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Narasimhudu (2005)
How not to remake
Ok. Let me begin with some disclaimer. I am no Telugu guy. I didn't grow up watching Telugu movies. But, as a movie fanatic, I go searching for movies and watch it. Now that all movies of the previous decades are available for free, why not?
And I came across this pathetic movie. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm just watching something from a bygone era. I told myself to just be patient and view it objectively. Yes. That's what the filmmakers thought as well. Everyone and everything is an object. The women are just objects. Amisha Patel and Sameera Reddy were at their career peak, when some star guided them to do this. Why? If not for money, I don't know why. The hero is an object too. Jr. NTR of that time was like that rich kid who wanted to get into movies because it made him famous. What is the story about? A simple revenge drama. A girl in the hero's village is sexually assaulted by a group of villains, and he avenges them by coming to the city. Don't ask what he does to the heroines. That was supposed to be the heroine's imagination. So forgiven. You should definitely not ask what the camera does to the heroines. Just wondering whose imagination was that supposed to be.
Is there any reason for this movie to exist? I tried to find. And I was surprised to learn that this was a remake of a Kannada film Durgi. But, you know what was even more shocking? The original movie Durgi made a lot more sense. Durgi does not have a male hero. Durgi is about a female hero (redefining what heroines are supposed to be) avenging the death of a girl in her village who was sexually assaulted. The story is now about feminism, woman rights, their struggle for survival and how they eventually win. Did the makers of Narasimhudu see any of these? How convenient to change the gender and add two glamorous heroines while destroying the very reason why Durgi was made in the first place?
We are glad that industry course corrected later. Better movies and better stories made the country turn their heads towards them. But the damages of the previous era will take another era or two before it can be wiped out completely.
Pillaiyar Theru Kadaisi Veedu (2011)
Surprise!
I had zero expectations with this film. Jithan Ramesh is the not-so-successful son of a very successful producer and a brother of a very successful actor. Except for his most successful movie Jithan (no awards for guessing it) nobody remembers his other projects (including this one).
But one name stood different. Thirumalai Kishore is a successful director from Telugu industry. While surfing his Wiki, I was surprised to learn that his debut was in Tamil. Out of curiosity, decided to watch this movie (available for free in MX Player).
And oh boy! I was taken by surprise, in a very good way. This is probably one of the well scripted village movies to come from 2010s decade. Reminds of the beautiful village movies of 80s and 90s and 2000s, where life was just plain simple. And yet, there is a certain smartness behind the unexpected (you think you know, but you don't) twists and developments in the script. Kishore announced loud and clear that he knows how to mesmerize with his writing.
The only drawback (and probably the very reason people will easily get disconnected) is the performance of EVERYBODY! It seems the director Kishore couldn't extract the best out of all of them. There are lots of continuity mistakes. The actors don't seem to understand how to enact the specific character under the specific situation. Even some of the best in the industry seem to do a bad job. This clearly shows the director hasn't been able to get the job done from them.
If you can look past the performances to understand what Kishore had to offer in his first film, I believe you will appreciate this debut. Of course, there are some unnecessary but standardized stereotypes which you will have to ignore (jobless hero, exactly 4 friends, lots of drinking and smoking, Maman-Machan fights, bad villain, bad heroine father, happy family jumping in water to prove they are happy, pathetic way to fall in love at first sight, sister's friend is heroine, forgettable songs), if they are not your taste.
I wish people gave it the right attention. For people who have already made up their mind, give this a second chance. I may be wrong with giving it high ratings. But, I don't think this movie deserves to be at a rating where people ignore it.
Sarkar (2018)
In the end, it's just another forgettable flick. There is nothing new nor old about this.
Earlier this decade, Vijay was at his bottom of his career, after glorious blockbusters in 2000s. He desperately needed someone to revive his losing relevance in changing times, encouraging him to do out of the way experiments like Kaavalan, Velayutham, Nanban. But none of them was able to push him back to relevance as much as his 2012 movie Thuppakki. Surprisingly, Director A. R. Murugadoss wrote the script for Mahesh Babu, signed up Akshay Kumar to shoot it in Hindi, before deciding to make the movie in Tamil with Vijay. Thuppakki ended up not only reviving Vijay's career to the newer generation, but also cemented itself as one of the best thrillers in commercial Tamil Cinema. In short, Thuppakki was not your usual Vijay script and it clicked with the audience.
