Me Thinks

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Sivaji experience by a Kamal fan

I am a big Kamal Hassan fan. I was definitely not planning on watching Sivaji first day first show. As "destiny" would have it, I ended up watching it. I watched Chandramukhi too in theatres and I didn't like the movie, liked only parts of it such as Rajini's laka laka scenes, ra ra song. People were actually looking at the camera and talking just like we used to in 4th standard school plays only instead of the camera, we always faced the microphone even while talking to people standing behind us or beside us. So when it became a super hit, I knew why I was always at odds with Rajini fans.

Just before entering the theatre I had made up my mind to look for faults in the movie. The theatre was only 20% full. Point 1 - noted. Movie not that great, hence so many empty seats even on the first day. (The show was actually added in the last minute and not many people knew about it as it was a weekday afternoon) 5 minutes into the movie came the SPB tongue twister song. It was totally out of place. It was supposed to be on tamil culture. Tamil culture says you can wear tight blouses without a veil and just a small skirt but if you have a pottu in place and a kondai, its OK. But its wrong to wear a spaghetti strap top and a tight jean. Point 2 - noted. The song's setting reminded me of Shankar's Azhagaana rakshasiye song from Mudhalvan.

Vivek-rajini combo is a laugh-fest. You begin to wonder why people even thought Vadivelu-Rajini combo was funny in ChandraMukhi. Rajini's make up is very good. His Raja Chinna Roja hairstyle is back. I can't remember who did the cotume designing for Rajni and Shreya. They've done a fabulous job. I think Shreya is very lucky. All her costumes accentuate her great figure. Thotta Tharani's sets are wonderful. Looks like they spent a ton of money on this movie. Shankar's brilliance comes through in every scene. And I think Shankar is the only director who gets the pulse of the audience these days. One hour into the movie and I knew this movie was going to be a superhit. Its been directed really well. Shankar has maximised everyone's talent.

Since when did Sun TV's Uma, Raja, Salamon Papaya started acting in movies? Uma I think has a daughter Shreya's age in real life. But still she looks too young to be Shreya's Mom. And she has done a decent job. Vadivukkarasi and Mani Vannan are sadly under-utilized. I had a big smile when I saw Raghuvaran on the screen. I've been his fan since his "Idhu oru manidhanin kadhai" (DD soap) days. It was refreshing to see MayilSaami, Chinni Jayanth too. Livingstone was very funny even though he came for only a couple of minutes. The last time I enjoyed a Rajini movie so much was when I saw Thillu Mullu (and I still feel that movie was Rajini's best) Hats off to Shankar and team. Rajini's star power would've definitely carried the movie like it happened to ChandraMukhi but this movie has been made brilliantly.

The ending is lame. And tamil movies still believe that changing the hairstyle gives a person different identity and they expect us to go with that. Other than that, the movie is really good. As Shankar claims interview after interview, the message in the movie is not great. He is trying very hard to convey the message. Whats wrong with making a commercial movie without any message? Someone's gotta tell Shankar that. Unless the movie is a Unnal Mudiyum thambi or Indian or Mudhalvan, the message doesn't really get through. But this is a well-made commercial movie.

Fair Rajini really looked fair to me. But mottai rajini was the best. Rajini acting like a conductor for Vivek's auto was awesome. And Vivek is back with a bang, baby.

35 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

:) Happen to see the movie on a similar unexpected first day first show basis in Abu Dhabi.

Sure was surprised to not get disappointed (usually high expectation ones bum out really well) and had a good time.

I Agree:
> Direction is good!
> Comedy is good!
> Music was nice!
> Motta boss style was fantastic :)

Totally a enjoyable experience not only for Ranjini fans, but anybody looking for a light-hearted good time.

Kudoos to the movie team, kudoos to Deeps for a balanced review :)

1:54 PM  
Blogger The Kid said...

thalaivar padathai pathi edhavai bad review potta, blog-a kizhichiruppaen...

nalla velai indha blog thapichidichi.

:)

2:30 PM  
Blogger anantha said...

Dho da.. over scene pottutu.. first day first show!

4:55 PM  
Blogger D LordLabak said...

Vijay, I forgot to add that ARR kind of vanished when compared with the performance of the rest of the team. The music is OK. Sujatha has done a good job as the dialogue writer.And thanks for the kudos.:-)
Kid, neeyuma? Looks like only Rajini fans have a blog.
Anantha, maanattha vaangadha. You know I wasn't too keen. Tickets kind of fell in my hands.;-) Glad there was no thalaiva-screaming, train etc during that show.

