Kannum Kannum Kollaiyadithaal (KKK), Tamil Movie

Creative liberties that result in some truly warm moments and a fairly satisfying movie

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of watching Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut. In a very important sequence, Kubrick Used Carnatic fusion and the singer sang "Ithu Naragama" in Tamil, when translated, signifies Hell. Nothing could have been more apt to describe the particular sequence, but I was just wondering, how the hell did Kubrick think of depicting the sequence in a language he probably never understood. The creativity knocked me out.

KKK is no Eyes Wide shut, but I had a smile when, 'Chura Liya hai tumne jo Dil Ko' (Yadon Ki Baraat) played at an opportune time, I could not resist the smile. But when " Chaudvin Ka Chand Ya Futaab Ho"( Chaudvin Ka Chand) was used, I could not resist laughing and I was just blown away. Both the songs literally sounded infinitely better.  Then there is a sequence, that I am afraid, I am not going to spill, which again has a reference to another movie, is a perfect icing on the cake.

Part Con and part heist, I am not sure, why the reference to  'Thiruda Thiruda" keeps coming up. I think, Thiruda Thiruda was very different.

While the first half is pretty predictable, the second half is neatly made, with some tense moments.  

Despite its limitations, this is a breezy clean entertainer, almost without any violence.

I thought there are also important takeaways as a professional. In a flat world, for a person who is desirous of learning there are really no limitations.

I think it is a privilege that the gifted, Dulquer is doing his 25th film for a Tamil film. Dulquer breezes through the role as only he can. We love you Dulquer Salmaan and look forward to a great future as well.

I love GVM's role and the way it has been written. I hope to see more of GVM.

Desing Periyasamy, the writer and director is a talent to watch. He has a lot of fun making the film and so do we watching the same.

Keep it up Desing!!

While it is expected to stream on Netflix, this is worth catching on the big screen with family and friends.

P.S:

Just in case you feel like seeing some good con movies after watching KKK, you may want to catch up with Dirty Rotten scoundrels and Matchstick men or see them again just for the fun of it.!!!

Mafia, Chapter 1, Tamil Movie

A catastrophe of sorts

I am a fan of Arun Vijay.

Way back in 1997, when we's were having Pizza at the Shakey's pizza, situated then at Montieth Road, Arun Vijay sat at the text table, fresh probably after the release of Ganga  Gowri. We were  the only customers in the restaurant in addition to Arun Vijay. He was drumming up the table to catch our attention. We noticed but ignored him.

But I have never ignored the fact that he has worked very hard and has been persevering to reach whatever he is today. Diligence, application and hard work has helped him.

I will come back to Arun Vijay a bit later.

After watching the catastrophic Mafia, Chapter 1, I was just wondering, why a plot with potential had been completely wasted. 

The background music was one of the prime villain of the piece, in a most important action block, the music was so loud and unimaginative that I had half mind to rip the guy who composed the Background music. Must go down as one of the worst BGM in Tamil cinema in recent times. A complete lack of understanding of cinema.

The obsession with slow motion even in action sequences left me disillusioned. And those Voice Overs!!! 

Was BGM+SLOW MOTION+ VOICE OVERS the cause for the catastrophe? Not really.

Our dear friend Arun Vijay's aspiration to transition from an ACTOR to a STAR is probably a prime reason for the compromises in the narrative. Only wished Arun Vijay had focused on the story like Thadam and Kuttram 23. 

The exercise in Narcissism is horrific. Arun Vijay himself looks older than his father on the screen. 

Somehow, the director, has been able to get everything about Prasanna correct.

What a wonderful actor, I hope we  get to see more of Prasanna. 

Save your hard earned money. Save you head ache. Save your precious time.!!!!

Vanam Kotattum (VK), Tamil Movie

Enchantingly elegant storytelling

What if a Visu film, which begins with a  'Devar Magan' climax and  narrated by tweaking the Amorres perres narrative (non-linear narrative of three stories)?

The central message reminds you of Devar Magan. The way the movie has been structured, I felt this could logically be viewed as Devar Magan, Part 2

Mani Ratnam's is in sublime form as a screen writer and dexterously weaves an elegant story that oozes with warmth.

Sarathkumar and Radhika interact in about 6 or 7 sequences max, each of them about 3 minutes each, they leave you, with a moist smile.

There is one stunning look of Sarathkumar, after he is released from the jail, the eyes yearning for love and wallowing in guilt rolled into one. Wow. 

42 years after Kizahkke Pokum Rail, Radhika invokes the voice of the inimitable sweetness of Panchali, once in a while, and whenever you detect that, the sweetness laces with the innocence sending you into raptures. A woman with steely resolve caught between two worlds, Radhika, blazes through, as only she can.

Between Sarathkumar and Radhika, there is little to chose.

Vikram Prabhu and Aiswarya Rajesh are in good nick as well.

Technically rich. Sid Sriram's music  feels experimental, but I thought the song 'Kannu, Thangam, Rasathi' started slowly growing within, giving  a certain mood to the film.

And last but not the least, a thank you to a facebook friend, took me by surprise recommending the movie. After BR's favourable review, this was certainly on my watch list and am happy that I caught up with it.

Parasite, Korean film

A wickedly delightful Five star offering

Can anything be better than a sumptuous story which seamlessly blends a social drama with suspense and black comedy?

Every scene glitters like a diamond.and each one of them slips into another like a knife through butter.

A classic case where the director draws the audience into the story, teasing and tantalising you. 

The incremental tension added to every frame, effortlessly, leaves you wondering whether you need to focus on the craft of storytelling or to the story itself. Of course, you happily end up doing both.

The next breakthrough that Cinema would benefit from is if the audience can be able to detect odour in the narratives. We never get to feel the smells of a scene. In Parasite, the odour manifests itself in mischievous ways and a curious case where the nose does not feel it but the heart does. 

The climax can leave you distraught. So what, you can still sleep peacefully after watching a brilliant piece of Cinema.

The Storytelling in Parasite is something Alfred Hitchcock would have been proud of. Light years ahead of its competitors at the Oscars. 

I hope they do the honours of conferring the best picture it is contesting for in both the categories

A mandatory watch