Category Archives: Tamil Movies

Tamil Movie Reviews

Can Skip it, Fantasy, Genre, Rating, Reviews, Romance, Tamil Movies

Irandaam Ulagam

Irandaam Ulagam – is a Romance and Fantasy Tamil movie released in 2013.  The story happens in parallel across two planets Earth and an unknown planet. The unknown planet is inhabited by people who are like humans and still ruled by Kings. There is greed, fear, slavery and war spread over the race and there is absence of Love. The divine mother in the race believes a true love would bring in peace and build culture to the race. Meanwhile in Earth a medical student and a mathematician fall in love. At one point of time the two worlds connect and there is an opportunity to establish true love to the extra-terrestrial race. Was true love established, did it bring in order to their world is the rest of the plot.

Have you ever woken from a dream and thought how strange it was? That is the feeling you would get after watching Irandaam Ulagam. It is a never seen story line and canvas for Tamil Cinema. Selvaraghavan should be lauded for thinking of such a story line and putting in efforts to bring it on screen. Where the movie falters is in the screenplay and dialogues. You talk about true, divine love and hear dialogues of what you would hear in movies like 7G Rainbow Colony, Kadhal Kondaen it kind of creates a clichéd product output. He could have completely avoided that for this movie as it did not fit the bill. The movie doesn’t let you engage with it for long as too many things are happening on screen that is ethereal in nature. It is hard to make films of such demanding visual effects and still make it commercially viable for Tamil Cinema. Unfortunately that is harsh reality and our film makers are caught in this dilemma currently. To make this work, pre-production as a discipline should get well established in the industry to pre-plan and prototype good enough output that is convincing to the audience. This movie has done that to a good extent but they have missed out big time on casting, make up and detailing. Till this is got right there will be a disconnect. Overall the movie has taken the same route as what Baba took, its struggle to tell a compelling message to the audience vs trying to force in commercial elements into it. If you are willing to keep the distractions away and able to see the actual message that has been told and appreciate the efforts of a film maker to bring his dream on to the screen then you should definitely watch this once if not you can skip it.

Note: Please read the review completely before taking a call

Can Skip it – unless you are willing look beyond the on screen performances for the deep message in the movie.

 

Classic, Genre, Musical, Must Watch, Rating, Reviews, Romance, Tamil Movies

Ninaithale Inikkum

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Ninaithale Inikkum – a romance drama and musical in Tamil released in 1979. Chandru is a lead singer in a music troop. They fly to Singapore for a program where he meets Sona a girl whom he falls in love with. But Sona behaves unpredictably, sometimes she reaches out to Chandru and at times she ignores him. What is the mystery behind her behavior? Was Chandru able to win her heart? is the rest of the plot.

Kamal Haasan, Rajnikanth and Jayaprada in the lead roles, K. Balachander directing the film, MS Viswanathan and Kannadasan combo for the music and lyrics, Sujatha penning the story and screenplay, today it sounds like a dream combination and it would create a huge expectation among the audience. Such was the magic of Ninaithale Inikkum although released 34 years ago. The movie was different in many ways and got a cult status of its own. Kamal Haasan and Jayaprada had a lot of scope for acting, Rajnikanth known for his style and action, filled in for the full length comedy track and support role. The movie was a musical treat with some ever green foot tapping numbers. It stayed true to its claim of being a musical by having the only action fight sequence in the movie also been played as a song. The movie had a theatrical re-release recently. Overall the movie is a must watch for having such a star studded team and still staying up to the expectation.

Must Watch

Some of the memorable moments from the movie that still makes it evergreen and stand out

Rajni Kamal
Kamal Hassan and Rajnikanth Sharing the screen space for the last time.

 

KB Kamal & Rajini
K. Balachander again proving to be the master who apart from his movies has given two great stars in Kamal and Rajni to Tamil Cinema
Jayaprada
Kamal and Jayaprada’s onscreen chemistry and Jayaprada’s changing hair dos in the movie adding to the mystery.
Rajini On Guitar
Rajni on Guitar – Only after seeing Santana recently I believed someone could actually play the guitar that way 🙂
Kamal
The evergreen songs that was soul to the movie.
Rajini Throwing Cigarette
Rajni’s comedy sequences
(1) Rajni having a bet for throwing the cigarette in the air and holding it in his mouth for ten consecutive times.
(2) Rajni trying to decode the address from the garbled message in the tape recorder.

