Ali’s Wedding Review – Ali’s Wedding is an English movie produced in Australia. The movie revolves around a Iranian family settled in Australia. Ali the youngest son in the family tells a lie due to social pressure and the events that the lie leads to is the rest of the movie.
The movie starts off on a empty field that leads to a vineyard where a guy in a groom costume is driving a stolen tractor to get to the airport but is chased by cops. The beginning certainly gives the taste of what you can expect. From then on it is a roller coaster ride of fun. You get a glimpse into the lifestyle and culture of the Iranian family. The movie overall has a very funny tone and deals how simple expectations from life can alter the way one can lead life. It also has a satirical take on how rest of the world views people from middle-east. Even the deportation scene from the US is hilarious.
The family values have striking similarity with Asian families and this lets you connect with the movie very well. The movie also takes a dig at how the old systems and beliefs are altered based on convenience in a most comical way.
High Points: The simplistic plot of the movie, the screenplay of the movie, the comic sequences, performances by Osamah Sami, Helena Sawires and Don Hany.
Low Points: There is not many low points in this movie.
If you love movies with comedy of errors plot then Ali’s Wedding is a perfect movie for you. It has all the ingredients that make it a very good comedy film. Overall it is a well made movie that is simple, naive and also emotionally connects well. The movie is on Netflix . Do watch it.
Kaatru Veliyidai Review – Kaatru Veliyidai is a Tamil romantic drama released in 2017. VC an Indian Air Force fighter pilot is captured by Pakistani army as a war prisoner during the Kargil war, his hope to meet Leela once more keeps him alive.
Director Maniratnam creates a yet another gem out of his “Akshaya Patra” (inexhaustible vessel) of love. He still has some much more stories to tell. In Kaatru Veliyidai, he deals with yet another tale of romance the core conflict being male chauvinism. The canvas for the tale he has chosen is quite interesting. It is a love between an Air Force fighter pilot and a doctor. The swag of a pilot naturally makes the male chauvinist behavior very believable. I will not dwell more on the story and spoil any fun for you.
Ravi Varman’s cinematography is a great plus. The entire movie is a visual treat. The breathtaking view of the Himalayan mountain range makes it even richer. I couldn’t take the eyes from the screen. Extreme close up shots, communicating with eyes, a lesser number of dialogues, a slow movement of the scene to build up the drama all makes it very appealing. I love drama in the movies, off late watching the treatment of directors like Hari, KV Anand and many other directors I have led to believe that slow moving shots, communication through silence all have become old fashioned. But this vintage magic of Mani sir is still magical. Those short and sweet dialogues still evoke the emotions in you. Those silent visuals still teleport you.
The most striking performance is from Aditi Rao Hydari. She is not only eye candy but her eyes speak a lot. The scene in which she looks into the mirror and questions herself, she has performed so well. Karthi’s performance is also good. At times you feel he goes overboard with his performance but all this works well to establish his male chauvinist attitude. RJ Balaji for a change has acted in a mellowed down manner. He could make you laugh even with serious dialogues without trying too hard with mixing Tamil and English.
The music and background score of AR Rahman is very apt for the visuals. Mani sir has re-used some of the iconic romance scenes from his earlier movies shamelessly. And we too would enjoy these shamelessly as they still stay fresh after so many years.
High Points: The treatment of the core conflict of love, Breathtaking visuals, slow drama and communication through silence, Aditi’s performance are all high points.
Low Points: If you don’t like silence in movies or slow drama you might feel a bit restless.
Overall I would say Vintage Mani Sir is back. He still has a lot of love (stories) left in him. If you love movies like Mouna Raagam, Alaipayuthey, Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya, you would love this one too.
Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada Review – Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada is a romantic thriller released in 2016. Leela goes on a road trip on a bike with her friend’s brother. What begins to be a feel good romantic journey turns ugly when they meet with an accident.
The movie starts with a statement that it has been inspired by the scene in The Godfather. This scene should be where injured Michael plots revenge against the corrupt policeman. If you are expecting a VTV kind of a movie you would be in for a surprise as it is not a romantic drama. Only the first half of the movie is dedicated to romance and you would see all the songs appear in the first half of the movie itself. Then the second half is the inspiration part.
