Review: Pannaiyarum Padminiyum is refreshing

                                  

Director Arun Kumar’s Tamil film Pannaiyarum Padminiyum is a realistic story about the lives of ordinary people and their simple desires, says S Saraswathi.

Owning a Premier Padmini was once considered a matter of prestige.

Even today, despite the many high-tech models flooding the market, there are some who still treasure the sturdy car that once dominated the Indian roads.Pannaiyarum Padminiyum is the story of one such individual. 

The film is directed by Arun Kumar of Naalaya Iyakunar fame, who had previously directed a short film with the same concept and title. The film became quite popular, encouraging the director to turn it into a full length feature film. 

The film revolves around Jayaprakash, a pannaiyar (landlord), who is smitten by a vintage Premier Padmini. 

The hugely talented Vijay Sethupathi plays the car’s driver, Murugesan. Iyshwarya Rajesh, who was recently seen opposite Vijay Sethupathi in Rummy, has once again been paired opposite him. 

The others in the cast are Thulasi, Neelima Rani and Balasaravanan, who played Vijay Sethupathi’s role in the original short film. 

Sneha and Attakathi Dinesh make brief cameo appearances in the film. 

The film is set in a remote village in Tamil Nadu that has only one bus service. The Premier Padmini that has been left in the care of the Pannaiyar by a relative who is visiting his pregnant daughter is a huge attraction to the villagers. 

The old Pannaiyar is absolutely devoted to the car. Murugesan drives him around and the car is pretty much used to help everyone in the village. The Pannaiyar’s wife, Chellamma (Thulasi) is the only one who refuses to get into the car. She insists that she will travel in the car only if her husband drives it. 

The Pannaiyar decides to learn driving from Murugesan and surprise his wife on their wedding anniversary. He plans to drive her himself to the temple. 

But the task is not so simple. Murugesan too is besotted by the car and is afraid that if he teaches the Pannaiyar how to drive, he himself will not be able to drive the car. 

Besides, there is the constant dread of the relative who owns the car coming back for it. And lastly, there is the Panniyar’s selfish and greedy married daughter, Neelima Rani, who believes it is her God-given right to carry away everything belonging to her parents. 

How the Panniyar fulfills his wife’s desire, despite all the problems forms the rest of the story. 

Vijay Sethupathi totally blends in as the driver -- the body language, the simple lungi, and the towel around his neck, everything is understated, yet makes an impact. 

Vijay Sethpathi, yet again, proves why he was number one last year. Both Jayaprakash and Thulasi have given brilliant performances. Balasaravanan, as Vijay Sethupathi’s sidekick, is hilarious, evoking spontaneous laughter with his every action and dialogue. 

Iyshwarya, however, has been sidelined, as the more mature love story between Jayaprakash and Thulasi is given prominence. The gentle teasing and the easy relationship shared by the couple who have been together for many years makes a refreshing change from the regular love stories of today. 

The film has absolutely no violence. 

The music by Justin Prabhakaran is pleasant and in keeping with the mood of the film. 

Gokul Benoy is the cinematographer and the editing is by the illustrious Sreekar Prasad. 

Director Arun Kumar’s Pannaiyarum Padminiyum is a realistic story revolving around the lives of ordinary people and their simple desires

Inga Enna Solluthu Movie Review – Complete waste of time and money

                              

Cast: VTV Ganesh, Meera Jasmine. Santhanam , Mayilsamy, Simbu (Cameo) Andrea (Cameo)
Story, Screenplay and Dialogues : VTV Ganesh
Direction : V.Selva
Music: Dharan
Editing: Anthony
Cinematography: R.D.Rajasekar

Storyline

Ganesh (VTV Ganesh) is a middle aged man without a regular job. Along with his friend Raghu (Simbu) he saves Rajeshwari(Meera Jasmine) a well educated girl with a good job. In their eventual acquaintance Rajeshwari misinterprets Raghu’s gestures for love only to know that he is already committed to another girl.

Rajeshwari marries Ganesh and the couple starts living a peaceful life until Ganesh starts trying wrong and unviable methods to become rich. He pledges Rajeshwari’s assets which leads to her suicide attempt.

How the couple mend differences and regain the lost peace, forms the rest.

Script analysis

VTV Ganesh who has earned good name as a comedy actor and a co-producer in Tamil films has tested his luck in Scripting and as playing the lead role with this film. The film starts with the voice over of his real self stating that the film is based on some of the true incidents that have happened in his life. However the debutant script writer has terribly failed in converting his real life experiences as a movie worth watching.

