Cinema, Karam, Kapi

Was eagerly awaiting to see this film on the OTT platform and finally found time yesterday. The title is from a song from the critically acclaimed “Thiruda Thiruda” which was a movie about a heist, a wild goose chase and romance intertwined. KKK is almost similar. Except that it is contemporary and is tuned to today’s times. Debutant Director Desingh Periyasamy has made a movie that resonates well with the current generation across many aspects of life – Money, Romance, overnight riches and everything in between. That the storyline is somewhat familiar to Thaana Serndha kootam is one thing; that there is no 15 minute preaching at the end of the movie to justify the crime is the best thing. Perhaps, why it ran for a few weeks to packed multiplexes in key metro cities.    Siddharth (Dulqueer Salman) is happy go-lucky guy along with his side-kick and friend Kallis (Rakshan). They do odd jobs and for the first 10 minutes in to the film, no one knows why they exist, especially the car chase

It’s a known thing to my friends and extended circuit of people that I am a huge fan of Superstar Rajinikanth for over 40 years now. What very few people know is that I am also a big fan of the “Actor Kamal Hassan” though I don’t subscribe to his personal views on various issues including Spirituality & Religion, Politics and Current Affairs. However, I have seen almost all of his movies over the past 30 years of which at least a dozen films, over a hundred times (Still lesser than my penchant for watching Thalaivar movies). I have adored Kamal for his forward thinking on various business affairs – be it behind the camera or in front of it, casting himself as a “Her” with much authenticity or himself as 10 avtars; doing stunts real time notwithstanding his age, build and risk involved. His onscreen histrionics in films like Nayagan, Hey! Ram, Mahanathi to name a few won him awards & accolades, critical acclaim as well as controversy – it’s a package after all. Today,

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

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

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

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

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