Yavarum Nalam - Review

Yavarum Nalam - Review

Does fear have a new face? Yes it does... it is the theatre that is screening Yavarum Nalam and I mean that in the positive sense.

The thriller-horror genre in Indian movies have not been unexploited. The scary fare that is usually fed to us is of bad quality with even worse storyline. Vikram K Kumar has tried something different with Yavarum Nalam. The premise may see too childish to some, but the treatment of the subject is extremely interesting and I must say scary too!

Now talking about the plot, it revolves around a family of eight members, Manohar (Madhavan), his mother (Saranya), his wife Priya (Neetu Chandra), his elder brother (Sanjaih Bokaria), sister-in-law (Ameetha), his nephew and niece and younger sister. This happy close knit family moves into a new apartment 13B on the thirteenth floor of a newly constructed building. Like any family, the women in this household are TV soap fanatics and their latest obsession is a serial called Yavarum Nalam.

Manohar, a civil engineer by profession, is very happy to have moved to this new house and lots of good things happen in the family, his brother gets promoted, his sister passes her college exams, his wife gets pregnant. But he is also surrounded by some strange happenings and an unknown fear...a fear that changes his life. What is that fear... well you have to go and watch the film.

Read more

Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu - Review

Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu - Review

Quite a while ago, sports-based films created news and made money. Though inspired by many similar blockbusters, Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu is impressive in a refreshingly original way. Debut director Suseendran has made the film with a well-prepared storyboard. His clarity in terms of approach and presentation of the same are evident.

Marimuthu (Vishnu) is a nondescript resident in a remote village. Mari's only interest is in the local sport kabaddi. Whenever he finds time, Mari keeps playing the game, enacting the roles of the different players in the participating teams and trying to incorporate some smart winning tricks with his own style. His friends form a group named Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu and participate in contests, but Mari never gets a chance to play as a representative of the group; therefore his passion and skill for the game do not get revealed.

When he accompanies the team to a nearby village for a contest, Mari gets a chance to substitute one of the players in the team. Despite Mari's efforts, their team loses the game. But eminent kabaddi coach Sowdamuthu (Kishore) witnesses the game, recognizes Marimuthu's skill, and compliments him. With that strong feeling of recognition under his belt, Mari meets a sweet girl (Charanya Mohan) at the temple carnival. Even though both of them do not get a chance to move closer, an inexplicable feeling of affection and affinity sparks off between them. Mari gifts his locket to the girl as a memorable memento, a proof of his love.

Read more

Perumal - Review

Perumal - Review

What do you get when you mix, action, comedy, romance and glamour - obviously, a movie. But for a good movie, you need a strong storyline supported by great performances. So does Perumal get full marks? Well it just manages to scrape through.

Perumal (Sundar C.) works for a transportation company. His job takes him to Andhra Pradesh, where he meets Dr. Alamu (Meenakshi), a damsel in distress. She is witness to a crime and the criminals are chasing her, out to eliminate her. She meets Perumal, who promises to help and protect her. He brings her to Chennai and uses his wits and strength to fight the rowdies and outwit them. So what is the terrible crime she has witnessed? Read on. The main villain is Venkaiah (Kota Srinivas Rao), a don of Cudappah district in Andhra Pradesh. His son Bhadra (played by newcomer Sudhir) is a knife-wielding criminal who has no respect for the law (not surprising!). He assists his father in the business of manufacturing fake medicines, thus resulting in the death of several innocent children. Alamu, who works in a government hospital, reports this issue to the hospital chief but Bhadra kills him. Alamu records the murder on her mobile phone camera (the advantages of technology!). But Bhadra sees her and along with his men, chases her. She then meets Perumal, who promises to help her in her fight for justice.

Read more

Kudiyarasu - Review

Kudiyarasu - Review

Kudiyarasu portrays the efforts and travails of a dedicated journalist who tries to expose the fraudulent activities of a powerful minister. The whole film talks about his experiences during a single day.

Daring investigative journalist Kannan (Vigneshwaran) works for a leading mainstream daily named Kudiyarasu. Straightforward, dedicated and good-natured, Kannan is passionate about his job. By chance, he gets a tip that gives enough clues to prove a powerful minister's (Sethuvinayakam) misdeeds that could develop into a great and juicy scandal and result in the minister's downfall. Deciding to expose him, Kannan starts collecting evidence for his article. Through some of his effective contacts and influence, the minister (predictably) comes to know about Kannan's involvement in the issue and begins to harass him to force his silence. However, he is extra- smart and extra-strong, Kannan fights against the rowdy attacks and all other hindrances - and vanquishes them. But the CD which contains the evidence against the minister gets misplaced and falls into the hands of a young girl (Neeba). The rowdies find the girl, seize the evidence from her and make her a scapegoat.

Read more

TN 07 AL 4777 - Review

TN 07 AL 4777 - Review

TN 07 AL 4777 from the GV Films banner is a realistic film. It narrates the story of two men, how they cross each other's paths, and the resultant events that occur in their lives in a day.