The conflict between a jobless husband and a financially well settled pious wife, on which the story is constructed, starts only in the second half. Given this, the first half of the film hardly offers anything apart from intro song with women wearing skimpy clothes, for a man playing the lead role for the first time and a few more shots to increase the oomph factor

The film highlights the techniques followed by some penniless men operating within the film industry to succeed in their dream of becoming a film producer. Apart from this the film has nothing new to offer. There isn’t a single dialogue in the film that deserves mention.

Performance Review

VTV Ganesh donning the role of a lead actor for the first time, somewhat convinces the viewer that he can do something other than comedy when it comes to acting.

Meera Jasmine who is seen in Tamil films after a long gap looks younger than before and also fits the bill. We could not figure out whether her costumer’s selection of transparent sarees in most parts of the film is accidental or intended to reveal anything.

Santhanam’s one-liners fall flat.

Simbu and Andrea’s cameo have been wasted and the inclusion of their respective roles itself leaves a big question. K.S. Ravikumar in an extended cameo does a neat job.

R.D. Rajasekar’s camera work and Antony’s edition have nothing to rave about. Dharan’s re-recording is good in parts and songs are just fillers.

Positives

Performance of the lead actors

Negatives

Poor writing and execution
Etc.

Verdict

Inga Enna Solluthu – Complete waste of time and money; Nothing worthwhile indeed

Review: Goli Soda is brilliant

Lightly flavoured with the innocence of teenage romance and lots of action, Tamil film Goli Soda is totally worth watching' says S Saraswathi. 



Goli Soda is directed by cinematographer-director S D Vijay Milton and distributed by N Lingusamy's Thirrupathi Brothers. 

Vijay had directed the romantic comedy, Azhagai Irukkirai Bayamai Irukkirathu. He has been cinematographer for some 20 films. He received critical appreciation for his work inAutograph, Kaadhal and Vazhakku Enn 18/9. 

Goli Soda features the famous Pasanga boys, Kishore and Sree Ram, who won the National Award for their remarkable performance in the film, along with Pandi and Murugesh. 

Goli Soda is the story of four youngsters who make their living as daily wage labourers in Koyambedu Market in Chennai, hauling sacks of fruits and vegetables for a pittance. 

They are orphans, barely make enough to sustain themselves, but are cheerful, look out for one another and are not afraid of hard work. 

The only thing that haunts them is a lack of identity: they have no family, no home, and no education. It is almost like they don’t exist at all. 

A kind soul, Aachi (Sujatha Sivakumar), who owns one of shops in the market, acts as their mentor and guide. Despite her gruff manner, she is deeply attached to the boys. 

Naidu (Madhusudhan), the president of the Market Association, is both feared and respected. Though he does lend a helping hand to those in need, he has the market firmly in his control. 

Aachi feels the boys need a better opportunity to prove themselves and seeks Naidu’s help. Naidu generously allows them the use of one of his shops at the market. After much thought, the boys decide to open a small eatery. 

The eatery becomes a huge success, the boys become known throughout the market, and things start looking up. But trouble comes in the form of Naidu’s brother-in-law, Murali. He frequents the shop, spending long hours drinking and smoking with his buddies, frightening off the other customers. 

Things continue to worsen, until one day the boys are forced to retaliate, a huge fight breaks out, and there is complete chaos in the market. 

Naidu becomes extremely angry, but the boys are unwilling to give up their newfound identity, and are prepared to face his wrath. 

How the boys take on the might of Naidu forms the rest of the story. 

An exceptionally well-made and fun-filled film, Goli Soda races along at great speed and keeps you entertained throughout. 

The endearing characters are its biggest strength, especially the boys, but the rest of the characters too are perfectly cast. 

The spontaneity and ease with which the boys essay their role would put most big stars to shame. They share a natural camaraderie. Their body language, dialogue delivery and dialect is perfect. 

Both the girls, Seetha and Chandhini, are commendable and so is Sujatha Sivakumar. Imman Annachi is hilarious and succeeds in keeping the audience in splits. 

Technically, too, the film is sound. Editor Anthony ensures the film doesn’t flag and stunt choreographer, Supreme Sundar, deserves a special mention for the action sequences with the kids. 

The film is about friendship, raw courage and the determination to establish one’s identity and place in society. Lightly flavoured with the innocence of teenage romance and lots of action, Goli Soda is totally worth watching. 

Jilla Movie Reviews

JILLA

                       

Tamil cinema audiences love mass hero films, which may not have logic or reason but just have the essential masala items. Vijay’s Pongal release Jilla is a typical festival fiesta, a power packed, crackling thrill ride tailor-made for fans.

If you are looking out for some fun and time-pass entertainment then, Mohanlal and Vijay combo is sure to make your day. The bonding and camaraderie between the two, who play father and son is what the film revolves around.

