Krishnan Arumugam

Iratta is yet another masterful flick from masterclass actor Joju George. The film starts with three gunshots and ends with your heart being scooped out by a devilishly clever storyline that mercilessly brings out the rawness and savagery lurking within us, a rawness and savagery locked inside each and everyone of us by a human society coloured by darkness and lightness hiding behind a grey world of human existence. Okay by now if you are totally confused by my writing, go watch this masterpiece. It will take you to places within your heart which you didn’t know existed. The plot and sub plots are woven intricately, bringing every character uncomfortably and bitterly close to each other. Malayalam cinema is truly eons ahead of the rest of the world. And Joju George is one of the finest, critically acclaimed actors of our time. Rohit M G Krishnan directs this mystery flick with each frame flawlessly capturing every moment. Jakes Behoy’s music also drives us wild with suspense and thrill. If you miss this film on screen then you will feel like me when I saw Jana Gana Mana on Netflix again and again like a mad man who had forever missed something precious.

Vathi is a movie deeply grounded in solid storytelling and comes out a winner. Danush’s performance is outstanding by virtue of not overindulging and packing a punch when necessary. The antagonist played the great Samuthrakani is one dimensional and wasn’t effective at all. Maybe the villain shouldn’t have been played like a villain. I called him great because he is one of the gifts to South Indian cinema with his overall class cinematic mind, an actor/storyteller par excellence. But in this film there is something missing. Also the screenplay could have focused on the other characters a lot more. It was too much of the main character. As at the end it is their angst that we feel. Worth a trip to the theatres if “feel good” is your calling. Also don’t be fooled by the poster it is not an action film but a high quality drama film.

After a long time tamil cinema gives us a movie the likes of kadhalukku mariyadhai(the Vijay/Shalini blockbuster). Dada is a touching tale. A touch of romance, a touch of comedy, a touch of drama, a touch of bittersweet love and tons of emotionally charged moments. It is a story of accidental parenthood and it’s myriad challenges. The chemistry of the lead pair works like fire and cotton wool. The comedy works wonderfully, VTV Ganesh breezes through his comedy parts like a pro, and the new comers also shine in their roles. Kavin is superb as Manikandan, and Aparna Das is stunning as Sindu… both of whom are here to stay, and I feel will go on to be major stars. Harish Kumar also gives a strong performance as the supporting cast and is also here to stay. Another solid performer in the making. The little boy Adithya is very natural and is a big part of the movie’s success, but I feel he was not used well, and more scenes should have been written for him as the movie is titled DADA meaning appa, and so appa to whom, to Aditya. Instead of which we had a few lacklustre group dance songs which were quite meaningless . In fact what was missing was one big hit romantic song which would have added meaningful charm to the film. And what you shouldn’t miss is this delightful romcom.