7Am Arivu – A Treat for Tamilians
Opening segment of the movie portraying the life and times of Bodhi Dharma was so brilliantly done, the movie fails to meet the same level of expectation for the rest of the movie. But overall a refreshingly different action masala which is of the sci-fi genre, and a must watch for every tamilian.
Surya has given his heart and soul and the hard work pays off as he impresses one and all in his dual role; the six abs physique that fits in well with the role just goes on to show his commitment to perfection. It is hard task to play such a challenging role and come out unscathed with no major criticism. Remember that in Tamil cinema we are not used to seeing such demanding roles -- ones that sap the energy and require great transformation, taking the acting the next level. This is not your every day super hero role in a commercial flick. Well done Surya.
As the daughter of Kamal, one would expect Shruti to has some of her father’s genes. She doesn’t disappoint, and with age on her side, she should go on to improve her skills and become a leading star. The delivery of Tamil by Shruti in a role that we would expect to hear clear and articulated spoken Tamil, is a let down. It is not often we see an actress making debut in a movie of this size and hype, and to her credit Shruti has done reasonably well. She is yet to stamp her class, and that would not happen unless she polishes up on her acting skills too in future endeavours. No doubt she is talented and has the potential to reach the top. As for this movie, not an extraordinary performance, but good enough to make her father and fans satisfied.
The ‘imported’ villain, is no ordinary star, and fits the bill well. There are far too many scenes where he is seen hypnotizing and wreaking havoc . He is a Vietnamese actor and one who has earned reputation in martial arts, and Murugadoss has made the right choice and used him well. There is not much ‘acting’ to do for him, as he lets his action skills do the talking.
Harris’ songs have shades of his past numbers. Yet, songs are pleasing, the best being ‘Mun Andhi’. It is not his music, but the way songs have been inserted in a fast paced thriller that one may not enjoy the songs as much as when they were released as an audio album.
Murugadoss has produced another blockbuster although opinions may be divided as to whether the movie justifies the hype that surounded it. Movie is predictable at times, and lacks twists that a film such as “Ko” has given. The plot becomes childish at times, but then lets forgive all that because this movie is essentially a sci-fi where fantasy thrives.
An apt Deevali treat, and the movie may prove to be yet another mini milestone for Tamil cinema. We have seen ambitious attempts various directors in creating a magnum opus in Tamil Cinema. We are yet to see the true colossal hit but then no denying that movies such as Dasavatharam, Enthiran, Matharasuppatinam, Aayirathil Oruvan, and now the 7am Arivu are continuing to give us hope and also the much needed momentum to take the Tamil cinema in a new direction; this would one day take Tamil cinema to an envious position. Kamal in Dasavatharam, Rajini in Enthiran, and now Surya in 7am Arivu -- remind us that they are capable of carrying it in their shoulders by sheer hard work, dedication and to portray roles that make up for lapses in these much hyped and high budget movies.
My rating *** (3/5)
Watch the Trailer here
Tags: surya, tamil movie reviews
November 3rd, 2011 at 6:37 am
7aam Arivu: YEPME Fashion Review
7aam Arivu is the ambitious project by Director Murugadoss to enlighten the masses about our ancient history and our obscured greatness. The movie is in two parts. The first part is a documentary on the life of the historical figure Bodhidharman and how he was instrumental in spreading the knowledge of Ayurveda and Martial arts in China. The second part of the movie is in a contemporary setting with a researcher (Shruti Hassan) trying to bring back the talents of Bodhidharman into the body of his descendant Aravind (Surya), to prevent a Bio war with China!
While the context of the movie is impressive, the lackadaisical script, irrelevantly placed songs and sci-fi mumbo jumbo take away the greatness that it could have achieved. Surya is impressive in his role as Bodhidharman and Shruti Hassan who has as much screen time as Surya does justice to her role. Her Tamil diction is a bit patchy and needs work, but one has to commend her for not using a voice dummy like many popular actresses. The music of Harris Jayaraj is pleasing.
The outfits of Surya are designed entirely to showcase his amazing physique. He wears unbuttoned waist coats over his bare body, shirts which are unbuttoned to the waist and tight fitting t-shirts which highlight his muscles. He carries off not only the classic combination of White shirt with blue jeans, but white shirt with red trousers too with style. Sleeveless hoodies & T-shirts pretty much make up most of his wardrobe in this movie. Shruti Hassan looks great in the songs in western attire. The dresses are classy and the shorts make her look sexy. They show off her long legs and slim figure. The colour coordinated outfits of Surya and Shruti in the songs are very appealing. Considering the fact that Shruti is known to design her own clothes, one must agree that she has a great sense of style. According to us folks at YEPME, the outfits of both Surya and Shruti are vibrant and stylish. If you are a fan of Surya and would not mind a dose of history to go with it, 7aam Arivu is definitely worth watching in the theatres despite its many flaws.