Wish someone is able to recreate the such a magic again… Till then this movie would be a sweet memory (Ninaithale Innikum)!

Can Skip it, Comedy, Genre, Rating, Reviews, Tamil Movies

Sutta Kadhai

Sutta Kadhai – is a Tamil Slap stick comedy released in 2013.  In a fictitious tribal region Kora Malai the tribal head Ottagam is shot and killed when he is out hunting for birds. The daughter of Ottagam, two new recruits in the police are out to solve the mystery. Were they able to find the killer? is the plot of the movie.

Although the makers have tried to call it a dark comedy it is far from being dark and I would consider this as a slap stick comedy for the review. Director Subbu has struck upon a good concept, backdrop, characters and shots for the movie and where he has failed doing a good job is stitching the sequences together. It does however make you laugh occasionally. The casting for the movie is done well; you see experienced actors and newbies from Chennai Theatre group. The movie starts very well and demands a high degree of attention but after 30 mins into the movie it starts dragging as there are repeated and elaborate sequences. Before the knots are tied for the audience to keep guessing how it would be untied the story starts untying it. What they claimed to be a complex knot proves to be a very weak one.

What you would like: Concept and Characters, Absurdness in the script, Sambasivam comics

What you would dislike: Dragging and repeated sequences, Not so complicated problem, disconnected flow in the screenplay

Overall the movie is a forgettable affair.

Can skip it

Comedy, Genre, Rating, Reviews, Tamil Movies, Worth a Watch

Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara (Idhaaba)

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Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara (Idhaaba) – is a Tamil Comedy movie released in 2013.  One day in a wine shop three incidents happen. A Roadside Romeo who has been stalking a girl in the neighborhood is being interrogated and warned by a local goon. A young sales representative stressed out balancing the demands of his boss and his girlfriend’s expectations, is drinking with his friends. Two contract killers stab a man to death. The paths of all these stories cross and what happens is the rest.

The movie starts in a lighter note and travels with the three story lines in parallel and convincingly ends with a much needed social message. Director Gokul has done a good job in engaging the audience to a greater extent compared to his earlier outing with Rowthiram. The screenplay is brilliant and keeps the interest going on. The cast, music and the locations all fit in apt with the story line.

What you would like: Comedy, Social message, Engaging Screenplay

What you would dislike: Too much of wine shop

Overall the movie is definitely a good watch.

Watchable

Action, Genre, Rating, Reviews, Tamil Movies, Thriller, Wait for DVD/TV

Arrambam

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Arrambam – is a Tamil Action Thriller released in 2013. The movie is an adaptation of the English movie Swordfish.  Ashok (Ajith) employs a skillful hacker Arjun (Arya) against his will to hack into highly secured networks. Arjun learns Ashok is behind the bomb blast in the city and also witnesses him killing multiple people. He tips off the police to get Ashok arrested… Was Arjun able to escape from Ashok? Why is Ashok killing people, planting bombs and hacking systems? – is the rest of the plot.

The entire script sails on the mass value of Ajith. The movie starts promisingly and definitely engages audience to a larger extent. However the flash back has been made into an emotional drama to justify the actions of the protagonist.  In an effort to make the movie a commercial pot boiler Director Vishnuvardhan misses to tie the loop holes in the screenplay. He seemed to have been desperate in connecting strongly with the audience and has employed the ploy which had been used successfully in many movies. The elaborate climax fight scene defies the logic of an average movie goer.

What you would like: Ajith’s screen presence, star cast, action sequences and the social message.

What you would hate: Drag in the screenplay, unwanted melodrama to justify the actions and overuse logic defying sequences.

Overall the movie has been made for the Diwali audience who are generally more forgiving than usual. This is a movie where you should not think too much and might make a decent watch when aired on TV.