5:18 PM  
Blogger Me said...

cha indha software engineers & kamal fans oda idhey vamba pochi ba...ellathlayum logic edhir paakraanga...

...rajini padathula logic illa...pal payasathula uppu illa nu aal aalku blog blog aa koovings...

...keta ..uppu illa pandam koopiyalla...so pal payasam kuppaila nu logicalaa prove panraanga...

..edhu edhuku enna enna irukanamo adhu adhu irundha podhum...mathadhu edhuvum avasiyam illai nu purinjikaavey maatenraanga...

6:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Deepz my 'OFFICE ROOM' is always open for all kamal fans..
ippadi ellarum "i wasnt planning to watch SIVAJI since am a kamal fan " nnu sollitu engalukku (thalaivar fans) munnadi seat la kerchief pottu edatha pidichi..
vazhiyardu todachukku

Panningadaan kootaama varum (10 avadaram ).. singham single-aa varum (THE BOSS!!!)..

THE BOSS - Alwarpettukku aappu, Poes-uku Pongal!!!

yippeee.. deepz , sujatha saar kita solli enakku assistant dialogue writer velai vaangitariya? (am not iyengar though.. enna thaatha serthuppara?)

THE BOSSINI

9:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sorry deepa, naan ninaichathe Bubby THE BOSSINI sollitange!! ;-)

11:10 PM  
Blogger Oracle said...

Thalaivar's movies are the ones I can review without even watching them:

Howizit- Super Ma(read it as superstar would say it)

4:02 AM  
Blogger I said...

kilinjidhu po, uma romba naalave nadikara.

7:54 AM  
Blogger Ajay said...

Deepa,
argggh..them Kamal fans!!!
had a kamal fan see the movie and say its average(i didnt read much into it as i know Kamal fans who coincidentally r quite similar to Ilayaraja fans when it comes to appreciating others' talent)
then i saw it the next day..liked it immensely...never in the movie i cud find a dull moment..there were some of my friends who was pointing flawed scenes like Rajni's coming-back-to-life after being dead for more than 5 mins..they dont understand its a Thalaiver movie..so who cares for logic..
the film will be a superhit..and i am already thinking of seeing it again today!

10:20 AM  
Blogger Ajay said...

and yes Vivek is back big time...
and prob i shud praise u for an unbiased review, u being both Kamal and IR fan!

10:28 AM  
Blogger Me too said...

You too, Deepa? But I guess, nobody escaped in NJ!! ;)

12:11 PM  
Blogger The Visitor said...

Deepa!
You too have a review on Sivaji? I saw it from Latha’s link just now!!
சூப்பர். :)

7:48 AM  
Blogger vishy said...

Huh... I still feel let down by Shankars story line.. towards the end I felt like the movie was being stretche too much.. the car fight was unnecessary.. Shankar could have shortened the the film..

the audio system in th etheater was bad so it freaked me out..

as for the songs.. rajni was too slow in Ballelaka.. seems out of sync.. also the choreograpgy was not great.. shankar tried something similar in Mudhalvan too as u said.. also Rajnis ponch was very evident in Oru kudai sunlight ..I could not stand the video for that song at some places..

Athiradi was really exceelent..the costumes were really good and Rajni looked young.

Finally for the Hardcore Rajni Fans:

You ppl tell everyone to think in terms of a Rajni film.. so not worry about logic, not worry about poor dancing, pathetic english

Thats pretty much compromising 50% of your expectations.. I think any movie would be good to watch if you make these compromises.

Shivaji still SUMAR.. 3/5.

4:41 PM  
Blogger APAM NAPAT said...

Vishy,
Dallas pakkam vandhudaadha.

Deepa,
Neenga Kamal Rasigaiyaa. Aiyyo Paavam.
Vivek's comedy was ok - not his best . But Rajni was excellent.
CM for the next 20 years, if he enters now. Aapu for PMK.
Summa adhurudhulla.

5:41 PM  
Blogger Ajay said...

