Inba Movie Review

Inba - Routine love – action drama

Be warned that you cannot expect anything new from the movie. It is just yet another film showing a rich and arrogant girl falling for a poor guy. The teaming up of Shaam and Sneha after a long gap doesn’t make any magic, as the love between them lacks genuine emotions. The premise has potential to be an engaging film. It shows a guy, who has a bitter experience with love during his teen age. The experience makes him cynical about girls and love. But the movie doesn’t move ahead based on this aversion. Instead it relies on a clichéd track of love and action. 'Inba', directed by S.T Vendan, revolves around the love between Inba (Shaam) and Priya (Sneha), which is vehemently opposed by Priya’s ‘dada’ brother Mala Ganesan (Arun Pandian). Priya’s collage mate Rupan (Aravind) and his brother SP (Aadithya) add another dimension to the tale. 'Inba' has just come out from a juvenile jail for accidentally killing his classmate Jyothi (Purnitha), a girl in school who cruelly cheats him. He gets a ‘Job’ as a body guard to a rich girl Priya, who is harassed by her collage mate Rupan. Initially Priya hates the arrangement and tries to get rid of Inba in crude ways. But she instantly starts loving him, after he saves her life from a ploy by Rupen. Though Inba discourages her love initially, because of his disturbed past, he slowly falls in love. But Priya’s dada brother, the local don Mala Ganesan, is ready to even kill Inba to separate them. But Rupan, who is mad about Priya, interrupts through his brother, the SP of the area. He tries to eliminate Inba and Ganesan to get Priya for his brother. The climax settles everything with a happy end after a lot of stunts and blood shed. Dullness is the word that strikes your mind when you think of the script filled with predictable proceedings. The love between Shaam and Sneha fails to attract our attention. The characterisation of the main players is but clichéd. The only thing the director has done well is the execution of the flash back scenes involving the juvenile home and the high school. Shaam is competent in a role that doesn’t provide any challenge. He has portrayed the guy with a disturbed part well. But he looks monotonous, as his expressions cease to change through out the film. Sneha looks good and smiles beautiful. There is no much to write about her character and her portrayal. Arun Pandiyan, Sulakshana, Rekha, Adithya, Arvind and Poornitha have done their respective parts well. Ganja Karuppu comes out with a routine comedy track that fails to pass muster. P.B Balaji’s music leaves much to be desired. The background score is too loud to be enjoyable. Inba suffers by a predictable script and a dull treatment. The film would have been better had the director developed the story based on the past of the protagonist. Instead he uses it as just a backdrop to tell you a routine love – action drama.

Santhosh Subramaniyam Movie Review

Santhosh Subramaniyam - Spreading santhosam all through

Hats off director Raja and Jeyam Ravi for hitting the bull's eye for the fourth time in a row. The duo continues from where they left in Unakum Enakum to provide a feel-good light-hearted family entertainer sure to be enjoyed with the family. It is a whiff of fresh air amidst the nauseating action-packed flicks where men run around wielding guns aimlessly and the hero mouthing punch dialogues. The movie probes deep in to the psyche of parents and their grown up children to analyse where and how conflict between them starts. It also presents a solution. Prakashraj plays a dotting father while Jayam Ravi his callous son. Both have handled their roles with ease and elegance. Both are natural and render justice to their characters. Ravi is bubbling with energy and is enthusiastic on screen. He is charming and elegant. Genelia is the perfect foil for the female lead. In the role of a innocent and fun-loving girl, she has managed to deliver one of her best performance so far. She is spontaneous as an happy-go-lucky-girl and expressions come out quite comfortably from her. Hitherto she was looked as a glamour doll in Kollywood. Thanks to director Raja, she has managed to prove everyone that she too can sparkle in performance-oriented roles. Santhanam in the company of Premji Gangai Amaran evokes laughter. His slapstick comedy evokes laughter at several places in the theatre. The movie has a huge star cast which includes Kousalya, Geetha, Shayaji Shinde, Sathyan and former Indian cricketer Sadagoppan Ramesh. All have a contribution to make in the movie. Devi Sri Prasad's pulsating musical score is a major highlight of the movie. The racy numbers linger in our hearts, while his background score sets up the momentum. Santosh (Jayam Ravi) has everything in life, but in excess amounts. His father, Subramaniam (Prakash Raj), decides on what is good for Santosh and gives him more than what he asks for. But never he gives a chance to his son to express his opinion. He selects the girl of his choice to Santosh. That is when Santosh meet a bubbly beauty Hasini (Genelia), whom he has waited all his life for. Now he has a complex situation. First he need to propose and win her over. Then convince his over-obsessive father. Then make his ladylove's father accept him. Then break the engagement. How he successfully comes across all these is Santosh Subramaniam. Raja now joins the big league of directors delivering a movie that will satisfy all sections of the audience. Producer kalpathi Agoram should be equally complemented for churning out the venture. Santosh Subramaniam is no doubt a film that is sure to spread santhosam (happiness) to one and all. Cast: Jeyam Ravi, Genelia, Prakash Raj, Santhanam, Shayaji Shinde, Geetha, Premji Music: Devi Sri Prasad Direction: Raja

