Tuesday 15 January 2019

Pongal 2019 - Rajinified




Petta

Petta, as Kathick Subbaraj said in many interviews, this is a Rajni movie, from a Rajni fan and by a team of Rajni fans for the Rajni fans. I went in enthusiastically and yes really got what I've was expecting. I actually booked 10 tickets which includes a kid and everyone was completely satisfied.

Rajni was back to what he loves doing and he does it well. KS brings back lots of nostalgia and we can get the glimpse of vintage Rajni we were always hoping to see.

Petta the story was another usual revenge saga which we all expected after watching the trailer and with some minute twists towards the end in KS's style. But, I don't get what made Petta so powerful, he knows only a collector. And, where was he hiding/waiting for twenty years. How's he getting recommendation from PMO office. Are we talking about the real life Rajnikanth there?

Among the ladies Simran had a role similar to Aditi in CCV, she disappeared mid-way. But, as a Simran fan I'm glad she did one movie with Rajni as well and she looked much better than Seema Raja. Trisha role was as good as Thamanna in Bahubali 2 in a blink and miss role. Among, the big star cast I don't think anyone make any impression other than Thalaivar in Petta which includes VJS, Nawaz, Sasikumar, etc.

Anirudh, scored really well here for all the mass moments and he was so impressive more than the songs. And, DoP Thiru sethukified most of the frames. And, good to see Peter Hein back for the stunts.

Now, I really wish KS to do more movie with Rajni and maybe with more substance than just the style like his Jigarthanda where you couldn't predict what comes next and ofcourse in the same mood as Petta.

That one "உள்ளே போ" was absolute gold and I'm totally Rajnified.

Viswasam:

On the other hand, Viswasam, which didn't even excite right from the announcement. Since, it was Ajith joining again with director Siva for the fourth time after an unbearable Vivegam. And, I'm not a big fan of Vedhalam or Veeram either. The first half was so bad that made it look the second half better. And, yaaru yaarukku Viswasama irukanga?

Just like that Wig in Bhairava here too Ajith's look made me hate this movie right from the start. What the hell is actually happened to him. How can you make him look so bad. For me he looked much better in that atrocious Thirupathi comparing to this. He looks like a guy who stays up all night without any sleep and comes to the shoot the next day. It's so difficult to see him in close-up shots. Now, imagine Yennai Arindhal's opening scene with Anushka. And, if she utters those dialogues to someone looking like this.

Nayantara was terrific with her looks and performance as well. She's really getting better and gets a role with some importance which was so rare in usual mass masala movies.

Robo Shankar's comedy was okay comparing to Thambi Ramaiah, Vivek, Kovai Sarala. Why would no one tell Kovai Sarala about her OTT acting she does in every movie. And, that girl who plays Ajith's daughter was good as well. And, their version 2.0 of "unakenna venum sollu" which is "kannaney kanne" was a good song on screen as well.

Just to raise the melodrama Imman's BGM were straight out of mega serials. And, for the mass scenes, none of them sticks in my mind now.

You can guess the story from the very first scene. Siva, played safe with lot of sentiments and as usual without much logic and looks like it's working comparing to their previous films. Barring the Soori type Vivek-Kovai Sarala comedy, the movie has some good moments in the second half involving Ajith-Nayanthara-Their Daughter. It really saves the film and also the villain Jagapathy, thank god, he isn't after some property just like another corporate villain. And, Siva includes another daughter-father angle there as well. 

I feel Ajith should save himself from Siva and do some better projects. I don't think if Vijay does two movies consecutively with Bharathan after how well Bhairava was received he will get the same response from his fans as Ajith gets for his movies with Siva.


So, my vote is for Petta which I would definitely love to see again. Though, both the films have done to death stories. I liked the Rajinsm and the energy he bought to this otherwise regular revenge story. Of course he's looking old, but oh man he can entertain. On the other hand, Ajith who shouldn't be looking so old looks like someone who can easily play Indian thatha role in Indian 2 without any foreign makeup artists. It's high time he takes care of himself and gets back in shape and looks as charming as he used to be.

Petta - 3.5/5.0.
Viswasam - 2.0/5.0.

Tuesday 8 January 2019

My Awards - 2018

                                  Based on the movies I have seen last year: 2018



Best Film Tamil -                      Vada Chennai

Best Film English -                  Ready Player One

Best Film Hindi -                      Andhadhun

Best Film Malayalam -          Poomaram

Best Film Telugu -                    Mahanati

Best Director -                            Vetrimaran (Vada Chennai)

Best Actor Male -                       Kathir (Pariyerum Perumal)

Best Actor Female -                  Aishwarya Rajesh (Kanaa)
                                  
Best Comedian -                         Yogi Babu (Kolamavu Kokila, Silukkuvarpatti Singam)

Best Villain -                                 Anurag Kashyap (Imaikka Nodigal)

Best Supporting Actor Male -         Sathyaraj (Kanaa)
                                                              Ameer (Vada Chennai)
                                                  
Best Supporting Actor Female -    Andrea (Vada Chennai)

Best Albums -                                         Pariyerum Perumal (Santhosh Narayanan)

