Was intrigued by some of the interviews and news articles that came up in the last few days about this movie.
This movie released about 3 weeks back and I read some good reviews about the movie but somehow didn't get to watch it. After reading the recent spate of views watched this movie over the weekend.
The director mentioned about some of the aspects that he had used like the color blue - associated with the ambedkarite parties - used extensively in many frames and also the book the the hero reads in a particular scene. That's when I realized how I miss such minute details when watching a film and how each element is there to convey something. I still didn't catch the book in the movie though :(
The casts include Karthi(Kaali), Catherine(Kalaiarasi), Kalaiarasan(Anbu), Johnny(Hari). The music is by Santosh Narayanan. This is Pa. Ranjith's second movie after critically acclaimed Attakathi.
The story takes place in North Madras. The main issue is about a wall (a pretty large wall in a housing board flat) and how two political parties want to reserve it for them. Anbu is in a party and he wants to take over the wall which is used by another party. Kaali is his friend and he works in an office.
Kaali falls for Kalai and the usual things happen before they fall for each other - Does such movies need a love angle? And secondly Catherine definitely doesn't look the part. Ritwika who plays Anbu's wife looks the part and could have even played the role of the heroine (if one is really needed)
The first half is breezy and before you realize you are at intermission. Once the movie starts we know that Anbu will get killed and I was surprised that he was not when the first half ended. However, he gets killed in the beginning of the second half. When it comes to North Madras there has to be a gaana - unwritten rule of tamil cinema. Could have been avoided.
Second half is a bit of a drag with the director trying to include some of the commercial elements like gaana (mentioned above), love, etc. Movie would have been much better if these could have been avoided.
The second half is about how Kaali takes revenge for Anbu's killing and what happens to the Wall.
This is a good movie.
Music is by Santosh Narayanan. Songs are good - Naan Nee, Enga ooru Madras, Kakitha kappal are good. BGM is also good.
In terms of acting everyone has done a good job. You don't get to see the usual Saranya or JP as parents - which is a welcome move.
Happy to have watched a good movie. Watch it if you get a chance.
You might also want to read some of the articles that I referred at
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/impure-tamilians/article6490030.ece
Best line in the above article is Roja reminding Paakku thool to KB :)
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/madras-a-critique-of-dalit-politics/article6507818.ece
This movie released about 3 weeks back and I read some good reviews about the movie but somehow didn't get to watch it. After reading the recent spate of views watched this movie over the weekend.
The director mentioned about some of the aspects that he had used like the color blue - associated with the ambedkarite parties - used extensively in many frames and also the book the the hero reads in a particular scene. That's when I realized how I miss such minute details when watching a film and how each element is there to convey something. I still didn't catch the book in the movie though :(
The casts include Karthi(Kaali), Catherine(Kalaiarasi), Kalaiarasan(Anbu), Johnny(Hari). The music is by Santosh Narayanan. This is Pa. Ranjith's second movie after critically acclaimed Attakathi.
The story takes place in North Madras. The main issue is about a wall (a pretty large wall in a housing board flat) and how two political parties want to reserve it for them. Anbu is in a party and he wants to take over the wall which is used by another party. Kaali is his friend and he works in an office.
Kaali falls for Kalai and the usual things happen before they fall for each other - Does such movies need a love angle? And secondly Catherine definitely doesn't look the part. Ritwika who plays Anbu's wife looks the part and could have even played the role of the heroine (if one is really needed)
The first half is breezy and before you realize you are at intermission. Once the movie starts we know that Anbu will get killed and I was surprised that he was not when the first half ended. However, he gets killed in the beginning of the second half. When it comes to North Madras there has to be a gaana - unwritten rule of tamil cinema. Could have been avoided.
Second half is a bit of a drag with the director trying to include some of the commercial elements like gaana (mentioned above), love, etc. Movie would have been much better if these could have been avoided.
The second half is about how Kaali takes revenge for Anbu's killing and what happens to the Wall.
This is a good movie.
Music is by Santosh Narayanan. Songs are good - Naan Nee, Enga ooru Madras, Kakitha kappal are good. BGM is also good.
In terms of acting everyone has done a good job. You don't get to see the usual Saranya or JP as parents - which is a welcome move.
Happy to have watched a good movie. Watch it if you get a chance.
You might also want to read some of the articles that I referred at
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/impure-tamilians/article6490030.ece
Best line in the above article is Roja reminding Paakku thool to KB :)
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/madras-a-critique-of-dalit-politics/article6507818.ece
Watched two movies on two consecutive days. (That's like a once in 10+years thing, so stating it here). First was Madras & next was Jeeva. Both are pretty good, above-average movies that have very sensibly highlighted sensitive contemporary topics. I agree with all your views Ajith Ugiprasad and wanted to add one more (hence brought the two movies in context here). Madras, despite its rugged settings did not promote or glamorise drinking... whereas Jeeva, despite being the story of a promising cricketer, had many such scenes thrust into the movie with no need ! Don't want to preach or write another review inside a review, hence I conclude here but want to leave this thought with all who read this. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOn your remark about the heroine character, I felt that the director has done justice to the role though the character could have been etched better. If you recollect the sequence where Kaali gets emotional and talks of taking revenge for his friend's murder, the reaction of the heroine, and subsequently how the hero returns to normal life.... All this go to establish the inner conflict between revenge and romance (love) for the hero. Also kudos to the director for shooting a very simple & functional duet song (notice that the characters do not lip-sync to the song) instead of suddenly transporting them to an exotic foreign location.... now that kind of dream-ly romance would have really derailed the movie !
ReplyDeleteGood point.... But does it need a heroine for that? Can't a friend or his parents have had that conversation?
ReplyDeleteWhat's life without an element of romance ! :-) Admit it, it's part of everyone's life....some talk about it, some don't ! Some pursue it, some act as though they are immune to it !
ReplyDelete:) Also wanted to mention one another thing. The director says that he wanted to highlight how the dalit politicians cause trouble for their own people. But isn't it true for all politicians?
ReplyDelete