Wait for TV/DVD – for the star cast

Crime, Genre, Rating, Reviews, Suspense, Tamil Movies, Thriller, Wait for DVD/TV

Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum

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Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum – is a Tamil Crime Thriller released in 2013. One night a medical student finds a man lying on the road with a bullet wound. He risks the law and saves him by doing a surgical procedure all by himself. The unknown man later known as wolf escapes after the surgery and we come to know that he is a fugitive and a contract killer wanted by the police. Who is this wolf and why is he wanted by the police? Did the medical student and his family come out of the case? – is the rest of the plot.

Mysskin is known for his unique plot and different style of narration. Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum is no different. It has its thrilling and gripping moments that would keep the audience engaged for its most part. Ilayaraja’s background score is a great plus for the movie. Different camera angles and elaborate single shot narration which are typical Mysskin’s trademark can be seen in this movie as well. However as the story unfolds you feel that the suspense is dragged a tad bit longer and which is distraction for the viewer. The actual suspense turns out to be bleak for the amount of bloodshed that happens. Mysskin should concentrate more on the production quality of the movies he makes. Overall it is not a bad movie and would make a decent watch on television.

Wait for TV/DVD

 

Comedy, Genre, Rating, Reviews, Tamil Movies, Worth a Watch

Moodar Koodam

Moodar Koodam – A Tamil Dark Comedy movie released in 2013. Four strangers come together under a strange circumstance. They decide to loot the house of a business man running a financial investment company. The business man is about to elope with his family cheating people of their money. The four strangers enter the house and hold everyone captive to get money. Did they succeed in their attempt is the rest of the plot.

Dark comedy as a genre is now picking up for Tamil Cinema. The new comer director and actor Naveen should be praised for choosing such a subject for his first movie. The story stays true to its title Moodar Koodam (Fools Gathering) and brings the fool out of every character. If you have a taste for dark comedy you will enjoy and laugh at the incidents. The techniques used in the five flashback stories have been brilliant each depicting a type of film making. The movie starts with a bang, slows down in the middle and picks up during the climax portion. The drag in the middle portion is because of the fact that there are no thrilling moments which could have kept the audience excited. All the cast have played their part well and the screenplay for the climax sequence have been done well. Overall the movie is a good attempt for a beginner and deserves a watch.

Watchable – for dark comedy fans!

Can Skip it, Comedy, Genre, Rating, Reviews, Romance, Tamil Movies

Varutha Padatha Valibar Sangam

Varutha Padatha Valibar Sangam – a tamil romantic comedy film released in 2013.  Sivanandi is a village head who is known for his violent nature. Among his priceless possession is the rifle presented to his father by the British. The movie starts with police investigating about Sivanandi’s third daughter who is known to be shot by Sivanandi as she eloped from his house along with her boyfriend. Once the news is confirmed police arrests Sivanandi and the movie travels into flashback of incidents that had led to this. Why did he kill his daughter and under what circumstances is the rest of the plot.

Director Ponram comes from the school of Director Rajesh (Boss engira Baskaran and OK OK). The movie has the same flavor of Rajesh’s movie but in a village background. Sathyaraj has a good presence in the movie and has done his character with ease. Siva Karthikeyan and Suri has been successful making audience laugh occasionally. The movie runs with the weight of its title thanks to Vadivel for getting this name in Winner. The plot is very simple and doesn’t warrant a 2.5 hours script. The sequences and situations of village fights, father not approving the love, jobless youth roaming in the village without taking anything seriously are all what you would have seen in previous movies numerous times. The only difference is the climax of the movie. Overall the movie is just an average flair and you cannot take it seriously as its lead characters do not take anything seriously, the movie just remains a forgettable one.

Can Skip it 

Drama, Genre, Must Watch, Rating, Reviews, Romance, Tamil Movies

Raja Rani

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Raja Rani – a Tamil Romance film released in 2013.  John and Regina enter a married life unwillingly for the sake of their family to only make their everyday life a hell. It is later revealed that the reason for their unwillingness and detachment is that they are not able to come out of their past love failure and loss from it. Do they realize that there is life after breakup which could be better is the rest of the plot.