Best BGM -                                              Ghibran (Ratsasan)  
                                                                      Kaala, Vada Chennai (Santhosh Narayanan)

Best Music Director -                        Santhosh Narayanan  (Kaala, Vada Chennai,
                                                                                                            Pariyerum Perumal) 

Best Dialogues -                                  Pariyerum Perumal (Mari Selvaraj)

Best Male Playback Singer -         Sathya Prakash (Geedhara Kiliye - Nimir)
                                                                     Sid Sriram (Ennadi Mayavi Nee - Vada Chennai,
                                                                                           High On Love - Pyaar Prema Kadhal) 
                                                                                       
                                               
Best Female Playback Singer -   Chinmayi (96 - Iravingu Theevai, Kadhale Kadhale, Yaen)

Best Lyricist -                                       Karthik Netha (Life of Ram - 96)

Best Screenplay -                                Prem Kumar (96)

Best Cinematographer -                 Merku Thodarchi Malai (Theni Eswar)

Best Editor -                                          Ratsasan (San Lokesh)

Best Stunt Director -                        Dhilip Subbarayan (Vada Chennai)

Best Art Direction -                          Ramalingan (Kaala)
                                                           Jacki (Vada Chennai)

Best Choreography -                       Prabhu Deva (Rowdy Baby - Maari 2)

Best Posters Design -                     96

Best Opening Title Credits -       Vishwaroopam II

Song of the Year:                            Anthathi (96)

Best Song on Screen -                   Naan Yaar (Pariyerum Perumal)    

Best Debut Actor Male -               Darshan (Kanaa)

Best Debut Actor Female -          Raiza Wilson (Pyaar Prema Kadhal)

Best Debut Directors -                   Mari Selvaraj (Pariyerum Perumal)
                                                          Lenin Bharathi (Merku Thodarchi Malai)
                                                          Prem Kumar (96)
                                                          P.S Mithran (Irumbu Thirai)
                                                          Nelson (Kolamaavu Kokila)

Underrated Movie  -                       Asuravadham

Worst Movie -                                   Oru Nalla Naal Parthu Solren

Disappointed Movie -                    Vishwaroopam 2

Disappointed Music Album  -    Sarkar

Overrated Movie  -                          Chekka Chivantha Vanam


Do Check My Awards 20172016201520142013

Thursday 3 January 2019

Top Movies - 2018 ( Tamil / English / Hindi / Malayalam / Telugu )

Following on the songs, here comes my next post at that time of the year, top movies list (good and bad). Watched a total of 224 (http://letterboxd.com/karthic_s) movies which include 63 in the big screen, reduced due to ticket rate and also thanks to Amazon Prime and Netflix.

Best movie in Tamil is the one that was making noise for so many years Vada Chennai.

In English it's Ready Player One, I was blown away by the visual spectacle. It has a very interesting concept of living in the Virtual World and the first race sequence was enough for me, I was sold. 

In Hindi it is Andhadhun, this movie keeps surprising right from the start and throughout the movie till the very end. I was not able to guess anything about what will happen next


The Malayalam cinema of this year for me is Poomaram. It was like visiting the college youth festival and being a part of it. 

And, Telugu cinema is Mahanati, which had some fantastic performances from Keerthy Suresh and Dulquer.

Special mention to the Spanish black and white ROMA and Katheyondu Shuruvagide in Kannada.


Tamil




Impressive - Must Watch


  1. Vada Chennai - Vada Chennai, lives up to the expectation and hype it created since I've been hearing about this movie for ten years. And, it was totally worth the wait and it was just an intro to Anbu and looking forward to the next parts. 
  2. Pariyerum Perumal - "நீங்க நீங்களா இருக்குற வரைக்கும்.. நாங்க (நாயாக) தான் இருக்கணும்னு நீங்க நினைக்கிற வரைக்கும் இங்க எதுவும் மாறாது"
  3. Ratsasan - Ratsasan, a well-researched movie with a gripping screenplay which doesn't lose it intensity and doesn't have any unwanted comedy track or love track or unwanted songs. Keeps you hooked and it will make you follow Vishnu for the clues in finding the killer and also in constant fear of what might happen.
  4. Merku Thodarchi Malai - It was like a poem on screen without any deviation from the plot. Few years from a life of our protagonist which gives the idea of their life.
  5. 96 - And, the most beautiful part of this movie is even here there's a 'what-if' portion that comes in the second half where Jaanu narrates her imaginary story of VJS's proposal to VJS's students. Both, of them, know that was a big moment which changed both their lives. 'What-if' Jaanu had seen Ram or 'what-if' Ram have waited and met her in person. So, we get Jaanu's version of 'what-if'. No other visual could have justified the "Kadhale Kadhale" song as well. That was literally the best part of this movie for me. I wish the movie ended right there I could have just imagined Ram and Jaanu are now together in some other parallel time.
  6. Kolamaavu Kokila - This wacky comedy had some good music and well performed by the small team.
  7. Irumbu Thirai - It was an intelligent thriller and I really enjoyed Vishal's portions with his family back home.
  8. Savarakathi - This serious-comedy had some good performance from Ram and Poorna and some OTT performance from Myshkin, which keeps you hooked till the end.
  9. Kaala - At the end of the movie, my only question "Does the Real Rajinikanth saw the Reel Rajinikanth's Kaala?"
  10. Asuravadham - A fantastic underrated thriller of this year, a good makeover for Sasi and director maintained the suspense till the end.