Why such an introduction for a review of Sarkar? Simple. Everytime I hear ARM and Vijay are coming together, I eagerly wait for Thuppakki magic to happen again. But I'm disappointed the second time in a row. Kaththi despite not recreating Thuppakki magic, it cemented it's position as one of the most impactful message movies of Tamil Cinema. The gut-wrenching realism of farmers' plight answered by a cinematic revolutionary-like heroism, did send everyone home from the theater with the bitter truth and a subconscious guilt.
So what is Sarkar then? Nothing, but just an amalgamation of political news and memes of Tamil Nadu of last couple of years, and a message 'Your vote is precious' garnished above. To drive this, forceful attempts like Vijay being a CEO of GL (play on Google) Sundar Ramasamy (play on Sundar Pichai), him being a corporate monster, Varalakshmi as an evil equally smart politician, voter impersonation, are used just as failed tools for driving the story. Otherwise, there is nothing a compelling experience this movie offers. I didn't even talk about the misuse of artists like A. R. Rahman, Mohit Chauhan, Keerthi Suresh, Livingston, Pazha. Karuppaiah, Yogi Babu.
Wait a second. Are you a crazy Thalapathi fan? Perhaps, you might like it. Vijay dances, smashes, smokes, fights, kicks, flies. But, if your brain has even a tiny amount of gray matter left, making you ask inquisitive questions 'Why?', 'How?', you better avoid this altogether. Still a crazy fan? Go watch his old movies on YouTube. That's far more satisfying than this.
After watching Thuppakki, I was happy with a satisfying thriller. After watching Kaththi, I was happy with a satisfying message, After watching Sarkar, I am just going back to relive the memories of Thuppakki and Kaththi. They are free to watch on YouTube, by the way.
Vetrivel (2016)
Unadulterated Tamil Village Family Movie
There was a time in Tamil Films Era, where the background is a village, the characters are villagers, events that unfold are what you as an individual, having experienced a Tamil Village life, would see if those events were to happen in your life too. Yet, what made this movie still a commercially viable product was that they were entertaining after all. A pretty good examples of Realistic Entertainers, with the additional baggage of being grounded to Indian Culture and Way of Living. And then worst things happened by misunderstanding what a commercial movie should have, leading to all the clichés we assosciate with a mindless masala movie.
After a very long time, I've seen a movie that remains as grounded as possible without compromising on mandatory commercial elements, and yet is smart, fun, emotional and touching your heart, arousing memories of relatives back in your native place. Vetrivel is a movie that neither tries to be larger than realism nor tries to be smaller than an entertaining masala movie. You have people who are real people you will encounter, and the way things happen and will react are the ways that you would do too under similar circumstances. Watch this movie and go back with complete satisfaction.
However, if you have never experienced a Tamil Village life or watched a movie based on one, or if you are looking for some Cinematic Genius work, this movie will fail you. But, if you are like me missing some of the fun Village Classics of 80s and 90s and wish a more modern updated version for current times be made, with least nonsense, Vetrivel is a must-watch.
(PS: I did not enjoy the Thambi Ramaiah comedy portion or the Nadodigal movie references. Was totally unnecessary, not even for the mandatory commercial portion. Yet, rest assured they would not hamper your experience, unless you decide to take them very seriously.)
Moonlight (2016)
A light breeze that carries you like a feather to feel your True Self
Movies are of two kinds. One, that brings the child within you, by showing multiple fast-moving, colorful images that are grand, visually. We are so used to these kind of movies that everyone is convinced that movies are for entertainment, and this is what 'I' want. And, when we least expect, we get something like 'Moonlight', making ourselves question why movies are made. We realize then, that there are a second kind of movies, where you start thinking and feeling deeper than ever before, giving a new meaning to life since you watched it.