Nepali Movie Review

Nepali - Enjoyable in parts

Much was expected from director V Z Durai in ‘Nepali’. Featuring Bharath in triple role, hype and hoopla surrounding the movie was high. However the movie fails to live up to all expectations as it provides a deja vu. Though the theme and storyline may sound new, the execution is very familiar. A vigilante movie which Tamil audience got accustomed watching for the past several decades. Durai has tried to weave three different stories together. Though it begins on a positive note, it stutters as it proceeds eventually reaching the climax after much gasping and panting. The movie has enough doses of romance, action and bloodshed. Unfortunately Durai has missed out on blending them properly. Bharath lends credibility to the role. A matured performance indeed. After a mass commercial hero in ‘Pazhani’, he has gone miles ahead to prove that he can play serious hero in the lines of one played by Suriya in ‘Ghajini’. Though Meera Jasmine looks a bit matured for the role, she gracefully performs the task. However the real scene stealer is ‘Kannamma’ fame Prem. As a tough cop Goutham he plays to the gallery and looks typically suited for the role. The movie revolves around Karthik ( Bharath), a software engineer. He comes across Priya (Meera Jasmine) in a hill station. After formal acquaintance, love blossoms between them. As usual, the girl family protests their affair. Eventually the couple walk out of the house and get married. They face trouble in the form of a greedy and sexual maniac police officer. He lusts on Priya. When he tries to molest her, she gets killed. The blame falls on Karthik. He kills the police officer and goes to jail, where he meets a Nepali social worker (Govind Namdeo), who voices for women harassed in workplace. Inspired by the Nepali, Karthik comes out of the prison to punish those who misbehave with women at workplace. He bumps off a computer engineer, a professor and a doctor dressed as a Nepali youth. DCP Gautham (Prem) takes up the task of cracking the serial murders. Does he manage to pin down Karthik forms the crux? The movie is filled with bloodshed, violence and gore in the second half. The Nepali make-up sits well on Bharath though at places looks a mismatch. Cinematographer Madhi has captured the mood really well. The lightings and background shades used by him are eye-catching and set the mood for each scene. However the movie at many places reminds one of films like ‘Sigappu Rojakkal’, ‘Manmadhan’ and ‘Ghajini’. Had Durai concentrated more on the slick narration in the second half, the ‘Nepali’ could have come out strong, healthy and trim.

Arai En 305il Kadavul Movie Review

Arai En 305il Kadavul - Almighty, appealing & astounding

IndiaGlitz [Saturday, April 19, 2008]

Director Simbhudevan has pulled it off. Expectations would be normally high on directors on their next when they render a blockbuster in their first. Many had faltered before. Only a handful has made it. Simbhudevan has managed to render a movie that is convincing and appealing. ‘Arai En 305il Kadavul’, produced by Shankar's S Pictures, is totally a different one from Simbhudevan's maiden venture (Imsai Arasan). While Imsai...was loaded with comedy and one-liner, Arai En is sentimental, emotional and conveys a strong message. Simbhudevan has taken a complex theme and tried his best to make it crisper and easily understood by the common man. He has partially managed to win the battle. The movie revolves around two Rasu (Santhanam) and Mokka (Ganja Karuppu), both unemployed and living in a mansion. Irked by their rent arrears, mansion manager (M S Bhaskar) throws them out. When they blame the God for their fate, the Almighty (Prakash Raj) himself appears to their surprise and assures that he would help them. He stays with them for a week however with a condition that Rasu and Mokka should not reveal his identity. The good-for-nothing friends come to know that it is all due to a 'Galaxy box' the God is able to control the whole world. They steal it and make him an ordinary human being. However, as days go on, the Almighty teaches them a lesson or two. Santhanam and Ganja Karuppu, both graduates from playing comical roles to the hero. Having understood the complexity of their character, they deliver the output well. They both manage to leave their screen presence well. Simbhudevan deserves pat for etching out their characters well. Prakash Raj as God is terrific. He is the scene stealer in the movie whose performance deserves an appreciation in every scene. Jyothirmayi and Madhumitha are adequate. Love thy fellow beings preach the God. In today's strife-torn world, the much needy message is thoroughly conveyed by the director. Vidyasagar's music and re-recording add strength to there film. Three cheers to Shankar for taking courage to produce a film with a complex film. Treading a difficult path, Simbhudevan has walked with courage and comes out in flying colours.