This is GVM’s way of movie making and story telling. You may like this or hate it but beyond everything you see a genuine sincerity in making what he believes in. There is a very casual approach in the first half as the scenes and the dialogues flow like they have been taken using a candid camera. There is also an element of surprise about the name of the lead protagonist. This is kept under wraps till the final sequence in the movie. He is passionate about riding his bullet and the initial scenes and dialogues would connect well with the biker community. Manjima Mohan is an eye candy who follows the tradition of a GVM’s heroine.
The second half of the movie is gritty and keeps you at the edge of the seat. A genre that I believe that GVM excels in. He can create a gruesome villain out of anyone. Baba Sehgal in this case. The placement and creation of Thalli Pogathey song are beautiful and would be one of the high points in the movie. This kind of reminded me of a different opening by Myskkin in Pisasu. The hospital scene, the chase, and episode at the doctor’s house are the most engaging part of the movie. What happens to be a breezy ride on the tracks becomes a roller coaster ride. However, the big minus for the movie is the climax. When the suspense is unveiling, the story of movies Gangs of Wasseypur or RGV’s political crime drama is narrated with new characters so all the suspense built so far becomes for nothing. The non-linear editing with flashes of scenes, in the beginning, is the only knot that ties this. Still, this is not very effective. I only wished there was a foreshadowing done a bit earlier.
High Points: Thalli Pogathey song, Cinematography of the travel and the fight sequences, the hospital and final chase sequences. Picturization of the songs.
Low Points: The climax is the low point in the movie as the audience were not prepared for it.
Overall AYM is a movie which offers you many things you might like than hate. If you are able to withstand the disappointment in the climax you would be able to appreciate all other good things it offers.
For the sincere attempt and for Thalli Pogathey this one is
Worth a Watch
PS: A note to GVM and other Tamil directors, when you portray IPS officers please don’t let them sport a beard. Understand, undercover cops are allowed to have a beard, but when they take up normal duty and wear the uniform they are not allowed to have a beard.
Parandhu Sella Vaa Review – Parandhu Sella Vaa is a Tamil romantic comedy released in 2016. Sampath is a loser in life when it comes to romance. He instantly falls in love with every girl he meets but nothing clicks. Things change when he travels to Singapore for work.
After a long time, we have a Tamil movie entirely shot in Singapore. And the team has done a great justice to the location for they have captured the beauty of Singapore very vividly. Be it the skyscrapers, the botanical garden, zoo, public transport, Chinese garden and more. The pan shot that flies high to capture the beauty unfolds beautifully on the big screen. This would be a very good selling point for the movie.
Slapstick comedy script works with people who love slapstick comedy. There are a lot of references to the present day scenarios, TV serials and movies which would be enjoyable if you have watched them. The team for comedy track is very strong with RJ Balaji, Sathish and Karunakaran. Out of the trio, Sathish has a more screen space and his witty one liners make the audience laugh out loud. RJ Balaji is in his usual wits and his imitation of Enthiran Robo for running an illegal business is hilarious. His screen time is less and leaves you wanting for more. Joe Malloori as Sathish’s roommate aids in the comedy track.
The next big surprise and glue to the whole story is actress Narelle Kheng. Narelle is a Chinese actress based out of Singapore. The main story picks up once she enters the plot. She is attractive and appears very comfortable on screen.
Hero of the movie is Luthfudeen. This is his first movie as the main hero after a short role in Saivam. His body language fits in well for playing the character of a loser. But with respect to comedy timings he would need to evolve more. Aishwarya Rajesh has a different role with modern and urban outfits.
The other major characters in the movie were played by new artists and you could see a start difference in performance with experienced artists.
High Points: Visuals of Singapore, Narelle Kheng’s character, Comedy of Sathish and RJ Balaji, Songs, A grand looking product with a shoe string budget.
Low Points: Screenplays gets sluggish in the portions where it does not have the comedians or Narelle Kheng, Lack of reaction shots doesn’t let you travel with a character.
Overall Parandhu Sella Vaa is a very sincere attempt to produce the output of a visual grandeur in a shoe string budget. The comedy and Narelle Kheng are a strength of the movie. If you are not into surreal comedy you may miss the fun. This would be a treat to all surreal comedy lovers.
Idhu Namma Aalu Review – Idhu Namma Aalu is a Tamil romantic comedy released in 2016. Shiva falls in love with Myla at first sight when their parents arrange their meeting for prospective bride and groom. But Shiva has a past break up with Myla’s friend Priya. Will they be able to get together is the plot of Idhu Namma Aalu.
