Kabali review: "Didnt evoke as much neruppu or maghizchi as expected!!!"

After months of impatient waiting, Thalaiva is here with "Kabali" hitting the screens all over the world this weekend. Such has been the impact of the brilliant trailer & promotional events, that the excitement had literally hit sky high (thanks to Air Asia). So delirious has been the response of the public that some companies even decided to give holiday for their employees to check out the movie. The question now is whether this unprecedented hype has hurt the prospects of the flick or can the Superstar satiate the lofty expectations of his fans???

The film unfolds in Malaysia where Kabali (Rajini) was released from jail after having served 25 years of imprisonment for a falsely framed crime that took the life of many including his wife. He had initially made his mark as a leader of the Malaysian Tamil community before he became the trusted lieutenant of the gangster Tamilnesan (Nasser) who was assassinated by rivals such as Tony Lee (Winston Chao), Veera (Kishore) & Co. This saw Kabali ascend to the position of power much to the displeasure of the others who hatched the plan to have him jailed. Even after release, his enemies were relentless in their efforts to see the end of him that they hired assassins but to no avail. So does the ageing don have it in him to exact revenge on his foes???

One of the most promising directors that has emerged from the Tamil industry in recent times is Pa Ranjith who displayed his talent with movies like "Attakathi" & "Madras". So when "Kabali" was announced, it was believed to be a marriage between mass & class. However, the fact is the movie came short on both accounts. It definitely had the scope to become more meaningful considering the backdrop of the story such as injustice to the Tamil community, mafia etc. But it seemed the writer in Ranjith was content to just touch the emotional cord & skim over the rest which virtually proved to be the bane of the movie. I love to watch Rajani in a character backed role but not at the cost of his aura which includes his swagger, punch dialogues etc. The only sequences that we get goosebumps in the whole movie is pretty much shown in the trailer as the wait for a cracking climax proved to be futile. In the technical department, Santhosh Narayanan needs to be applauded for his impressive music & impactful BGM. Murali has done a decent job with the visuals while Praveen K L ought to have been better with his editing.

The superstar has done justice to his role with his screen presence & acting skills (which other directors rarely make him do) as he was impressive in the emotional scenes.  He is the backbone of the movie & does his best to resurrect it even when it meanders along at a lethargic pace. Radhika Apte barely got adequate screen space but still manages to showcase her talent. Dhansika rocked as Yogi while Kishore and Dinesh Ravi did their parts aptly. 

Verdict: Rajani movies are expected to deliver earth shattering initials & this time around, thanks to the awesome trailer it would surely break all the records. However,  the lack of a captivating storyline along with a toned down mass formula will not appeal to many of the audience. But if you would ask me, watch it for Rajani provided you dont have much expectations!!!

Rating: 2.5/5

Regards...Ben

Sultan review: "Poised to become the Sultan of box office this year!!!"

On the auspicious occasion of Eid, may Allah shower his blessings on each one of us. Apart from the celebration of breaking the fast, it's time to check out some entertainers & Bollywood expectantly displays its wares to cash in on the festive mood. As in the previous years, Eid heralds the release of a Salman flick & this time around we have his "Sultan" hitting the screens. The promos has been a mixed bag with it's trailer being well received while Salman's irresponsible statement a couple of weeks back in comparison with the stunts of the movie being aptly slammed. So will it affect the overall collections???

In recent times, several sports leagues had mushroomed in the country & the latest to join the bandwagon was the MMA event, Pro Take Down. Though launched with much fanfare, it was now on the brink of shutting down & as a last ditch effort, the entrepreneur Akash Oberoi (Amit Sadh) decides to recruit the services of yester year champion wrestler, Sultan (Salman Khan). However, Sultan who was reduced to a pale shadow of his former self refused to step back into the ring. So what had made him to walk away from the sport when he was at the peak of his powers???

Ali Abbas Zafar has been a constant name in many of the Yash Raj productions in the past decade & "Sultan" marks his third directorial venture after "Gunday" and "Mere Brother Ki Dulhan". This is surely his best among the lot though it doesnt tread on unfamiliar territory & banks on standard sports movie cliches. As one would expect, it's the oft discussed tale of the rise of the underdog who falters in between before making it back on top again. The second half kinda reminded me of "Brothers" which also dealt with MMA & focused on the conflict between siblings rather than the couple here. But what sets this apart is the fact that we get to see the character Sultan & not Salman which is kinda unheard of since Salman's persona invariably takes over the character in almost all his movies. Equally brilliant was the realistically choreographed wrestling sequences while the MMA fights could have been better. At close to 3 h, Rameshwar Bhagat could have done away with a couple of songs. The music by Vishal Shekhar was average at best however the BGM was pretty impressive.

