alright, the reason that compelled me to review Adukalam(2010) is the fact that it won 6 national awards this season. Whilst the movie speaks for itself in the departments of entertainment and dialog, one glance at the list of previous winners is sufficient to put a frown on your face.
Vetrimaran, the director and Dhanush, the actor are good at what they do but DO NOT deserve nationwide recognition, oh, and definitely not for this movie. But i guess, there is another way to look at this result - Indian movies in the year 2010 (specifically) were only as good as Aadukalam or lesser...?? Is that the answer ? Hmmm, by all means possible...but not very likely.
Anyway, I am, in a sense happy that a Tamil actor, director and film have been recognized as being competitive, but on the other hand, i feel sad that the appreciation has gone overboard. Now, about the movie - it deals with the novel subject of rooster fights and related issues in Madurai. Once again Tamil's madness for Madurai is out in the open - what with typical accents, suggestive language, behavior, etc etc. Phew ! Enough of the temple town and its people ! But what catches the viewer is the interesting human sub-plot that is well woven into the rooster battle. It flows with ease and poise, surprising us and delighting us at the same time. Dhanush's expressions are honest and true which in turn makes Tapsee's seem all the more fake. Nice ensemble of capable actors. GV Prakash's music may not be too bad but seems a tad inspired (uh..the real word should be copied) from Raaja and Rahman, the latter being his uncle.
Personally, i thought Leader (2010) should have won for original screenplay, but nonetheless Aadukalam's screenplay deserves mention. We have seen many unbearable "Entertainers" and "Adhiradi Movies", we have cried in agony and bankruptcy afterward. We have seen movies that insult our intelligence and twist the laws of human existence, we have seen some of the most irritating actors and actresses to have ever come on film, and we have survived. Aadukalam causes no such trouble, survival at the end of the film is guaranteed, if not natural. But the National Awards Panel needs to get its act together.
Vetrimaran, the director and Dhanush, the actor are good at what they do but DO NOT deserve nationwide recognition, oh, and definitely not for this movie. But i guess, there is another way to look at this result - Indian movies in the year 2010 (specifically) were only as good as Aadukalam or lesser...?? Is that the answer ? Hmmm, by all means possible...but not very likely.
Anyway, I am, in a sense happy that a Tamil actor, director and film have been recognized as being competitive, but on the other hand, i feel sad that the appreciation has gone overboard. Now, about the movie - it deals with the novel subject of rooster fights and related issues in Madurai. Once again Tamil's madness for Madurai is out in the open - what with typical accents, suggestive language, behavior, etc etc. Phew ! Enough of the temple town and its people ! But what catches the viewer is the interesting human sub-plot that is well woven into the rooster battle. It flows with ease and poise, surprising us and delighting us at the same time. Dhanush's expressions are honest and true which in turn makes Tapsee's seem all the more fake. Nice ensemble of capable actors. GV Prakash's music may not be too bad but seems a tad inspired (uh..the real word should be copied) from Raaja and Rahman, the latter being his uncle.
Personally, i thought Leader (2010) should have won for original screenplay, but nonetheless Aadukalam's screenplay deserves mention. We have seen many unbearable "Entertainers" and "Adhiradi Movies", we have cried in agony and bankruptcy afterward. We have seen movies that insult our intelligence and twist the laws of human existence, we have seen some of the most irritating actors and actresses to have ever come on film, and we have survived. Aadukalam causes no such trouble, survival at the end of the film is guaranteed, if not natural. But the National Awards Panel needs to get its act together.