Vishy,
u asked for it buddy!
only a biased reviewer will say the movie was SUMAR or average..u got to accept that the movie was a total entertainer...grow up, Mr Kamal fan!
let down by Shankar's storyline? Shankar's movies have always come with social messages..whether it is sincere or more of a melodramatic commercial move is debatable..i go for the latter...most of his other movies in this category were per se serious movies...never have i seen so much comedy aspect in his movies other than Sivaji..of course there hv been Goundar-Senthil but it was just a separate track..in Sivaji never did the film go very serious or heavy..there was always a funny scene to combat it...
if the audio system was bad u shudve got it out with the theater owner..my guess is this might have influenced u too..
agreed Rajni was slow in Ballelakka..it was sure a dimmer...but in other songs which were kinda slow went well with his slow movements..
Logic? lemme tell u a thing..No.1 u r going to a movie, the main reason movies exist is for us to experience fantasy (and have a good time)..so logically speaking there shudbt be songs in a movie...now is that the case? i understand when something very foolish/impossible things r depicted u feel cheated..but in this movie i didnt find anything that was too ridiculous..in fact i've seen many Rajni movies with many so to say 'illogical' sequences...
English pathetic? c'mon this is too harsh..i felt it was okay, if not good..but u have to nitpick on these little things that u forget to appreciate the other things...
// think any movie would be good to watch if you make these compromises//
this is the most bigoted statement i have ever come across in recent times..
of course u can rate the movie anyway u want..u r entitled to ur views...
but in my opinion this is the best Rajni movie to hit the screens in quite sometime..
u can see it is also a Shankar's movie, so total Thalaiver domination is not evident..it has been an effective mix of both people's styles...this is refreshing to see Rajni come away from punch dialog delivering, Godlike genre movies..prob he realizes he's getting old and needs to change a bit..
am not going to indulde in bashing Kamal to support my case!!

6:05 PM  
Blogger Ananya S P said...

Manish Malhotra,
Bollywood Fashion Designer is the costume designer for this movie.

12:54 PM  
Blogger vishy said...

Okie I really didnt want to write a review on this movie.. but seems like may be I need to..

This is not really a Rajni bashing.. but definitely Shankar could have done better.. and much more.. than just showing Rajni younger and lavish sets for songs.

If I literally put down the scores it gets a 3 on 5 and that falls in the category of Sumar Padam. 3.5 to 4 is good and more than 4 is excellent. Ofcourse the moive was entertaining (with some discontinuity at a few places) but thats the score it makes.

1:26 PM  
Blogger Ajay said...

Vishy,
to each his own..even if ur reasoning is flawed..

1:58 PM  
Blogger D LordLabak said...

me, logic ellam paakkama pona naaladhan enjoyed this movie.
Bubby, Rajini fans are irrational. You want us to watch the movie but you rebuke me for doing so too. Enna pannardhu? Title ku korachhaley illa.
Jay, I am disappointed.
You too Oracle?!
I, apdiya? enakku teriyadhey. is she divorced? Normally thats what happens. Remember Sita?
Ajay, thanks. Unakku teriyudhu.....anyway. I am a proud IR-Kamal fan.
yes MT, thats the NJ bug.
SK, came from there? wow, check tat out now.
Vishy, indha post utru, namma minority aayittom. But I hear ya.
rajesh, adhenna paavam?Punyam punyam.:-)
Thanks AP. I got it from my friend as well.
Vishy and Ajay, sabash seriyana potti.:-)

3:16 PM  
Blogger Karthik Sriram said...

"Cool" review.

Glad - that a kamal fan tells me its good - in orkut all kamal veriyans have had a field day in tamil cinema community.

10:39 AM  
Blogger Swamy Srinivasan aka Kittu Mama said...

it was an enjoyable experience to watch this movie.
yeah i also agree with the ending.
And just coming in mottai and changing the dress and hair style and showing passport, green card with other name :) was really illogical.
Shankar has tried very hard to insert the message somewhere in this movie.
The message was not that clear and strong. Just a commercial movie from Shankar.
Rajini inspite of his age, has performed very well and looks young in Adhiradikaran and sahana song.
Good review.

9:47 AM  
Blogger D LordLabak said...

kittu and karthik-sriram, thank you very much.:-)

10:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Perhaps some people don't listen to the experts. All the Experts [Suhashini, Madhan etc..] in their reviews have said "shanker is missing".

Message should have a logic. Otherwise, why bother to have a message? A commercial movie without a message is always acceptable. Black money message was the joke of this year.

It's another Rajini Super hit. That's all. Enjoyable of course.

By the way, why is that MOST Rajini fans are arrogant? Fellaws.. ever heard of the term "broadminded"? :D

3:38 PM  
Blogger Gowri Shankar said...

I would suggest you to read my blog, rather than commenting here ;-)

http://gowrifocussed.blogspot.com/2007/09/two-great-idols_8028.html

http://gowrifocussed.blogspot.com/2007/07/boss-experience_06.html

1:55 PM  
Blogger Appu said...

raghuvaran too got wasted in this movie !

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