KADHALIL SODHAPUVADHU YEPPADI (KSY) – ONE OF THE BEST ROMANTIC COMEDIES OF OUR TIMES

MUST WATCH! IT WILL BE A CRIME TO MISS THIS!

 Its been quite some time since we last got to see equally refreshing rom coms in BOSS engira Bhaskaran and Siva Manasula Sakthi. The energy in the theatre hall, the environment that the film creates, say it all. The longer version does full justice to its successful shorter version that came under the same title. Having seen and enjoyed the short film sometime back, I had my doubts if it was possible to give out an equally, good full feature film. Watching the film, you come out a convinced man. The entire cast save the lead actors from the short film have been retained with a few additions wherever required.

                The film has Arun (Siddharth) telling us about his love life, the events that eventually lead to his break-up with Paarvathi (Amala paul) and simultaneously giving us lessons as to where all people generally mess up or make mistakes when in love as the main plot. I can vouch that they aint wrong when it comes to boys, but you’ll have to ask one and find out yourself, when it comes to girls. The sub plots involving the parents of the lead pair and that with their friend in Pondicherry is all very very nicely done.

                The team has cashed in well on the short film staying true to it till the very end. Humour is sprinkled in heavy doses, having you in splits more often than not. Needless to say, music has a say throughout the film. The songs are placed good ensuring that they don’t hamper ther pace of the film. The romantic-cum teasing score in those scenes involving the parents, music by S Thaman, man, wow! The lyrics, by Madhan Karky & director Balaji Mohan, of the opening song ‘Paarvati Paarvati’ play true to the times we live in. Azhaipaaya, the melody number, stands out. We’ll have to wait and see as to how director Balaji Mohan, whose done an excellent job here, manages expectations next time around, which will expectedly be ultra-high.

                The chemistry between the lead pair is riveting, to say the least, from the first scene to the last. Siddharth excels, his expressions coming to the fore, though such roles aint the first time for him. (konjam ishtam konjam kashtam in telugu). Amala paul is no less, both in looks and acting. The cartoons on the background during the credits at the beginning of the film begs to be mentioned. The lead actor talking directly to the camera (read audience/us) is another impressive point.

 KSY has its flaws too. There are scenes which are very obvious. And then there’s the lessons the hero gives you but fails to show the connections between those lessons and his love life, supposedly from where he learnt those lessons. But who cares? Go have fun. I’ll be damned if you’ll not want to watch it a second time or third for that matter.  85/100

Starts out very realistically meanders towards melancholy

Duet movies, more often than not, leaves a great impression on the audience with every one of its premise. Dhoni starts out equally well, but fails after an impressive 1^st half. One must though laud the effort taken by the team that tries to bring to the fore one of the most nagging problems of this country- our great education system, that sadly has not many voices.

The film’s about how a middle-class father ,Subramanian (prakash raj), breaks down to into harassing his son, kaarthick (Aakash),thanks to all the pressure that a middle class man in india goes through, before realising his folly and goes all out at the education system. Kaarthick is a extremely talented cricketer, his inspiration being dhoni, who can recite endless cricket statistics at will but finds reciting the multiplication tables hard. He is forced into giving up on his cricket sessions so as to prepare for his exams. His father, typical of what happens all over, spends all his hard-earned money on his son’s tuitions only for him to fail again. A frustrated father, vents out at the son, ends up facing major implications, which is very melo-dramaticcally put forth in the second half. How he recovers from the mess he created forms the rest of the premise.

The entire film plays out in two different parts, before interval and after interval, the difference in them being absurdly contrasting . It  starts out in a very promising manner. It has all the ingredients that have been the hallmark of successful movies from this production house. What follows henceforth disappoints. So realistic until then, it takes up an entirely different road becoming cinematic/melodramatic basically going over board with the emotions. You find quite a lot of loopholes sprinkled all over the plot. The actions that end up in kaarthick reaching coma it too much to take? Are you kidding me? Is that all it takes one to reach coma? And when did the doctor informing the concerned parties about some trauma, become so much like a random, convo? The neeya naana episode we get to see- must be the worst episode of a very credible programme. Never has neeya naana been this loaded in favour of a single person.  how a middle class man could so easily have access to a talk show of such high credibility is bemusing. But then, it is nothing when you compare it to the same middle class man getting to have a convo with the CM! (O_O) . all these , and a lot more holes in the plot contribute to water seeping in and the ship sinking.

Performance wise, prakash raj lives the role. He shines apart from the rest of the cast, carrying the entire film on his shoulders. As a father, a government staff, a neighbour who puts honour on the forefront, he plays the role of a middle-class man to perfection. Radhika apte ,playing the neighbour with a dishonourable profession (slut), fits the bill, fine. Somehow for  an actor of Nasser’s stature, he never looks convincing as the coach. Aakash’s is a mediocre performance and there’s a lot that can be improved upon. Ilayaraja’s score helps things in the better part of the film. Never saw the point of having that opening song though.