Good to Average : 

    1. Kanaa
    2. K.G.F: Chapter 1
    3. Silukkuvarpatti Singam
    4. Tamizh Padam 2
    5. Seethakathi
    6. 2.0
    7. Pyaar Prema Kaadhal
    8. U Turn
    9. Vanjagar Ulagam
    10. Echcharikkai
    11. Tik Tik Tik
    12. Iravukku Aaiyiram Kangal
    13. Adanga Maru
    14. ‎Kalakalappu 2
    15. NOTA
    16. Imaikkaa Nodigal
    17. Sarkar
    18. Thaanaa Serndha Koottam
    19. ‎Sketch
    20. Gulaebhakavali
    21. Lakshmi
    22. Kaatrin Mozhi
    23. Mercury
    24. Kadaikutty Singam
    25. Chekka Chivantha Vaanam
    26. Maari 2
    27. Padai Veeran
    28. Raja Ranguski
    29. Saamy²
    30. Goli Soda 2
    31. Mr. Chandramouli
    32. Sandakozhi 2
    33. Annanukku Jey
    34. Vishwaroopam II


    Worst:  

      1. ‎Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren
      2. Sema
      3. Seema Raja
      4. Junga
      5. ‎Naachiyaar

      English




      Impressive:

      1. Ready Player One - My most enjoyable big screen experience this year.
      2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
      3. Mission: Impossible - Fallout
      4. Avengers: Infinity War
      5. Annihilation
      6. ‎Paddington 2
      7. ‎Black Panther
      8. A Quiet Place
      9. BlacKkKlansman
      10. Love, Simon
      11. Hereditary
      12. Game Night
      13. Incredibles 2
      14. Sorry to Bother You
      15. ‎Aquaman

      Good to Average:

      1. Deadpool 2
      2. To All the Boys I've Loved Before
      3. Psychokinesis (Korean)
      4. Bird Box
      5. Red Sparrow
      6. Molly’s Game
      7. Thoroughbreds
      8. Isle of Dogs
      9. Searching
      10. Upgrade
      11. Creed II
      12. Ant-Man and the Wasp
      13. First Man
      14. Tag
      15. Blockers
      16. A Star Is Born
      17. Juliet, Naked
      18. Venom
      19. When We First Met
      20. Ocean's Eight
      21. ‎Peter Rabbit
      22. Crazy Rich Asians
      23. You Were Never Really Here
      24. Skyscraper
      25. Ibiza
      26. Set It Up
      27. Eighth Grade
      28. The Meg
      29. Sierra Burgess Is a Loser

      Worst:

      1. Pacific Rim Uprising
      2. Jurassic World‎: Fallen Kingdom
      3. The Predator
      4. Rampage
      5. Tomb Raider

      Malayalam



      Impressive:

        1. Poomaram
        2. Sudani from Nigeria
        3. Swathanthryam Ardharathriyil
        4. Ee.Ma.Yau
        5. Varathan
        6. Hey Jude
        7. Carbon
        8. Captain
        9. Eeda
        10. Koode

          Average to Not Bad:

          1. Uncle

          2. Njan Prakashan
          3. Aravindante Athidhikal

          4. Njan Marykutty

          5. Padayottam
          6. Aadhi
          7. Ranam
          8. Abrahaminte Santhathikal
          9. Theevandi
          10. B Tech
          11. Mohanlal
          12. Kuttanadan Marpappa

          Hindi



           Impressive: 

          1. ‎Andhadhun - Tabu with the scream mask was just too good a scene in this year.
          2. Tumbbad
          3. Mukkabaaz
          4. Manto
          5. Badhaai Ho
          6. Raazi
          7. Sanju
          8. ‎Pad Man
          9. Blackmail
          10. Mulk

          Good to Average: 

            1. Soorma
            2. Stree
            3. October
            4. Hichki
            5. Manmarziyaan
            6. Bhavesh Joshi Superhero
            7. Sui Dhaaga
            8. Veere Di Wedding
            9. Lust Stories‎
            10. Love per square foot
            11. ‎Padmaavat
            12. Raid
            13. Pari
            14. Gold
            15. Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran
            16. Simmba

            Worst:

              1. Kaalakaandi
              2. Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety

              Telugu




               Impressive to Good:

              1. Mahanati
              2. C/o Kancharapalem
              3. Goodachari
              4. Aravindha Sametha
              5. Geetha Govindam
              6. Bharat Ane Nenu
              7. Rangasthalam
              8. Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi
              9. Sammohanam
              10. Taxiwala

              Average: 

              1. Tholi Prema
              2. Chalo
              3. RX 100
              4. Naa Peru Surya - Naa Illu India
              5. Bhaagamathie
              6. Agnyaathavaasi
              Worst
              1. Jai Simha - But still a must watch and hilarious, so bad it's so good.