Kuruvi Movie Review

Kuruvi - Certainly not ‘Gilli’

Much was expected on Vijay starrer ‘Kuruvi’ since it brings back the successful ‘Gilli’ team. The Vijay, Trisha, Dharani and Vidyasagar quartet oozed abundance energy and ‘Gilli’ turned out to be a racy entertainer, going on to become a blockbuster. When they teamed together again, obviously expectations soared to greater heights. Unfortunately, ‘Kuruvi’ has failed to live up to expectations and the pep and energy in ‘Gilli’ was sorely missed in ‘Kuruvi’. Dharani, known for rendering right commercial elements in his movie, has handled a wafer-thin storyline. He has tried his best to sustain the momentum, which works out in parts. All credit to Vijay, who manages to leave his screen presence in his usual self. He fights, romances and tries his hand at comedy. The actor with a mass fan-following has tried to play to the gallery. The on-screen chemistry between Trisha and Vijay deserve a special mention. The bubbly Trisha fits the bill well. Though she has limited scope to perform, unlike ‘Gilli’, she is right there delivering one of her best. Suman continues from where he left in ‘Sivaji’. As a baddie, he performs what one expects of him. The scene stealer is Vivek, who with his usual punch lines walks away with applause. Music composer Vidyasagar's groovy music is good specially the number Darna..., which will rock the front-benchers. In a nutshell, the movie is about Vetrivel (Vijay), a racer in Chennai, who sets out to free his father Singamuthu (Manivannan) and his peers who are bonded laborers in a mine run by Kocha (Suman) and Konda Reddy (Ashish). In the meantime, he also finds time to romance Kocha's sister Devi (Trisha), who falls in love when he comes to her brother's place in Malaysia as part of his mission. Special pat to producer Udayanidhi Stalin for spending his might to bring grandeur on screen. Dharani, known for his commercially masalas, disappoints those expecting the same from him. It can be enjoyed only in parts. ‘Kuruvi’, a racy thriller loaded with romance and action, is a sure treat for Vijay fans.

Silanthi Movie Review

Silanthi - A web with a difference

In today's booming IT culture, for every woman, character is more important than her career. Journalist-turned-director Aathirajan has taken this serious theme and churned out ‘Silandhi’. Monica, hitherto playing conservative girl in movies like ‘Azhagi’, has taken to glamour with ‘Silandhi’. She plays a newly-married girl, who runs for her life. Munna is cast as her lovable husband, who helps her overcome her troubles. Though the first half lags as it simply revolves around two characters ( Munna and Monica), Aathirajan has made the second half more crispy and racy. The background score is yop-notch and it sets up the momentum. The dialogues in the latter part of the film deserve appreciation. Fowzia's cinematography and Sathish Kurasowa's editing lends solidity to the film. Fowzia's lens captures the runs and chases well and is equally complimented by the music composer's thrilling background music. Watch out for debutant Chandru, who plays a youth on revenge mode. He has carried himself well on the screen. Munna and Monica visit a resort soon after their marriage. Monica encounters strange things and finds out a man is on her trail. A flashback reveals that three of her friends, who work for high salary in an IT firm, take to posh life style. They drink and booze and go for dates. They rag a LIC policy agent (Chandru). In the melee, he suffers head injuries and dies. Monica, who stays away from the incidents, helps them clear the body. One after another the girls get killed. Did Monica escape form the climax. Monica has acted well. But at many places, she oozes glamour aimed at enthralling youngsters. Munna has performed with calm and ease. Though the movie could be enjoyed only in parts, congrats Aathirajan for dealing with an issue which is relevant to the society.

Sathurangam Preview

Sathurangam - Battle of wits

Following the huge success in Parthiban Kanavu, director Karu Palaniappan chose to team up with Srikanth again for Sathurangam. Seemingly a racy entertainer, Sathurangam went to floors almost a couple of years ago. Unfortunately the movie has been plagued by financial problems and is still waiting to grace the theatres. The movie features Srikanth in the role of a scribe and Sonia Agarwal plays his ladylove. After a family drama in his maiden venture Parthiban Kanavu, Karu Palaniappan has tried to focus on action and adventure in this flick. As the name suggests, Sathurangam is battle of wits and wisdom --- between the good and evil. Says Srikanth, the movie is certainly a good entertainer. Lot of hard work has gone behind in shooting the film. I am confident that the delay will not affect its prospects at the box office. The songs set to tunes by Vidyasagar is already popular with the masses. Karu Palaniappan says the movie has enough thrills, romance and sentiments. All the cast and crew gave their best to ensure a smooth completion. It is one of the films that would leave a strong message to the masses, he adds. The movie's content is relevant even today, though the release has been delayed by over a year, adds Karu Palaniappan.