Finally, Idhu Namma Aalu sees the light after so many controversies and obstacles. Any movie that is been in talks for so long diminishes in product value. Despite that Idhu Namma Aalu did fairly keep the interest with the movie lovers for the star cast it had. Bright and colorful visuals. STR and Nayantara coming together after Vallavan. Andrea playing the role of a third heroine. All these made it into an attractive package. The movie does score well in comedy thanks to Soori. Despite that, the screenplay lacks the punch for it to make a full-length movie. The lack of a proper core conflict makes one yawn through the proceedings.
The sequence wherein the to be wed people speak over the phone for hours ignoring their friends is hilarious and does happen a lot in reality. But giving that more than 15 min screen time is a bit too dragging.
High Points: The star cast, comedy
Low Points: Lack of core conflict in the movie, Until the last twenty minutes there is nothing that would glue the audience to the seat.
Overall Idhu Namma Aalu does have its moments but very few to make it into a full-length feature film. But for the star cast, there is nothing much to look forward to.
Charlie Review – Charlie is a Malayalam romantic comedy released in 2015. A young woman Tessa moves into a house and finds the previous tenant Charlie has left his things as is in the house. As she cleans she finds the narration of incomplete incident and attempts to find more about it. Her attempt turns into a journey of her life and she falls in love with Charlie before she meets him.
Charlie is a soul searching journey filled with love. It seems to be a fairy tale of sorts that each one of us try to find in our life. The characters in the movie are sketched beautifully and each one of them stays in your mind later as well. The comic tone of the movie adds to a pleasant watching experience. Dulquer Salman and Parvathy Menon have essayed their roles with perfection. As the movie progresses they grow on you. The curiosity and eagerness to meet Charlie grows on with Tessa. As it grows on her it grows on the audience too. The other significant character in the movie is played by Aparna Gopinath. She is a great addition in the second half.
The screenplay never dulls for a moment and it is one of the best interval blocks I have seen for a romantic movie after Vinnaithandi Varuvaya. The movie also captures the essence of the culture of Cochin very well. The background score and songs merge with the sequences well. The climax sequences happening amidst of Thrissur Pooram has been done well. Kudos to Director Martin Prakkat and team for believing in Charlie and being candid in presenting it.
High Points: Fresh screenplay, Characterization of the artists, Comic flavor to the whole movie, Culture of Cochin, Performance of the lead actors.
Low Points: Not many low points here.
Overall, if you have been complaining about the usual cliches in movies go and watch Charlie it is fresh, emotional and provides a great viewing experience.
My Sassy Girl Review – My Sassy Girl is a South Korean romantic comedy movie released in 2001. Gyeon-woo an engineering college student meets a girl who is very bizarre. But circumstances make them meet frequently and he falls in love with her. Will they get together is the plot of My Sassy Girl.
A feel good romantic comedy script’s success depends upon the uniqueness of the characters and the situation although the overall plot is going to be the same. The script should introduce the lead pairs and make the audience want them to get together. My Sassy Girl does that perfectly. The movie is so fresh due to the characterization of the lead characters and the unique situations they are seen in. The movie throws a surprise to the audience in the way the characters react at every scene. It thus makes it a very interesting watch. For instance, the habit of the girl to create screenplays for movies based on some popular blockbusters and bringing in a twist to the ending is a brilliant ploy. The director Kwak Jae-yong has not given into the temptation of creating the usual cliches of a romantic movie. Rather he has travelled along with his characters throughout and the suspense he has held till the end makes it a very interesting watch.
The script also brilliantly leaves certain aspects to the viewers discretion. For instance, the girl’s name is not told throughout the movie and if she actually meets an old man at the end is left for interpretation.
High Points: The plot situations are crafted well, The characterizations of the lead protagonists are done well. The suspense held till the end gives a high degree of satisfaction to the viewers, the fresh visuals are of a great strength for the movie. The flash sequences of the story written by her.
Low Points: Not much of low points here
Overall My Sassy Girl is a great example of how a romantic comedy script should be. This is a must watch for all romantic comedy lovers.
Inji Iduppazhagi Review – Inji Iduppazhagi is a Telugu and Tamil romantic comedy released in 2015. Sweety is a happy go lucky girl. Her mother is worried about her over-weight. When Sweety meets a handsome and health conscious documentary filmmaker Abhi as her wedding alliance she rejects the proposal before he rejects it but internally she hopes that he would fall in love with her.