Atlee coming from Shankar’s school has done a very neat job for a debut director. He has tried to recreate the magic Mouna Raagam after 27 years and has been fairly successful in his attempt. Though the story is a old school romantic drama template the screenplay makes it look still fresh. Atlee should be given credit for the using innovative sequences to move the story that has been told many a times. The movie is thoroughly enjoyable.. it will make you laugh and cry as the characters go through the roller coaster of situations in their life. GV Prakash has done a neat job with the background score. Couple of shortfalls –  One, at times they have taken creative liberty to move the story to a desired sequence and other the message of good life existing beyond break ups have been repeated by almost every character which could have been avoided. If you are willing to ignore such minor glitches you will enjoy Raja Rani.

Must Watch – for all those who love Romantic drama!

 

Comedy, Genre, Rating, Reviews, Tamil Movies, Wait for DVD/TV

Sonna Puriyathu

Sonna Puriyathu – a Tamil Comedy movie released in 2013. The plot deals with the common problem of bachelors who have apprehensions about getting married.  Shiva a dubbing artist wants doesn’t believe in marriage while his mother forces him to get married. She tries to fix his marriage with Anjali who seems to be very orthodox. When Shiva tries varioud ways to cancel the wedding he finds that Anjali also does not believe in marriage and is trying to cancel the wedding. The rest of the story is about how their relationship develops and did they change their opinion about marriage.

Director Krishnan Jayaraj has used comedy as the flavor to tell the story. Coming from Tamizh Padam fame CS Amudhan’s school and with Shiva in the lead this is a given. The subject is very niche and many of the audience may not have connected well to the actual problem. Also the director has used various techniques to keep the audience laughing which again lightens the actual intensity of the problem and the story wavers around incidents which may not be relevant to the plot. Shiva’s template script and he has done what he usually does. Overall the movie is not bad it would make a good watch on TV and may make you laugh even if you do not connect to the plot.

Wait for TV/DVD 

Action, Comedy, Genre, Rating, Reviews, Tamil Movies, Wait for DVD/TV

Pattathu Yaanai

Pattathu Yaanai – is a tamil action comedy movie released in 2013. Five cooks create enmity with a  local rowdy in Karaikudi and move to Trichy to setup their business and lead a peaceful life. But with the turn of events they get entangled into a gang war in the city. How they get out of it and setup a peaceful life is the rest of the story.

The movie has the usual elements that you would have seen in many of the commercial entertainers that cash in on the star value of the lead actor. Boopathy Pandian who is known for his commercial script writing and direction of movies like Devadhaiyai Kanden, Thiruvilayadal Arambam has once again created a script that  is entertaining in most of the parts. At the end of the movie what stands out is its comedy than its action. Once the movie switches into action mode you find that there is nothing new in it. The plot was different and had all ingredients in it to become a good slap stick comedy but fizzles out with its dose of action. Even the characters seem to be confused if they are part of a comedy film or an action film. Vishal has done a decent job, Aiswarya Arjun needs to work on her acting skills, Santhanam has yet again made a movie more enjoyable. Overall the movie is not bad and would make a good watch and make you laugh at various points in time, thanks to Santhanam. It would be a good watch on TV/DVD.

Wait for TV/DVD – for its comedy elements

Action, Can Skip it, Drama, Genre, Rating, Reviews, Tamil Movies

Thalaivaa

Thalaivaa – is a Tamil action drama starring Vijay. The story is about a youngster Vishwa who takes up the role of a local leader and don saving people living in the slum after learning about his father’s past and his assassination.

Director AL Vijay had a powerful story line inspired from movies like God Father, Nayagan and Sarkar (Hindi) which is tailor made for Vijay’s mass value. However the movie’s screenplay is a big let down and goes all over the place. The crux of the story is about Vishwa’s father his values and how his deeds and eventuality leads Vishwa to become an inspirational leader. However more than 90 minutes of the movie does not deal with this which is a huge distraction. Due to this the impact of the characters and the problem they are fighting for doesn’t stay with the audience throughout. You would feel that it is a combination of many of the Vijay’s earlier movies into one. Ardent Vijay fans would enjoy watching this as it has all the necessary ingredients that is present in all Vijay movies and there are few sequences that are done very well, for all others this would be a forgettable movie.

Can skip it – unless you are a Vijay Fan!