl works in an office where looks and attire have more importance than the quality of work she does. She hates the looks and glares she gets from men. Anand helps admit her in a hospital after she meets with an accident due to some eve teasers and does not make a big deal of it. Daisy too falls in love with Anand.
Anand as one would think should be in a fix about choosing one of the three...but he is clear about what he wants and make a very sensible decision and in doing so he also makes sure that he helps settle the lives of other women too. No wonder these women fell in love with him.
The director keeps us guessing till the last moment about whom Anand's obvious love interest would be. In all this is a very simple story with a good screenplay and direction which is certified for family viewing. The actors have all portrayed their roles very deftly and this movie also alludes simplicity. This could actually be the big break Shaam has been waiting for after 12B. Sneha who can carry an entire movie on her shoulder carries her role very strongly. The other two women also do a very good job in portraying their characters.
I have very little to tell about the music...but otherwise I would surely take time off to enjoy this family entertainer.
Kanda Naal Mudhal (2005) - Tamil Movie Review
Ranking: 4.8/5.0
Cast: Prasanna, Karthik Kumar, Laila, Revathy, Lakshmi
Director: V. Priya
Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja
The music in this movie too did not do it for me. I thought for the first time, it was loud and garrish but I have to listen to it a couple more times before I make up my mind about it.
The story??? Amazing. Simple and Superb...simply superb. I mean why can't people in Bollywood make such movies? They have totally stopped doing that...All I see in Bollywood is NRI-aping movies that are neither funny, real, or interesting. But movies like Kanda Naal Mudhal (KNM) are rare and to be preserved...No vulgarity, clean dialogues, no double entendre's, can really be seen with family, totally feel good, and so on...Really, I felt fresh after seeing the movie. It did not tire me as it did not involve my brain to think, it did not bore me, there was comedy in the movie and not a separate track, and the actors really acted...What more can you ask for? Anyways before I forget let me review the movie...
Krishna (Prasanna) and Ramya (Laila) renew their twenty year old feud when they meet at a culturals only to fight again. Krishna's friend Arvind (Karthik Kumar) who refuses to marry lands up for 'ponnu-parthufying' at Ramya's house at Krishna's insistence. Even though Krishna was the sole reason for Arvind to accept the 'ponnu-parthufying,' Krishna did not know that it was Ramya they were going to meet. On seeing Ramya Krishna tries and explains to Karthik that Ramya is not a soft girl, that she is arrogant, head strong, etc. But Karthik decides that he needs a girl with some spirit and accepts the proposal.
Ramya trying to outdo Krishna tries and acts as if she is a very soft and meek girl thereby disillusioning Karthik who breaks the engagement before he leaves to USA again. Ramya gets angry at Krishna wrongly assuming that he was the reason behind the engagement breaking. Krishna trying to convince her otherwise gets entagled in her family issues and later emotionally with Ramya.
Karthik is coming from USA and now Ramya and Krishna are not sure what to do...For rest of the action watch the movie.
Prasanna has proved with Azhagiya Theeye that he has comic timing and he just reinstated it in this movie. He has done a very good job with no overacting. Sometimes I feel that another 'Mohan' is evolving out of him.
Karthik who had managed to irritate me with is tamil accent actually did not do that in this movie. I liked his acting too...Simple and in fact he suited the role of an NRI perfectly. Laila was cute as a button and played her part to perfection. All supporting artists have done the same. No over acting, no styles, nothing...Just edhartham...Simplicity. Nice job Priya...Hope you make many more good movies like this...But not the same though...
Cast: Prasanna, Karthik Kumar, Laila, Revathy, Lakshmi
Director: V. Priya
Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja
The music in this movie too did not do it for me. I thought for the first time, it was loud and garrish but I have to listen to it a couple more times before I make up my mind about it.
The story??? Amazing. Simple and Superb...simply superb. I mean why can't people in Bollywood make such movies? They have totally stopped doing that...All I see in Bollywood is NRI-aping movies that are neither funny, real, or interesting. But movies like Kanda Naal Mudhal (KNM) are rare and to be preserved...No vulgarity, clean dialogues, no double entendre's, can really be seen with family, totally feel good, and so on...Really, I felt fresh after seeing the movie. It did not tire me as it did not involve my brain to think, it did not bore me, there was comedy in the movie and not a separate track, and the actors really acted...What more can you ask for? Anyways before I forget let me review the movie...
Krishna (Prasanna) and Ramya (Laila) renew their twenty year old feud when they meet at a culturals only to fight again. Krishna's friend Arvind (Karthik Kumar) who refuses to marry lands up for 'ponnu-parthufying' at Ramya's house at Krishna's insistence. Even though Krishna was the sole reason for Arvind to accept the 'ponnu-parthufying,' Krishna did not know that it was Ramya they were going to meet. On seeing Ramya Krishna tries and explains to Karthik that Ramya is not a soft girl, that she is arrogant, head strong, etc. But Karthik decides that he needs a girl with some spirit and accepts the proposal.
Ramya trying to outdo Krishna tries and acts as if she is a very soft and meek girl thereby disillusioning Karthik who breaks the engagement before he leaves to USA again. Ramya gets angry at Krishna wrongly assuming that he was the reason behind the engagement breaking. Krishna trying to convince her otherwise gets entagled in her family issues and later emotionally with Ramya.
Karthik is coming from USA and now Ramya and Krishna are not sure what to do...For rest of the action watch the movie.
Prasanna has proved with Azhagiya Theeye that he has comic timing and he just reinstated it in this movie. He has done a very good job with no overacting. Sometimes I feel that another 'Mohan' is evolving out of him.
Karthik who had managed to irritate me with is tamil accent actually did not do that in this movie. I liked his acting too...Simple and in fact he suited the role of an NRI perfectly. Laila was cute as a button and played her part to perfection. All supporting artists have done the same. No over acting, no styles, nothing...Just edhartham...Simplicity. Nice job Priya...Hope you make many more good movies like this...But not the same though...
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