Saroja

Watch it in theaters and till the credits fully roll-over at the end.

Sathyam

Taking digs at famous dialogues from older cop stories doesn't help one make another cop story.

If you mock Kaakha Kaakha, a great movie and Saamy which was a smash "mass" hit in the opening scene of a movie, then you are to blame yourselves. Original screenplay and dialogues lend a helping hand in cop stories and that totally lacks in Sathyam.

After all the build up, I watched it for some 30 mins and could not take it anymore. The story did not even start. And Nayanthara has a couple of stupid punch dialogues. Hello? What is going on?

On a lighter side, if a bullet costs Rs.50 in 2003 (Kaakha Kaakha), it will cost a lot lot more in 2008!

New Songs

The past 5-6 weeks, I've been listening to quite a few new albums - Anjathey, Dhaam Dhoom, Saroja, Sakkarakatti etc., A few of the them are refreshing. Sakkarakatti is one, Saroja chips in too.

All this amidst reusability engineering by Harris Jayaraj, A.R.R magic at times and the now famous guest appearnces by the Udit Narayanan and Madushree chapters of the "Association of sh**** pronunciation/roadkill of Tamil lyrics".

One thing about the "Marudhani" song in Sakkarakatti. People seem to love it. Well I don't - just because of the way the lyrics have been butchered. Vijay has come up with this. I am ROTFL.

There is one and only one reason why a singer should not sing a language he/she does not know - it is because they don't know it.

And this certainly ain't Relativity!!

Dasavatharam Songs

2 பாட்டு புரிய‌ல‌
2 பாட்டு பிடிக்க‌ல‌
2 பாட்டு decent to good.

And its likely that in a very long time, Kamal's new songs are not on their way to my ipod.

Yaaradi Nee Mohini

Browse the internet for reviews. I am not writing one.

The movie was certainly fun to watch. The entire theater watched the movie as a group of friends and we were in splits a majority of the time courtesy the scenes and the plethora of comments that came up.

Takeaways

• Find a s/w company that does coding in the beaches of Australia although its tough to find a PM like Nayan
• Everybody can start and run s/w companies. All you need is DOS and a CD Drive. Full project-a DOS ம‌ட்டுமே வெச்சு deliver ப‌ண்ண‌லாம்‍-னு என‌க்கு நேத்திக்கு தான் தெரியும்.
  

Finally, Yuvan, Selva and co. deserve whacks on their butts using "Uruttu Kattais" for asking and then allowing Udit Narayanan to sing 2 songs.

First, his voice does not suit Dhanush (and everybody else in Kollywood for that matter). Second, he tosses the language for a roadkill - just the way he pronounces a majority of the Tamil words spoiling the beauty of the language. He pronounces "Azhagu" as "Azhukku". Shame on the crew!

P.S: For the benefit of people who don't know Tamil, Azhagu means beauty and Azhukku means Filth.

How to save $13

Book tickets for Azhagiya Tamizhmagan. I sure did. But the theater did not receive the prints on time. (Sir, theater-kku potti varala sir). Now... you know what to do when you live abroad. Bang! Save money!

Next is Vel and Polladhavan.

Biting the dust(?)

He can be called the Asoka de Silva among Tamil cinema directors. He terrifies people making guest appearances in his movies. He is widely acclaimed as the "king of screwing up" heroes' images with movies christened after places in TN. His spell did not even spare the one and only Gabtun!

Here comes the king of crap Perarasu with his next venture, teaming up with Arjun. Huh!

Saawariya - சாவரியா?

Saawariya - is a recently released Hindi movie. If you are from Tamil Nadu, you would read it as சாவரியா.

Now here comes the beauty of Indian diversity. Saawariya in Hindi means "beloved" (source: google search results). And look what Tamil has in store for you. The word, in Tamil is always used as a question. Example : pOi saavariya? (meaning, why don't just go and die). Just like "gaandu" which means "irritate" in local slang. And we all know what it means in Hindi.

I heard Chak de India made brisk business down south and so if Saawariya runs to packed houses in Sathyam theater, imagine how black tickets will be sold - "சாவரியா, சாவரியா 40 rooba"...

