#Redemption; #ShortFilm: #RajheshVaidya
Arun Vaidyanathan

இரண்டு மாதங்களாய் அடங்கி இருக்கும் உலகின் நிலையை, அதிலும் மனிதருள் எழும் மாற்றங்கள், அதனால் உண்டாகும் மன அழுத்தங்கள் பற்றி நிறைய படிக்கிறோம்.
இந்த டைரக்டர் எடுத்துக் கொண்டதோ கலையில் மாற்றங்கள்; அங்கீகாரம்... இந்த ஒற்றைச் சொல் தான் உலகத்தில் உள்ளோர், ஓரிடத்தில் தேங்கி நின்றுவிடாமல் செயல்பட்டுக் கொண்டே இருக்கச் செய்யும் உந்துசக்தி. இயக்குனர் அருண் சொல்ல நினைத்ததை, எத்தனையோ விதமாக நம்மையே விளக்கம் தரும் வகையில் இரண்டே நிமிடத்தில், பேசாப் படமதில் உள்ளடக்கியதில் தான் இவரின் வெற்றி என நான் நினைக்கிறேன். இதனை நான் பகிர்ந்ததில் இருந்து நான்கு, ஐந்து, விதமான விளக்கங்கள் வந்தன, வருகின்றன. நீங்களும் சொல்வீர்கள்.

உலகெங்கிலும் ஒரு நிசப்தம். பிரபல வீணை வித்வான் ராஜேஷ் வைத்தியாவின் இசையை உள்ளடக்கிய வீட்டில் துவங்குகிறது கதை..
வீணைகள் மீட்டுவாரன்றி கிடப்பதாயினினும் அழகு.. நெடுஞ்சாண் கிடையாக படுத்துக் கொண்டே வித்வான்; வாசலில் நன்றியுள்ள அவரது பைரவர், எங்கோ ஒரு முதியவள் ஜெபமாலையை உருட்ட, இப்படி ஆரம்பிக்கிறது குறும்படம்..

வீணையை மீட்டிய வித்வான் கைகள் அதனை கண்டவுடன் மீட்ட, ஆயினும் நாத்ததிலும் ஏனோ ஒரு இழையோடும் சோகம். வாசித்த ராகமோ சோகத்திற்கே உரித்தான சாருகேசி! ஆரம்பித்ததும், அவருக்கே ஏனோ உந்துதல் இல்லை, பகிர ஆளின்றி. எங்கோ ஜெபிக்கும் அம்மூதாட்டியின் காதில் விழ, அவள் முகத்தில் சிறு புன்னகை.
வீணையின் நாதம் இயற்கையை விட்டு வைத்ததா? அழகாய் பூ உதிரும் மஞ்சள் பூ, ஒரு கவிதை.
வாசிப்பு முடிந்ததும் அம்மூதாட்டியின் கை அவரை அறியாது தட்ட, தட்டலில் கிடைத்த உந்துதலில் அதே சாருகேசி வாசிப்பில் பரவசம்.
வீணை வித்வான் ராஜேஷ் வைத்தியா பற்றி எழுத எனக்கு தகுதி இல்லை.. அவர் கடவுளின் பரிபூரண அனுக்கிரகம் அவருக்கு.
அந்த சாந்தமே உருவான மூதாட்டியாய்  ரேவதி வைத்யநாதன் அம்மா.. அழகான, அடக்கமான நடிப்பு.. அருமை!
ஒலியிசை கோர்ப்பு, படமெடுத்த விதம் அனைத்துமே அழகு! ஆக இரண்டே நிமிட கவிதை காண்பதற்கு..

The choice of the word redemption chosen for this short film is very interesting. In one's life when one falls down from a level, he or she strives to rise back to the orginal until position is reclaimed.

In this short film, artists in Rajhesh Vaidya & Arun portrayed beautifully on how artists redeemed themselves during the lockdown period and spread happiness, joy to all through what they are passionate about in their respective lives!

The film opens up with a scene showing the entire collection of Rajhesh Vaidya's Veenas are lying unused; then, the artist in him is lying low with no audience to play to.