For a film that tries to bring out the drawbacks in our education system, ‘’dhoni’’ is a bemusing title. The pace of the film in the second half, no the second half is in itself questionable. Is it mandatory that every tamil film should be a 2 and half hour venture? A shorter, sans melodrama version would’ve made a greater impact. It is worth watching, for its impressive first half and for the issue it tries to bring forth in the second. Films such as these ought to be encouraged.

6.5/10

GOOD NIGHT GOOD MORNING: A great advertisement, not for just independent film-makers, but for Indian cinema.

Reputed film critics want films made from the heart, realistic ones, something one can actually relate to sans all the melo-drama, over the top action and all and still cater to a large audience. Now, there has always been talk if this actually possible at all? One of those critics, Sudhish Kamath, goes a step ahead, decides to show you how, tells you it can be done.

GNGM is realistic, one you can relate with. Smartly enough, Sudhish sticks to his strength, witty exchanges (one should see his twitter rants with CS.Amuthan – tamil padam director, and they’d know), making a full fledged film on a phone conversation between two strangers. There’s only one other all-talking film i’ve watched – the much acclaimed 12 angry men. For an all talking film, to have the audience engaged throughout is in itself an achievement. The job becomes all the more difficult when the talking comes down to just two persons for some 80 odd minutes. GNGM manages to keep you interested.

GNGM is about a phone conversation between a romantic Turiya (Manu Narayan) struggling to get over his break-up three years after it hath happened and Moira (Seema Rahmani), an idealist, loner and depressed after a break-up, both ending up revealing more than they’d normally do, should they have had the same convo with someone they already knew, learning a lot more about themselves and finding new meaning to their lives (stranger comfort). We see it happening all on the screen during a lengthy phone conversation. 8 stages of love to put it in the film’s words. And then there’s this inception-esque ending to the film.

The film owes all its success to the screenplay, credits to Shilpa Rathnam and Sudhish Kamath. Some of the lines are just too good, staying in touch with modern times, "clear your inbox" for example. It is one thing to have a good story. It is quite another to pull it off. The cast doesn’t let the filmmaker down. Seema Rahmani, gets most of the good lines and delivers. Manu Narayan, though doesn’t match word for word with Seema on all occasions, still does a great job. And then you have Raja Sen as J.C in that “sister act” – COOOOL. The trio (Raja sen, Vasanth Santosham, Abishek D Shah) don’t have much to do in the film otherwise. Another interesting ploy that comes off good is to have replaced those “what could’ve been one sided (flashback/fictitious incidents) convo” with related spoofs and are intelligently placed ensuring that you don’t feel bored listening throughout. Liked the fact that there’s literally no music on most occasions, the interest remaining on the lead and the lead alone. To try out the whole thing in black & white, another novelty. The split screen idea warrants mention. The film has been aptly titled too. Good night – end of one phase. Good morning – starting of a new one.

Don’t get it though why the camera was so zoomed in on the male lead. For all the talk about American pop culture, though only for very few minutes in the film, how different are they from INDIA’s, atleast during new year’s eve? My point is the film could’ve been easily taken in an INDIAN location. It would’ve added to the local flavour. Bit more audience. Some local language and even larger audience. Also, reduces production cost and ensures more profit right? Maybe the film maker wanted to cater to an international audience or something. No idea there.

Nonetheless, it is a great film, proof that good realistic films, which cater to the audience are always possible. It just takes some nerve. Watch it and feel proud that INDIANS are capable of much more than just masala films, they are capable of gems like GNGM. 85/100.

P.S. don't go by the ever reliable IMDB ratings on this one. its been terribly under-rated thanks to Sudhish Kamath-Raja Sen haters.

Will team INDIA at least now play to its believed potential?

                                                Difficult times???

My expectations of team INDIA doing the usual turnaround in the 2^nd test sadly proved to be a mirage. There’s now only one way to prove that the defeat in England and the 2 overseas defeat that followed them were an aberration and not a true portrayal of its full potential. It is still believed all over that INDIA is capable of much more.

            On a happier note, there were positives to pick from in INDIA’s 2^nd innings. Players who were facing the music before the 2^nd test found form, Kohli being the lone exception. With Rohit breathing down his neck, Kohli should find his feet soon. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if he is replaced in the 3^rd test. To have finally managed a score of over 300 should have been a relief. Should INDIA have survived the 1^st hour at SCG, it might have been a different story, but then test cricket is such and we’ll have to look forward. That James Pattinson, INDIA’s chief tormenter, will not be a part of the party thereafter should give the INDIAN batsmen some breathing space. Not that Hilfenhaus & co are an easy deal. Hussey and Ponting finding form should be on top of the list of bowler’s concerns.

            Come perth, and INDIA has quite a lot to answer. The most recent test memories at perth happen to be happy ones. Hopefully they continue to do so. 

