ruganblue Reviews

Talaash: The Answer Lies Within (2012)

Aamir would have chosen the movie while suffering from insomnia !!!

[6/10 · 2 December 2012]

Bollywood movies succeed only because of hype and promotion.This movie is another example of how a good movie is hyped as one of the best in India.

With all due respect to the film, Reema and Aamir, this movie is not a substandard movie at all.It is a good movie,with a good screenplay.But it is in no way exceptional !!!

Aamir is a person who always chooses the plot of the movie with some responsibilities. But I do not know how could he endorse such things in his movies - because he always show cases himself as a person with some social cause!!!

This movie doesn't need an Aamir, and Aamir should not have chosen such a movie!!!

Ayirathil Oruvan (2010)

A much better movie at hindsight

[8/10 · 29 October 2011]

I review this movie so late because, I really didn't like it when I watched it for the first time.The second time I saw it,I felt that this movie has to be reviewed here.Its true that there were huge expectations and the movie was a bit disappointment.I feel the same even now.But there are more good things to talk about than the cons.

My first acknowledgment to the story writer(Selva).This is really a unique movie, so original in its script and content.I have never seen a fictional Indian movie so original and so thoroughly researched,as it deals with ancient Tamil culture.I couldn't believe that such an idea has splashed up for Tamil movie makers.The way he takes us to ancient Tamil culture and links it up fictionally to present culture is really breath taking.I bet that the story as a whole is just so fresh and new to Tamil or even Indian cinema.Kudos to you Selva.

My second acknowledgment to the director(Selva).Except for the graphics,the way the director has extracted work from all the departments is breath-taking(since this genre is so new to Tamil).Music,art,action,photography,editing,actors everything fits in well with the script and kudos to the crew for such an effort.

Now comes the screenplay(Also Selva!!!).I feel that this is where the movie is a big let down.The first half was really terrific and was in going with correct pace.The second part acted as the spoiler.There were tooooo many things to be shown and explained,so the director had to just rush with the script,which made the viewer baffled of what was happening around.

Having penned such a wonderful script, the movie could have been divided into two or more parts.Say, the first part can deal with the adventurous trip to the ancient Chola Kingdom.The second part could show what happens there, all the twists and turns and the third part could show what happens at the end.

This is where I feel that Tamil movies are a notch well behind the films from other parts of the world.Taking risk and being bold enough to split the movie into parts.So that everything could be explained in detail and in the manner the director wanted,especially in such scripts.

Having said this, I still feel that if the movie is watched once again,it will surely be loved.

7aum Arivu (2011)

Expectation always hurts----7 aum arivu

[5/10 · 27 October 2011]

I went in with loads of expectations.Only to be disappointed after the first half an hour.Making a big budget movie(in terms of Tamil film industry) with big actors is really a huge burden.Murgadoss clearly succumbed to such a huge pressure.

It takes immense talent,hard work and more importantly the knack of creating what we really wanted to,rather than what others wanted to present a wholesome entertainer.I rate Shankar way above every Tamil director to give a humongous entertaining movie.Many have attempted it and I don't find anyone even coming close to him.

Now let us come to the movie.What did the director really wanted to convey?

-> The life history of Bodhidharma? -> To praise Tamil as a language and Culture?

Had he tried this whole-heartedly, I bet, the outcome would have been excellent and the viewers would have loved it.

I understand the time and efforts put by the director&co for the research on Bodhidharma and Tamil culture,genetic engineering,Bio war,China's intrusion and their motive.Every bit of this is true and the director can be lauded only for trying to bring all these within 160 odd minutes.Hard work only pays if it meets intelligence.

In spite of all these efforts,what the film viewer got was,

-> A normal commercial movie,leaving the first half an hour. -> Usual romance though the director tried trimming it as much as possible. -> Five..sorry four really unnecessary songs.The songs were really irritating.(yemma yemma was the worst of all.) -> A usual smart hero who plays with everyone,suddenly out of nowhere becomes patriotic and clever. -> Usual heroine,strictly with a non-tamil looks and accent,but glorifies tamil throughout the movie.(tolerable???) -> A suave anti-hero, less spoken, trying to speak with eyes!!! but tortures with his facial expressions.