He redeems himself by picking up his veenai and playing randomly, as if to motivate himself. Yet, he plays Charukesi raagam, raagam mostly associated pathos and/or devotion. Hearing it from afar, Mother Nature blesses him by shedding a flower and an elderly lady appreciates by clapping.. The film ends with Rajhesh Vaidya redeeming himself by playing in sheer joy!

Loved the KB touch in this Arun Vaidyanathan. Crisp and very well done. Need I say about the hero? The sound clarity is awesome! The cinematography is very beautiful.

Do watch this crisp 2 mins short video by a very dear friend of mine! Feel free to spread this joy and happiness!

https://youtu.be/OeXT7_3gNCw

Movie Review: Power Paandi

Power Paandi, a name for a Thamizh movie, would make you wonder if it’s one of those stock standard, mindless, mediocre movies. Let me tell you this. I would have felt the same, had my friend not told me how good the movie was. 

It is directorial debut of actor Dhanush. It is a delightful debut indeed. This is a film that’s subtly poignant, yet inherently likeable. Clean storyline!

First thing first, the casting; each cast is carefully chosen and in turn, each of them have delivered better than the best, be it the next-door neighbour’s kid, to the thugs who sell drugs, to the grand kids. What’s worth mentioning is that the grandkids act their age, with innocence, NOT those "பிஞ்சில பழுத்தது" types.

As for the main characters, Prasanna has done a commendable job! He has an arresting screen presence, emotes his role so well, torn between being part of the pseudo society we all live in, being the son who is caring, yet frustrated with his father. His grumpiness, frustrations are so relatable.

Rajkiran, what can I say! He has lived the part. He walks his way into the audience’s heart and stays there till the end. Dhanush makes a cameo role; so, does Revathi. The minute Revathi enters the scene, she steals the show, out and out. 

Some scenes are worth mentioning: the drunken Rajkiran talking to his son, scene where the elderly men meet Paandi, the confrontation by the grandson, when the grandson caresses Paandi's throat as he swallows his medicine, right after DD says “நாளைக்கு உன்ன பெண் பார்க்க வராங்க” to Revathi, Revathi gets up and has a little sway/dance of joy, and the mature, new age romance that brings smile, something very new to Thamizh movies; I can go on... 

Music, bgm are worth mentioning; Sean Rolden has done a clean job, though a little Ilaiyaraja-esque, I am not complaining. 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the movie. Dhanush has set a high standard for himself as a director.

Movie Review: Visaaranai - Tamil

Visaaranai is an uncompromising and spine-chilling movie about abuse of power by the very Police force that is supposed to protect it's citizens. I have been a big fan of director Vetrimaaran since his movie AadukaLam. This movie is totally uncompromising for the need for commercial success. Hence, it has a place in the 10 must see Indian movies.

  

Pandi and his friends are immigrant workers in Andhra Pradesh. They are picked up by cops for a crime they never committed. They become voiceless and are taken advantage by those who in a vicious game where the voiceless are strangled by those with power.

Based on a real-life story of a man named Chandrakumar, Visaaranai is compelling, but not for faint-hearted. The movie is scary for its randomness with which Pandi and his friends get into situations that threaten their life. One can see how those in power can threaten those below them when Pandi's employer pleads with him to accept to the crime as he has been warned that he, too, might get into trouble. Vetrimaaran has done it again!

Verdict: Must see movie for true art movie lovers, but certainly not for the faint-hearted. 

Review: Maragatha Naanayam

Maragatha Naanayam, a horror-comedy film that stands out from every horror cliché (not that i watch many). This is a laugh-out-loud horror comedy with a terrific fantasy twist added to it.

The plot revolves around hunt for a rare, historical artifact called Maragatha Naanayam, that is guarded by the ghost of it's first owner, King Irumporai. In order to procure it, the hero and his close friend seek the help of three ghosts. What follows after, forms the crux of the story that is out and out hilarious.

The film takes it's time initially, the pace at which it starts, though all over the place, eventually falls in place and kicks in. Jokes, body languages of characters, choice of characters were all very apt. Unlike even most comedies these days, the humour is not in bad taste but outright funny.The film scores high on both comedy and horror genres.

Verdict: A MUST WATCH!

Movie Review: Magalir Mattum

After having high expectations on Magalir Mattum, for one, the line-up of star casts, two, a women centric movie from director Brahma, who gave us குற்றம் கடிதல், I was little disappointed.