Moonlight is not a story, as others mention. It is about you, as an individual, portrayed through the character Chiron. Every human must have faced issues with identifying the world within and the world outside. As a consequence, he/she faces the challenge of adjusting both, getting confused, frustrated, afraid, reserved throughout, until that day when they open up to someone whom they believe completes them.
Chiron is an introvert growing up in a very harsh environment (no spoilers), trying to find who he really is. Unlike other movies so far, Moonlight keeps Chiron at the center of every scene, portraying his struggles and emotions right directly on screen. Never in a moment does the movie divert into a sub-plot that tries to justify anything. What you see is the world as Chiron sees, hears and feels. The actors who have played Chiron have done a masterful work of emoting it. The direction and screenplay is a masterpiece itself. There are very few dialogues. But when they are spoken, they leave a deep thought in mind.
Moonlight is not a Roller Coaster that an average movie goer expects. It is like that light breeze you feel when you walk along the beach. Don't watch the movie looking for a thrill. Just relax and feel the experience. That is when you understand life.
(Caution: The movie does have scenes that might be disturbing to some. However, this movie is far safer and healthier than other movies you can think of.)
Pudhiya Geethai (2003)
The Best Theme ever dealt in an Indian Movie, so far - YOU
To everyone...
What do you expect out of an Indian Movie? 3 hours of mindless Clichéd Entertainment - Action, Songs, Dialogues, Unrealistic Villains, Forced- to-be-hot Heroines, all glorified, targeting the Hero of the movie. Well, that's how movies get made here, and you should not question it until you have something new to say. Then who, in India, would watch your movie? Definitely, not the masses.
Yet, if you have a radically new idea - a Very Positive, Priceless Souvenir for the (Sensible) Audience, something directors in India never dared to touch or experiment with it because of fear, and yet you wanted to communicate it to the Indian Audience, who never got freedom from Stereotypical movies, then you got to do it Brilliantly. And that's what K. P. Jagan did, in his Debut movie - A Wonderful tale of the Power of the Human Mind, Human Belief and the Human Soul, told in an Indian Fashion, Blending with Masala stuffs - without making the audience lose their temper in a New Experiment.
In a land where Legends considered worthy of Inspiration are always (mis)interpreted as justifying Revenge, Spite, Anger, Selfishness, Jealousy and other forms of Short-Minded approaches to life's problems, Jagan teaches how to tackle these problems with an Extremely Matured View of Life, Love and Humanity - Never in the History of Indian Cinema, have I seen a Character as Strong, Beautiful, Thought-Provoking, Inspiring, Motivating and Impacting as that of Saarathi, played by actor Vijay (WARNING - DO NOT watch any of Vijay's later movies. They are just Total Crap compared to this one). Each and every Dialogue he is asked to say, is completely appropriate to the scene and has No Narcissism involved (Sadly, Vijay's later movies were full of these Crap). Some of the Dialogues and Scenes, are the Very Souvenirs I was talking about. When you are Worried, just think about Saarathi. Some of the Most Inspiring Moments (Non-Stereotypical) to boost your energy, Watch these:
- Advice to a friend, who tried to Kill Himself (Loved this scene)
- The Convocation
- The Last 20-25 minutes of Climax, each and every frame (These 30 minutes of the movie is what keeps Pudhiya Geethai, Far Different than any other Indian Movie made so far)
Yes, if there is anything that pulls you back, in this movie, then it's got to be the Unnecessary Masala stuffs induced into the story through Heroines and other characters and the very Indian way of Presentation. But, by the time you reach the Final part of the movie, you would have your Energy back, gripping your seats and your eyes on screen (Not the kind, expected by filmmakers, in other movies). And if I believe you to be Not-So-Hard-Hearted person, the Climax will definitely make you Cry for the last moments and make you Smile again after Hope is restored - No Indian Movie has done this ever, and from West only Forrest Gump has moved me besides Pudhiya Geethai.
Why don't filmmakers make these kinds of movies? What on Earth makes them believe Clichéd Movies are loved by everyone? I can just get Inspired from Saarathi and Hope that Hope's not lost... ;-)
Hope You too will Love this Movie... :-)
PS - Sorry for the EXCESSIVE use of CAPITALS. I didn't get any other way of Personifying the elements.