We never associate Salman for his acting skills as his movies are invariably about wholesome entertainment in true Salman style be it his comedy, characteristic dance moves or bare torso. However, that opinion will change after one watches this as he has done a wonderful job. This was a role which required him to showcase his varied emotions along with the physical exertion & he has done it with elan. Anushka gets a meaty role early on which she gleefully bites into before getting sidelined in the latter half. In addition, Randeep Hooda rocked in a brief role along with Anant Sharma as Govind, Amit Sadh & Kumud Mishra as Anushka's father.

Verdict: The film has all the makings of a blockbuster & likely to set records on a regular basis with a credible probability of crossing 300 C. It doesn't boast of a script which offers anything new in terms of the story-line but one can rest assured that we will see Salman in a new avatar. In short, it's a paisa vasool entertainer!!!

Rating: 3/5

Regards...Ben

Udta Punjab review: "Censor team's udna ought to be kept in check!!!"

It's been a couple of weeks since I got to check out any movie as I was kinda held up with a couple of work commitments. Anywaz when I finally got the time, the decision to watch "Udta Punjab" was quite an easy one thanks to the hysterical attitude of the Censor board which had flooded the news portals since the past few weeks. The trailer blew me off with it's rather distinct flavour & to add to the excitement the controversy that was raging over the unholy nexus that existed between the drug mafia & the politicians in Punjab. So did the antics of the Censor board make sense???

The film unfolds with a packet of heroin being thrown into a field situated across the border by a Pakistani discus thrower. However, even before the packet could be picked up their agent it was whisked off by a Bihari migrant worker (Alia Bhatt). In another part of the state, pop sensation Tommy Singh's (Shahid Kapoor) appeal on the investors wanes as his dependence on drugs makes him a tough client to deal with. The usage of drugs was rampant among the youth as the police which included Sartaj Singh (Diljit Dosanjh) was hand in glove with the politicians and mafia. But his attitude changes when his brother becomes a victim to this deadly poison & he seeks the help of the doctor, Preeti Sahni (Kareena Kapoor) who also happened to be an activist. It is a fact that nothing could be benefited with the use of narcotics and how this shapes the life of these four characters forms the crux of the movie. 

If one has followed the track record of Abhishek Chaubey, it provides ample evidence about his ability to be part of impressive projects right from his assistant directorial days to his previous venture "Dedh Ishqiya". As expected his latest venture is a hard hitting realistic movie scripted by himself & Sudip Sharma, which doesn't hesitate to proclaim that we have a flawed system in place which needs to be rectified before it is too late. However,the film does stretch a tad too long which Meghna Sen ought to have taken note of & some sequences seemed rather vague in detail. Amit Trivedi has done a fine job with the music along with the BGM by Benedict Taylor & Naren Chandavarkar while Rajeev Ravi's frames were satisfactory.

There is no doubt that the movie had a meaty story-line but it had to be well enacted to produce the desired effect & that's exactly what all the main characters have done. Alia Bhatt was the pick among the lot as she was outstanding to say the least with her myriad of expressions. Diljit said to be a popular Punjabi star (though I have never seen his work), was impressive with his effective portrayal of the cop. Shahid Kapoor was brilliant for most parts as the pop sensation & his character's appearance reminded me of Tom Cruise in "Rock of Ages". Last but not the least, Kareena has also done justice to her role which wasnt as complex as the others but still delightful enough. Many of the the other artists, have also given credible performances which imparted authenticity to the movie.

Verdict: Thanks to the Censor board, the film didn't have to invest much into their publicity campaign as the controversy translated into more footfalls. To be frank, I seriously dont understand what was the big deal about all this hungama as it wasnt as bad as it was portrayed to be. Whatever might be the justification of the censor team, I would suggest not to miss out on this as it provides a fleeting glimpse as to how our system itself is facilitating the drug mafia to flourish!!!

Rating: 3.5/5

Regards...Ben

Oru Murai Vanthu Parthaya review: "Dont attempt to watch it even oru murai!!!"

The summer holidays are over & it's time to step foot into another academic year. Invariably, school reopening days are marked by showers & yday was no exception. Since I had some time to kill, I ventured out into the town after the afternoon downpour & decided to check out a movie. This decision led me to buy the ticket for "Oru Murai Vanthu Parthaya" with virtually no expectations. Hmm...was it a judicial decision to go for the movie???

The story unfolds in the village, Mallapuram more than a decade back where Prakashan (Unni Mukundan) plies his trade as an electrician & is also a competent wrestler. He harbored feelings for Aswathy (Sanusha) who hailed from an affluent background though he didn't have the guts to proclaim it to her. Things moved along uneventfully until a beautiful damsel, Parvathy (Prayaga Martin) walks into his life. Even before he could set the record straight, the assumption that they were in a relationship took centre-stage. So who was this stranger after all & what was his connection with her???