The movie’s plot has a potential to be a wholesome entertainer. It opens very well where we are introduced to the sweetness in sweety’s life. She reminds of Amélie Poulain from the french movie Amélie in the way she views her life and wishes to bring happiness in people’s life. But soon the plot looses its track and gives into the temptation of commercial formula thereby giving way for cliches being introduced. There is a point in the film where Sweety tells Abhi that she is tired of being just a friend. Post this the movie does a nose dive and Sweety’s character becomes lost in translation.
Anushka has performed well for the most part. But the story couldn’t capitalize on her acting skills. Apart from her, Urvashi has a very enjoyable role. The character of Sweety’s father, grandfather, mother and brother have been sketched well. In the end, you think they could have made a very good movie with the premise and the characters.
High Points: Initial setting up of the plot, Production quality, Anushka’s acting, Characterization of Anushka’s family.
Low Points: Lack of focus on the screenplay, commercial cliches, predictable and beaten to death sequences.
Overall this is an effort that has gone bad due to its lack of focus and substandard treatment of the plot. With a better screenplay, this team has a great potential to deliver an entertainer. Wish them luck for their next venture.
Romeo Juliet Review – Romeo Juliet is a Tamil romantic comedy released in 2015. Aishwarya misunderstands Karthick to be a wealthy man and falls in love with him. When they decide to take their relationship to next level she realizes that he is not rich and breaks up with him. Will Karthick be able to win Aishwarya back is the plot of Romeo Juliet.
Producer turned director Lakshman has tried his hands with some tried and tested formula of romance. However the plot uniquely differentiates itself from the lead pairs being the ideal lovers to more self-centered people. When this was a welcome change in the plot, it quickly falls back into the trap of making them those ideal pair. The screenplay is very superfluous and does have a lot of flaws. What keeps the movie ticking is the music and those moments where few of the comedy sequences had worked and brings a laugh. Jayam Ravi has done a decent job in his role while Hansika’s acting chart varies like an ECG graph. The scenes are bit lengthy compared to how precise the modern day scene constructions have become.
When making romantic dramas one of the key things that the writers should pay attention to is the point of view from both male and the female characters. Many screenplay falls into the trap of skewing towards the point of view of just one character. Romeo Juliet is one such screenplay.
High Points: Uniqueness in the plot with self-centered people falling in love, music is a big positive for the movie.
Low Points: Very predictable screenplay, cheesy romantic sequences that had been done and dusted in many movies. It is high time for Tamil script writers to move away from naming their lead character in the romantic drama as “Karthik”.
Overall Romeo Juliet is an average affair that delivers only half of what it had promised to. It would entice people looking for a cheesy romantic drama. You might enjoy it watching this one when played on TV.
Haiku Nee Short film Review – Haiku Nee is a Tamil short film released in 2015. Arjun and Ramya once connected with deep love have broken up few years ago. But still Arjun carries the love for Ramya in his heart and visits India from US with a hope of reuniting with Ramya again.
Thanks to Surrya for letting me watch this movie as I missed it when it was premiered.
The movie is from the team that made Unakkae Uyiranen. It is love based theme yet again and director Surrya Narayanan has a nice grip on portraying love on the screen. The visuals are very fresh, crisp and colorful. Like the previous outing they have managed with very minimal characters. As an audience you wish and hope they get together but things start going more awry and whatever you hoped for not to happen starts happening. This kind of keeps you engaged with the plot. As you see the film the brilliant visuals are sure to make a very good impact on you. In particular the love portion of the lead pairs has been taken very well and is aesthetically very appealing. The only point I was disconnected is the feedback scene between the coffee shop waiter and Arjun. Seemed bit out of place, a different context in the conversation could have helped much better.
High Points: Fresh visuals, Background score suited well for the narration, Screenplay is very crisp and bringing the entire story plot into a coffee shop is very good.
Low Points: I couldn’t stop comparing their last outing with seasoned actors versus new faces this time. They have given their best and I am sure with experience it would get better.
Overall Haiku Nee is yet another promising product from Surrya Narayanan and his team. Kudos and all the best to the team for a nice short film. I am expecting more genres to be explored by them in the future.
About the guest author: The author of this post is a movie lover and represents Cashkaro.com, a website that offers a way for all buyers to shop things they need at the cheapest price. All the views represented in this post are by the guest author.
