Tamil Movie Reviews

Ko – second directorial venture for KV Anand. Casting - Jeeva, Ajmal, Karthika ( Radha’s daughter) and Piaa Bajpai ( from Goa/Poi Solla Porom).
The movie is a political thriller about a bunch of smart, sensible youth trying their chances in politics against several odds. Jeeva plays a photo journalist whose path crosses the youth leader Ajmal.
The story is crisp and the screenplay is fantastic, keeps you guessing the next scene with the number of twists. Like a good recipe its got pinch of romance, pinch of comedy, politics, ethics, modern life, songs, stunts well pretty much everything in a typical tamil movie plus a good script. The script is well balanced by good artists. Jeeva’s role has a subtle sarcasm, pun and seriousness and he has portrayed it brilliantly. Ajmal is pretty good and delivers what is expected and Piaa steals the show with her bubbly girl role..which when overdone gets annoying, but she has carried it quite well. Karthika, i was told off by KV and hubi for my critical reviews as its her first movie..but seriously she dint have to do much in the movie and her eyebrows are really distracting, most times we were just wondering if she has raised her eye brow or if it a malfunctioning beautician ( if that makes sense). All in all good entertainer. Oh! I still don’t know why there was a party song with all the star appearing and dancing esp. with Harris Jayaraj in the group trying to fit in :)
P.s - I remember vaguely about KV Anand’s interview months ago where he had mentioned – Ko means ‘King’, like used in ‘Kavi Ko’ to praise a good poet. (if anyone was wondering). The movie is also meant to reposition journalist as many people associate journalists to people with long jippa, glasses, beard and ‘jolna’ bag. Well KVA himself started his career as a photo journalist before a cinematographer and Director.

Vaanam – Telugu remake of the movie ‘Vedam’ by director ‘Krish’ with Simbu, Bharath, Anushka, Prakash Raj, Saranya and Vega ( Saroja from ‘Saroja’ / Sobhi kannu from ‘Pasanga’)
To begin with ‘ do not judge a book by its cover’- With Simbu in lead and not so appealing songs, if you thought this was yet another masala, triangle love story, you couldn’t be more wrong.
The movie has an excellent screenplay, a narrative type showing life style of 5 different people, their ideologies, their ambitions. Each has a justification for why they believe what they believe and you sort of tend to agree with each one. The story moves from one group to another carefully not confusing, not annoying but simply keeping you wondering how, when and where it is going to merge. When they do meet, it gets very interesting. The movie touches on several different social issues like the life of sex workers, selfish high society boy, selfless sardarji, rich, poor, good and bad police officers, religious groups encouraging violence, moral policing etc. How each of the character comes across the social situations and how it changes their beliefs is what the movie is all about.
Quick snapshot Bharath’s role is similar to his Bob Gally, he has carried it quite well. Anushka has done good justice to her role. Needless to say Saranya and Prakash Raj does what is expected of the role.
But of all people Simbu’s role is a meaty one, he comes around as a cool dude flirting around, then cable raja – a cable guy in a slum joking around with Santhanam (who by the way is very good with his sarcastic jokes with good timing. Example – His mockery about VTV Ganesh’s voice is hilarious), a desperate boy friend fighting his conscience for his dream. He has carried every single part exceptionally well. I must confess Simbu’s performance gets more and more matured and less and less annoying. I am beginning to like him against all odds and prejudice, lets be honest it wouldn’t have been easy living under the same roof as TR and we need to cut some slack to the dude :)

Maapillai Cast - Dhanush, Hanshika Motwani, Manisha Koirala. Well i am writing a review merely because i happened to watch this in the same week as the above 2 movies and not because the villi’s name is ‘Rajeswari’ .Remake of the Rajinikanth’s hit movie ‘Mapillai’, the director did not have to worry much about story or screenplay. Had to simply find a new heroine, villi and comedy track and has failed miserably on all 3. Vivek’s comedy was predominantly annoying, why he had to do a silly voice is beyond me. Manisha Koirala..why? how did anyone think she could fill in the role so well portrayed by Srividhya. With no lip sync and looking like older sister to the 2 chubby kids doesn’t help at all. Hansika even worse. Why do we need to import more and more north Indian heroines who cant even do a decent lip sync ? Almost looks like a lead dancer for the songs and nothing more. Only good thing is Dhanush, but he had to be the hero and comedian and make up for all the failures. He has done a good job but not enough for us to sit through the entire movie. Thank God for the remote control, managed to finish the movie in just over an hour :)
Rating – minus 2/5