என்னக் கொடுமை இது?

Thinking further in Tamil, what could be a sequel to Saawariya? How about "Seththu Poittiya"? ;-)

Azhagiya Tamizh Magan - Music Review

A.R. Rahman is back - with a bang. Fresh voices, peppy numbers and an added folk touch constitute Azhagiya Tamizh Magan. Rahman has introduced a couple of singers - Benny and Ujjayinee and selection of singers should be really appreciated - they sing in Tamizh, if you know what I mean.

6 songs in the album - each one in a different genre.

Ellaa Pugazhum - No prizes for guessing this is the intro song for Vijay. The lyrics is as usual - hero mass masala material interspersed with junk. But its Rahman's high energy rendering of the song that stands out.

Nee Marilyn Monroe - Sung by the two debutants, the song is so so stylish with some peppy lyrics by Na. Muthukumar. The song ought to be shot in picturesque locales - should be a Namitha song. I am hearing it again and again already.

Maduraikku Pogadhedee - A superb folk song from Rahman zestfully rendered by Benny and co. Pa Vijay is the lyricist and does full justice. Starts with "Karpoora Kannikaiye Vaarai" and all the village elements are in total unison. Folk makes its way into a Rahman album after a long time and in great style.

VaLayapatti Thavile - My pick of the album. The song has funny lyrics by Na. Muthukumar and Rahman has taken it to a totally different level with the fresh sound of Nagaswaram and Thavil. Naresh Iyer is bound to go places with his rendering of "mayakkuriye!". Oh boy what a voice he has!

The lyrics is funny and at the same time quite creative - using harmonium and hormone as rhyming words is one example.

நீ நெருங்கும் போது கரண்ட் யேருதே உங்க ஊரு கல்பாக்கமா
நரம்பெல்லாம் முறுக்கேறுதே யேண்டி நீயும் மணப்பாறையா

This song is bound to be a fan favorite and the piece below suggests this could be another song for Namitha.

உன் கை கால் என்ன மத்தளமா
உன்ன வாசிக்க பின்னால் சுத்தணுமா

KeLaamal Kaiyilae - A soothing melody rendered by Saindhavi and Sriram Parthasarathy. The techno beats inbetween the classical rendering transcends you into a different world. The start reminds you of "Aagaya Vennilaave" from Arangettra VeLai. But the lyrics of the song itself is suggestive of it - clever!

கேட்டு ரசித்த பாடல் ஒனறே மீண்டும் இன்று நியாபகம் தூண்ட...

PonmagaL VandhaaL - yet another remix and its good in its own way.

Is it a rule now that each movie should have atleast one? Perhaps remixing songs is a better and simple option than remaking yesteryear movies. And when the right song is taken for tampering, it does stand out in most cases - "Ennamma Kannu" from the recent Dhanush starrer is one.

Overall...

• Rahman is on course for back to back super hit albums
• Vijay's movie for once has no yelling by Shankar Mahadevan
• No Madhushree and Udit Narayanan - nobody to kill the language.
  

மலைக்கோட்டை

Started watching Vishal's "Malaikottai". Stopped after 20-25 minutes... முடியல. KG asked me if it was as in Vadivelu's "Mudiyala". Yes it was.

After "Malaikottai" Vishal seems to me like another Vijay in the making. He already has a stupid title "புரட்சி தளபதி" that is the copywright of Tamil cinema. You would know it better if you had cleared the TOTPM (Test of Tamil movies as Ph.D material)

The best comment came in "Madhan's Thirai Paarvai" (courtesy: Vijay TV). Here we go, the cartoonist in submile form...

"விஷால் வந்து... நெரய்யா நல்ல படம் எல்லாம் நடிக்கணும். நல்லா வரணும். ஆனா போர போக்க பாத்தா, அவர் படத்துல வில்லன் வந்து "உன் பின்னாடி யாரு டா இருக்காங்க"-னு கேக்கும் போது ஆடியன்ஸ பாத்து "இவங்க தான்"-னு சொல்லுவாரோனு கொஞ்சம் கவலையா இருக்கு"

Oh yeah!

