Sunday, November 16, 2008

Vaaranam Aayiram- Surya wasted


CAUTION: NO SPOILERS AHEAD!! (NOTHING CAN BE BIGGER THAN THE MOVIE ITSELF.)

"Cooum Dump" screamed a review. Well, one has to appreciate my belief in Gautham even after reading such a review when I decided to spend the night before my mid-term exam on a 17 mile 'expedition' to the theatre which cost me 14$ (=650 Rs).
Gautham has tried to incorporate so many themes in the film that I would like to pen them down before I forget.
1. father-son relationship
2. love story(ies)
3. smoking and cancer
4. love failure
5. drug addiction
6. terrorism
7. police-mafia nexus
8. life of an army man
9. inter-caste love marriage
10. mass heroism (a little)
I am pretty sure, I have missed out on at least a few things.
The film starts of on a very similar note, just like Thavamai Thavamirunthu wherein the son relives the happy and sad moments of his life spent with his parents. The entire movie is in the flashback mode and the single winner in this mammoth effort is Surya and Surya alone. The work he has put in for this movie is tremendous and it is a pity that none of the technicians and the script itself did not back him.
Direction-Story-Dialogue-.... : Well, Gautham is better off giving sequels, prequels and variants of Kakha Kakha. A loosely strung together set of events with more intent on showing Surya in different costumes is what he manages this time around. Dialogues are childish and the generous dose of English (at the most annoying of times) makes it look very artificial. The scene at Surya's American visa interview is a classic example. I am not sure if anyone can actually relate to the happenings in the film. They are not only far fetched but look like a futile exercise in the end.
Music: I am not a big Harris Jeyaraj fan, but this has to rank amongst his worst thus far. The background score is so pathetic that it makes you wince sometimes. The songs are hummable, but they have to suit the situation first. What Harris has managed casts serious doubts on his ability to produce anything different as far as songs and their tunes go. "Mundhinam Parthen" is a song set in the 80's!!! Can you believe it???
Cinematography: The visuals are plain and I am sure that was the intention. San Fransisco has been captured beautifully, but apart from that nothing spectacular.
Art Direction: Some sets look very artificial, some are really good though. There again, I am not sure Rajeevan had too much work in the movie except for being the heroines dad!!
Costume and Make-up: The second place has to go to the costume designer. Surya looks handsome and smart in all costumes. The costumes for the flash back set in the 80's are gaudy and over the top, but the exaggeration makes it enjoyable to watch.
With Surya doing most of the hard work, the make-up team would not have faced a very difficult task. The only challenge would have been the old age Surya and Simran. The make up for Surya in his old age was good most of the times, though the wig was a huge let down. Simran looks so old that making her look young would have been a far greater challenge, one in which the team fails miserably.
I had great expectations for the movie but unfortunately it turned out to be a damp squib. I am still keeping my expectations high for Varnam Ayiram, directed by Ram Bala for Lollu Sabha- this must be one of the easiest scripts for the team.
PS a)The fact that Sameera Reddy is from CS dept. of REC Trichy and manages to go to UC Berkely is another comedy altogether!!!
b) Why did Surya work out so hard?? I hope its for his upcoming movie.
c) What was all the hype for??
d) If the theatre I went is anything to go by, Satyam Cinemas has to rank as amongst the best.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dei.... avlo komediya???

REC Trichy? LOL

The tickets are so costly here but housefull... Thank god I couldn't go...

Even I'm gonna watch Lollu Sabha's "kaaranam Aayiram" and skip the film.

I'm beginning to get a feel that Menon has a very bloated opinion of himself... He's taking himself too seriously without anyone caring...

Eppadiyavadhu indha padatha paakkanumnu nee edutha muyarchi, ennakky remba preumaya irukku.... augmmmmn(As gap10 says)

S Balaji Srinivasan said...

@Srik
Absolutely da...Gautham has a very bloated up opinion of himself, thinks he is going to carry the next gen on his shoulders!!
Actualla a couple of interesting things which I did not mention in the blog
1. Look out for "Nenjukkul Peidhidum" song, choreo is super comical!!
2. If you get hold of the conversation Surya has with Visa Officer, don't miss it!!
I am just dying to see Lollu Sabha for this!!

Hariharan said...

disappointed that you have taken simran apart while sparing sameera reddy da.. sims is one of the few reasons you can sit through the movie..

no comments on Surya's MJ moonwalk attempts?

and ya.. Sameera Reddy from REC is total comedy. Must have been nri quota. lol

S Balaji Srinivasan said...

@Kutti
I totally forgot about Sameera!!! I
mean there were so many (other) things to write about :)
MJ moon walk LOL...
Glad that we agreed on the 'verdict'!!

SparroW said...

one more thing.. why was all this fuss by karnataka actor sangam about Ramya "acting" in the movie.. did she actually act????

and ya the visa interview was surely ROFL only...

btw i had this om shanti om feel while watching the 80's part.. was it only me???

S Balaji Srinivasan said...

@Sparrow
Paavam da Ramya!! :)
Visa interview and REC Trichy absolutely ROFL material!!
I have not seen Om Shanthi Om, but I felt it was a little over the top, but that was fine.