Just like any other debutant, Sajan K Mathew would have crafted his movie with utmost care & expectations. But unfortunately,the audience isnt going to echo the same sentiment after seeing the final product. The script by Abhilash Sreedharan is like a rudderless ship & it becomes unstuck on all counts. Was it a rom-com or horror flick or family drama, I cant lay a finger on any specific genre nor can we say it is a mish mash as it hasn't done justice to any of them. Except for sporadic scenes like the interval sequence, there is hardly anything which could be considered worthy of praise. However, there are a couple of bright spots in the technical department such as Vinu Mohan's music & a few frames by Dhaneesh Raveendren; but the editing was way off target.

When "Vikramadityan" released, I was pleasantly surprised to see the capabilities of  Unni Mukundan as an actor & it also proved that in the hands of an able director, he can be an actor to look out for. But his choice of scripts is as erratic (including this) as Afridi's batting & that has invariably made most of the audience to label him as nothing more than a pretty face with a chiseled torso. Sanusha barely had anything to do apart from flex her facial muscles into a smile while Prayaga inspite of being a debutant was impressive. As for the rest of the cast, most of them tested our patience.

Verdict: Less than a week into its release & the theatre barely had anyone except for a few lovebirds and others who wanted to relax in the AC. I guess that very much proves what the people think about the movie even though the producers are indirectly requesting people to watch it through such a title. In short, dont bother watching it even on TV!!!

Rating: 1.25/5

Regards...Ben

School Bus review: "Wont hurt to take a ride on this bus!!!"

Apart from the Champions League & IPL finals, this weekend also saw the release of Rosshan Andrews's "School Bus" which had an inconspicuous build up towards its judgement day. While Real Madrid had me grinning from ear to ear, RCB's collapse wiped that off my face. But all of this happened after I had checked out the movie on Saturday with the hope that Bobby-Sanjay will yet again manage to arrest the attention of the audience. So did they manage to do that???

Ajoy (Akash Muraleedharan) & Anju (Angelina Rosshan) were from an affluent background as their parents, Joseph (Jayasurya) & Aparna (Aparna Gopinath) had flourishing careers of their own.This invariably meant they didnt get to spent quality time with their children though Aparna tried to keep a tab on their studies. Ajoy's mischievous nature usually got him into trouble in school that he always managed to defuse with his buddies before it reached the ear of their parents. But one of his impish acts spiraled out of control which prompted the school authorities to seek their presence. However, knowing Joseph's authoritarian nature Ajoy tried to tide over the storm on his own but it was a matter of time before his parents knew about it. 

As been the trend in recent times, the script by Bobby-Sanjay is said to be inspired from a real life incident. Rosshan Andrew's collaboration with the duo has produced praise worthy movies in the past & the manner in which this film unfolded did evoke similar reactions. The first half had the charm of a kid's movie which gradually get transformed into a thriller genre. But in the second half as the story moved into the forest terrain, except for the occasional thrills I kinda felt it hit a road block as nothing much happened beyond that. It definitely as a good message for the parents and will surely work with the family audience. Muraleedharan's credentials as a cinematographer needs no introduction & his visuals in the forest was apt testament for that. The BGM by Gopi Sunder deserves praise while Vivek Harshan's editing was smooth.

Inspite of names like Jayasurya & Chackochan, the movie well & truly belonged to the two kids who as their name suggests was the son and daughter of Muraleedharan & Rosshan respectively. Both Akash & Angelina have done their parts well, though I felt the latter had a more natural flair for the camera. As usual, Jayasurya did utmost justice to his role while Chackochan was fine along with Aparna. The rest of the cast also did their jobs adequately.

Verdict: The credibility of the makers will ensure a sizable number of footfalls in the theatres & to add to that, it will surely appeal to the family audience. However, the script isnt as taut as we would expect from Bobby-Sanjay which is quite evident in the latter half. In a nutshell, it falls short of expectations but still worth giving a try!!!

Rating: 2.75/5

Regards...Ben

Aadupuliyattam: "Inconsistencies makes it only as entertaining as a rat's attam!!!"

The last couple of days has been quite hectic due to which I haven't been able to write the review for Jayaram's latest release "Aadupuliyattam". In the 90s, the veteran was one of the most bankable actors that the industry had but since then his choice of movies has left a lot to be desired as hits became far & few. His last release was "Thinkal Muthu Velli Vare", close to a year back which incidentally was directed by Kannan Thamarakulam who has also helmed "Aadupuliyattam". Frankly speaking, I had watched it since I had some time to spare & thanks to his previous duds, I barely had any expectations. So did the movie have the content to satiate the audience???

Satyajit (Jayaram) is a wealthy business who led a contented life with his family until scary hallucinations deprives his peace of mind. His search for answers to his misery eventually leads him to a sage (Om Puri) who reveals that the cause of all this was the palace that he had acquired which had an ancient myth connected to it. But why were the spirits after Satyajit & what can be done to pacify the evil forces at work???

