Imsai Arasan 23-aam Pulikesi - A Review

Munkurippu: There will be a recap post for the month of July soon.. Before that, I wanted to give this review because, films normally stay in my memory for very less time ;-)

Lollu, Nakkal, Nayyandi, Rousu... Vadivelu is very famous for all these as a comedian. In his maiden venture as a hero, he maintains the same trend and more than these, he has tried some serious acting too...

Imsai Arasan 23-aam Pulikesi is a film that stands distinctly out of all genre of films made in today's cinema. Never before there was a film made similar to this, and I feel, never in near future there can be a successful attempt of making such a film. Simply because such films can be made once in a blue moon only.

The film may seem to be draaging, over done or even turn to be a mokkai at few moments. But the rest of the film which is a total and thorough entertainer keeps the audience glued to the seats.

Performance wise, Vadivelu has proved that he is perfectly fit to do a hero role that too in a double act. While the role of Pulikesi is in a perfect comedian mould, he has managed to get the audience serious in the other role of Ukkirabuddhan. Though in many scenes he seems to be imitating MGR or Sivaji, the audience really enjoy watching him.

The supporting cast of Naazer as Villain, Tejashree and Monisha as the pairs of Vadivelu's two acts, Sriman as Ukkirabuddhan's assistant and others have done their roles adequately. Manorama was plainly irritating in yet another crying mother's role!!! The brilliant sets and excellent picturisation give you an exact effect of watching a period film.

Songs were just loud noises in the theatre, though very few went out for popcorns and a dhum :-D Nevertheless, the first song "Aadivaa" and the romantic ;-) number "Aasi kaniye" were good to hear. Songs had clear inspirations from many old movies in terms of orchestration and picturisation. Guess it was an intentional move.

There are a few instances of dialogues for which the whole theatre bursted out in laughter:

"Neengal iruvarum serveergal enbadhu enakku munnare theriyum.. Enakku eppadi theriyum? Nalla kelvi.. Rettai kuzhandhai kadhayil veru eppadi thiraikadhai amaikka mudiyum?"

"Karadi kaari thuppia Pulikesi mannare umadhu mugathil kaari thuppi vittar enbadhai solli unnai avamaana paduthuven"

"Ennadhu? idhu nee seidha sangiliya?? Idhai mudhalileye solla koodadha?"

And certain scenes like the war scene with Vallavadevan, the hunting scene in the jungle etc. The details.. You must watch to enjoy!!!

The sequences of Akkamaala and Gapsi, comments on government workers("9 maniyil irundhu 5 mani varai vetti pozhudhu poka sambalam, arasaanga udhyogam endru peyar veru") and many others were a clear take on present scenarios. And the Ten Commandments at the end surely gave a feel of Shankar's movie.. Short and sharp.. upto-the-point dialogues. Kudos to the writer!!!

It is a rare phemomena that a period film in today's era that too with a comedian donning the role of a hero, gets so much of appreciation from the public- women and children in particular. Vadivelu has succesfully done what top heroes could not achieve through their action flicks and romantic entertainers- he has pulled back ladies crowd from TV sets to theatres :P

Hats off to the director Chimbudevan and Producer Shankar for giving us the biggest entertainment of the year till now :-)

Pinkurippu: I don't think this film will get out of my memory for quite some time :P

Channel Woes - Part 2

Film reviews and countdowns are the worst ones; the rating is purely based on whether the actor is a favorite of the channel or in worst case their political party. And how much money exchanges have happened between the producer of the film and the channel in terms of satellite rights.

There are many cases where a good film went unnoticed or trashed by people because of Sun TV’s influence.(Of course there are a few exceptions like Sethu). While channels like Vijay TV provide ratings on the basis of box-office and people’s opinion very few understand the genuinity of such countdowns!!!

When there is so much monopoly in terms of Television network, this group has not spared the FM space also. With Suriyan FM providing the lowest class of entertainment throughout the day there is very less one could boast of it as a private FM channel. Getting the reach was not difficult, thanks to the powerful Sun TV.

