IR and MR – my journey

IR celebrated his 77th birthday June 2, 2020. Even though I wanted to write about him, I held back since I don’t have anything new to say about them. IR has been in the industry for more than 40+ years. His life has been pretty much an open book, meaning, everyone from last 3 generations of people from South India know about him. So much has been written about him.

 

Ponmagal Vandhal – A could have been movie

Official trailer: Imagine this. You have a storyline that looks interesting and good. Core conflict is gripping. You are given a bunch of good actors, well established names in the field, Parthiban, Bhagyaraj, Prathap Pothan, Thiagarajan, and Pandiarajan. Plus, Jyotika who gives the star value and pull factor. You have seen Few good Men, impressed by its court scenes and key plot points, want to use it in the movie

 

COVID-19, WFH and Tamil Thriller Movies – Part 3

Link to Part 2: COVID-19, WFH, and Virus Attack Movies COVID-19, doesn’t seem to be slowing down yet. India has extended the lockdown for 2 more weeks till May 3, 2020. If you are WFH, make sure you stick to fixed time. With commute time saved, great opportunity to spend time with the family, and do things you have been postponing to later time (assuming they don’t need you to

 

Sethum Aayiram Pon – Death is in air with grace

Official Trailer: Sethum Aayiram Pon I hit upon this movie in Netflix two days back, I was little bit wary of watching this considering the title, a reference to death, and COVID-19 crisis we are going through. Synopsys sounded interesting so dived in. I expected a tear jerker. But I was in for a pleasant surprise. Director Anand Ravichandran ventures in to a subject Kollywood avoids. Most of the characters’

 

Fast Cuts – Sillu Karupatti and K.D. – Two beautiful movies on human connection and love

Two movies. Two different directors. Directed by women directors, Madhumita (K.D. engira Karuppu Durai) and Halitha Shameem (Sillu Karupatti). Released in a space of a month. Both the directors clear on what they wanted to say, and had given us two beautiful movies on human connection and love. Directed with grace and elegance, strong writing, and a fantastic performance from the cast. Official Trailer: Sillu Karupatti Sillu Karupatti is an

 

Fast Cuts – Aadai, and Game Over

When it rains, it pours. Lately there have been series of Kollywood movies with woman protagonists. A change for the positive. Less of toxic masculinity. Game Over –  After a long time, got to see an original genre-hopping supernatural-revenge-horror-serial killer-videogame movie. Movie maintains the mood throughout, lighting, cuts, and music. Like Apoorva Sagodharargal movie sets up the bait with a serial killing, where the killer beheads the woman, kicks the

 

90ml – an unapologetic, funny female bonding movie

Official Trailer: Based on the trailer, I expected yet another run-of-the-mill 27th adult comedy. I sat up and realized this movie is going to be different when Rita says My bungalow, my rules, only entry and exit. Movie is bold and has that FU attitude till the end. Don’t get misled by the trailer. Yes, you do get those scenes and dialogues, but they don’t stand out as sleazy when

 

Super Deluxe – A Director’s cut that is a wholesome cinematic experience

[SPOILERS AHEAD…] Official Trailer: First things first, this kind of movie is a first for Kollywood. Last few years we have got new crop of promising directors like Manikandan, Lenin Bharathi, Karthik Subbaraj, Mysskin, Prem Kumar, Maari Selvaraj, Vijay Kumar, Nalan K, Lokesh (and few more) who have brought in new blood to Kollywood with their interesting stories and narrative style. Thiagarajan Kumararaja (TK) has raised the bar with his

 

Fast Cuts – Nathicharami and Thimiru Pudichavan

Thimiru Pudichavan – a good time pass pulp masala movie where the director has a good handle on the genre and surprises the audience with an interesting take in few crucial scenes. This makes the movie work unlike movies like Tirupachi, Arul, or Tirupathi. Biriyani scene, encounter between Meesai Padma and Murugavel at the 5-star hotel, interaction between Murugavel and a father at the station with crow-water-stone story, worked so