There isnt much hymns to be sung in praise of Kannan Thamarakulam as his debut venture was the perfect example of mediocrity. On the brighter side, things cant go any worser than that which proved to be true in his latest venture. Dinesh Pallath has penned the script that did seem to have a decent thread but it was haphazardly presented with flashbacks & inconsistencies in the plot as well as in the character detailing of the protagonist. The comedy track which was squeezed into the script was horrible to put it mildly. Kannan's execution of the mediocre script also didnt hide the creases as over dramatic scenes, predictability & infantile dialogues ruled the roost though there were a couple of genuine well shot sequences but he failed to maintain that quality. Jithu Damodar's visuals were average, Sandeep Nandakumar's editing was pedestrian while Ratheesh Vega's music was just about passable, However, Prasanna Master's choreography for Ramya Krishna deserves a cheer.

One of the oft spoken thing about the movie prior to its release was the salt & pepper look of Jayaram which did suit him though it barely mattered. Actually growing that beard might have been the only challenge that Jayaram had as the role barely tested his caliber. Ramya Krishnan was an apt choice as Mathangi but she was a misfit in the romantic scenes while it didnt make sense as to why such a renowned actor like Om Puri would choose to be part of this project. Both the kids, Akshara & Angelina were impressive & gave a convincing performance. As for the rest, Sheelu Abraham as usual gets screen space without any significance while it be best that nothing is said about the comedians.

Verdict: Just a couple of days into its release & already the theatres are having a deserted look which speaks volumes as to what the audience think about the movie. It might have been packaged as a horror comedy but the director failed to do justice to both the genres. In short, dont bother!!!

Rating: 1.25/5

Regards...Ben

Kammattipaadam review: "Gritty saga that slowly grows on the audience!!!"

Ever since the Malayalam film industry came into existence it has always been blessed with a pool of talent which has made the others look at it with awe. Among the plethora of talent, one prominent name is the reputed cinematographer & director, Rajeev Ravi. Known for his realistic portrayal of life on celluloid, Rajeev is back with his latest venture "Kammattipaadam". In addition to being touted as one of the most eagerly awaited movie of the year, the promos has whetted the appetite of the audience even further. But will it be palatable to the majority???

The film unfolds with a visibly injured Krishnan (Dulquer Salman) boarding a bus & narrates as to how fate has brought him to this situation. Though he was presently based in Mumbai as an employee of a private security agency, he actually hailed from a slum called Kammattipaadam with a past that he wanted to be aloof of. However, like a bolt from out of the blue he receives a call from his bestie Ganga (Vinayakan) which entices him to make a journey back to the land that he never expected to return. So will Krishnan's past come to haunt him in his search for Ganga after all he shared a history of crime with his buddy???

Rajeev Ravi prowess as a cinematographer teems with accolades but in recent years he has turned his attention to direction where he has excelled as well be it "Annayum Rasoolum" or "Njan Steve Lopez". As in his previous ventures, "Kammattipaadum" shows the stark reality of life that thrives in the under belly of Cochin. The script by P Balachandran gives insight as to how the lives of individuals gets altered right from childhood where friendship & money is all what matters. It also drives home the fact that no matter however we try to insulate ourselves, the crime committed in the past will always find its way to our present. The attention given to the character detailing is outstanding & equally applaudable was the casting which made the whole experience impactful. However, the pace at which the take unfolds does take toll on a section of audience but rest assured that if you can tide over that it will surely enthrall you. Even the technical department was brilliant, be it Madhu Neelakantan's delightful frames (the stand out being the one along the coast) or the soundtrack by John Varkey & K Vinayakan.

It might have been packaged as a Dulquer movie, but the star of the movie is Vinayakan who was absolutely mesmerising. He virtually lived as the character & the effort that he has taken to perfect the body language and the physical transformation deserves special praise. Frankly speaking, I would be surprised if he doesnt gets a mention in the State Film Awards next year. Equally impressive was Manikandan (as Balan) who is as raw & poignant as it gets. With each movie, Dulquer keeps improving & here too, he has given a stunning performance. But with all due respect to him, I still feel a bit more experienced artist would have excelled the role even further as the character had scope for it. It wouldnt be possibly to name each & every character here (though each one deserves it), as it would make this review even longer; but a special mention of the female artists such as Shaun Romy (as Anitha) & Amalda Liz (as Rosamma) is justified. 

Verdict: The film is bound to have an impressive initial thanks to the expectations that is associated with it. However, the slow pace & the murky feel of the movie will not to be the liking of the family audience. In short, it wont make a killing at the box office, but it is surely one of the best movies to have come out in recent times. So dont miss it!!!

Rating: 3.5/5

Regards...Ben