It is a real pain to the ears sitting in the office bus listening to utter craps like Kisu Kisu Geetha, Kittu Maama-Susi Maami and many other shows that are aired throughout the day. While Radio Mirchi the other private FM has a sky level difference compared to Suriyan FM in all aspects and has a great quality in its shows, it has never been able to achieve what the stupid Suriyan FM did.

With a majority of TamilNadu population accessing mass media listening and seeing only such craps, the mindset of people will soon run towards crappy attitudes for sure… Isn’t there a dawn for this darkness of Sun?? :-(

Channel Woes - Part 1

The power of media and how much influence it would have on the minds of people can be understood from the effect of Sun Network on the people of TamilNadu. While it has been successful in starting a host of stupid channels through political and financial influences, it has totally changed the mindset of a huge chunk of population in TamilNadu.

Sun TV, which was started way back in early 90’s was a fantasy to the people of TamilNadu who were used to watching stereotype and boring programmes in Doordarshan. The presentation, X-factor, star attractions etc etc everything was in its favour and soon Sun TV became one of the most wanted channels in Cable Networks, especially for those abroad, who were longing for a full time Tamil Channel to watch.

Using this single factor, Sun TV grew like a monster. A monster that swallowed every other Tamil channel’s viewership on the Cable Network. And soon we saw the expansion of Sun Network into Andhra(Gemini, Teja), Kerala(Surya) and Karnataka(Udaya, Ushe). Thus Sun Newtwork occupied almost whole of South India through political and financial influences as mentioned before.

With such an expanded network, soon it began the act of reducing the intellectual quotient of people to almost zero. Through mega serials, almost every other female in TamilNadu was made an addict that too through a stupid way of exploiting their emotional sensitivity. The long list of serials that hog the TV sets from forenoon till late night is all nothing but stupidity to the core.

And the meaning of festival days has been changed for a long time as Cinema Specials. Nothing else but shows related to Cinema and Cine actors will be shown on those days. The flavour and variety with the programs of Doordarshan is surely missing, only thing is Government channels never had the expertise to present them in the right way.

The only programs where people could gather some information like News bulletins and the ones related to film analysis like reviews and countdown shows are out and out biased. The worst thing is that with the kind of effect it had created on people, they simply believe whatever Sun TV says is the truth. So the original facts can never be understood until you read it in a newspaper or web bulletin. These days there is a huge competition in providing biased news very efficiently on par with another political channel Jaya TV.

To be continued...

Garden City to Singaara Chennai...

I am back to Chennai on official transfer after a period of about one and a half years. Being back to one's hometown is always a special experience that too when you come back to your own area. :-)

Bangalore has not done anything bad to me infact, except that I missed a lot of my friends and I became a little lazy compared to what I was in Chennai. (Of course, now being in Chennai, now I miss my friends out there in Bangalore;-) )The 18+ months I have spent in Bangalore has been really a learning experience both in professional and personal ways. Even when I stayed in Bachelor's accomodation, it was like another home for me.. Such was the levels of comfort and happiness.

The local sight seeing which I went for just few days before receiving the news of transfer was indeed a blessing in disguise, never ever before that I had been on a local trip and never after that it would have been possible by anyways.I can now confidently say that I too know a bit of Bangalore. It is an important feeling, especially for a person like me who knew Bangalore only as a fantasy and had no idea about he city till about two years back.

Coming back to Chennai, hmmm... It is the same good old Chennai. I am not sure if it is the climate here or the new enthusiasm.. But I am more active now than what I was in Bangalore. Things are getting back to routines - Saturdays don't see me sleeping till forenoon, late shuttles for office are no more a necessity, being in T.Nagar facilitates shopping anytime anywhere..

And not to forget, it brings back all sweet memories... A ride through Radhakrishnan Salai reminds me of good old days me and my project mates spent together during final year. Passing through Nelson Manickam Road reminds those days when I travelled in my college bus morning and evening chatting with a bunch of busmates. Walking around my office brings to mind those unforgettable training days which was like a second college life.... Things that can only be felt and can never become reality again!!!

I am enjoying every moment of this life right from food, festivities, shopping, friends, office, travel.. Everything and everyday. I wish this should be the beginning of a "lived happily everafter" life :-)