Taxi driver Mani (Pasupathy) ekes out his existence by plying his taxi and maintains his family comprising his lovely and lovable wife Subha (Simran) and a son, following the same dull routine daily. Since Mani's income is just sufficient to support his family and make ends meet, he is not satisfied or mindful of his duties. Every day, not bothering to care for the needs of his wife and son, he only strives to keep himself happy, and returns home every evening with empty pockets and fully drunk. In addition to being selfish, Mani is also a liar. Feeling ashamed and inferior that he has to ply a cab (even that is not his own taxi) for a living, Mani tells his wife that he is an LIC agent. He does not take even the slightest effort to understand her true feelings.

On the other hand, Gautham Iyengar (Ajmal Ameer), only son of business tycoon Ramanujam Iyengar who created and owned the TAS group of companies, is not cast in his father's mould of a hard-working canny businessman. Boundless wealth, limitless freedom and a carefree lifestyle have spoilt him, making him a feckless playboy and spendthrift. When Ramanujam Iyengar dies, the son finds that in view of Gautham's irresponsible nature and behaviour, the thoughtful father has left his entire wealth in the custody of his close friend Venkatramani. His father's decision upsets Gautham and he looks for ways to challenge and get the said last will and testament revoked. To establish his ownership and to cancel Venkatramani's control over his father's property, Gautham takes the help of his girl friend Pooja (Meenakshi) and tries to retrieve another equally significant document from his safe deposit locker in the bank.

Read more

Laadam - Review

Laadam - Review

It's been quite a while since we've seen a gangster movie in Tamil with some standards that match Ram Gopal Varma's movies. The last movie we saw was Selvaragahavan's Pudhupettai. Laadam is one such, written and directed by Prabhu Solomon, who has given the hits Kokki and Lee. Laadam is also being made in Telugu as 16 Days. The movie talks about a situation where an educated job seeker gets himself in a tight corner and is caught between the rivalry of gangsters.

Who's In It?

Aravindan makes his debut as the protagonist with Charmi, one of Telugu cinema's popular heroines. The movie also introduces Dheeraj, producer of Prabhu's Kokki as the villain. Kota Seenivasa Rao, V. Jayaprakash and Chitti Babu are also part of the cast. Prabhu Solomon makes a cameo appearance as a police officer.

What's It About?

Kunjipatham (Aravindhan), an orphan, comes to the city in search of a job and stays in a friend's apartment. Meanwhile, leading gangster Pavadai (Kota Seenivasa Rao) finds his son murdered by his arch rival Vembuli's (V. Jayaprakash) men. He then plans to take revenge by killing Vembuli's son Adithya (Dheeraj) on or before the 16th day of his son's death.

Read more

Siva Manasula Sakthi Movie Review

Siva Manasula Sakthi - youthful entertainer

Vikatan talkies' Siva Manasula Sakthi is a youthful entertainer. Dealing with the mutation of friendship that buds and blossoms into love, the film has captured some enjoyable niceties in the process.

Siva (Jiiva) is a jolly good fellow. After failing twice in his Plus 2 exams, Siva takes up a job as a delivery boy in a courier company. While all his days are spent travelling around the city delivering mails, Siva happily spends his nights in his friends' company. Together, they drink, smoke, joke and make merry. Siva's mother (Urvasi) is happy with the meagre amounts he gives her to run the family. She always pampers her only son and enjoys life's small pleasures along with him. In fact, Siva's only sister Viji knows him better than their mom. One day, while travelling out of the city, Siva meets Sakthi (Anuya). Feeling mutually attracted, both exchange mundane details about themselves during the journey. Siva feels thrilled to have Sakthi's friendship; as soon as he returns home, he tries to meet her at the office address given by her. On her part, Sakthi also tries to meet him at the office address he had given her. But to their mutual dismay, all the details turn out to be totally fictitious. The disappointment provokes both Siva and Sakthi and soon, both of them are pitted against each other, out to extract their revenge.

Read more

1977 Movie Review

What’s the story:
It’s pretty interesting, the way the movie opens up.

It is a fishing village somewhere in Tamilnadu and the day’s catch has just come in, ready to be sorted out for the markets.Contrary to reality, there is much harmony and professional courtesy amongst the fisherfolk and instead of separate piles of catch from each of the fishing charters, all of it lands in consolidated heaps. The reason? The villagers have a system where no one goes unpaid because of a poor catch. Everyone has done their job equally and no one goes hungry.

Enter villain. Threats. Bluff and bluster. Some violence. And amidst it all, a lone figure on a boat out at sea, peaceful and pensive. He returns, even as the baddies look like they are going to disrupt the delicate harmony of the community.

…We won’t give you the details, but the way the villains are quelled is quite interesting!

That, actually, is the USP of 1977 in a nutshell. Formula fare in terms of storyline, glamour and the end to it all, but at every stage, just as you think it’s just another masala movie, it endeavours to take a different tack.

Read more