The movie is about 3 women who are part of households where women keep themselves into a life within four walls, with guilt and believing that the family would crumble if they did anything that's out of the norms of typical housewives. 

Then, there’s Jothika, a documentary filmmaker who’s shown as a modern woman, always dressed in tees, shirts and pants, suggesting that she is modern and leading an unshackled life.

Sadly, the characters are broadly defined, but more emphasis could have been given on them wanting to free themselves by breaking away. I am no expert in film making, even for a lay-person like me to think there are possibilities to elaborate on the story, the director has lost the opportunities. The flashbacks were too much and over time gets annoying. May be that’s the latest trend in movie making, imposing flash backs as scenes rather than talking about it.

Scenes between Saranya and her husband, who does nothing but drink and sing Ilayaraja hits, with the preludes and interludes, are by far the best. Saranya’s character is so relatable. I have seen women like her. By culling few flash back scenes, director could have used Urvasi’s comic sense to the max. This actress is by far one of the best after Aachi and Savithri. Banupriya’s character is interesting, but not meaty. 

Despite all these, I laughed many times with dialogue deliveries of Urvasi and Livingston's rendition of IR hits. The end was very stock standard, filmy, though pleasant. If you happen to be one of those guilty housewives who believe the whole household will crumble if you get out, then, go and watch the movie at the theatres. You won’t be disappointed.

This movie did not impress me as much!

Movie Review: Aaranya Kaandam

http://www.plumeriamovies.com/10-fantastic-indian-movies-y…/

Aaranya Kaandam, a movie made in Thamizh, is the 1st of 10 Indian Movies recommended in the link above. As someone who loves real, raw movies, this list is a WOW!

This is a simple story about a gangster head, played with ease and class by surprisingly one of the yesteryear’s heros, Jackie Shroff. The movie starts off with his inability to get it up :)  and then, him refusing to accept that he is ageing, a hard truth that he is no longer the don. Then there occurs conflict with his senior henchman, Pasupathy, played superbly by Sampath Raj, on a cocaine deal. The movie takes twists and turns based on the decisions each of the main characters make and it changes the plot.

 The director has avoided clichés and so the movie is unpredictable till the end. The climax is not something one would expect. This film is very Quentin Tarantino-esque! Music by YSR is very good and apt for a gangster movie with 80s music playing realistically in the back ground without being jarring. The movie is quirky, has dark tone and humorous at times too, surprisingly for a gangster movie. In the acting department, everyone has meaty roles to play and has done a neat job; a special mention to the young one who donned the role of a son of a good-for-nothing man. I loved the scene where Pasupathy, asks the young man, “Unga appa romba pidikkuma?” and the boy hesitates for a second and replies, “Appidi ille – aana avar enga appa”. This might touch a chord in many sons about their fathers.

Overall, a good gangster movie, worth being listed as one of the 10 fantastic Indian movies, probably overlooked or not watched due to lack of awareness. I am glad Dulquer Salman had shared the link in Twitter! 😊

Movie Review: Vikram Vedha

One of the most anticipated movies in Thamizh is here. 

If you thought Maddy was getting an awesome intro from the audience, hold on!! The intro for "Vidhi", aka Vijay Sethupathi was roaring. The whole theatre, including self went "oooohhh".. 

A memorable role for Maddy! He looks hot; Has acted so well, all stylish. Vijay Sethupathi, on the other hand, is all rough, rugged, laid back.. Good to see outstanding performances by two actors from totally different schools of acting, though I must admit, VS is way, way ahead in performance. 

Storyline is simply based on Vikramadhitya and Vedhalam, beautifully scripted, narrated as a cop-gangster story. 

There are some loose ends of course, like there's no chemistry or depth in Vikram and Priya's relationship. BGM is good, but not that great. Songs are mediocre. 

Overall, it is a movie not to be missed, be it for Maddy or Vijay Sethupathi! I loved it! To me, it was Vidhi all the way!