The director has underestimated the film viewers which is a big disappointment for a normal film goer like me.Every second scene there is dialogue glorifying tamil.And every third scene there is a reference to Bodhidharma.It makes me wonder what such directors think of film viwers?

In short let us see the positives and negatives.

Positives: ->Bold try. ->Surya's efforts. ->Camera,editing

Negatives: ->Screenplay ->Songs && BGM ->Graphics(Car stunt sequence) ->Director's under estimation

Suggestion: -> Could have made the movie in two parts.It requires immense guts though,which no one has in Tamil industry. -> Never try to cheat film viewers in the name of culture,language etc etc.However intelligent you might be!!!!!

Raavanan (2010)

The end of the road for MANI

[2/10 · 12 August 2010]

I personally feel that this movie has paved the path for the "END" of the golden era of ManiRatnam.Every Indian knows the capability and brilliance of ManiRatnam. Though he has had some duds at the box office even in his previous attempts no one has doubted his mastery over films.But I am sure that every loyal "Mani fan" or for that matter any viewer expecting quality movies would be thoroughly disappointed on watching this "CRAP".

A film will never be rated as "GOOD" for any individual(s).This film boasts of a great technical crew...Rahman , Shreekar Prasad, Santosh Sivan,Manikandan,Sameer Chanda....and the list goes on.

I have to accept the fact that every one has been very professional and loyal giving their 100% for the film except for two ....."ManiRatnam" and his beloved and so called brilliant wife "Suhasini".

The most important aspects of films in India are " Story, Screenplay, Dialogue". The story of the film is a known one and hence no point on discussing it....though there could have been some interesting changes which would have made a familiar story ,interesting.

Then the screenplay.I heard this "crap" by one of the members of technical crew after the film failed at box office ,saying "Mani wanted the viewers to have their own interpretations "- meaning ... the viewers were not good enough to understand the technical brilliance of Mani.WHAT A CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then come to the outrageous and melo-dramatic,old fashioned ,irritating ,bla bla bla....dialogs.This would have summed up my point.I assume.The funny part is "SHE IS IN THE LINE TO DIRECT YET ANOTHER CRAP". OMG!!! save people..

Now at last to acting.I am personally very disappointed to discuss this part at end....so has been the negatives of the film. Though the characterization of the actors is still a question mark there is no doubt in the part played by the actors.

Vikram and Aish were equally brilliant and awesome and the chemistry really did work well.And others too did justice on their part.

This is the first time ... I don't feel sorry for being critical about the film and the technical crew.So much were the expectations!!!!!!

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

best dialog till date

[10/10 · 3 June 2010]

This is one of the very few Hollywood movies which really had heart touching , realistic dialogs instead of having some crappy words.A very honest movie indeed,will smith shows how a struggling father fosters a son especially for economically struggling families.The best dialog was during the interview part where he wins the interviewers with his wit,"I am the kind of person who would say Don't KNOW if I really don't know.But I assure that I will find the answer and I know the way how to find it"....wow. Moreover the film has a very clean cinematography and editing which suits the mood of the film completely and not to mention the soothing music.Will smith should be commended for making such a film .No need to mention about his acting but what a terrific performance by his son...indeed commendable. This movie is recommended for all realistic movie lovers

Peraanmai (2009)

Loosely based on the book by Boris Vasilyev

[8/10 · 11 November 2009]

Loosely based on the book by Boris Vasilyev,and with touches of the Russian film "The Dawns Here are Quiet" , the director does well to make it as Indian as possible....why the over melodramatic song towards the climax?? in otherwise a very good movie indeed!!!! The director does well in mixing the Russian film with his fight for the tribal and the rocket launch sequence......... Compared to Hindi movies , South Indian movies have always been several steps ahead in every aspect of film making.... The movie has both its plus and minus....Jayam Ravi fits perfect to the role....but why Roland Kickenger for such a minor role....any other well built man could have done justification for the role.....but he fits perfectly for the role...... probably a bit of too much heroism towards the end...