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Velaikkaran (2017)
A Social Film in a Commercial Context
#Velaikkaran #Movie #MyOpinion
M Raja had already impressed me with his Thani Oruvan (read here: http://www.imdb.1eye.us/user/ur62799173/?ref_=tt_urv)..So my opinion on Velaikkaran will be biased..read with this disclaimer.
It's highly difficult to take up a social issue, pack it in a tight plot, describe the issues, make the commercial cinema protagonist to even solve it, that too without making it uninteresting even for a moment. Velaikkaran is almost a success in doing it.
Its always known and seen fact in tamil cinemas, the softcorner towards the working class, and how capitalists are projected as always up to exploit the former. Is it representation of actual tamilIans demography or films have influenced tamils like it, only tamilians know. According to Tamil cinema, there's no socialist mindset present at all. Poor are always exploited by the rich. (REF: UzhaippalI then to Katthi recently). Velaikkaran doesn't deviate from this theme.
Put the hero in a slum. Define his concern to uplift the standard of his people through few instances. Bring the super intelligent villain, in the gentleman disguise in a corporate, where the hero is made to join as Velaikkaran (thankfully he isn't shown to be working as a default factory worker). And the plot is set to take off.
India, being the place of domestic demand, naturally there's supply of million products into the market everyday. Marketers are so confident in producing without even worrying about demand, that MARKETING can ensure whatever is produced gets sold. As a whole, it becomes so much for MARKETING to push, that salesmen are asked to induce the consumer to buy something or of a quantity that's actually not needed by them. In the process, there has emerged a 'taken for granted' attitude among manufacturers that anything can be produced and consumers will buy it or they can be made to buy. (Ref: Maggi Noodles Issue). It is in this context, our hero enters as a salesman, who initially loves the concept of marketing, and with realization of this system, decides to fight against it, in his style.
There are cinematic clichés in the screenplay. There are loopholes. There is a heroine to add colour to the canvas. There's mother sentiment as a tickmark. But, the effort to make the plot tight and engaging can be seen throughout.
I can't say it's the best portrayal of the issue. But, effort to bring the debate on to the front-end must be appreciated. Inline this movie with the likes of Toilet and Katthi.
Watch it as a cinema. Message will get into your head invariably. So much so that I didn't buy my popcorn and coke in the interval, and didn't want to be the marketing induced consumer.
Siva Karthikeyan does a neat job as usual. Nayantara knows her limited role. Robo Shankar, Satish, Balaji, Prakash Rai and many others are evidently used to enhance the face value of the marketing efforts of the movie, like the theme of the movie...consumer doesn't need it, but marketing is pushing us to take it.
-kiran-
Killing Veerappan (2016)
Simplicity,Subtlety & RGV - Reasons to Watch Killing Veerappan...!!!
Ram Gopal Varma is a specialised course of Movie Making University. With #KillingVeerappan he proves it. Its interesting to see, how an already known, (may be or may not be true), story can be woven into a set of scene sketches such that it makes a thrilling screenplay & yet simple & interesting.
There are two aspects one should appreciate in this 'masterpiece' (You can't simply title it a 'masterpiece' and call it so #ManjuMandavya...):
1) Characterisation: None of the characters are extraordinary or heroic. Everyone is simple human beings. Veerappan himself is portrayed as someone who does what he does for his living. He kills to steal weapons and protect himself, as if it's his profession. His behaviour with his lover/wife is as simple any other couple. He fights with her; wants to meet her even if it's risky. He is passionate about guns. His expressions when he receives AK47 weapons show it all. He is proud of his mustache. He is not hulky-bulky. He is lean with acute sense of alertness. He also wants to make more money, expand his business, and come into good terms with big leaders. I mean, nowhere he is a super human being. Talking of Shivaraj Kumar as STF operative, again a simple character, with a little courage to think about eliminating Veerappan. He is not a six-packed abs guy. A coffee-lover. His 'idea' is not a greatest of the ones. He doesn't indulge in dialoguebazi. His strength is being a good analyser.
Both of them emote a body language, you feel like asking, why are these guys not acting...well in a moment you'll realise that's precisely what they are doing...(#RGV, you're the man..!!)
2) Production Values: The plot is controversial enough to push the audience to theaters. But, nope..!!. #RGV does not compromise on quality of output. The camera experiments itself, at unthinkable angles. The 360-degree capture of chase scene near the farm house is worth the experiment. The steering wheel angles are interesting. It must be mentioned that BGM in the movie makes more talking than characters. Music is very apt...made to order of #RGV. Not compromised on lyrics. Especially the 'Damma-Dikka' & 'Spot' tracks direct the tempo of the movie.
Watch this movie with a mind-set to appreciate the art of movie- making, subtle creativity & researched content, than the inherent controversy around the selected plot. You may not agree with the disguised facts presented, but, remember, it's just a cinema. We may have to see it as a fictional work. Don't be surprised, somewhere, towards the end of the movie, if you fall sympathetic towards the brigand himself. Remember, that is cinema.
Thani Oruvan (2015)
A perfect handicraft
Imagine a cop, who keeps a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable (?), Realistic, Time bound) goal to demolish one bigwig criminal in his lifetime and secretly maintains a R&D center to study the latter. He has a skill developed since his childhood to read media news between the lines and strongly believes every small-time crime news item appearing has at its back hidden an organised crime. His skills of reading between lines, connecting the dots & of course the never dying passion, brings him into the battleground with one Siddarth.
Also imagine a criminal, who plans more on covering himself from the crimes he masterminds, than on the crime itself. He is one helluva opportunist, who takes birth in a minister's car with the siren on, does an unimaginable cease of an opportunity at age 15, and controls the powerhouse of politics, business and research together through his allies and alas, he is a renowned scientist. His smooth flow gets perturbed on one Dec. 10, when his plan to discourage announcement of generic drugs by a swiss pharma owner lady gets deviated for a while, and he is in the battleground with our cop Mitran.
Thani Oruvan is likable for every aspect of it. I generally judge a Director's capacity in creating the unique personality for his characters and ensuring the character maintains the same throughout the plot. M Raja & SuBa get 5 star on this aspect. The way the traits of both Ravi & Aravind are etched and maintained through shows the efficiency.
Aravind Swamy (of Roja fame) is a real discovery in the role of Antagonist (or should we say, the protagonist? I wonder, why not?). He will actually make us like the villain of the movie more than the hero. Quiet a contrary. The crisp & slow delivery of simple, yet powerful dialogues between him & his father (played by Thambi Ramayya) are treat. Of course, Ravi & Nayantara have done their best as usual. Never loses curiosity. No loopholes in the story. No mediocrity in production values. Limited but essential use of CG. Lot of research has gone in to connect current affairs to hypothesis.
In conclusion, its not everyday we get such treat from Indian movie makers...get yourself feasted...