Don’t expect any surprises in the plot or treatment, as the story is as old as the hills. Sivan (Mohanlal) is a don like guy in Madurai area. He brings up Sakthi (Vijay), his driver’s son as his own after he is killed by a police officer. Sakthi grows up with an aversion to Khaki and hates cops. To save his father’s crime syndicate, Sakthi is forced to join the police form, but soon tables are turned.

The film works largely due to Mohanlal – Vijay combo scenes. The jostle and push dance between the two in the energetic and massy number Sivanum Sakthiyum Serndha Maasu da.. is electrifying. The bonhomie and the comic timing is perfect and emotional action laced climax is apt.

Both the superstars have equal screen space. If Mohanlal hogged the show in the first half, it is an out and out Vijay show in the second half. Mohanlal is at ease playing the larger than life don, that only an actor of his proven calibre can make it believable. Be it his introduction scene or his flare-up, he tempers the recklessness of his character with restraint and pours plenty of heartfelt emotions. Vijay as usual is dashing and is terrific in the scene where he transforms from a reckless guy to a duty bound cop.

Kajal Aggarwal has nothing much to do other than be a part of the songs. Comparing her last release Thuppaki, here she lacks the oomph of an eye-candy and her make-up and costumes are nothing to write about. Poornima, Mahat, Niveda, Sampath and others just fit the bill. The major plus of the film is D Imman’s songs with Kandaangi Kandaangi.... and Paatu Onnu... being the pick of the lot.

On the downside, the film is too long and predictable with some of the songs acting as speed breakers. What is the need of that item song? Soori’s comedy falls flat.

The film works mainly due to Mohanlal and Vijay combo. Jilla is masala entertainment and a full course meal that leaves you with a smile on your face. A perfect outing with your family this festival season.

Verdict – Mass Masala Entertainer

Movie:

Jilla

Director:

Neason

Cast:

Mohanlal, Vijay, Kajal,Soori

Music:

D Imman

Producer:

Super Good films

Avg user rating:

Review: Veeram is a treat for Ajith fans

S Saraswathi says Veeram is a slow-paced family drama with all the elements of a commercial entertainer.

After the huge success of Aarambam, expectations were sky-high for the Ajith starrerVeeram. Directed by Siva, who gave the commercially successful Siruthai in 2011, the film is produced by Vijaya Productions, the prestigious banner of the late producer B. Nagi Reddy.

Set in a rural backdrop, Veeram is a slow-paced family drama that revolves around Vinayagam (Ajith) and his four brothers Vidharth, Bala, Munish and Suhail Chandhok. All of them are known to be extremely violent and get into fights at the slightest provocation.

Vinayagam has brought up his brothers single-handed and is determined to stay unmarried as he fears that bringing a woman into the house will disrupt the family and cause a rift among the brothers.

The brothers, however, have other plans.  Two of them are already in love and believe that the only way to make Vinayagam approve would be to make him fall in love, too.

On a mission to find an ideal match for their brother, they zero in on Kopperundevi (Tamannaah), who is part of a group that restores old statues in temples.

Along with Santhanam, who is their lawyer and friend, they devise several plans to bring Vinayagam and Kopperundevi together. After a few hiccups, the two do fall in love, but now there is a decided twist in the story.

Will it be Vinayagam’s violent past that destroys his chance at happiness or will Kopperundevi and her family’s past come to haunt them? All this in the second half that seems to be just as slow as the first.

The film seems to pick up momentum only during the action sequences. 

Ajith sports a different look in the second half, reminding us a little of the good old boy-next-door Ajith of Vaali and Villain.

After Billa, Ajith seems to have acquired this all-powerful indestructible image that seems to have struck a chord with the audience, and all his directors seem to be bending over backwards to nurture this image.

Though his dark glasses, black T-shirts and expensive suits have been replaced by a snow-white dhoti and shirt, he still maintains his larger-than-life persona in Veeram and effortlessly destroys the enemy with his power-packed punches and equally powerful dialogues, guaranteed to send his fans into a mad frenzy.

Tamannaah is totally unsuited to this sad, saree-clad boring character and has little to do in the film.

Santhanam lacks his usual spark, but Thambi Ramaiya in the second half provides some laughs. 

There are no terrifying villains in the movie either; their sole aim seems to be getting bashed up by Ajith.  The action sequences choreographed by Silva, however, do deserve some credit.

The song Nalavannu Solvanga has become quite popular, but otherwise there is nothing remarkable about Devi Sri Prasad’s music in Veeram.

Though there is no denying that the super cool, ultra stylish Ajith can carry off any movie on his broad and powerful shoulders, there is nothing remarkable about Siva’s Veeram. 

With an ordinary story line, an average screenplay and characters that are all overshadowed by one man, the film seems like an ode to Ajith and should be dedicated to all his fans.