Got this as a forward. Brilliant creativity yet again. வாழ்க தமி்ழ் சினிமா

Bheema - Music Review

Sublime lyrics, undecipherable syllables, zestfully rendered songs with some brilliant score and a "deja vu" feel make up "Bheema" - Harris Jayaraj is back again. 6 cool songs in the album with varying amount of "Harris Gibberish" (yeah, the unreadable, undecipherable syllables that he is so fond of and starts his songs with).

We can probably have Gibberish Quotient (GQ) for all Harris' albums :-)

Oru Mugamo - Terrific lyrics suggest a potential Vikram intro song. It may be picturized on the lines of "Karka Karka". Krish and Naresh Iyer on song here - My pick of the album!

Harris Gibberish - 2%.

Mudhal Mazhai - Beautifully sung. Sweet Lyrics. Hariharan-Mahathi combo after Saamy take you to a different level altogether. A slight feel of "deja vu".

Harris Gibberish - slightly pronounced.

Rangu Rangamma - Anybody who claim to have passed the Test of Tamil Movies as Ph.D material (TOTMP) should find out w/o even hearing the song that this is an item number. It sounds good, a deja vu feel... yet, a must have for long drives!

Siru Parvaiyaale - Karthik/Harini special. An overdose of Harris' fond syllables makes this song sound a bit irritable at times. Thamarai's lyrics deserve special mention.

Harris Gibberish - 4%

Ragasiya KanavugaL - Sweet melody from Hariharan and Madhushree. I do not understand why do music directors go for North Indian singers who cannot pronounce Tamil syllables ('zh' et. al) properly? There are a few exceptions - Shreya Ghosal is one. Madhushree emulates Udit Narayanan - Tamil Roadkill!

Enadhuyire - A very very different number rendered by Chinmayi and Nikhil Mathew.

Overall, this album may not please the music purists but its certain to go down really well with the masses. Expect it to be a chartbuster already!

P.S: GQ - 2.5 on 5 [On the lines of Figure of Merit ;-)]

Bommari - பொம்மரி

Ever since the telugu movie "Bommarilu" became a hit, I used to think about the possibility of it being remade, who would do it and also the names it could have.

The answer to who would remake it is fairly straight forward. It will either be Vijay or Jayam Ravi and his brother. Now that Bommarilu was intended for the A,B centers, Vijay is an automatic ejection. So here they come... Jayam Ravi and his brother with "Santosh Subramaniam" - yeah thats the movie's name.

I was thinking "Bommari" as the only possible name if it was ever remade in Tamil... but you never really know :-)

P.S: Dr. Rajesekar of இது தாண்டா போலீஸ் fame is coming to Tamil - obviously a dub and its called "உடம்பு எப்புடி இருக்கு"

Over to the next level of insanity.

Sivaji

22nd Jun, '07
New Haven, CT

First time theater experience in US. A few natives turned up at the theater and we were saying "நீ எந்த hall-ல வேணாலும் போய் படம் பாரு... சத்தியமா ஒண்ணும் காதுல விழாது இன்னிக்கு". It was as expected a raucous crowd but as most of them were repeat audience, the raucousness was less pronounced. The theater management looked awe struck!

Something about the movie

• It's a colorful extravaganza. The movie is a visual treat!
• Newark Airport received a terrific applause with high decibel levels. Obviously!
• Udit Narayanan - as usual காதுல ஈயத்த கரச்சு ஊத்திட்டான்

Overall, a colorful technical fest with Shankar's good old formula executed via Rajni's beaten storyline of rich->pauper->rich again.

Watch the movie only in theaters. It doesn't fit anywhere else.

And nothing is cool anymore. It's "cooooool"

மொழி

I chanced myself to watch மொழி and I have just one word to describe it - Refreshing. Certainly so, I've watched it three times within two days... :-)

Veerasamy

"Veerasamy" - A truck load of Vijaya T.R's insane family dreck on our laps!

