By: Anand. J (Cinema Correspondent for Monsoon Journal)
THIRUVILAIYADAL AARAMBAM
Starting with a problem with the title, the producer opted for an addition of AARAMBAM along with the original title of Thiruvilayadal. The movie turns out to be a new beginning for Dhanush and it might well turn out to be his big comeback movie. Incidentally Dhanush has enacted a lot of scenes in the movie which was earlier done by his father-in-law Superstar Rajinikanth.
Named as thiru in the hero role Dhanush sings “Ennamma Kannu” the famous Rajini-Sathyaraj song with Prakash Raj. It’s an out and out Dhanush’s movie and going by the first two weeks Box office collection reports, the movie is poised to be a Super hit. Lets have a look at the story. Thiru (Dhanush) is a carefree laid back guy who has a great time with his friends (Karunas, Sukumar and others). He is basically a nice guy who wants to do some business and come up in life. But his dad (Mouli) and mom (Saranya) does not have confidence in him. One day after a small fight, his dad asks him to leave home and he sleeps in the temple. In the morning he sees Priya (Shriya) and it is love at first sight for him. She is the sister of a rich business tycoon Guru (Prakash Raj). Thiru takes a different route to make Priya love him, by directly approaching Guru. Slowly, Priya falls in love with Thiru but soon a twist happens just before interval in which our hero makes a business deal with Guru for leaving his sister. What follows then is a series of unpredictable twists and turns that keeps you engrossed.
Clearly the dialogues of Bhoopathy Pandian and its racy presentation make the film entertaining. The confrontation scenes between Prakash Raj and Dhanush are the highlights. Comedy has worked out well without depending on comedians. There are quite a few funny moments that make you laugh and think at the same time. Director Bhoopathi Pandians idea of making the LOVE as a business subject is really a good idea and seems to be new. But all other scenes look like he has copied the old formula, sequences and narration. The sequences where the growth of Dhanush is shown seems like a lift from the Blockbuster Annamalai where Rajinikanth played the part with élan. Music is by D Imman and the songs are average.
Dhanush tries to give a matured performance but he is shadowed by Prakash Raj during his confrontation scenes. Heroine Shriya looks good but doesn’t bother to act.
To sum up Aarambam oru RAMBAM (Saw) illai. Is it not enough!!!
SIVAPPADHIKARAM
Karu Palaniappan, the new Director who gave a successful film ‘PARTHIBAN KANAVU’ has now come with this Sivappadhikaram a slightly changed name of literature Silappadhikaram. But here there is no Silambu or Kannagi, only red-Sivappu is there in the second half of the film.He has used the action prowess of Vishal and acting talent of Raghuvaran in good combination.The film centres around the political arrogance and how it gets cut down by hero.
The movie begins with a retired professor Elango (Raghuvaran) coming to his native village along with his daughter Charulatha (Mamta). He summons a student from Chennai, Sathyamoorthy (Vishal), to join him in his research on folk songs. Sathyamoorthy’s pleasing manners attracts Charulatha. Meanwhile, poll fever grips Tamilnadu as general elections are announced. But, candidates are murdered one after another and a fear sets in among them. Many of them prefer to withdraw nominations. Citing lack of security to candidates, the State Election Commission prefers to postpone the elections.
Meanwhile, the police manage to obtain clues in a series of murders and arrest Elango. In a flashback, it is revealed why Elango with the help of Sathyamoorthy goes out to murder the aspiring MLAs. Sathyamoorthy along with his friends had studied in a college in Chennai where Elango was the professor. They come out with a pre-poll election survey which results in them incurring the wrath of the ruling party of the State. With the help of police, they let loose terror in the college and kill over 50 students.
Sathyamoorthy and Elango, who survive the attack, resolve to teach a lesson to the corrupt politicians. The screenplay is not upto the expectation. Vishal kills many political bigwigs and escapes without a trace. The screenplay lacks the gripping touch and the narration has lot of loopholes. Yet the subtle and polished performance by Raghuvaran and good action support by Vishal needs appreciation. Mamta as heroine comes, dances and vanishes.
Even though it is not a very new theme by Director Karupalaniappan, attempt for revitalizing folklore songs, good music by Vidyasagar and good use of the comedian Kanjakaruppu the film just gets above PASSMARK.
ILLAI KAARAM !!!!