Tanu weds Manu returns movie needs no introduction! And there are high chances that you have already watched this spectacular movie. It is a sequel to film ‘Tanu weds Manu’. The film shows how their wedding has fallen apart after 4 years when they can’t find any reason to love each other. Their expectations have been crushed and life seems still when a twist catches up. Here are 7 reasons as to why this movie is a super duper hit:
1) Kangana Ranaut
This one is not even a guess! The queen stepped down which made even the little flaws of this movie invisible. She gave an impeccable performance in her previous movie “Queen” which floored every viewer of that movie. She even won a national award for it. In this film, she has done double roles and has wooed everyone with her outstanding acting skills. It will be hard for you to even believe that both the pole-apart roles have been performed by a single lady. It’s still not late if you haven’t seen this movie. Book your tickets via CashKaro.com and get awesome deals using bookmyshow coupons present on it.
Tanu Weds Manu Returns Kangana Ranaut
2) Brilliant star cast
Apart from Kangana Ranaut, this movie has power packed performances from R.Madhavan, Jimmy Shergill, Deepak Dobriyal, Eijaz Khan and Swara Bhaskar. R.Madhavan has a big fan following in Bollywood and it will be a delight to watch him as due to his other films commitment in Tollywood, he rarely signs for Bollywood films.
Tanu Weds Manu Returns Kangana Ranaut, Jimmy Shergill
3) Unusual Chemistry
The Jodi of Kangana Ranaut and R.Madhavan is unusual yet a charming one. Kangana Ranaut performs this vivacious character while Madhavan plays a subdued role. Opposites attract and this is what makes this pairing a hit.
Tanu Weds Manu Returns Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan
4) Hottest ethnic trends
Ditch those long length kurtis and sport short ones. Kangana Ranaut has sported the newest traditional as well as fusion of Indian and cultural wear in this movie. And she looks like a dream in every outfit.
Tanu Weds Manu Returns Kangana Ranaut
5) Attention gripping music
The sound tracks of ‘Tanu weds Manu returns’ have already climbed the chartbusters and viewed like a million times. “Ghani Bawri” is a super hit. It has been sung by Jyoti Naroon and the lyrics have been written by Raj Shekhar. Most of its songs are foot-tapping.
Tanu Weds Manu Returns Kangana Ranaut
6) Endearing plot
The storyline of the movie is pretty simple and something you can relate with your everyday life if you are married. This catches the attention of audience more as they find the dialogues as well as locations similar to their life. There’s nothing hard to digest here which lends it a touch of simplicity.
Tanu Weds Manu Returns Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan
7) Anand L Rai
The movie has been directed by “Anand L Rai” who delivered other hits like ‘Raanjhana’ and ‘Tanu weds Manu’. Both of the movies were enjoyed by audiences and it will be an under-statement to say that same expectations are riding from this romance comedy movie.
Anand L Rai
What are you waiting for? If you still haven’t watched this movie, rush!!
Premam Review – Premam is a Malayalam romantic comedy movie released in 2015. The plot revolves around the life of George living in Aluva, his love interests, his happiness, failure and transformation through various phases of life.
The movie is from the Neram team. Director Alphonse Putharen has delivered yet another interesting tale that would keep you engaged throughout. Premam does not follow the usual three act structure rather the entire screenplay is organized like a bouquet of pages from the diary of a person. You get to peek into the life of this person in 3 periods of time. The core theme of the movie is love and the factor that would connect the audience throughout the movie are those nostalgic moments that one could associate with. The director has used some extreme close up shots of the surroundings to give the feel for it. The director has also banked heavily on the star value of Nivin Pauly which he has gained since Neram. This has worked very well. Nivin Pauly has grown into a versatile actor. He could transform himself from a soft spoken, shy chocolate boy to a fearsome angry young man in jiffy. This is a major strength for the movie. Rajesh Murugesan has delivered yet again in the music department for the director. The editing is also done well in particular for the songs.
High Points: Nostalgic moments, Nivin Pauly’s performance, Editing and Cinematography, Comedy in the script and Of course love.
Low Points: The screenplay is tad bit longer for the content of the script. The second half gets a bit dragging before it gets back on track.
Overall you will fall in love with love (Premam) once again and watch it when it is in the theaters. Kudos to Alphonse Putharen and team for giving a light-hearted and breezy movie