Sherlock holmes: game of shadows - Another fun ride for Sherlock fans

    It does one better than its previous version. Substance takes a bit of a beating over style (read as humour/action here). Should you go expecting the film to replicate whatever’s in the Conon doyle’s version, you are in for a disappointment. At some point you find yourself wondering if they’ll stick to the book at least for the end saga, which they actually do.

          A series of bombings take place in Europe seemingly on the verge of a world war, with the nations blaming each other for the bombings, while the ingenious Sherlock (Downey jr.) sees a different hand as usual (in Watson’s- Jude law-words),that of professor James moriarty (Jamed harris) a ,Sherlock equal (which is by the way never proved except in say one instance at the very end), who wants to see a world war so he could sell arms and make good money. How Sherlock & Watson – on yet another “last” adventure – stop Moriarty forms the rest of the movie.

          The impending wedding of Watson, the presence of Irene Adler (Rachel Mc Adams) – yeah , the one Sherlock lets slip in “the scandal in Bohemia”- and Sherlock’s brother (Stephen fry) tries to add to the drama. I thought Sherlock falling for the Irene Adler part, the sentimentality associated with it and Hans Zimmer’s score in those scenes (which were otherwise fine) all combined a bit too much to take. Aberration? There’s very little of the cat-mouse battle between Sherlock – James, though you don’t really miss it and just wish it were there, thanks to Sherlock – Watson combine. Stephen fry has nothing much to do and is wasted.

          Whatever made Sherlock 1 work is all there and some more in game of shadows. (no idea why “game of shadows”). The jokes , a brisk screenplay, Downey charisma all over, Downey- Law exchanges, some really splendid cinematography all make Sherlock 2 work.a good film nevertheless. Worth all your time and money.  75/100. 

WILL THE PERENNIAL UNDER-ACHIEVER FINALLY WIN IT THIS TIME???

            Its been, I guess, 23 years since Tamil Nadu last won the ranji trophy – India’s premier first class tournament. Hailing from Tamil Nadu, I quite naturally want my home team to win it. For the past 3 seasons, Tamil Nadu has consistently shown signs of being the “team to beat” in the league stage only to  deceive in the knockout stages.

            In the 2008-09 season, it topped the league table with an impressive  23 points. It stuttered a bit in the quarters against Bengal conceding a 39-run 1^st innings but eventually prevailed winning the match by 8 wickets. It lost in the semis to U.P conceding the 1^st innings lead thanks to some brilliant batting  from Shivakant Shukla who scored an unbeaten 178.

            In the 2009-10 season it once again topped the league table that also included Mumbai (19 points) going one better than the previous season with 26 points only to disappoint in the quarters against Delhi conceding the 1^st innings lead. The fact that the Mumbai players were following the Delhi vs TN match and preferred facing a relatively weaker Delhi in the semis is in itself an indictment of the strength of the TN team.

            The story was no different in the 2010-11 season. It finished 2^nd in the league with 17 points. In the quarters against Haryana, the 1^st innings was not completed, the match reaching a stalemate, TN going through by virtue of its superior net run rate. It lost to Rajasthan, the underdogs and the eventual champions in the semis.

            The pattern has been repeating itself all over this season. At the end of the league stage, TN tops the league table (26 points) with some commanding performances. It has been slated to face Maharashtra in the quarters and is on course for a clash with Ranji powerhouse Mumbai in the semis. Will TN fall  by the wayside or shed its ‘under-achiever’ tag to take home the Rs.2 crore prize money remains to be seen.

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50/50 – A HEART TOUCHING, NATURAL TALE

One of the best films I’ve ever watched. A friend of mine recommended this film. Add to this Sudhish Kamath’s (noted film critic writing for THE HINDU) giving it a 10/10, it all got me pretty excited. It didn’t prove to be a let down.

            Adam (Joseph Gordon Levitt), a guy who looks perfectly fine (like in most cases of cancer) is in for a shock as he learns from the docs that he is suffering from a rare case of malignant tumour. What happens thereafter, how he copes with it and whether he survives or not forms the rest of the story. Kyle rogen (Seth) gives you the laughs as Adam’s best buddy. The rest of the cast have all pulled it off in their own way. Katherine (Anna Kendrick), a doctor falling for a cancer patient might be a bit dumb, still…………….positives galore in 50/50. Levitt for one. The pace of the film is just perfect. One of those rare films that reaches out to your heart and still manages not to earn a ‘slow film’ tag. That the duration of the film is just around 90-100 mins helps its cause immensely. Melodrama, that is often resorted to in these kind of subjects (cancer), has been pretty well cut down.

            The best thing about the film is that the plot is not setup at all or rather it is set up in such a way that it looks so natural and spontaneous. Hats off to the director Jonathan Levine. The background score is impressive aiding the film throughout, thanks to Michael giachinno. For those of you who want meaningful and realistic cinema, go for it. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if 50/50 wins the Oscar for the best picture.

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