Review Nibunan, a bilingual – by Arun Vaidyanathan

It is a brilliant crime investigation story in recent times, in Thamizh cinema. The killer, after sending a parcel, sets scene for the crimes that follow. Before the team led by Arjun and his able juniors, could work out what the doll and the mask sent were about, first crime happens. Then, the cat and mouse game starts with the killer leaving trails of clues for the next one. At one point the hero realises he is the next target. He needs to race against time to catch the killer, despite a big setback health wise. After intermission, one begins to start the guessing game on who the killer could be. 

The lead man, Arjun Sarja, is a man who has completed 150 movies, parallelly held his position and fort with giants like Kamal and Rajnikanth; He needs to have something in him, to have stayed on for so long. The man is so fit, he puts many young actors to shame. He has always been under rated I have felt. He has had huge fan following amongst men for his action roles, but the man caught the attention of many women in Gentleman, Mudhalvan and finally, with Rhythm, he won many hearts too. In this movie though, he plays his age. He looks very pleasant on screen. Kudos to the director for this!

Prasanna, time for him to do either a full-fledged comedy movie (loved his comic sense) or hit the other end of the spectrum with action role (he looks hot). He must have been inspired by Arjun. He has done full justice to the role given to him. His reaction when called a “constable” still brings smile to my face, even after few days. Varu, this woman has talents in abundance too. I watched her in Vikram Vedha and now this; she is an apt choice to play the role of Vandana. Sruthi has done her role well, though her role is not meaty. Rest of the casts were good. At one point, I was wondering why Vaibhav was there; later, I began to suspect him to be the killer. Good move!

The story is compelling! However, the screenplay could have been tighter. No thriller movie will stand well without good cinematography. Arvind Krishna needs neither introduction nor any further superlatives to describe his work. Edge of the seat feeling is not possible without great background score. Navin Chandar has excelled in every way. I have never appreciated anyone’s background music other than Ilaiyaraja. I loved Navin’s work! “Oru kodi kanavugal kanne” beautiful lyrics!

A big thanks to the director for not succumbing to trend with item songs and tasteless comedy tracks!

I generally like subtle emotions in acting. There are some scenes in this movie that made me go Aah! One such scene was where Arjun and Sruthi, while walking out after hearing about his health condition, see an elderly couple. Arjun holds Sruthi’s hand right then. I felt, despite being a fearless guy on duty, he was still a human with his innermost fear surfacing. Good one there, director sir! Your subtle signature is everywhere in the movie.

Overall, a great thriller in a long time! My verdict: must watch at the theatres!

PS: thanks to couple of friends who asked me and to the lovely person who messaged me saying that she was expecting a detailed review, just like my exceptional taste in many aspects, be it music, art, clothing and accessories. This review is for you 😊

Disclaimer: This is an unbiased review!

என் மனம் கவர் கள்வன்

என் மனம் கவர் கள்வன் – அவன்
ஒன்றா இரண்டா சொல்வதற்க்கு….
என் காதலன் கவிஞன் என்பதா..
என் மனம் கவர்ந்த
இசைஞானியை சொல்வதா..
என் நண்பன் ஓவியன் என்பதா..
ஆயின் என் தோழன் பேரரசன்??
எவனைச் சொல்ல, எவனை விட..
காதலிக்கும் மனமிருந்தால்
காதலனுக்கா பஞ்சம்..

உறவுகளும் நேசமும்

ஒவ்வொரு நொடியும்
ஒவ்வொரு உறவுகளிடமும்
உண்மையை தேடி தேடி
உண்மையான உறவென்று
எண்ணி எண்ணி
என்னிதயம் ஏமாற்றம்
கண்டு கண்டு
அனைத்தும் பொய் பொய்
என்றே எண்ணுகிறது..

வெறுத்து விடுகிறேன்
இறுதி வரை உறவுகள்
நிலைத்து நிற்பதில்லை..

கோபத்தில் ஏமாற்றங்களில்
வலிகளில் என்னையே நான்
வெறுத்துவிடுகிறேன் மொத்தமாய்..

சரியோ தவரோ
எனக்கான உறவுகளிடம்
உண்மையுடன் பழகுகிறேன்..

அதை என்னை சார்ந்த
உறவுகளிடம் எதிர் பார்ப்பதால்
ஏமாற்றம் காண்கிறேன்..

வெறுத்து விட்டேன்
இன்று மொத்தமாய்..
நேசத்தை, நேசிப்பதை..