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Darbar - Film Review

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Superstar Rajinikanth has donned the role of a Policeman only a few times over the past 44 years in tinsel town. The most memorable one remains his uncanny performance as Alex Pandian in the film Moondru Mugam while the 90s’ Pandiyan and Kodi Parakkudhu were forgettable ones. Ever since, Thalaivar has stayed away from police characters for reasons best known to him. So, when it was announced last year that Darbar was on the anvil, fans were frenzied to see our action hero as a toughie-roughie cop. And we are not disappointed one bit. The film’s worth for his ardent fans is almost over in the first 15 minutes which is a treat to watch – the opening fight, thrashing goons with his policeman charisma and swag, threatening NHRC Officers in his inimitable style followed by the Chumma Kizhi song. As a hardcore fan for 4 decades, I said, “Ok, the reason I came is over. I got what I want”. Darbar is a tribute to Thalaivar and his fans by a Director who has always yearned to portray h

Darbar – Music Album Review

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The much-awaited Music Album of Darbar feat. Superstar Rajinikanth was released amidst much fanfare on Saturday 7 th  Dec. 2019 at Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai with an array of Film Stars and Technicians heaping praise on Thalaivar even as he is playing hide and seek with Media and Politicians across parties about his much anticipated announcement of forming a Political Party ahead of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Elections slated in 2021. Much to everyone’s surprise (and to many people’s disappointment), the Man didn’t speak a single word about Politics during his finale speech at the Event and thanked his fans and supporters as he celebrates his 70 th  Birthday on 12 Dec. 2019.  The film to be released in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi is produced by Lyca and Directed by AR Murugadoss and has Music composed by Anirudh Ravichander who is the Superstar’s nephew and is doing back to back Thalaivar films after the much successful 2018 release Petta.  On 27 th  Nov. 201

Bigil - Film Review

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Director Atlee and Actor Vijay score a big win with Bigil which was released today amidst quite a fanfare as well as the usual pre-release controversy, thanks to the Actor’s political views during the Audio release event held last month. The film, which was said to be eulogizing womenfolk had a lot of hope and hype, thanks to the two singles – Singapenney and Verithanam scored by AR Rahman and released in a span of three weeks as well as the Trailer which was an instant hit with Vijay’s fans as well as critics. The film begins with a student agitation where a Minister incites parallel violence through goondas dressed up as Police only to harass and vandalise the students and the college campus. Michael (Vijay) arrives at a compromise and then the usual entry song, dance, fandom moments and a colorful sequence of the much popularized Verithanam song. His beau Angel Aseervatham (Nayanthara) is almost a beau in the film with very little screen presence or a powerful performance

Kaappaan – Film Review

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The much-awaited Surya-thriller “Kaappaan” released today, 20 th  Sep. 2019 after missing a previous date. The film has been making much noise over the past few weeks, what with Lyca creating a big buzz around the movie with Superstar Rajinikanth himself attending and launching the movie’s audio amid much fanfare. Surya’s past seven films have received critical feedback with the latest NGK being dubbed as his career’s worst flop. His previous outings TSK & Singam 3 received mixed responses and he is on the verge of being written off as a bankable star with a hit opening weekend – something he’s ferociously trying to defend. Kaappaan, for me is Aadhavan 2 which released exactly a decade back for Deepavali. In a similar role, Kathir plays an SPG Officer working in the PMO and shadowing the security of none other than the Prime Minister of India played ably by Mohanlal. Lalettan is sauve, displays formidable demeanour suitable for the character and is crisp in his dialogue d

Romancing Love - The Sid Sriram way!

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Many wondered who this young lad was, from where and how did he land up in the Tamil film music scene and whether he would be a one-film wonder with his unique voice modulations and rendering effortlessly some tricky tunes, after his first number released 6 years back in the film Kadal, which was directed by ace Director Mani Ratnam and music composed by his protégé and confidante AR Rahman, whom he introduced 25 years back in his film Roja. The number “Adiye” was not only an instant hit with great top of mind recall but has also endeared the singer’s successive songs. In fact in the first half of 2019, there was a new song of Sid which was released online every 15 days or so, taking his total count of songs sung now to around 50 in three languages, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Personally, I have loved his songs all along and have attended a few of his Live concerts as well during which he exudes so much energy that the audience seem to enjoy – while many croon along with him

Made in Madras!

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A group of Madrasi residents led by PC Bala, Author of several Books and a Management Consultant who are also cinema enthusiasts gathered on 30th August 2019 at Cream Centre RA Puram to discuss about Madras and Movies as part of Madras’s 380th Founding day Celebrations.  Actor Raja Krishnamurthy, popularly known as Kitty joined the movie buffs over samosas and coffee. He was quizzed by me on his film career, early days of associating with his junior from college who went on to make iconic films like Roja & Thalapathy and of course about Kitty’s acting stints with Superstar Rajinikanth without whom Madras is incomplete.  Kitty shared about how specific scenes in films like Thalapathy and Baasha turned out during the shooting while also narrating various other crunchies about Thalaivar including his Spiritual bent as well as his views on the socio-political environment.  Kitty, born and raised in Mumbai, completed his MBA at Jamnalal Bajaj and moved to Chennai t

Nerkonda Paarvai - Film Review

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The last time I remember seeing Actor Ajith Kumar in such a heated courtroom conversation was in the film Citizen. Released in 2001, when Ajith was about 20 years younger, Ajith spoke at length so many memorable dialogues during the fag end of the film for over 10 minutes which went on to become a rage in the coming years for his fans and critics alike.  After that, I have seen Ajith in various roles – romantic on one hand, a stiff cop on the other, a local rowdy, an international arms dealer cum smuggler, a doting father recently, a loving husband, village chieftain and so on. But when I heard that Pink would be remade in Tamil and Ajith would helm the role of Big B (in the original), I wasn’t ready. Honestly. And I have been a big fan of Ajith for over 25 years, perhaps from the days of Ullasam where I really liked his role as a college goer turned truant but with a soft heart. I wasn’t sure if Ajith can carry forward the impeccable legacy left behind by the AB in the original.