People watch T.R's movies for "unintentional comedy" but this one is a heap of crap - Just Irrrrrrrritating. If you have not watched the movie yet, here is more reason why you should not watch it.

...

இயற்கையின் மொழிகள் புரிந்துவிடில்,

       மனிதனின் மொழிகள் தேவையில்லை...

இதயத்தின் மொழிகள் புரிந்துவிடில்,

       மனிதற்க்கு மொழியே தேவையில்லை...

What amazing lyrics! Just reading these beautifully poetic verses transcends one into a totally different world that conveys a plethora of feelings. Vidyasagar's music certainly helps you in that cause.

Now, I just can't wait to watch "Mozhi".

திருவிளையாடல் ஆரம்பம்

திருவிளையாடல் ஆரம்பம் directed by Bhoopathi Pandian has Dhanush and Shreya in the lead with Prakashraj playing the hero's nemesis (he is not the villain).

The movie is all about a cat - mouse game between Dhanush and Prakashraj and its a racy entertainer with a lively screenplay. The movie never sags at any point and they have pulled it off with lot of comedy w/o any violence or vulgarity.

Its a tailor made movie for Dhanush and he does a neat job. Take this as a sample.
Policeman: உன் பேர் என்ன டா?
Dhanush: Police தானே... கண்டு புடி...

Shreya just comes, dances, cries and goes. Prakashraj has done his part very well especially when Dhanush takes him for a ride.

The Karunas-Dhanush combination has worked again with some sublime timing from Karunas. The tasmac shop scene is one.
Mayilsamy : Glad to meet you
Karunas (intoxicated) : என்னது கெழவிய காணுமா?
You must watch the scene... :-)

One other character who I liked very much was the kid who plays Dhanush's brother. He really does give Dhanush a ride in the scenes they are together. Mouli and Charanya do a neat job as the hero's parents.

Special mention has to be made about the dialogues. They are just stunning in many scenes. Another sample here.

Dhanush to Prakashraj : "கேக்கரவன் கேனப் பயலா இருந்தா K.B. சுந்தராம்பாள் R.B.செளத்ரி படத்துல நடிக்குதுனு சொல்லுவியே..."
Prakashraj's aide to Prakashraj : "அவன் பொங்கலுக்கே வெடி வெடிப்பான், இப்போ தீபாவளினா சும்மாவா இருப்பான்?"

One scene that's a bit too much is where Dhanush comes out of an SUV with bluetooth in his ear in a politician's get up - இது ரெம்ப ஒவர்!

Amidst the crap movies currently doing the rounds, this one is really a whiff of fresh air. Go and watch it! Its worth it.

காலக் கொடுமை!

Use IE to read the tamil fonts as it is.

TR is back with Veerasaamy and I believe there is going be a lot of "என்னக் கொடுமை சரவமணன் இது" that's going to be heard after it comes.

I happened to read the பெயர் காரணம் of the movie and it goes like this... TR says "Veera is a big hit of Rajni, Saamy is a big hit of Vikram. என்னோட படம் இந்த ரெண்டு படத்தையும் தூக்கி சாப்பிட போகுது"


You would have very well got a picture of what's in store after seeing the picture above.

Naan ippove solren... "என்னக் கொடுமை சரவமணன் இது?"

True Lies

True Lies - not the English movie. Its about "thalai" Ajith's super flop Tirupathi. I got to see a poster somewhere near Perungudi saying "வெற்றிகரமான 40-வது நாள்". There is a limit to telling lies. First, the move has bombed horribly. Second, its not yet 40 days since the movie released. Even in The Hindu there are ads saying Tirupathi is the biggest grosser in 2006. Ore comedy pa :-)

Closing out with a good one. One of my colleague - a big big fan of Ajith to the level to being his rasigar manram's member. His comment 20 minutes into the movie "விடு தலை. அடுத்த படத்துல பாத்துக்கலாம்". He left the theatre at half-time.

Silverspoon Silpa Kumar correct-a sonnaru "படிச்சு பெரிய ஆளா வரணும். ரசிகர் மன்றத்துல மட்டும் சேர்ந்துடாதே" appdinu.